Undercover Cops on the SFC could NEVER be a two player game running at the same speed. For a SFC conversion it is fantastic ! Loads of animation, good number of characters on screen and very close to the arcade soundtrack including the voices in the music. Yeah, it's missing two player mode and doesn't looks as good as the aracde but as far as conversions go this is far more impressive that Final Fight.
Yakumo
TWITTER @RetroCoreYakumo
ENIX is a favorite among many SNES fans. With hits like Soul Blazer, EVO, Actraiser and Ogre Battle, some folks place 'em right there with Konami and Capcom as their favorite 3rd party contributor
Indeed they gave us some great games in America. But did you know Enix also put out two SFC platformers? Judging from the small fanbase these two games have, I'm sure some of you already know
But if you don't, check this out
----
There's weird, and then there's weird
NANGOKU SHOUNEN PAPUWA-KUN
If there was ever a platformer destined to stay in Japan from the moment it
was made, this would win by a country mile
It combines an anime feel (based off the anime after all), Japanese wackiness and standard platforming 101 techniques. There are 8 worlds to romp, with multiple levels for each one
Each orange star represents a new world
Nangoku has a level-up system... any time you kill an enemy a number pops in its place, indicating how many experience points you just gained. After a set amount you'll level up. This is pretty cool. A password system is incorporated
Your guy will sweep kick, punch and jump kick his way to victory
WORLD 1
Nutthin' like a light morning jog
Use the block to cover the bamboo spikes
Mid-boss madness
--->
"A" enables your special power attack (limited)
Rays brilliantly pierce through the forest
WORLD 2
Those are some big worms
Watch out for this Kirby sucker
Now there's a REALLY big worm!
Mr. Potato Head's tough!
Grab the key and unlock the imprisoned worm. Looks can be deceiving... the thing's actually a helper believe it or not
Level 2 of this world
WORLD 3
Prepare for Asian hi-jinx
He's nimble 'nuff to jump cross that
"I like to move it move it"
Mandatory flamin' section
Don't get crushed by these moving pillars
WORLD 4
WHOA! LINK makes a special appearance!!
I'll translate their dialogue
"Um.... did you take a wrong turn?"
"Wait a sec,
OH ****"
--->
Link must have accidentally found a time machine portal.... MY how games have changed...
"I told you your rent was due last week!"
WORLD 5
That chick is actually an enemy
Of course.... of course
WORLD 6
Ace backdrop for an ace motif
PACHINKO!
WORLD 7
Ooooh, them dreary clouds
I'll leave the rest for you to discover. There's a lot more
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Beneath this strange world of offbeat characters lies a pretty standard, yet solid, platformer. Nothing new here, but it's enjoyable and everyone I know who has played it, came away liking it. So too have I. Recommended
PACHINKO! Stage 6-1 (1:03)
Let us now look at ENIX's 2nd SFC platformer...
HAMELIN NO VIOLIN HIKI
AKA Hamelin no Violin Tamaki, Violinist of Hamelin and Hamel the P-I-M-P
Based off the anime/manga, the game kinda reminds me of the sensational DoReMi FANTASY. Your goal is to guide a young female (named Flute) to the exit of each stage. You control the violinist -- Hamel. It's an action/adventure game with puzzles mixed in, and the way you interact with Flute is a riot, as you'll see
Push that block just like in NANGOKU
Don't ask why, but the girl can morph into one of 16 different things! Provided, of course, you locate the proper icon first. Certain sections require certain transformations. It's all about teamwork. This is not your everyday mindless platformer!
Flute follows you around unless you press X to deactivate her. She'll stand still until you press X again
The interaction between Hamel, Flute and the level design is really what makes the game work so well. You can stand on her head, pick her up and carry her around, or even toss her like a cannon ball into enemies or impeding brick walls!
--->
Flute's expressions are priceless... don't worry this doesn't hurt her
A look at the first set of levels then:
FOREST DAYTIME
Press "A" to unleash your deadly musical notes
--->
Sometimes you gotta hurl Flute, other times a bomb is provided
Ole Gator Face takes two hits
Grab your first icon
You're not Carl Lewis! What to do?
