A Bit Special
Here we have all the games in the A Bit Special Section.
Playstation
A Bit Special
Japan exclusive that was followed up on the PS2 with player friendly front end to ease you into controlling a friendly robot. It soon becomes second nature to control the robot and gameplay is full of the delight a mechanised friend would bring. Innovative and enjoyable, a refreshing title.
Playstation
A Bit Special
Japan exclusive that was followed up on the PS2 with player friendly front end to ease you into controlling a friendly robot. It soon becomes second nature to control the robot and gameplay is full of the delight a mechanised friend would bring. Innovative and enjoyable, a refreshing title.
PC Engine CD ROM
A Bit Special
Genki isn’t too sure how a Stock, Aitken and Waterman track snuck onto this karaoke compilation but True Love, Waku Waku and Mugo are all fine, cheery J Pop tracks. The lyrics are included in the manual to help brush up with some eighties, bubble era classics.
Dreamcast
A Bit Special
Unfortunately the Dreamcast servers are now down meaning emails can’t be sent, but this is still a nice collectable for fans of the Sakura Wars series. Also includes a very snazzy movie disk of ‘Sakura Wars 3’.
Sega Saturn
A Bit Special
Tanto R is a popular Sega developed party game title that was followed up by Ichitanto R and re-released on the PS2 under the Sega Ages banner. Here we have the third release in the series. Light hearted action and puzzle mini games make up the action which is fast and frantic but most importantly plenty of fun. For example, a towel must be rubbed along the kung fu mans back to keep away colds. Or passengers must be pushed onto the overcrowded trains.
Nintendo DS
A Bit Special
Multitude of mini games bring the Nintendo magic back to jaded gamers with fresh and pure pick up and play gameplay. Ideal for the busy gamer lacking time for Konami and Squaresoft style cinematic epics. Makes great use of the stylus controller.
PS2
A Bit Special
The superbly drawn anime story zips along and players must choose from phrases to shape the direction of the story. Careful choices are required to not become the headline scandal yourself.
Mega CD
A Bit Special
Four games on one CD: Golden Axe, Streets of Rage, The Revenge of Shinobi and Columns. Actually the Japanese release of the Western pack in disk that came bundled with the Mega CD. The code has been optimised though on Streets of Rage removing the crippling slowdown of the Western version.
PS2
A Bit Special
Based on the Japanese TV show, you must play a mysterious super hero whose identity remains a secret and battle aliens in a manner that keeps the shows ratings on the up. Fun and fresh with plenty of lycra and some very imaginative scenarios around town.
Dreamcast
A Bit Special
Ryo continues on his quest for revenge to Hong Kong and the mountains of China. Incredible cinematic experience that incredulously never received a North American release: such craft deserved the widest possible audience.
Playstation
A Bit Special
Brother to the Crane Master and Machine Master games, this time players get to savour the delights of operating a power digger – not as simple as it may seem. The digger must be manoeuvred into position before the various training tasks can be completed. Successfully graduating training leads to a job on the real construction site and a tough boss will leave you pining for the days of the carefree construction school teacher. Sponsored by Komatsu. Full Japanese title Shovel Master ni Narou – a part of the Kenki Ippai series.
Brilliant Switch
A Bit Special
Two of the most collectable Saturn games rightfully revived by City Connection for more to savour their femme fatale charms.
Advanced Variable Geo has Battle mode where you can take on anyone, or Story mode full of scene setting cinematics where you play as Yuka chan. Very tasty graphics improving over the Super Famicom prequel. Also includes special moves that can only be utilised when on your last legs, evening up one sided bouts.
Saturn shooter Steam Hearts is a sizzlingly hot and saucy shmup brought to the table by the talented Giga. A heady combination of steamy cut scenes and frantic shoot ’em up action is the sort of fan service you can expect in Japan. Genki is grateful that the gameplay is more rewarding than Divine Sealing on the Mega Drive adopting an overhead perspective with shifts in style to keep things fresh. Thankfully the ship can take seven hits before biting the dust which is welcomed with the sheer volume of enemy fire as are the tight controls. A turbo boost can zip the ship through a tight squeeze to the pulsating beats to the soundtrack with a tap on the pad leaving a feeling of great satisfaction to have left behind the enemy hordes. The cut scenes come after defeating an end of level boss which are interesting characters to say the least. The Saturn version had full two player mode and makes good use of the machines 2D powers.
Switch
A Bit Special
Two of the most collectable Saturn games rightfully revived by City Connection for more to savour their femme fatale charms.
Advanced Variable Geo has Battle mode where you can take on anyone, or Story mode full of scene setting cinematics where you play as Yuka chan. Very tasty graphics improving over the Super Famicom prequel. Also includes special moves that can only be utilised when on your last legs, evening up one sided bouts.
