Shop
Here we have all the games in the Shop Section.
PS4
One on One Beat Em Up
Ex members of crack 2D outfit SNK put their heads together and unleash furious combos in this sequel with the power of the PS4 ensuring the future truly is now. Genki harks back to King of the Fighters series with the slick combos, and well-proportioned characters with the obligatory skill factor being all important, as opposed to button mashing.
Playstation
Simulation
Sprightly puzzle game where tiles must be rotated to clear the screen: much easier in practise than words. Adopts various styles to the game view be it the dynastic classical Chinese mahjong tiles, fantasy role playing medieval style or playing cards on the beach setting.
Sega Saturn
Sports
Genki appreciates the value of a cheesey bit of FMV in gaming history and there are some nice clips in this bowling game. Players must pick a partner from the not quite roster of spring chickens. The bowling action is well represented with some good reactions from your partner, however many pins go down.
Playstation
Sports
Full of the rough and tumble atmosphere of the Shinto sport as the referee bellows away with wood print style cel shaded graphics. As in the real sport getting a good start is imperative as you gamble on one of the buttons to begin and launch off your haunches. Matches are decide by a knock down or ring out with timing of the button bashing assault being all important.
Playstation
Sports
An array of swimmers from the innocent to the evil looking to take to the pool to try and blow away the opposition with a good, rhythmical stroke.
Playstation
Sports
Enjoy a relaxing game of ping pong at the local school, out of town hot spring or even outer space in this tidy table tennis title with ten characters in the cute ‘Minna no Golf’ graphical style. Fine rallies are possible especially in a well matched two play stand off. Hot springs and table tennis are a winning combination.
PS2
A Bit Special
Very cute and cuddly version of Sega’s Crazy Taxi with players ferrying around the good folk of the metropolis in this more Japanese themed edition. Great variety in the punters wanting a ride from old to young but the common thread of almost all being in a hurry to get where they want to be.
PS2
One on One Beat Em Up
Plenty of lycra on show in this Japanese monster and hero themed martial mash up with a bloke in rubber suit B movie feel. The bosses take some beating, but the reward of fresh costumes, mega moves and more weapons is sufficient motivation for the latex loving monster fan.
Sega Saturn
Simulation
Captures the market in sky scraper sims in one swoop as players build up their dream tower from the base up and get to add delightful extras such as the office, the noodle shop, the hamburger bar or even the bag section of a department store. Then the ambitious architect can sit back and enjoy the results like little computer people watching the good folk go about their business.
PS2
Sports
Captures the dynamism of the sport with lightening claps of special moves. Yet at the same time realises that the 2D perspective is the way forward for the sport. Plays a very GG.
GameBoy Original
Puzzle
A rather neat puzzle title where shapes must be matched up in fours with the top score (and some fine visual pyrotechnics to celebrate) being reached via matching up all seventy two shapes. Different options on offer in terms of shapes to use for those spooked by the traditional stones.
Sega Saturn
Simulation
Gets those French Fries laced with salt and watch the drink sales soar. Nothing too fried too close to the big roller coasters though as no one wants to see what their fellow park attendees have been having for lunch. Genre breaking title to treat gamers with an eye for the unusual.
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Brilliant Figures
Figure
1/48 scale colour resin kit tribute to the Game Arts Famicom shoot em up that featured a mecha style robot that can transform into a space ship with formidable, and much needed, laser. The mecha kit also features a mini tribute to the space ship. A real work of fan devotion from cult publisher Beep Japan.
PS2
Simulation
Lots of elevator style music, plenty of shots of blue skies and super sweet voice acting as D3 shows its form in the dating sim arena. Subtitled Sayonara no Mukoukawa.
PC Engine HU Card
Shooter
Bold attempt by NEC to bring the de rigueur coin op of the era back to the home comfort of the PC Engine. And whilst the Virtual Cushion may not match the hydraulics of the arcade original, the 3D top down and in screen graphics have been suitably transferred across. The action is thick and fast and ThunderBlade adds another feather in the Engines arcade collection.