That's right, you hit 'START' and locate the proper transformation for the job. You only have 1 at this point, so it's pretty obvious what's needed here
Press X at any time to bring back Flute
Oooooh
FOREST EVENING
Duck those thorns and grab the 1-UP
2nd icon you'll find is a frog
There's the little sucka
This level is one of my favorites. Just the aura of it is off the charts, and very reminiscent of DoReMi's 1st world in the forest with the lifts to ride. Here you and Flute get on a platform. Shooting the spindle with a musical note carries the two of you across
Game has EXCELLENT music too, adding nicely to the atmosphere
Hey, it's either you or them
BONUS ROUND
If you collect enough stars throughout the levels you're treated to a little bonus game
No Mario 3 influences whatsoever...
THE CASTLE
DUN DUN DUN!
--->
Those flames can be tricky
Right off the bat you'll collect your 3rd transformation icon. It's a robot that smashes any wall whenever you jump on its head
"But you promised me there'd be NO bats, you lying bastard!!!!"
Best to carry her ass across the flame dripping bit. Relying on the "follow" command is not wise here (she's a bit of a ditz y'know)
Like CASTLEVANIA's red skeletons...
This guy cannot be killed for good
SNAKES IN A CASTLE!!
A PUZZLE, A MISSING KEY AND A HUMAN DART
As I mentioned, puzzles play a part in the game. Here's a neat little one within the castle walls
Hmmmm, I gotta get to the top...
First off, pause the game and enable the robot smasher transformation
Now position Flute on the little switch and deactivate her, so she won't move from that spot. By standing on the switch, the block up top disappears. Now fire a note at the crystal ball, which results in dropping the door. Hop on and now you're good to jump to the top
Once you get to higher ground, press "X" again to call Flute, and she'll properly climb the ladder. HURRAH! We're home free now....
*Tires screeching*
You must find the missing key. Proceed left...
"Sorry bitch... you know what it be"
Kill the snake, grab the key, the new icon (not shown) and go!
Fourth transformation in effect
CLOSING THOUGHTS
This was one of those SFC games I heard people raving about (much like MAGICAL POP'N and MAJYUUOU) before I could discover it myself. Some of these games don't live up to the hype
This one does
If you love action/adventure SNES games and you don't own this, you're nuts. It's fairly common and goes for roughly $15
NANGOKU is good... VIOLINIST is stellar. Well done once again ENIX
Forest Evening (1:38)
Spindle Night Stage (1:34)
During the summer of 2002, my cousins from Texas and theirs from Canada, crashed at my pad for two weeks. Along with my brother, the 6 of us engaged in some serious cutthroat PUZZLE FIGHTER warfare; where the winner kept playing and the loser made excuses until his or her next turn. It's one of my fondest gaming memories
Good times
---
NONTAN TO ISSHO: KURU KURU PUZZLE
In this abnormal puzzler you only need to match TWO like pieces. Two! The quirks don't end there -- you can't rotate the pieces... you can only flip
--->
Most show off their arse when flipped, but the fish has a skeleton
Regular pieces:
-Apple
-Owl
-Frog
-Fish
Special:
-Bee (more on this later)
-Cat (see below)
The cat can only be uncovered when you flip the regular pieces around. It doesn't appear straight up, so just flip constantly. Once in a while, instead of a frog or owl's ass, you'll find the feline instead
--->
Make the match
Any regular piece in the same row as the cats will be converted to cats
Transformation just about complete
Once that happens, they all dissipate
--->
Note that a horizontal cat connection is only 1 row's worth. A vertical hookup on the other hand is double the trouble
MODES OF PLAY
1 Player
---
A: Play til your top is stacked
B: Well has two rows already filled, with a bee at the bottom
2 Player mode is played in mode B
1 Player mode B in action
The goal is to eliminate the bee at the bottom (with another bee). Like the cat, the bee isn't presented directly. A little detective work is required, then
Even though later levels have multiple bee's, it's a piece of cake. You Game Over when the screen is filled, but that's hard to do
MISSING IN ACTION
There's no VS. CPU mode. I was also disappointed by the 2 player mode -- part of the fun is sending garbage blocks over to the opponent. Not found here
CHAIN REACTION
With only 2 like-pieces needed to match, it's simple to set up huge chains. Look at this 3-hitter
Bye fishies
Notice above how I've set up the owl pieces (both front and back sides) one spot higher, one column over. Once the fish are removed, everything drops accordingly
--->
CLOSING THOUGHTS
If there were a crown for "MY FIRST PUZZLER" this would win hands down. It's perfect for children. But for us older cats, the gameplay is too unsophisticated. Still, it's no shame to own Nontan if you love the genre as much as I do... you just won't be playing it over TETRIS or PUYO PUYO
Nontan "mode A" (1:33)
Long before Puzzle Fighter, there was DOSSUN! GANSEKI BATTLE
--->
These guys all share the same hobby eh?
