A Bit Special
Here we have all the games in the A Bit Special Section.
Dreamcast
A Bit Special
Email sender looking very pretty in pink for fans of Sanrio’s Kitty chan. Unfortunately the Dreamcast servers have long since ground to a halt, but this remains a nice curio for the DC completist.
Nintendo 64
A Bit Special
Long before Pokemon Go, N64 fans were using the Voice Recognition System to chat with Pikachu and enjoy a days fishing for Magikarp or planting in the garden. A great idea cleverly executed. Known as Pikachu Genki Dechuu in Japan.
Nintendo DS
A Bit Special
Set in a hammed up seventies kung fu movie, players have to exhibit their kanji (or Chinese character) prowess rather than any praying mantis forms. The stylus is used to write the hiragana reading of characters, the kanji of hiragana words or even identify the correct radical. So its definitely a study aid, but a very well executed one with plenty of style and tight character recognition.
Mega Drive
A Bit Special
Twenty party games all of a rather bizarre nature in this sequel to Tanto R. The mini games involve jumping over frogs, spotting the differences, catching rice balls as they fall on a kebab stick even a recall test where the silhouette of the young wife appeared last in the apartment window… A popular Sega title in Japan.
Sega Saturn
A Bit Special
Basically a fan disk to Zico whose brand of Brazilian football enthralled many and boosted his popularity in Japan into the stratosphere. The title translates as Zicos thinking football, though Genkis Portuguese isnt quite what it used to be. Plenty of footage of the original galactico with some top tips to hit the back on the onion bag.
Playstation
A Bit Special
Plenty of fun mini games make this a great after hours title with punk penguins Rocky and Hopper.
Nintendo DS
A Bit Special
Not a game as such but an electronic dictionary with writing recognition thanks to the DS stylus. The equivalent machine would cost significantly more than price of a DS and this cart making it a serious alternative to the Casio WordTank for the budding linguist. Includes Game and Watch titles that can be unlocked as rewards for your hard studies making this the perfect balance between work and play. Also features a kanji quiz such as the different characters for country names. And the writing recognition works well assisting in progressing studies as its simple to look up a kanji character. Both Japanese to English and English to Japanese modes. Great for those import gamers looking to attain the next level.
PS2
A Bit Special
Title translates as ‘Lump Spirits’. Play as a pile of rubbish that builds up as you roll around the screen. As your proportion grows so does your potential to swallow up people, animals, buildings… Converserly the gaming area seems to shrink. Shamefully over looked for a Western release. Clinically insane, but in a good way.
Playstation
A Bit Special
Nice Playstation curio coming with disk and cable that allows it to be linked to a Japanese mobile phone. Once hooked up, users can save their data from their phone or play around with a few new melodies on the console.
Playstation
A Bit Special
The title translates as ‘I can do it on my own’ and has players making various dishes that even Genki fancies being able to rustle up. Based on the NHK programme, the Japanese equivalent of the BBC.
Dreamcast
A Bit Special
Voice command led game in which an array of space critters can be bossed around before they start bossing the player. Experimental and great fun for the adventurous.
PS2
A Bit Special
Players trace patterns to launch attacks. The more elaborate the pattern, the more powerful the move, like a fighter. Full title: Bakufuu Slash Kizna Arashi.
Sega Saturn
A Bit Special
Little known ‘life adventure’ game in a futuristic science style setting.
Playstation
A Bit Special
Part of the Kenki Ippai series and as such related to Crane and Shovel Master, here players must again don hard hat and take up the challenge of mastering the controls of vehicles ranging from dumpers truckers to bulldozers. Features mini games seeing diggers scramble for buried treasure, or see who can build the biggest pile of earth – a lot more fun than it may sound. But the main bulk of the game is on the building site – once drivers can show the harsh lipped foreman they have the necessary skills.
Super Famicom
A Bit Special
Paint package for the Nintendo which utilises the mouse very well and has slick presentation as you’d expect for a Nintendo title. As a Mario game very collectable too. Not only drawing facilities but you can produce animations and music too with colour in pictures of Mario for the less budding artists. Also includes an insect swatting game to improve mouse skills.
Nintendo 64
A Bit Special
Madcap mini games galore, all fitting the bill of being quick to pick up and great fun, especially in multiplayer.
Second hand. Also comes with Happy Mini Games Collection manual. Creasing to covers of both manuals. Box dents and scuffing with a small tear on the top edge.
Gamecube
A Bit Special
A must for multiplayer adding so much more enjoyable by beating those you hold dear to the mini party games. Simple to pick up and play, but the fun really draws out the competitive spirit.