Super Famicom
Shoot Em Up
Actually a port of ThunderForce III the seminal Saturn and more Mega Drive title of this era. Richly detailed mode 7 backgrounds compete for your attention amongst the swarms of enemy vessels. Not quite up to the mighty source material of ThunderForce III, but not much is.
Mega CD
Shooter
This on the rails helicopter shooter was an early Mega CD release from an era when FMV was the requisite of a CD format release. Still expertly executed and a pleasurable blast with the copter requiring some limited control too.
Super Famicom
Action
Inspired by the weighty puppet license comes a worthy video game translation with great use of the series many vehicles such as the giant air balloon used in great effect in a shoot em up scenario. Plenty of cut scenes to remind you who the heroes are.
Super Famicom
Action
Inspired by the weighty puppet license comes a worthy video game translation with great use of the series many vehicles such as the giant air balloon used in great effect in a shoot em up scenario. Plenty of cut scenes to remind you who the heroes are.
Merchandise
Merchandise
A wonderful tribute to the fine CG graphics in the PS2 version of Tecno Softs fine shooter series, namely Thunderforce V. Nails your gaming colours to the mast in the home or workplace with comfortable construction.
Sega Saturn
Shooter
Update of the Mega CD release sees great visual strides taken as you fly your helicopter on a variety of 3D missions unleashing some almighty firepower from the skies.
Playstation
Action
Nicely themed action title taking the player through various eras including prehistoric (armed with clubs), feudal Japan (complete with obligatory throwing stars and samurai swords), the wild West, The American Civil War, the Roman Empire and also into the future. Each era is well represented and adds to the shifting diversity. Time is the essence and a meter gradually decreases throughout the game ā only collecting power ups can replenish it.
PS2
Shooter
Popular first person perspective shooter with a tactical element such as being able to use security cameras and their attachment guns to take down opponents lured out of position. Some terrifying bosses to battle too such as the multi-limbed robot with each hand a saw.
Nintendo DS
Action
A Japan exclusive and special release in that Club Nintendo members were the only ones able to obtain a copy. A tribute to the classic title and very tasty Game & Watch making good use of the DS’s merits and with clever single and multi player modes to extend the games longevity.
Famicom Cart
Platform
The cuddly characters hide some devious level design from as fine a stable as Konami. Chomping carrots and spooky levels with big boss rushes to savour.
Super Famicom
Platform
Delightful, adorable platformer but don’t let the sweet Disney characters deceive the challenge at the heart of this example of how licensed games should be done. Konami delivers yet again.
Super Famicom
Action
Konami’s delightful Tiny Toons series gets a work out for sports day. Genki is a man’s man, but even our hearts are melted by the cutesie sprites that represent the baby versions of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck et al. The gameplay is given a fine work out as Konami was riding the cusp of its 16 Bit wave with some style at the time, complete with Hollywood smile.
Famicom Cart
Action
It takes great skill to be able to deflect the ball in Titan onto the blocks that need breaking down to clear the level. A simple premise with beautiful presentation.
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Brilliant Switch
Shoot Em Up
Flying Shark, Fire Shark, Tiger Heli, Ultimate Tiger, Out Zone, Fixeight, Batsugun and Dogyuun make up the dream team for the first instalment of crystallised, sheer shoot em up fun with Out Zone and its sequel Fixeight being run and gun to give blasting variety. A real pleasure to get introduced to the others with Dogyuun being an arcade exclusive we had yet to encounter. Not that Genki would have been brave enough to drop in a few hundred Yen coins to be subjected to public scrutiny of ones shooting tactics.
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Brilliant Switch
Shoot Em Up
The line-up reads like the tattooed sleeve of an arcade veteran: Zero Wing, Hellfire, Slap Fight, VV, Tatsujin, Tatsujin Oh/Truxton II, Vimana and Daisenpu. Serious shooting action from the days of no consumer compromise and it makes no apologies for it. A true pleasure to sample those not previously released outside the arcades. Just grateful its not 100 Yen a pop with Genki’s success rate.