Action
Here we have all the games in the Action Section.
Famicom Cart
Action
Players bop opponents utilising their martial skills in this ancient Chinese themed action title to try and clear the screen. Plenty of cliches in the hatchet men who attack and backgrounds, but it has its own style as such. Fun bonus levels too.
Famicom Cart
Action
Draws on ancient history as players do battle with oni style adversaries. Think of the Monkey series and those trying to lead them astray on their quest. The combat works well and its clear to see why it is a cherished with the rose-tinted retro glasses on.
Famicom Cart
Action
Genki lacks the will power to resist a retro game that comes with gaming mat and plastic mallet to bash to moles that appear on screen on the corresponding spot on the game mat. Great fun and a wonderful kitsch release. Title translates as Super Mole Bashing.
Gamecube
Action
Sega uses its cute monkey to promote a devious version of Dizzy with pixel-perfect stops and a fine sense of momentum needed to complete the levels. Fun and never the play engine’s fault.
Gamecube
Action
More monkey mayhem as players take a spin inside the Monkey Balls and roll through the levels collecting bananas. A feel for momentum must be attained to avoid dropping off levels, but the ball physics are well designed making it always, alas, the players fault for taking a tumble or making a simian slip. Full of Sega’s colourful charm.
Gamecube
Action
More monkey mayhem as players take a spin inside the Monkey Balls and roll through the levels collecting bananas. A feel for momentum must be attained to avoid dropping off levels, but the ball physics are well designed making it always, alas, the players fault for taking a tumble or making a simian slip. Full of Sega’s colourful charm.
Super Famicom
Action
Players fire up a grappling style hook to pop open larger balls to break them up into smaller balls which in turn must be popped to clear the stage. Ladders and blocks add to the equation as do adversary attacks. Delightful backgrounds from Thai temples to Chinese houses as players tour the globe.
Nintendo 64
Action
Robot Wars stars a host of recognisable robots from animes such as Gundam or Mazinger Z used to good effect with their trademark moves and soundtracks kicking in at the right moment. Players battle other robots and the money earnt can be used on upgrades or simple repairs ready for the next battle.
Famicom Cart
Action
That famous tune belts out on the chip set and stirs Superman into platform based action. Power ups are used to add to the hero’s special powers. But progress is hard when turned into the weaker Clark Kent, looking very much a salaryman.
Super Famicom
Action
The video game version of Blade Runner as players and their Matrix style assailants engage in inter governmental espionage to complete the missions by stealth and by force in a futuristic setting. Well ahead of its time and a very ambitious project that deserves a second look.
Playstation
Action
Realistic gaming world to charge around gun toting with plenty of break rolls to avoid getting shot before coming up guns blazing like a hero from a John Woo film. The graphical style is reminiscent of the much-loved Dynamite Deka on the Saturn, but the gameplay is definitely shooter based.
GameBoy Original
Action
With the classic look of a Game & Watch title, this action platformer requires players to drop tactical bombs to give themselves some time to avoid the pursuit of the Tasmanian Tigers of the title. Perfectly suited to the small screen and a very enjoyable action title with some nice ditties such as Waltzing Matilda. Japanese title Tasmania Monogatari.
GameBoy Original
Action
Great animation and an understanding of pushing the architecture just as much as it can handle. Impressively bold sprites and suitably bad bosses all set to the familiar Turtles tune.
PC Engine Super CD ROM
Action
Stunning conversion of the Capcom arcade version and unfortunately as rare as rocking horse dung. Loses a few of the parallax layers and the two player option, but thats about all. Genki wishes all the Dynasty Warrior series were this much fun as you steam into to Mongolian hordes sword aloft on horseback in a plot losely based on Chinese mythology.
Famicom Cart
Action
Famicom take on the long running Japanese TV soap opera set in the past where our hero roams the town in a similar vein to Goemon getting into scrapes and scraps, then dishing out some rough justice. Plenty of samurai haircuts on offer in this period romp.
PS2
Action
Thankfully not a doorman simulator, but there are a few cauliflower ears dished out as you grapple various assailants all gorgeously rendered in a Square stylie. Also in another Square trait you can teach comrades various fighting moves in a trade off for hard earned experience points gained through giving out fat lips.
Playstation
Action
Update of the highly original Super Famicom title, particularly at the time being pre-Burning Rangers, but now given a post-Rangers voice feature. On similar lines to Sega’s epic: fires must be extinguished and people rescued to progress. Each level has a particularly raging fire at the end that must be tamed before clearing the level. Nice pick up and play arcade mechanics.
Dreamcast
Action
Eye catching arcade whizz converted with style and panache to the Dreamcast maintaining the dark, tragic, Gothic feel of the arcade big brother. Requires a steady nerve and fast trigger finger. A real blast in two player.
Playstation
Action
Expands on the Rockman or Megaman series by following the roguish Tron and her army of robots. Charge around towns using mechanical mayhem created by the robots to rob the poor town folk and escape police stings. Captures Capcoms craft and guile in producing fine arcade action titles full of colour and with relentless pacing. Known in Japan as Toron ni Kobun.
Part of the Rockman Dash series.
PS2
Action
Played as a young yakuza wanabee getting to rough up citizens on your territory for cash to spend on items such as the defensive leather jacket or the pretty mean sword. Whilst not the longest title, its a very fun, budget ride through the underworld while it lasts.
Super Famicom
Action
A varied game based on the Touchstone Pictures film with very stunning graphics considering its early release. Plenty of fight and flight action with lavish presentation that stays true to the source material.
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.
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 – only collecting power ups can replenish it.
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.
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.
Famicom Disk System
Action
A game a few decades ahead of its time as the hero charges head on into the 3D scrolling screen giving adversaries a wide berth and making long jumps that would put Chris Tomlinson to shame. The end of level boss requires a bit of the old school shooting skills to be tested as Square defines another genre early in its development. Known in the West as 3D WorldRunner.
Mega Drive
Action
A fun action game in which our funky rappers Toe Jam and Earl scour the three quarter perspective isometric landscape in search of their missing space ship parts. Thankfully the street feel of the game is well crafted – without a politicians in baseball cap feel to it. And the appeal of the main protagonists adds greatly to the enjoyableness of the clever gameplay. A real cracker complete with hip hop soundtrack.
Game Gear
Action
True to the classic source material as Tom must chase Jerry to the end of the platform level avoiding the usual madcap mayhem that usually ensues. Beautiful animation, all the more impressive when the rich colour palette and size of sprites are considered.