A Bit Special
Here we have all the games in the A Bit Special Section.
Nintendo DS
A Bit Special
Subtitled ‘How old is your brain?’, this whipped up a real storm in Japan. Simple tests utilising science that are fun to take part in, just not as much fun to get the results in Genki’s case.
Miscellaneous Games
A Bit Special
The DragonBall games are the most collectable on the Playdia system showing off its capabilities to stream animation with fine voice acting. This animated adventure doesn’t require too much intervention from the player, but seamlessly slips between one sleek sequence to the next in the fun and frantic saga. And its place as a hardware demo is unquestioned. This is the rarer of the DBZ releases being the Space Saga. Known in Japan as Shin Saiyan Jin Metsu Kaikaku Uchu Hen.
Dreamcast
A Bit Special
For the completist only as the Dreamcast online servers are now down making this email and web server of curio value only. Though there is a nice looking Shenmue picture postcard amongst others available recommending itself to thr true Sega aficionado.
Dreamcast
A Bit Special
One for the collectors with the networks sadly defunct. Yet it delivered to a gaming public the happy days of chat with fellow Dc users, email, the additional contents of Dricas, the Dreamcast Home Page and of course those epic PSO battles and friendships.
Dreamcast
A Bit Special
A feisty demo disk with playable samples of Cool Boarders Burrrn, Shutoko Battle, Sonic Adventure International, Soul Calibur and Chu Chu Rocket. Also featured are movie demos of Shenmue, Space Channel 5, Dream Flyer, Virtua Striker 2 and Seaman.
Dreamcast
A Bit Special
A feisty demo disk with playable samples of Cool Boarders Burrrn, Shutoko Battle, Sonic Adventure International, Soul Calibur and Chu Chu Rocket. Also featured are movie demos of Shenmue, Space Channel 5, Dream Flyer, Virtua Striker 2 and Seaman.
Dreamcast
A Bit Special
A trial of Cool Boarders, plus interviews with Capcom chief and Atlus Maken X expert. VMU data for Kanipan, the ubiquitous present and introductions to Shenmue, Soul Calibur, Espionagents amongst others. Nice collectable for the Dreamcast devotee.
Dreamcast
A Bit Special
A tidy demo disk and collectable that came with the ‘Dori Maga’ or Dreamcast Magazine and includes demos of Mr. Driller, Zusar Vasar, Derby Tsuku and a movie of Jet Set Radio plus original Sega Game anime.
Nintendo DS
A Bit Special
A Japanese to English dictionary, great for those studying Japanese.
🔜Pre-order
Miscellaneous Games Preorder
A Bit Special
A very tidy SD Card for the Egret II Mini Arcade that boosts the roster of games by another ten with real, retro appeal. Shmup fans will lap up Daisenpu, Gekirindan and Slap Fight. Purilula is a must for those who appreciate a vintage video game. Backed up by Cleopatra Fortune, Dungeon Magic (looking intriguing in its isometric fight form), Riding Fight (experimental coin op), Grid Seeker, Great Swordsman and Gladiator. Re-release of the original print, but without the Taito Station magazine.
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Merchandise Preorder
A Bit Special
Another sublime SD Card for the Egret II Mini Arcade to boost its roster of titles. And what a boost it is with Chuka Taisen, Night Striker, Wardner no Mori, Thundercade and Crime City amongst the ten titles with Ultimate Tiger II looks particularly stunning on the small screen. Please note this is the same release, but without the Taito Station magazine.
🔜Pre-order
Miscellaneous Games Preorder
A Bit Special
Ten top titles to savour as Taito gives another blast of arcade gaming in the form of this third instalment SD card for the Egret mean machine: Mr. Do, Rumba Lumber, Wiz, Metal Soldier Isaac 2, Extermination, Dr. Toppel Tonkentai, Top Landing, Aqua Jack, Galactic Storm and Space Invaders 95 Attack of the Lunar Loonies make up the roster. Re-release of the original print, but missing the Taito Station magazine.
🔜Pre-order
Miscellaneous Games Preorder
A Bit Special
Having witnessed the success of the Astro City Mini, Taito comes to the party with this scaled down replica of its 1996 Egret II boasting SD Card slot for extra games and five inch screen, besides HDMI output. The save facility certainly helps and the real arcade cognoscenti can tweak the game settings as well as rotate the push out screen to TATE mode. An immense roster including Kikikaikai, Metal Black, The Legend of Kage, Gun Frontier, Ninja Kids, Tatsujin: the roster of forty inclusive titles is rich and varied. This is the violet version and looks very snazzy in it.
🔜Pre-order
Miscellaneous Games Preorder
A Bit Special
Coin-op crackers dominate this Arcade Collection and its great to see the Egret getting the reciprocation it deserves from the gaming cognoscenti. Technos Japan and Data East finest are on board: Double Dragon, Kunio Kun, Mysterious Stones, Bogey Manor, Xain’d Sleen’a, Chelnov, Dark Seal, Edward Randy, Boogie Wings and Wolf Fang 2001. Some strange sounding titles, but they play like a retro dream.
