Action
Here we have all the games in the Action Section.
XBOX
Action
Combos doesn’t really go far enough as opponents are more dissected in air with a samurai sword. Yet quick reflexes are a requisite with some enemies using more modern weapons than the traditional ninja. Puts back the fear into the word boss.
PS3
Action
Based on the X Box release Ninja Gaiden Black, Tecmo seems to have taken influence from Hong Kong action movies, Onimusha, the speed of the PS2 Shinobi and the raw power of the PS3 to create an intense action title. Water and fire effects are stunning as our masked one sprints over the waters surface or slices through foes entombed in burning buildings. Combos doesnt really go far enough as opponents are more dissected in air with a samurai sword. Yet quick reflexes are a requisite with some enemies using more modern weapons than the traditional ninja. Puts back the fear into the word boss.
Switch
Action
Six Ninja Ja Ja Maru games from 1985-91 well worth investigating and not just for the superfluous number of ninjas. Our wee ninja leaps around the platform levels dispatching shurikens to clear a path to rescue his beloved. Smashing though platforms to get a shortcut and grabbing the ghosts that rise from bosched opponents are all part of the fun.
PC Engine HU Card
Action
Any title combining ninja’s, kunoichi (female ninja’s), shadowmen, snipers and fire ninja’s can’t be bad. Ninja Warriors is a fine conversion of Taito’s late eighties coin-op smash with the only feature lacking being the Darius style three sectioned screen.
PS2
Action
Ancient chanbara title set in feudal Japan with lovely period setting cut scenes adding to the atmosphere. Includes a few mini games to boost your stats such as gambling away on the dice. Plenty of weapons to choose from; some looking more at home in the garden shed, but adding to the variety nevertheless. Battles are jammed with speed lines and the fleeting effect screen when the fatal blow is struck does justice to the samurai’s honour – even in death.
Famicom Cart
Action
Competitive platform action to help rescue the damsel, or egg, in distress. Wholesome, heathy gameplay by the lashing.
Wii
Action
One of the most beautiful games imaginable from the Odin Sphere team that looks like a Hiroshige woodprint brought to life with all the colours of a summer kimono. An absolute treat of a game too with fluid platform slash action make for the most essential of Wii releases. Makes you drool its so lavish and feels like Princess Crown studying at the Ninja Dojo. Bon appetite.
Playstation
Action
More high jinx on the seven seas between Luffy and crew with a catapult and stretchy arms thrown if for good measure. All very nicely animated with sunshine settings and tasty beer and rice ball power ups capturing the energetic spirit of the manga. Each character is portrayed accurately with their own unique trait such as Zoro’s three swords. Gameplay is like Power Stones madcap action clashing with Super Smash Brothers arcade style fight mechanics. Any chance of a Captain Pugwash release in a similar mould?!
PS2
Action
Plenty of land lubbing high jinx in the One Piece pirate world as every sea dog worth his salt scours the Seven Seas in pursuit of Golden Roger’s treasure. Monkey Luffy is the leader of the motley crew of sailors and his strectchy limbs come in handy in a tight spot, yet the whole cast is worthy of mention such are the rich characters on show. Its possible to select a back-up character too so the fine designs can be savoured some more. Deliriously fine cel shaded graphics sit at ease with the background splendour. Special moves are simple to initiate and power ups pop up at random giving this a feel of Power Stone with its all action gameplay. A variety of innovative mini games gives players the opportunity to unlock hidden extras such as animation clips or sound bites from the hit series.
Gamecube
Action
Full on compilation of all out action mini games that utilise the relentless pacing of the anime to be crammed full of visual impact as tough as the attacks themselves. Memorable games include the parachuting sequence with an octopus parachute in a bizarre twist on the Pilotwings series. A rhythm action take on a RPG fight sequence in tidy cel shaded sprites and the mayhem of random objects reigning down from above whilst under attack make it hard to encapsulate the chaos into words.
PSP
Action
Brings the incredibly vibrant anime to life which is no mean feat considering how much vitality and high-jinx it contains. Plenty of speed lines and sound effects as the loveable pirate rogues take on our beloved Luffy by hook cane or by crook brass hand. The bosses are a delight.
PS2
Action
Samurai slasher less cerebral than the ‘Biohazard’ series, but the beautifully realised feudal Japanese world draws you in. Capcom’s class oozes through this title along with some sublime action sequences.
XBOX
Action
Samurai slasher less cerebral than the ‘Biohazard’ series, but the beautifully realised feudal Japanese world draws you in.