Nintendo DS
A Bit Special
Great fun and very generously can be linked u between up to four DS’s with just one copy of the game. The action is light hearted and varied with Nintendo rarely lacking in imagination: be it dances offs, avoiding falling off a giant roller or avoiding the footballs Goomba kicks at you.
Playstation
A Bit Special
Sony’s answer to Samba De Amigo with high tempo soundtrack (including of course Tubthumping) but instead of using maracas, players attach sensors to their wrists and ankles. The player then follows the martial moves of their on screen persona gaining points for successfully landing a kick or punch at the correct time. There is also a visual reward for landing the moves on time such as being able to see a fireball travel across the screen. Done with intent the techniques give a good work out and the graphics are nicely done set in stereotypical Chinese situations. Includes a two player mode where on screen adversaries swarm in for the kill and they are dispatched with a deft flick of the wrist.
Playstation
A Bit Special
Sony’s answer to Samba De Amigo with high tempo soundtrack (including of course Tubthumping) but instead of using maracas, players attach sensors to their wrists and ankles. The player then follows the martial moves of their on screen persona gaining points for successfully landing a kick or punch at the correct time. There is also a visual reward for landing the moves on time such as being able to see a fireball travel across the screen. Done with intent the techniques give a good work out and the graphics are nicely done set in stereotypical Chinese situations. Includes a two player mode where on screen adversaries swarm in for the kill and they are dispatched with a deft flick of the wrist.
PS2
A Bit Special
A promotional disk only available from McDonalds Japan. Demo versions of Parappa The Rapper 2 and Pipo Monkey are the suspiciously hamburger orientated titles.
PS3
A Bit Special
The small, monkey like pet comes to life on the TV and those family members in the room are on screen too thanks to the Eye Toy. The family can then interact with the monkey: giving them a wash, playing tennis, generally monkeying around. Innovative as ever from Sony.
Playstation
A Bit Special
Contains two real gems from Sunsoft’s back catalogue: Ikki and Super Arabian. In Ikki you must collect the money whilst avoiding ninjas – made far more appealing by Sunsoft’s imagination: daikon and latern power ups as well as the appearance of a rather rough looking geisha of questionable gender to be avoided at all costs. In Super Arabian letters must be collected to form a word and clear the Middle Eastern themed level. Simple, yet fiendish: classic old school material of gameplay over graphics.
Playstation
A Bit Special
Two retro tinged titles from yesteryear get a Playstation makeover but no graphical glitz is required when the gameplay is as pure as this. Puzzle of Atlantis is a definite Super Mario tribute complete with warps and all but the developers have also taken note of the talent behind the level design. Route 16 is a maze based racer where players dip in and out of levels in order to get to the chequered flag. Happy days.
Playstation
A Bit Special
J Pop all girl quartet Mini Moni get involved in some Konami capers with a variety of mini games such as paper, scissors, stone, rhythm action dancing sections and skipping where timing is crucial. Nothing too taxing but perfect for a quick laugh with solid Konami play mechanics under the candy sweet exterior.
PS2
A Bit Special
More of the madcap mayhem that made the prequel such a popular title with plenty of bizarre inhabitants as the giant ball engulfs all that it can rolling around Japanese towns all wondrously realised in the games unique style. Not just towns though – a school, ski resort, even the bottom of a lake keep things fresh and innovative. Tactical additions to gameplay such as having to race your katamari or having to become a giant fireball through collecting wood and rubber. Known in English as We Love Katamari.
PS2
A Bit Special
More of the madcap mayhem that made the prequel such a popular title with plenty of bizarre inhabitants as the giant ball engulfs all that it can rolling around Japanese towns all wondrously realised in the games unique style. Not just towns though – a school, ski resort, even the bottom of a lake keep things fresh and innovative. Tactical additions to gameplay such as having to race your katamari or having to become a giant fireball through collecting wood and rubber. Known in English as We Love Katamari.
PSP
A Bit Special
A short story in Japanese that is a great language tool for those wishing to brush up on their mobile skills with plenty of street savvy language and a few nice images to kindle the love story.
PC Engine HU Card
A Bit Special
Enjoy the legend of Momotaro which is a well known fairytale deep in the Japanese psyche and rich in oni demons and intriguing cultural references. Just keep an eye on Momotarou as he pops to the local ladies onsen.
Miscellaneous Games
A Bit Special
A Konami art style title that lets budding Rolph Harris add features to faces and various outfits to create monster high school girls or samurai themed gangsters. All good clean fun on a little known platform and Konami release.