Saturn shooter Steam Hearts is a sizzlingly hot and saucy shmup brought to the table by the talented Giga. A heady combination of steamy cut scenes and frantic shoot ’em up action is the sort of fan service you can expect in Japan. Genki is grateful that the gameplay is more rewarding than Divine Sealing on the Mega Drive adopting an overhead perspective with shifts in style to keep things fresh. Thankfully the ship can take seven hits before biting the dust which is welcomed with the sheer volume of enemy fire as are the tight controls. A turbo boost can zip the ship through a tight squeeze to the pulsating beats to the soundtrack with a tap on the pad leaving a feeling of great satisfaction to have left behind the enemy hordes. The cut scenes come after defeating an end of level boss which are interesting characters to say the least. The Saturn version had full two player mode and makes good use of the machines 2D powers.
Sega Saturn
A Bit Special
Rated Yellow Label material, this bumper collectors pack contain Suchie Pai Mahjong 1 & 2 plus Suchie Pai Throbbing Adventure making it a worthwhile purchase even if you can’t play mahjong.
Super Famicom
A Bit Special
Known as Super Ninja Boy in the West, this version has more going for it that didn’t make the cut for the English language release. Jammed full of Chinese cultural references, or at least Chinese culture from a Japanese perspective, it can be pretty zany at times.
PC Engine HU Card
A Bit Special
Tongue in cheek take on the Momo Tarou of Japanese folklore. The name refers to the train element of the game (‘den’ from train and ‘tetsu’ from iron) rather than the usual densetsu (‘legend’.)
Dreamcast
A Bit Special
Perhaps it was playing this on his import Dreamcast that Mr Cowell first came upon his idea for a TV show? The producer must choose a budding artist from the host of auditioning wannabes. Then the real work starts in making a song and getting it to Top of the Pops.
PS2
A Bit Special
Super gal Haruhi once again stars with a voice to melt the Cadbury’s Caramel bunny in this love adventure where players also get to make their own game. Superb high standards to the figure that comes as part of the package too matching the voice acting.
Mega CD
A Bit Special
Sega’s humour may not be to all tastes, but this release proved successful enough to warrant a PS2 remake. Known as Panic in the West.
Nintendo DS
A Bit Special
A great learning tool for intermediate aficionados of the Japanese language which has simple problems and multi choice answers to make the most of the stylus. Nicely illustrated too and the interactive nature of the DS with effects and instant feedback make studying fun rather than a chore.
Playstation
A Bit Special
Players take on the role of caveman and explore the landscape building up their own and the tribes abilities allowing them to swim or boost the fertility rate. The aim is to build a tower of mammoth tusks towards the sun. Highly original from an era when anything seemed possible in gaming terms. Known in Japan as Taiyou no Shippo.
GameBoy Original
A Bit Special
Gamers of a certain vintage would have cut their teeth cleaning up Tamagotchi poo, petting them and feeding them. The journey to the GameBoy seems a natural progression.
GameBoy Original
A Bit Special
Opens up the Tamagotchi world as players explore the town and meet more virtual pets that need feeding and teaching basic maths to grow up big and strong (and able to add up.)
GameBoy Original
A Bit Special
Feed your virtual pet, give it medicine, shower it with praise, tell it off and play puzzles with it, not forgetting the odd poop that will need a scoop. Happy days are here again.
Sega Saturn
A Bit Special
Demos of Sengoku Blade, Stakes Winner, Street Racer Extra and Magic Carpet with a feature on AM2 and a look at Shining The Holy Ark.
Sega Saturn
A Bit Special
A collector curio multimedia disk based on the mad Japanese cooking show in which the Iron Chef takes on all comers in a challenge to produce the finest dish based on bizarre ingredients. Puts our Ainsley to shame… Also know by its Japanese name: Ryouri no Tetsujin Kitchen Stadium Tour.
Sega Saturn
A Bit Special
The Tokimeki phenomena is absolutely immense in Japan and as such fan service releases such as this go down a treat there. But Konami have kept an eye out for the growing band of overseas fans with some English language messages and menu translations when accessed via a PC. On the Saturn the disk is crammed with media with music video clips, art gallery presentations even the chance to play paper, scissors, stone with your favourite Tokimeki character.
PS2
A Bit Special
Blend, cut and mix cartoons together to make a coherent whole or a crazy compendium. As producer for the TV studio the choice is yours.
Playstation
A Bit Special
A real cult following behind this game and also ‘Moon’ due to the developer’s blank canvas approach to realising their real work of passion. In UFO players must take photos in order to identify aliens missing from a crash. Basically suspicious events occur which are a good indicator of some alien involvement. These photos can be then used to locate the MIA aliens. Requires careful thought and observation and reveals that all games don’t have to be the same.
Playstation
A Bit Special
A real cult following behind this game and also ‘Moon’ due to the developer’s blank canvas approach to realising their real work of passion. In UFO players must take photos in order to identify aliens missing from a crash. Basically suspicious events occur which are a good indicator of some alien involvement. These photos can be then used to locate the MIA aliens. Requires careful thought and observation and reveals that all games don’t have to be the same.