Simulation
Here we have all the games in the Simulation Section.
Super Famicom
Simulation
Isometric battle simulation allowing Bandai to treat fans of the mecha soap opera to some fine graphical trickery with nice animation and dramatic cut scenes. Genki only holds a basic grasp of the long running saga, but what’s clear is a fine battle simulation with plenty of polish.
Sega Saturn
Simulation
Simpler control system than the Gun Griffon series making this more accessible to fans of the anime series and giant mega mecha alike.
Sega Saturn
Simulation
More of the prequel as nothing too much has been shifted in terms of gameplay mechanics, just continues on the expansive story. Whilst Gun Griffon purists will lament the more accessible control system, Bandai was catering for the mass market appeal Gundam has in Japan. The game comes in a collectable hardback presentation book.
Playstation
Simulation
A fine adventure as players juggle school life with the age-old dilemma of battling mecha. The city exploration is done in tidy 3D with the back streets looking fine.
Dreamcast
Simulation
Mahjong, Shogi and card game all played in the relaxing surrounds of a hot spring. What more could you ask for? The Japanese title of this game is ‘Atsumare! Guru Guru Onsen.’
Dreamcast
Simulation
Mahjong, Shogi and card game all played in the relaxing surrounds of a hot spring. What more could you ask for? The Japanese title of this game is ‘Atsumare! Guru Guru Onsen.’
Dreamcast
Simulation
Mahjong, Shogi and card games all played in the relaxing surrounds of a hot spring in this third instalment of the popular series. What more could you ask for? The Japanese title of this game is ‘Guru Guru Onsen 3.’
PS2
Simulation
Translating as the Earl and the Fairy, this romantic escape is set in Victorian England with the Earl and the Fairy meeting up. The Fairy is actually human and so named for her knowledge of fairies.
PSP
Simulation
Lady aimed romance game full of bishonen boys who look like they spend a good proportion of their day behind a mirror (and definitely moisturise more than Genki.) Japanese full title: 24 ji no Kane to Cinderella Halloween Wedding.
GameBoy Advance
Simulation
Cherish your little cheeky chappy Hamster with lots of loving and care. Meet friends and sample the variety of mini games to savour with your furry friend, not forgetting to enjoy the odd spin on the wheel or roll in the ball.
GameBoy Color
Simulation
Fans of the wee wheel loving furry creatures will lap up this title dedicated to hamsters cute and cuddly attributes. Included are a quiz on the likes of the correct way to hold a hamster, whether its alright to give them chocolate and their various likes and dislikes. Also in the package are a host of hamster themed mini games.
Playstation
Simulation
Quite an underpopulated genre in the firework display genre. Players wander the fantasy castle setting their favourite fireworks in the correct locales and then detonating them in order in time to the orchestral score. Subtitled Fantast.
Sega Saturn
Simulation
The full title translates as “The schools spooky rumoured Hanako has appeared!” The action takes the form of slickly animated cartoon sequences in a simplistic style such as with Maruko chan. The colouring is dark and atmospheric with Hanako just a quick phone call away from giving help. But beware of wrong numbers summoning the spookier ghosts.
PS2
Simulation
Refreshing visual pizzazz to this classy production with cel shaded armies contrasted against the pre-rendered beauty of the main protagonists and some swirling stunning pastel backdrops. A bizarre array of characters pop up throughout the game keeping the players interest – none cooler than the chicken carrying his wounded comrade in a wheelbarrow. And some characters literally pop out with monsters being hatched from eggs to join in the mass battles. With a musical score from Uematsu san, Square fans will be in their element. Subtitled The Seven Hanjuku Heroes.
Dreamcast
Simulation
From the popular PC version came the Dreamcast pet breeding game in which players chat to the femme fatales in various locales such as the school and neighbourhood.
Complete with spine and registration cards.
Dreamcast
Simulation
Based on the Happy Lesson manga where a student is adopted by five of his teachers with suitably fun frolics ensuing, comes a feature filled fan disk with Happy Slot Machine gaming, a Happy Gallery showcasing the stylised lines of the artistes and Happy Net where like minded fans of the series could gather.
Playstation
Simulation
Historical themed romantic adventure with language of the era and good manner to match too.
GameBoy Color
Simulation
A smashing version although the moles that get bashed on the head in the video games it is possible to play in game may disagree. Still farmers have never been big mole fans and its important to choose the right seed. Its possible to pop off fishing, even for a skinny dip in a hot spring in this varied version of the cracking Bokujo Monogatari.
PC Engine CD ROM
Simulation
Set in a grim future where nations battle for control of the earth’s depleted resources, this is a turn based war game.
Playstation
Simulation
Plenty more goings on than meets the eye in terms of supernatural demons as the Japanese board game gets an exciting adventure as only a top developer could do.
PC Engine HU Card
Simulation
Plays similar to Nectaris in that it’s a militaristic strategy title that’s quite easy to get into thanks to the almost Nintendo-esque way Masaya lead the player by the hand through the early stages. Yet once the simple control face is mastered the adventure really opens up. The Gaiserds of the title are the mecha robots of varying strengths and abilities that are placed throughout the space stages. When a ruck kicks off the animated sequences are very impressive for a HU based title.
PS2
Simulation
Part of the Lady genre in Japan: a romantic adventure from a girls perspective as players negotiate a love minefield not getting too distracted in the quest to find the kidnapped sister. Divine voice acting and illustration.
PS2
Simulation
Crazed, manga-inspired action with plenty of speed lines and manga style sound effects in katakana as the anime action comes to life.
Sega Saturn
Simulation
An anime adventure with similarities to Ranma 1/2 in which the jewels scattered over earth have to be rounded up – a bit like Dragon Ball Z. Anime otakus will enjoy the lavishly illustrated graphics that play as the anime series with a choice of options during the stills.
PS2
Simulation
A spritely romantic adventure set in a senior high school with great tunes to back up the action. Its most likely a decrease in Genkis already limited kanji capacity, but it does seem easy to upset a few of the feistier characters.
PC Engine Super CD ROM
Simulation
A compilation, as the title translates, of a hundred stories based on the Japanese tradition of telling a hundred ghost stories and extinguishing a candle after each one. A supernatural event is meant to occur if all hundred candles are put out, besides unlocking the mini games. Limited interactions are permitted in the stories to find out more.
Mega Drive
Simulation
A board game from Japan brought to life by the intriguing characters featured within that ensure a lively pace.
PC Engine Super CD ROM
Simulation
Build your own monster mech to battle it out in the arena against rival pilots such as the classically named ‘Bad Boy’. “Robot Wars” has nothing on this!
Playstation
Simulation
A nice curio for the Playstation that comes with cable to link players phones to the console to be able to use the home and phone version of the virtual pet Toro’s games.
Switch
Simulation
Stunning tribute to the saucy Saturn title with four adventure games making up the bumper limited edition pack. This cos-play inspired dating simulator came with a yellow label warning on the Saturn. Hats off to City Connection: its great to see these memories being revived.