Dossun has a unique battle system. Two ways to claim victory:
1. The opposing player's well fills up
or
2. Their energy bar hits rock bottom
Energy bar? In a puzzler? Whaaaa??
--->
Eliminating 3 or more like pieces have varying results:
-Green Rocks: Sends forth a dragon (see above)
-Red Scrolls: Fireballs
-Yellow Swords: Piercing swords
-Blue Potion: Replenishes your health slightly (if needed)
-Purple Squares: No effect whatsoever
ONE PLAYER
Select from 3 heroes
And one by one, do battle with the game's numerous villains
The loser is paid a visit from ole Grimsy
TWO PLAYERS
Everyone's up for grabs
TODAY'S SPECIAL
Most puzzle games have a special piece or power. Dossun is no different. When you have a special pellet stored, pressing "R" clears every purple square. Although Dossun's graphics could easily be confused for an early MEGADRIVE title, this visual effect is noteworthy
Much cooler than simply fading out
DO A COMBO MEAL
Like fighting games, special moves are a good way to inflict damage, but the best players utilizes devastating combos. The same applies here. While clearing 3 pieces at a time is fine and dandy, pulling off 3-plus chain reactions is the meal ticket. Diagonal matches yield the best results if you set yourself proper
Observe this lethal chain. The green rocks match diagonally and disappear
The yellow sword falls down, connecting with 2 other swords
The swords' elimination drops the red scroll....
... forming a crushing 5-PIECE horizontal/diagonal red match to end the 3 hit chain
PICK A FIGHT
After completing a big combo, the character enlarges and performs a fancy attack
That ogre is bad news, folks
HANG IN THERE
Major attacks result in leaving the opposition hanging
Annoying if you're on the receiving end!
ANY REQUESTS?
There's only 1 music theme throughout the entire game, and it can get tedious. When someone's energy bar flashes, the music breaks into a frenzy, sounding much better and adding nicely to the tension. But the regular music is a bit "meh"
CLOSING THOUGHTS
It's essentially COLUMNS with a medieval fantasy battle theme. Dossun really grew on me and I literally said "1 more game" several times. It's amazingly addicting. Sure the graphics and music are nothing to write home about, but the gameplay is largely enjoyable
Sweet game
Dossun (1:40)
It's time for another edition of fight club! Today we examine KAMEN RIDER -- a two-player beat em up featuring the famed hero(es) of Japanese programming. This game's rather hard to find, and pricey. But is it good, or is it the much dreaded cheap cash-in?
LEVEL 1
As you make your way through the levels, the boss' health meter at the bottom slowly but surely increases. Take care of the baddies ASAP
The garish blokes are tougher, and more colorful, than their brethen
Enter the warehouse... hmm it's awfully quiet in here
TOO quiet...
PEARL HARBOR! But even their nefarious schemes are no match for your fleet-footed prowess
Send 'em to an early grave!
Ole bug face is a sticky adversary
Take the elevator and enter the control room. In classic beat 'em up fashion, the boss is joined by a legion of low-tier foot soldiers
The bosses even resemble their real life cheesy rubber suits! Nice. When things get hot and heavy, press "X" to become the mighty Kamen Rider
--->
Not only is he a superior fighter, he has a separate health bar as well. A cutscene depicting the demise of the assailant is shown for your successful efforts
--->
That damn Mode 7
Kamen Rider is a hero of many skills. For starters, he's a hell of a dancer
"I'll lead, aiite?"