PS2
A Bit Special
Besides the baseball, table tennis, boxing and football goalkeeper games, the Eye Toy camera works its magic to get even non-gamers involved in air guitars, kung fu, cooking, yielding a chainsaw, drumming, popping bubbles… Full of innovation and bringing back the fun to gaming.
Miscellaneous Games
A Bit Special
Seven in one cart which features original titles including Boat Race, Mario Bros clone Roge Brer, Chack n Pop tribute Bomb, Warp Man look a like Aether, Penguin (which is like Nuts & Milk), Twinbee wanabee Van-1 and Conte Energy which is reminiscent of Lode Runner. So whilst we say original the games are not pirated, but are certainly based on existing ideas. Good value little pack.
Miscellaneous Games
A Bit Special
Jam packed with seven titles: Frog Prince, Bounce Ball (Pinball), Spar (Urban Champion), Cobra of Sky, Rescue of Kuck (Donkey Kong Jr.), Bounce (Mappy) and Surface Fire (Centipede). Frog Prince is a competent Mario Bros clone complete with pipes, venus fly traps and warp zones. Players even grab a flag in a run and jump at the end. Very impressive, but not too sure what Miyamoto san would make of it.
Miscellaneous Games
A Bit Special
Ladangel, Scoring, Tennis, Maze, Bandits, Mars Man and Space War. A great compilation of original games which test Nintendo’s definition of original.
PS2
A Bit Special
One of the first releases in Japan for the PS2, it is only recently the delights of Fantavision have blasted back into the limelight boosting its price on the second hand market. Long may Sony continue such experimental titles.
Nintendo DS
A Bit Special
Known in Japan as ‘Akachan wa Doko Kara Kuru no?’ or ‘Where do babies come from?’ Continues the loved up frantic stylus action of the first title innovating further to keep things as fresh as your breath on the in game dates. Starts by having to get past a sumo wrestler to reach the dream girl as you pass her on the escalator. Also involves negotiating a river full of crocs and even cleaning up a wound for your beloved. Thankfully keeps the slick, clubland style graphics of the prequel.
Sega Saturn
A Bit Special
This disk has four demos from Bomberman SS, Sakura Wars, Virtua On and Tengai Makyo. A nice curio for the dedicated Saturn conehead.
Nintendo DS
A Bit Special
A Club Nintendo title that could only be obtained in Japan by those holding sufficient points which should no doubt add to its collectability in years to come. Transforms your DS into a Game & Watch machine in which Nintendo first cut its handheld teeth complete with clock. Two titles are included this time: Octopus and Parachute to help while away any waiting lounge.
Sega Saturn
A Bit Special
Plenty of samples, demos and information to showcase the Saturns merits and releases with Series of Dreams, Telecom Town and the Sega Saturn Masterpiece Collection vying for the dedicated Saturn fans attention.
Sega Saturn
A Bit Special
Features a real mull of games including a razor sponsored breakout clone, a puzzle game and an adventure entitled Big Brother, adverts for Japanese products, interviews of the Virtua Fighter team and most interestingly of all a digital comic version of Virtua Fighter…
Wii
A Bit Special
A little bit of a different experience with the games main protagonist and hero Minon being able to alter the domino action world. Fingers crossed this can be as enjoyable as No One Can Stop Mr. Domino on the PSX. Eight stages to enjoy with a battle mode and two player play possible.
Playstation
A Bit Special
Very bold title that sets you up trying to become the next pop idol by creating a music video. There are some loopy loops such as ‘Cheap Bicycle’ and ‘Da! Da! Da!’ but its the madcap Tim Burton created in game persona’s that really take the biscuit.
Playstation
A Bit Special
Denki Groove is a funky techno chap lending his tunes to this deviously devilish mini game compilation. Players must complete tasks in the game which is like the more familiar Made in Wario and its ilk mini game series. However the games have a darker edge more in line with cult cracker Baito Hell on the PSP. A young lad must chop wood by a simple button press, but the old man helper will sneak on a pink bunny rabbit from time to time. Players must hurtle off in a race of chicken: the winner being the one who can stop closest to the cliff edge without flying off it. A Wolfenstein style avatar has plenty of sneaky glances left to right as he counts the folk strolling along the street. A real underground favourite in Japan and after a few minutes its easy to see why.
Nintendo DS
A Bit Special
The stunning solicitor series created by Capcom as players must go all out for the conviction. Credit to the Japanese game market which still pulls out its own genres every now and then. I mean few companies would be bold enough to test out such a title. Known in the West as Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney.
Wii
A Bit Special
Nine various games to ground you in the skills required to play the console to its full potential. Nintendo takes you by the hand through a Duck Shoot style blast, a round of ping pong, a rack of pool – mimicking the cue action, a race with a herd of cows, a spot of fishing and a game of air hockey amongst others. All good, clean fun and an excellent starter title.
Nintendo Hardware
A Bit Special
Also known as Wii Play, the bundle features nine various games to ground you in the skills required to play the console to its full potential. Nintendo takes you by the hand through a Duck Shoot style blast, a round of ping pong, a rack of pool – mimicking the cue action, a race with a herd of cows, a spot of fishing and a game of air hockey amongst others. All good, clean fun and an excellent starter title.