From a golden era of role playing games and managing to stand head and shoulders on the podium above many of the crowd with its luscious illustrations and stirring soundtrack. A real work of art, appreciated by those in the know.
Genki frequently harks back to the golden era of SFC RPGs, but its hard not to indulge in some rose tinted nostalgia when you hear the familiar soundtrack to exploring caves and dungeons and spot the familiar cracks in the wall that require further investigation. A happy RPG journey as Koei leads you by the hand through the fantasy world of Brandish.
Riding on the mighty sweep Street Fighter II unleashed on the 16Bit gaming world, Brass Numbers would have a good swing at Capcom’s cash cow. Telenet’s idy parallax scrolling is complemented by a few touches of its own in players being allowed to choose their next opponent and also being able to use their rewards earnt in bouts to boost their vital stats. Known as Doomsday Warrior in the West.
Stunningly beautiful in a sprite based Super Famicom way, Capcom proved it had more to it than mere fight fests in this masterpiece. The artwork for the box is well worthy of mention too. Still the title is a little more linear than the work of its rival: the mighty Final Fantasy series, but Breath of Fire at least manages to singe its Chocobo feathers. (It’s no shame to say it doesnft quite hold a torch light to Link. But Genki has always had a glint in its eye for the Super Famicom Zelda.) Plenty of hours gameplay on offer and a well woven story line.
Stunningly beautiful in a sprite based Super Famicom way, Capcom proved it had more to it than mere fight fests in this masterpiece. The artwork for the box is well worthy of mention too. Still the title is a little more linear than the work of its rival: the mighty Final Fantasy series, but Breath of Fire at least manages to singe its Chocobo feathers. (It’s no shame to say it wouldn’t hold a torch light to Link. But Genki has always had a glint in its eye for any Zelda title.) Plenty of hours gameplay on offer and a well woven story line.
Makes big improvements over the already accomplished prequel bolstering the size and randomness of the quest as it follows a twisting path. Visually engrossing with excellent battles requiring every member of the team to be working together to fully utilise their spells or weapons. And there are a potential of eight distinct characters available to join your merry men. All with the epoch defining level of RPG presentation and establishing team play as the future of RPG’s.
The huge Sonic Mario Rivalry of the 90s had a cost on the many fronts the battle was fought. Busby was an attempt to gain a mascot for Accolade, no doubt the start of the bean counting men getting involved in programming. Despite his lack of charisma, Busby has enough abilities to endear himself to gamers as he speeds through the levels Sonic style grabbing balls of wool instead of rings. Sonic in wolfs clothing for the Super Famicom. Full Western title is Busby in Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind.
Fine RPG with fantasy atmosphere along with an array of excellently designed characters that come to life from the story board. Levelling up is essential to see ogres heads roll.
Classic Atari fun in the Californian sun with summer sports to savour and impress the judges with your prowess for riding the crest of a wave amongst other events.
Casper and young helper manoeuvre round the isometric houses looking for clues in order to progress to the next section of the level. Its possible for Casper to go off on his own in search of clues through use of his abilities as a ghost. Very nicely drawn and realised.
A platform setting for a fight based title in the action sense as players whop each other round the screen. Made special by a few familiar looking mechs appearing along side a shrunk down Devilman. Fun, action based title well worth a look.
Roughly translating as ‘Super Big Brother’, this is the closest you get to the Village People on a console! Highly imaginative, very wacky digitised graphics to the point where you’ll wonder if shiitake are the only mushrooms the creators have been having in their miso soup. Drifts away from the shooting action of its predecessors for a one on one fist fest taking place in mid air – reassuringly with female characters too. Although the fart attacks are no way to treat a lady.
Roughly translating as ‘Super Big Brother’, this is the closest you get to the Village People on a console! Highly imaginative, very wacky digitised graphics to the point where you’ll wonder if shiitake are the only mushrooms the creators have been having in their miso soup. Drifts away from the shooting action of its predecessors for a one on one fist fest taking place in mid air – reassuringly with female characters too. Although the fart attacks are no way to treat a lady.