But back to serious matters. After all, the fate of the world IS at stake here, and you'll be damned if you let some rubber monsters get the best of you! ["I'VE GOT ANOTHER CONFESSION TO MAKE!" Er, sorry -Ed.]
LEVEL 2
Psst, show off...
Nothing says hello quite like a leaping kick
Mr. Veggie is a mid-boss of sorts
"Wanna Get Away?" Airline commercial #152
Your travels take you to a fancy complex. Here's Johnny!
--->
LEVEL 3
... is home to waste dumps and the like, lending it a gloomy rundown atmosphere. Battle your way through the outskirts of town... before culminating in a rooftop tangle
Not worthy... or bluff?
--->
BLUFF!
LEVEL 4
Similar to the legendary GOLDEN AXE series, gaping holes can be used to your advantage
Say, how did VENOM sneak in there?
This boss encounter takes place in a highly industrial part of town
--->
LEVEL 5
This amusement park is anything but! But hey, at least it provides plenty of cool scenery, like this roller coaster track
No park would be complete without one of these
Or this! And it's within these macabre halls that the end level confrontation occurs
SHEESH! I told him to "MAKE LOVE NOT WAR" and he took it quite literally!
The rest I won't disclose
In between levels are some interesting cutscenes
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Temptations to modernize this old franchise wouldn't come as a shock, but wisely they opted for the 70's suburban Japan setting. It's nice to see a game remain so faithful to its source material
What began as lukewarm impressions quickly developed into an affection. The levels are divided into segments and maintains a solid pace throughout. Kamen Rider is just a good ole fashion beat 'em up akin to those from the halcyon days
The Warehouse (1:39)
COSMO GANG: THE PUZZLE
Ever play Pac Attack? Then you've played this (Both from NAMCO). 3-piece arrangements fall from the sky, composed of bricks, Cosmo's or arrows. Arrow wipes out Cosmo's. The bricks disappear when formed into a solid line, a la Tetris
The star extinguishes all Cosmo's
--->
It's fun to watch the arrow decimate the aliens
IT SLICES!
IT DICES!
CALL NOW!
In addition to standalone, VS com/2P, there's also a mode to solve set puzzles. SUPER PLAY was not impressed, stating "Slick, colourful puzzle with a high novelty factor. Doesn't push you or your SNES, though, and is ultimately cupboard-fodder." It received a score of 58%
I'm with SPlay here, Cosmo's just an average puzzler with some decent twists, but ultimately, too weird for its own sake. Cool graphics though
Cosmo Gang Puzzle (1:19)
----
SD GUNDAM POWER FORMATION PUZZLE
ONE piece drops at a time
Your goal isn't matching four like colors... when this happens, your OWN energy decreases. Forming four "P's" is what you want to do
--->
When four P's are matched, your robot attacks. The victim is left with less health than before, plus all his pieces are blown up
It's nice to see a stab at some originality, but this is a classic example of a game that strays too far off the worn path. Drab sound, gameplay and graphics don't help it much either. Unsatisfactory all around
SD Formation (0:40)
-----
KUNIO NO ODEN
This is essentially Puyo Puyo/Columns meeting Kunio blokes. Select from Puyo Puyo style gameplay or Columns. Oden features 1P practice, VS. CPU and 2 player modes
As you clear pieces, your power meter increases. When full, press "R" to send forth the clear-all icon
Notice garbage blocks come via those sticks. They vastly hinder the hapless victim
--->
Just a very simple chain reaction
Combo's can flow like fine red wine. Observe these 3-hitters
Follow the green...
--->
This chain reaction shows how easy it is setting things up:
--->
Some puzzle games just have that "right feel"... it makes all the difference in the world between a good and fun puzzler versus one that's best avoided. In my opinion, this has "it"
Kunio no Oden (0:59)
----
Gee, it can only be.....
NINTAMA RANTAROU PUZZLE
That's them all right
Culture Brain released 3 SFC Nintama platformers and along the way had this puzzle spinoff. Thanks to its interesting concepts, it's pretty ace
Two pieces descend at a time. If you press R, you SEPARATE the two!