XBOX
Action
Samurai slasher less cerebral than the ‘Biohazard’ series, but the beautifully realised feudal Japanese world draws you in.
PS2
Action
Capcoms polish is more than evident as this epic samurai slasher captures gamers hearts and minds. Beautifully set in a Feudal Japan with plenty of adversaries straight from Japanese mythology. Thankfully the slash of steel can bring down even the biggest and baddest of boss monoliths.
PS2
Action
Capcom’s polish is more than evident as this epic samurai slasher captures gamers hearts and minds. Beautifully set in a Feudal Japan with plenty of adversaries straight from Japanese mythology. Thankfully the slash of steel can bring down even the biggest and baddest of boss monoliths.
PS2
Action
Third and possibly final installment of the samurai slasher seeing refreshing new backgrounds with the addition of Parisien Jaques played by Jean Reno (Leon, Wasabi.) Whilst never cynical, Genki is very envious of the angel who teaches Jaques to speak Japanese in an instant. Reaches new pinnacles on the PS2 with fully rendered scenery in glorious 3D including beautiful forests and marvellous magic effects. A true samurai would only play with the sword controller though.
Famicom Cart
Action
The nyan of the title refers to the meow noise a cat makes and our feline friend plays up to dog stereotypes by trapping hapless dogs in manholes that they walk right into round the town.
Playstation
Action
Genki had to face the death sequence scene a few too many times, but it is a case of trial and error at times as players tackle the puzzles. But at the end you end up kicking yourself at the solution that was staring them in the face all along. The challenge if more forgetting the death sequence scream.
Playstation
Action
Overblood’s missions involve platform hopping, key locating and a few run and gun ins along the way. It’s the variety of the power ups items that make this stand out: a grappling hook to reach new heights, heat resistant clothing to wade through the fire, a variety of TNT to blast through to previously inaccessible areas, crystals to freeze over or evaporate away water… The levels often seem to have more than one solution to getting through them adding to this game’s unusual charm.
Switch
Action
Plays like a souped up King of Monsters with giant kaijyu tossing opponents into skyscrapers that they dwarf. As with all gaming, its great to be able to enjoy a bit of improper action in tossing around the various items in the city arenas.
Famicom Cart
Action
The ghost AI remains as fierce some as ever. One to show your grandchildren as to why your reflexes have been shot through.
🏆Brilliant!
Brilliant Gamecube
Action
A request from Shigeru Miyamoto lead to the orginal creator of Pac Man producing this update where in a novel twist the player can control the ghosts. Available only as a demo disk from Club Nintendo, Pac Man is reinvented by controlling the ghosts making for amazing multiplayer matches. The way it works is to have Pacman play via the GameBoy Advance link up so that the ghosts cannot see Pac’s position, only that of the 3D maze on the television screen.
Famicom Cart
Action
Battle against various other animals such as rats, bats and cows to knock each other out by rolling balls along the tabletop. Each character has their own unique characteristics making them difficult to beat.
GameBoy Original
Action
Hardware appropriate graphical achievements and gameplay to match as the players penguin pecks platforms to negotiate a safe passage for the egg through the screens laden with traps and adversaries. A real gem in Sega’s crown that shows why it enjoyed the fine times ahead.
PS4
Action
The Persona world is rich with characters and it sits smoothly (toe tapping away) in this rhythm action game with those able to keep the buttons in the right order able to unleash some devastating dancefloor combos.
Wii
Action
Think of an air based Micro Machines and you’ll hopefully be on the way to imagining Petit Copters world. Yet instead of racing players must manoeuvre objects around the oversized gaming interior of a house using suction cups and from time to time unleash the odd missile to complete the challenging tasks. Very fresh and well thought out.
Playstation
Action
Madcap, multiplayer mayhem as up to four players battle it out in varied arenas from deserts to neon cityscapes. Players chuck rocks at each other avoid the non-player adversary, be it a UFO or the rock that is actually a curled-up T Rex. Real, pure gaming fun. Known as Poy Poy in the West.
Nintendo 64
Action
Take on a wealth of weird and wonderful Pokemon Monsters from what looks like a GB Pocket Camera, a heap of sludge or a koi carp out of water. Players battle it out choosing their hand carefully to avoid ineffectual attacks within varied and imaginative arenas.
Famicom Cart
Action
The Konami cracker gets a Famicom work out as Hudson bring home the bacon big time. Players take on the role of a pig on a winch lift and move up and down to fire arrows at the wolves descending on balloons. Popping their balloons makes them fall to the ground, but if they float down they start to gather near the poor piggies lift. A simple premise, badly explained and playing extremely well.