Truly epic and immense adventure that you know has the high Squaresoft assurance of quality from the very outset. With excellent characterisation thanks to the endeavours of Akira Toriyama of DragonBall Z fame and the input from the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest producers add an extra A to this triple-A title. Aurally it delights too with Yasunori Mitsuda’s genius imprinted all over the soundtrack that is appropriate to each era.
Hard as nails run and gun delight from Konami which saw the series hit a real pinnacle. Expert use of mode 7 keeps the frantic action varied and boiling to the point of nuclear fission. Also uses side on and overhead levels to keep the action varied. The two player mode is a massive help towards cracking this tough nut.
Hard as nails run and gun delight from Konami which saw the series hit a real pinnacle. Expert use of mode 7 keeps the frentic action varied and boiling to the point of nuclear fission. Also uses side on and over head levels to keep the action varied. The two player mode is a massive help towards cracking this tough nut.
7 Ups cool little emblem is very slickly animated and this plays like a real treat. Nothing too unexpected but the execution is pretty close to flawless as the wee spot in shades strolls through the brashly themed gaming worlds.
Many Super Famicom games strike a good chord of nostalgia with Genki and Cosmo Gang is no exception with its uplifting soundtrack and fine, cutesy sprite graphics. Similar to Baku Baku Animal, various hungry creatures fall to the players side of the screen along with the blocks they can munch. Its possible to clear a line of blocks by correct alignment like inTetris. But players who wish to see their opponent suffer will also have to use the block munching animals to great combo effect. Old school and proud: well worthy of its VC medal of conversion to the Wii.
As Parodius is to Gradius, Cosmo Gang is to Galga adding colourful, cartoon sprites and power ups plus bonus challenges between levels, an end of game boss and even a two player option to the trigger happy mix.
Graphically pleasing with liberal use of colour as you guide Willow on her broomstick quest for wish-granting sweets accompanied by her fairy friend Silk. Success is rewarded with an appropriately off kilter end of level tea break. Intriguingly Willow gets to select her favourite weaponry before the offset and in game Silk can be used to attack along with the fire dragon, star frenzy or lightning assaults depending on which crystals have been collected.
The flexible and sometimes dispensable nature of the Crash Dummies make them perfect to platforming. Being able to inflate also helps get through tricky spots in this overlooked platformer. Full title: The Incredible Crash Dummies.
Fitting into the action platform genre comes a licensed game based on the escapades of the well known (at least in Japan) Shin Chan – drawn as if by crayon. Full of imagination and a refreshing visual style and never lacking in colour.
Fitting into the action platform genre comes a licensed game based on the escapades of the well known (at least in Japan) Shin Chan – drawn as if by crayon. Full of imagination and a refreshing visual style, Shinchan must take on adversaries such as cockroach men. Never lacking in colour.
Mecha based RPG makes a refreshing graphical revamp from the more traditional staple. Turn based combat against some mean machines with fine effects for the attacks on opponents.
Capturing the essence of the golden 16Bit era of Super Famicom platformers with the shrunk down character sprites and expansive gaming world realised in intensive detail in the dark caves and vibrant towns. The effort put into production adds to the feel of a real gem twinking like one of the treasures in the cavernous underground labyrinths.
Solid conversion of the coin – op with all the wonders of the seven seas contained in its mechanical marina. Darius shows why it has remained a classic shmup from the Taito stable of thoroughbreds.
Solid conversion of the coin – op with all the wonders of the seven seas contained in its mechanical marina. Darius shows why it has remained a classic shmup from the Taito stable of thoroughbreds.
Spooky, gothic RPG for old hands Enix in which merely moving through the play area drains your health so you must kill to keep up your soul meter and stay alive. Playable as knight or devil with separate routes adding to the longevity, as does the masses of hidden areas. Oozes atmosphere.
Data East rolls its sleeves up and shows its coin up credentials in this one on one martial arts contest with characters such as minotaur using his horns to devastating effect. Plenty of other characters from Greek and Roman mythology and a solid title for the fight enthusiast. Also known as Mutant Fighter.
Build and run your very own high school. Thought must first go into the building planning, then into how to make the students improve in the subjects they are struggling in. Sports days allow or some good old button bashing and holidays mean for trips to the seaside.