--->
WHOA!
Matching 3 (or more) is again the name of the game. But the beauty is, there's a plethora of ways to do so. You may connect any 3 like-symbols, EVEN if the colors are different
Like-symbols, different colors
Or you can match 3 like-colors, EVEN if the symbols are different
Like-colors, different symbols
Or if you have 3 like-colors AND like-symbols, you can forego the vertical/horizontal restrictions
Merely touching does the trick!
These quirks collectively expand the combinations ten-fold. The modes you'd expect to be included are. You can also select from 1 of six characters
The VS CPU mode is peculiar in that both wells START with many rows already in place! You don't see that often
Overall, Nintama is a solid puzzle game with some unique gameplay elements. I like Nintama and Kunio the most from these four. Cosmo is decent, Formation I found highly disappointing
Nintama (0:31)
Til next time, remember...
Puzzle games don't build brain power...
They reveal it
Dear God, please make the licensed puzzler cash-ins stop!!!
In a time of hostility and turmoil, only one hero has the courage....
... the will of a nation's indomitable spirit...
HE IS....
TETSUWAN ATOM
Based off the classic manga/anime by Osamu Tezuka, Tetsuwan Atom is an action game featuring varied levels. Some are straight platforming romps. Others have you taking full advantage of Astro Boy's propensity for flight
A look at the first 5 levels (of 8 total)
LEVEL 1
Typical easy introductory level. He moves a bit stiffly, and his punch lacks range, but the game is largely tractable
Ah the quintessential rock-bit
The 1st boss is a piece of cake. Air dash it to death (more on this later)
LEVEL 2
You face many horrors in this fright-filled haunted house
The strength of 10 men! (or something)
Crawl in that little space there and the ball harmlessly sails over your head
True to form, his bright-eye lamps are put to use in the dark. This spirit boss requires several air dashes before submitting to the foul night
LEVEL 3
Pretty cool stuff here. The whole stage curves around. Kill everything on the 1st floor. Don't bother punching -- go straight for the air dash. Once you kill everything repeat on the 2nd floor
Air dash on display
The 3rd floor is the boss match. Beware his 2nd form!
LEVEL 4
Swim or fly (air dashes are disabled here)
All the fish are robots
The spike sections are tricky. Occasionally, just to piss you off, the water current goes against you and this force is incredibly strong. The school of fish zooming by is a common visual effect when these tides occur
That's one bad mutha! Watch out for its long limb and electric bolts
LEVEL 5
The force-scroller stage. Many hazards attempt to slow you down... permanently
MISC. NOTES
-You begin with 3 hearts. Along the way extra hearts can be gained (notice in the above picture there are 4). Each heart can withstand 2 enemy blows. Health refills and 1-UP's are also scattered throughout
-The default controls are awkward (B = jump, A = punch, X = charges the flight meter). Thankfully it's adjustable
-The flight meter must be charged before you can fly, and when you fly slowly decreases. Pressing A during flight executes the powerful air dash (a fist-first dive). This attack grants you temporary invulnerability. Press A during an air dash to cease abruptly, otherwise you'll zip 'cross til your meter is fully depleted
CLOSING THOUGHTS
This game has fans and critics alike. The fans cite it for good action, the critics blast it for not having enough. Go figure. I enjoyed it. If you're in the mood for a basic non-taxing action title, this does the job adequately
Level 1 (1:07)
Level 5 (0:39)
I can't seem to remember a name of an obscure game I used to like can't seem to remember. Seeing as you know you're obscure games, I think you or other fellas here might know it.
It's essentially a Pocky and Rocky clone, but instead of a little girl and a racoon, you control two guys. One of them looks like a western gameshow host (blonde hair, pertetual smile), and the other guy looks a somewhat femenine japanese stage actor. I now think the game might have been full of gay undertones, but I was too young to know it :P).
The game was a pretty cool shooter. And your characters would get a temporary power up, where's they'd super muscular.
Last edited by Bortumer; 12-14-2006 at 04:51 PM.
Originally Posted by Bortumer
WOWWWWWWWW.
wow.
You're the third person to ask me this in the last 2 months or so. I didn't know this obscure-ish game had so many fans!
