Shop
Here we have all the games in the Shop Section.
Gamecube
Sports
The solid Virtua Striker engine refined with added management options. Where as the passing system isn’t perfect, this arcade classic still can set the heart a flutter with some very special goals. The first to introduce a very clever crossing system and the potential for wing wizardry.
Super Famicom
Action
Genki loves the 16 Bit Simpson titles and they are quite cult collectables in Japan with a possible lower print run due to the series being not as well known there. Yet Acclaim has really let their imagination run riot as Bart heads off on his virtual reality missions. Examples include whizzing down a water slide and cycling off into the mode 7 distance avoiding Homer on his chariot. Bart is also converted into a pig to avoid the chop from Krusty and free fellow swine. Crackling stuff.
Sega Saturn
Stimulation
Anime style, telephone dating adventure worthy of the yellow label warning. Sega seems far less willing to censor its games than Sony, hence an abundance of this kind of title on the Saturn. Genki has been desperately trying to impress lady in red Karen, but alas…
Virtual Boy
Sports
Accomplished take on the sport with players choosing their peg before casting off. A nice feeling of satisfaction at bagging a beauty and true fishermen and ladies will relish the challenge of the fight. Well presented and nicely animated. Whilst not up there with Virtual Bowling and Gundam, its slowly becoming a bit of a dark horse in VB collecting.
Playstation
One on One Beat Em Up
3D battle fest as the Playstation gets in on this popular N64 series act and with its plethora of special moves and fighting styles there’s never a dull moment. Features unlockable characters and a replay mode to savour your fine timing or cast a critical eye over your bad choice of move. Smashing variety in the backgrounds too with each stage appropriately themed to its inhabitant be it the evil stage or the vast open desert.
Sega Saturn
Simulation
Battle mech against mech through various arenas as Sega’s in house programmers work wizardry using the Saturns 2D and 3D architecture. Not quite arcade perfect, but pushes the Saturn to the limits without going to far and causing slowdown.
Dreamcast
Simulation
Battle mech against mech through various arenas. Not quite on a of the same complexity as XBox Tekki, but true mastery requires a little bit of time to get to grips with the controls. But the rewards are a real delight once players can control the giant machines to lay waste to an opponent. Full screen play against a human opponent is possibly if you have the system link cable.
PS2
Shooter
PS2 update of the Sega smash from the arcades that demanded dedication to master the full destructive prowess of the mecha pugilists. Not that bouts within the confines of the ring are always toe to toe – its often best to pick off an opponent from afar with a few tactical strafes before moving in for the kill. A superb range of robots to select from and some well thought out controls in the absence of the Twin Sticks controller. Opening the Virtual On world up for all to enjoy will hopefully please even the most fiercely loyal of fans.
Sega Saturn
Sports
Imagineer pushes the boundaries of this tennis title in going for a polygon approach to this Saturn title. The outer space court particularly impresses with Earth looming large in the background and some breath taking tennis.
Virtual Boy
Sports
Utilising the VB’s technology to the maximum as balls get pitched towards the batters face, sometimes coming a little too close for comfort inducing the odd, embarrassing finch. Pitching allows a variety of techniques to be used to catch the batter off guard including a fast pitch, a curved pitch or a forkball. Players are nicely represented in super deformed form. An enjoyable ballpark blitz.
Sega Saturn
Sports
International clash of polygon based volleyball teams. Not quite up to Dead or Alive standards, but puts up a solid enough spike in a limited field on the Saturn.
Sega Saturn
Simulation
Cyber adventure from the Hudson stable with definite Konami influence but also some bold strokes of its own in its Patlabor style robots from the hand of some of animes finest and a soundtrack to match. Add a suitable dash of paranoia and you have a highly accomplished adventure worthy of as much fan attention as anything from Hideos stable.
PS2
A Bit Special
A must have for fans of J Pop’s darling Ayumi. In the Visual mix you watch very clear footage of some fine Ayumi songs whilst being able to manipulate the camera angle, add laser effects or even falling cherry blossom. Disk two allows you to hit the studio and remix tracks to hear you favourite loops over again. Also includes an Ayu chan themed browser to complete the package.
Famicom Disk System
Sports
Genki must confess we don’t come across too many sets for the FDS – this one fits two games in Volleyball and Pro Wrestle onto one disk. Nintendo have done a sterling job to ensure the two games well represent the sport with graphics that are the right size to keep it playable, but also sufficient attention to detail.
GameBoy Original
Shooter
Little known shoot em up in which players stand off against alien vessels and fire against each other in a futuristic, intergalactic duel. Travelling across the middle of the screen though is an asteroid belt that can absorb shots, or even deflect them back at your own vessel. Old school and proud of it.