Deae Tonosama Appare Ichiban (Sunsoft, 1995). EGM had a preview of this back in the day... and I'm still looking for a copy myself. Complete copies go for $100, but apparently cart only copies have been spotted for as cheap as $10.
I haven't even played it yet, but the other two people who asked me called it a "good Pocky and Rocky clone" much like you did. I'm very curious to check it out one day, but it seems pretty hard to come by. If I ever get my hands on it, I'll give it a little feature here
AMERICAN BATTLE DOME
4-player pinball! Intrigue anyone? Shame it's not as fun as it may sound then
Different themes like Haunted House, Heaven, Fantasy etc. can't salvage this dud. If you hold the theory that ANY 4-player game is AT LEAST halfway fun, and wish to keep that theory, then stay far away from this... "game"
-----
BLOCK KUZUSHI
"GOOOOO VOLTRON!"
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Arkanoid should be blushing then
--->
When hit, the gray buggers set off a sweet chain reaction
Block Kuzushi has a funky storyline, multiple paths to select from and all the typical power up's and down's you'd expect from this type of game. Reverse controls, longer thingie [Just great -Ed.], gun allowing you to easily mow down blocks, etc. There's even boss characters; the first appearing on stage 11
Did that read DULL?
A two player mode with 3 different stages is thrown in for good measure
My favorite of the 3 designs
I liked BK initially, but it got "meh" after a while. It's alright
Block Kuzushi (0:51)
-----
HARAPEKO BAKKA
Released on PAL SNES as Hungry Dinosaurs, this is... one strange game. Playing on a 9x9 grid, you lay an egg for each square you move. Pressing the Y button has your dino eating the opponent's eggs in a Yoshi-like manner
You can change a row of eggs belonging to the rival into your own. That is, if you can sneak an egg at the front and back (i.e. GRRRRG). Whoever has the most eggs on the grid after 40 seconds is declared the winner
And, er, that's pretty much it. That's the whole damn game. Hell, the manual's only 6 pages!
Winning 32 eggs to 23
SUPER PLAY loved it. They just couldn't stand it
"Everything about HUNGRY DINOSAURS reeks of quality. Every aspect screams out "Instant classic!" The style, the characters, the sounds, the simple concept... it all points to a surefire hit. But then there's one problem. The gameplay is all wrong."
Gameplay received 31% and overall score a paltry 35%.... ouch
The only bright side is the four-player option. But much like American Battle Dome, not a game-saver. Best avoided
SUGOI HEBEREKE
Taking a break from their many puzzle games, those infamous Sunsoft knuckleheads star in a primitive version of SMASH BROTHERS
Pick from 1 of 10 characters, each with their own special moves and attributes, and fight to be the last mascot standing
No ledges to be knocked off of...
... You must fight to the death
It is four-player compatible. However, sometimes with 4 on screen the action slows to a crawl. Momentarily
--->
Hop on and use that set-piece to your advantage
It's alright in a 10-minute-spurt kind of way. I found it rather disappointing... it lacks the addictiveness and desirability that made others of its kind so fun to play
Sugoi Hebereke (0:59)
-----
SUPER B-DAMAN
Yup, it's the sequel to Bomberman: B-Daman (highlighted a while back). Remember how the original came boxed with a figure? This comes with stickers to decorate said figure... you gotta admit, that's pretty clever on their part
It's pretty much the same concept, except this time with MUCH MORE Japanese text to wade through. The shoulder buttons add a new curvy-power shot that is crucial to some of the layouts
The biggest difference is the new 4-player format. Now you're free to move where you wish, unlike the original where you were "on rails" so to speak. There are only three stages in this mode, but it's nice to see the upgrade to free movement. The goal now is to push the others over the edge, and be the last standing
Slippery shenanigans
Avoid the middle there
--->
Oh snaps
I much prefer the original. This doesn't have the 'charm' of the 1st one for whatever reasons...
4-Player Battle (0:30)
SUPAPOON
Block Kuzushi isn't the only Arkanoid clone around here!
Fun to see the big jewels flashing
It's pretty bare though, what you see is what you get in this 1-player game. There are 6 worlds to go through, with 6 stages per I believe. A total of 36, presumably
Sweet
Your goal is to eliminate all the yellow faces. There are some neat little features...
--->
Like this flagitious skull for example
The "line protector" powerup is really cool. In other games if the ball touches the line once, it fades away. Here, the line is made of many individual blocks, and when hit only one block disappears, rather than the whole thing
--->
Cool stuff
Another awesome powerup: the almighty 1-hit-kills-all blazing ball
--->
Like a knife through hot butter!
Decent Arkanoid clone. I like it over Block Kuzushi
Supapoon (1:06)
-----
SUPAPOON DX
The sequel/upgrade. It's very similar except now there's a password system
And a 2-player mode
2 Player Battle (0:47)
-----
That concludes the lightning round. Duds and niche games goes with the territory. Next time, a special guest of honor will be in the house. Til then, have a good one
Thanks Steve, that's the game. I also remember seeing it in EGM, that's how I got in the first place.
You should really give it a go if you spot any cheap copies.
I think the game would be pretty popular if more people knew about it, it was really fun.
Good choices again, Steve.
BLOCK KUZUSHI: This was also released on GameBoy and Playstation. I have the PS version, and it's pretty much identical to the SFC version, except it has more cinemas (maybe more levels?) and some nice lounge tunes on CD.
HARAPEKO BAKKA: This looks like some kind of "Battle Othello" game, then, with all this colour-trapping/reversing going on. Presumably, Othello fans would have a riot with this game. Maybe.
SUGOI HEBEREKE: What a crying shame Sunsoft never made a proper sequel to the fantastic platformer that was the original Hebereke (on the Famicom). I guess the "action game boom" (as the Japanese called it) was over and the cutesy mascot 4-player battle game boom was in full swing at the time.
I was unconvinced when I saw SUPER PLAY trashin' ACTION PACHIO to the tune of 42%. At the time, for a few months already, it was on my want list. It seemed like a potentially fun little obscure platformer. With a hero bearing more than a slight resemblance to PAC-MAN (as well as CodeMaster's DIZZY)
Hmmm.....
How bad could a blatant Sonic clone be?
--->
Surely not 42% bad?
Sh'yeah, right
Clunky control, abominable gameplay... it's stilted like you wouldn't believe
Insta-Death hurrah!
The 1st stage is littered with spikes. Terrible control + no way to scroll down = cheap deaths galore
Keeping hope that level 2 may somehow right the ship, I trudged on
Sadly, it was a case of blind optimism. This is the kind of game where you advance a bit further, die, memorize and repeat. Rather than tough enemies or tricky level design ousting you though, it's the pitiful control
What wasted potential. On a side note the graphics remind me of SUPER BACK TO THE FUTURE II... except that one was halfway good
Far from the worst in SNES history, but bad 'nuff to induce an ulcer
Action Pachio (1:21)
-----
With that garbage out of the system (literally)... let's move on to bigger and better. What follows are two reviews from SUPER PLAY MAGAZINE -- in all their glorious entirety, to take us home
SANDRA NO DAIBOUKEN
What initially looks like a rather poor Wonder Boy clone actually turns out to be a top-notch arcade adventure, enlivened by some very versatile controls. These take getting used to, but once learnt prove to be extremely rewarding -- if a bit frustrating at times.
Graphically Sandra's a mixed affair, with both lovely and rather drab bits. The main sprite has consistent appeal though, and the way he can jump and land on top of baddies with his fork is a joy -- and a lot less disturbing than it sounds!
The gameplay is as patchy as the background graphics, however -- at some points it's simply great fun, while other bits are a real pain. Throughout it all the generally melancholy sonics add tons to the game, even if they do get slightly repetitive. Indeed, the whole feel of the game is tearjerkingly sad -- not just the music, but also the plot (our hero has to collect various special herbs to help cure his dying son), and general atmosphere.
Passwords are given at regular points, but it'll still take you a fair while to find the herbs, due to the fiendlishly designed levels -- you can almost feel the boy's life draining away as you struggle with a particularly tricky section.