Super Famicom
Shooter
Making great use of the FX chip to power plenty of polygons around in this tidy mech shooter where the robot can also morph into other vehicles as gameplay dictates. The graphics work well but its the gameplay ingenuity shown that makes this star shine brightly away from the black hole of gaming oblivion.
Famicom Cart
Platform
The striking colour scheme gives Wagan Land its distinctive look, but it works well with pad in hand in practise to keep the levels clear. A very enjoyable platform romp with the developer showing a firm grasp of the Famicom’s architecture.
Famicom Cart
Platform
Brash colour scheme with chirpy gameplay to match the chipper colours. Perfectly suited to the hardware and Namcot really squeeze plenty out of the architecture both aurally and visually.
🏆Brilliant!
Brilliant Gamecube
Sports
Minna no Golf style graphics with fine attention to detail such as the rainbow after the shower and weather sound effects adding to the uber kawaii look and feel good factor, yet its the unique control system untilising the analogue stick to make shots that makes Wai Wai head the leaderboard. Proper course design with realistic 3D so you can visually judge the run of the greens. And the cussing and yelping of the players helps endear you to the game further. Four player mode with just a single controller too.
Sony Hardware
Controller
A fine curio controller compatible with mahjong games, boasting its own display.
PC Engine HU Card
A Bit Special
A lively version of the popular Chinese table game (Wai Wai refers to a bit of a wild do in high spirits) made so thanks to the inclusion of some colourful characters from idol star to nun, a rather camp looking baseball player, a race driver complete with helmet, an artist and a policewoman. Good fun version of the game.
Sony Hardware
Controller
A very unique controller with a somewhat limited capacity in being only compatible with the one title: Wai Wai Trump Taisen for the Playstation. Hori have still gone to town though to ensure it meets their high standards.
Mega Drive
Sports
Realistic golf game employing an impressive 3D engine to realisticly realise the Hawaiian course. The sun shifts too producing a warm glow of early evening on the back nine. A fine stroll in the park with good interface.
Sega Saturn
Simulation
Plays like a Jackie Chan film without the excessive fighting as players take the role of a Chinese detective on the trail of a murderer in downtown Hong Kong. Plenty of signs to set the scene and a great stereotyped chief with cigarette never too far from his moustached mouth. Plenty of friction between the player and his lovely assistant but its all in a good days work for Kowloon’s finest.
PS2
Action
With interesting side quests such as finding all the mushrooms, players get to gallop through the wide, expansive game area on steeds in a great feel of freedom like a nomad through Outer Mongolia with the wind effect adding to the feel. Strewn throughout the world are what looks like Roman ruins. Pierced with strong shards of like amongst the atmospheric shadows, players negotiate tight crevices, Yet few will forget their first encounter with the Colossus. Up there with Ico on the system and one of the finest on any system. Beautiful, emotive, immense, Colossus. Known as the Shadow of Colossus in the West.
PS2
Action
With interesting side quests such as finding all the mushrooms, players get to gallop through the wide, expansive game area on steeds in a great feel of freedom like a nomad through Outer Mongolia with the wind effect adding to the feel. Strewn throughout the world are what looks like Roman ruins. Pierced with strong shards of like amongst the atmospheric shadows, players negotiate tight crevices, Yet few will forget their first encounter with the Colossus. Up there with Ico on the system and one of the finest on any system. Beautiful, emotive, immense, Colossus. Known as the Shadow of Colossus in the West.
Mega Drive
Platform
Solid platform title set in a spooky forest where the lead man shoots fire from his fingers to scythe through to a cinder the evil ghouls and demons lying in wait. Strangely compelling in spite of the coin op based, money grabbing difficulty requiring pixel-perfect jumps.
Switch
Simulation
Brings to life the incredible strategy game and the attention to detail is truly stunning. Such hard-work is demanded by the hardcore fans and the resulting warriors and weaponry ignite the screen as brightly as the flame thrower.
GameBoy Advance
Platform
Very tidy little romp with the usual higher level of experimentation as is often found in the Wario titles, opposed to the Mario variants. Great fun with plenty of unexpected twists and a high replay value with hidden areas to explore. Nintendo didn’t risk its more infamous license with its initial GBA release in the platforming series, but the Kyoto companys cards came up trumps anyway. Known in the West as Wario Land 4.
Wii
Platform
Extraordinary Wii platformer with Wario being the perfect host. As ever he seems to have been used as a character where the Big N can experiment a bit more on the gameplay and the Shake of the title is used to wiggle Wario into action: be it shaking out coins or performing some on screen gynastics to get through a tight spot. Beautiful settings and backgrounds, but with such a high level of interaction its hard to know what cant be grabbed hold of on screen. Some superb side levels, particularly in the submarine. Say no more other than platforming at its finest, whatever the dimension.