A real discovery, then, and a game that offers the player a lot more than it first appears. Things get better and more complicated as you progress (indeed, it's fiendlishly difficult in certain sections) but don't let the Japanese text that crops up occasionally turn you off -- understanding it all is not crucial to gameplay. This is likely to remain an obscure game in the UK, though we expect something of a cult around it -- great fun. -Jason Brookes
Graphics: 84%
Sound: 89%
Gameplay: 82%
Gamelife: 91%
Overall: 88%
Verdict: A wonderfully versatile and highly unusual game that, as a slightly bizarre trip into Japanese eccentricity and mysticism, is hard to beat. Despite some infuriating sections, this is highly recommended, especially to hardcore gameplayers. One thing is for certain -- no one will finish this in a hurry.
Sandra no Daibouken (1:01)
SUPER NINJA KUN
We phoned up the Japanese Embassy in London to ask them what a Kun was. They slammed the phone down and have since instigated legal proceedings....
Japan is a land of contradictions and oddity. Take, for example, the ninja. Ruthless, silent assassins who didn't adhere to moral or ethical codes but whose sole purpose was eradicating people. Ninjas were nasty pieces of work.
But nowadays the Japanese proudly display them as part of their culture, and they're everywhere. Take this game, for example. A tiny, smiling Super Deformed ninja rushes around in a cute way, trying to save his sweet girlfriend. Not the sort of thing ninjas generally got up to.
Right. The game, then. Well it's a platform job with lots of small, easily killable baddies, plenty of running and jumping and a crowd of bosses at the end of each level. As you progress, you collect extra weapons, but things get a tad trickier. It's like a million other games.
In fact it is very much like a million other games. Perhaps even better than most. Super Ninja Kun doesn't have anything special in it at all, but it does all the usual stuff well.
STEAL THE SOULS OF THE DEAD
You, being a ninja, have the power to use various special weapons and effects. But before you can use them, you must collect power from the bodies of the baddies you've offed.
When you shuriken something, a little tadpole-like spirit rise from the body and you must grab it. This energy builds up on a bar at the bottom of the screen. Hitting the A button releases whichever attack or effect you've lined up. The default effect gives yourself a twin, who mimics your every move but can't be harmed. This is dead useful for attacking bosses because it doubles your fire-power.
--->
There isn't much else to say. This is an above-average platform game with some quirky Japanese elements (the little ninja can swell to giant size after consuming a flashing orb for example)
--->
There's a two-player mode, which is worth five to ten percent on the overall score, surely. Yeah, and it's a big game as well. By big, I mean that there are many levels. The actual levels are rather short and you are faced with the choice of either flying through them in the quickest way possible (there's no time limit, though) or exploring, collecting and running a vastly increased chance of being killed. Luckily, when you die, you're regenerated where you were killed, so there aren't any gripes to be had about restart points or anything.
You'd have to be a major platform fan to want this. And if you were a major platform fan, you'd probably find it too easy. It's a Catch-22 situation. Sorry. -James Leach
Graphics: 73%
Sound: 58%
Gameplay: 77%
Gamelife: 65%
Overall: 68%
Verdict: If platform games were cars, this one would have electric windows and a sun-roof. But it would be the same colour as all the rest, and would still be looked on with scorn by the Honda Fireblades which represent decent, imaginative games. It's a crap metaphor but you see what I mean.
Super Ninja Kun (1:04)
Hi,
just want to thank you for your wonderful work!The SFC is my favorite video game system and I've always wished that so many great games were not unknown because they've not been released in USA or Europe.
Thanks to your topic,a lot of great games with very few review on the internet (like Shonen Ninja Sasuke or Magical Pop'n) will be know better,and that's a good thing.There are a lot of SFC games (1445 if I remember well) and that's a pity that we always speak about the same games,so thank you a lot for your topic! ^^
PS:I'm also a great fan of Deae Tonosama Appare Ichiban(that I've just managed to get ;-)),which is the perfect mix between Kikikaikai and Chô Aniki.If you're looking for an another unknown,very rare and totally crazy action game on the SFC,try to find Gourmet sentaï bara yarou,definitely a must-have!
Last edited by Karellen; 12-18-2006 at 02:06 PM.
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