PCEngine

GAMER
ISSUE 4 • MARCH 2011 • FREE

REVIEWED
JUMP & SHOOT
モンスター•レ アー
MONSTER LAIR
THAT BOY’S A WONDER

PLUS
OILY BARBARIAN
ラスタンサーガII
RASTAN SAGA II
KILL ME, KILL ME NOW

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: BOMBS THAT GO BOOM • SEGA vs SEGA

 P CE n g
PC Engine Gamer

: MO N S T E R LAIR r Boy defeat

REVIEW utiful princess, can Wonde
ea l?
Paired with a br will he just try to cop a fee
the invaders, o

P I A omething
NEWSTOm of news reporters have pafotireenretl gurgitating it for you here.
y w aite d for s

Our crack tea happen on the internet be

interesting to

11
ISH & T I P S
F ’s one thing more fun th f little animated scene
an playing a
it’s
Japanese RPG,s from it.
If there
g hundre ds and hundreds o
watchin
S A G A II

12
A S T A N
REVIEW : Rarian action games has a seqsuteel.aming pile?
rb a
The king of ba up to the original or is it just
Does it match

18
TOP SBegAa’sNhA NA head-to-head in battle as
eroes go e death.
Two of Opa Opa fight to th
Tyris Flare and

P P Y H OUR

19
UD A ’S H A
DR. BAK
once again re gales us with heartwarm
ppy face!
ing
The doctor childhood. Put on your ha
tales from his
UE r selection of oldies

20
M I NG TO N G
GA er slobbers over anothe em yourself.
th
Joe Redif ) to save you playing
(and one newie

D O WN great, which is why

24
AL C O U N T
THE FIaN
t make big boom in
mbs in
st
g noises are ju shoot ‘em ups.
Things th bo
n t down the top ten smart
we cou

2
 n e
giGAMER Issue 4
MAR 20e.c1o.u1k/gamer
www.pcengin
paul@pcengin
e.co.uk
Issue 4

here pick ing strange

As I sit
ings out
spongy black th -nails
toe
from under my they?),
re
(what the hell a nder
wo
I can’t help but s gone.
ha
where the time
e ll u nd erw ay and the
w
The New Year is here. Aside from a few
ally
new issue is fin and there, this month
re
licks of paint he ame to be given our
tg
also sees the firs ard - reserved for those
aw
very own OBEY that are considered an
es
PC Engine gam eryone’s collection.
f ev
essential part o
p ro vid e d m e with the
o
This year has als w graphics for a real
dra
opportunity to ss P C E ng ine game. As
n e
honest-to-good r work on Mysterious
ino
well as some m sed’ Song, I’m also
lea
‘will it ever be re stuff for Aetherbyte’s
ng
hard at it creati n . T hese are truly
co lle c tio
Retrocade
exciting times.
sunteam_paul

PC Engine Gamer is a free, non-profit, fan produced digital magazine aimed to spread
the love of NEC’s PC Engine games console. All images/screenshots/artwork used in this publication
are copyright their respective owners/creators/companies and are used here for the purpose of comment, review and parody.
All written text is copyright Paul Weller, or the original author if stated, and is not to be reproduced without prior permission.
Earthworms have 5 hearts.

3
PC Engine Gamer

Monster Lair
Poor Tom-Tom. He’s already
rescued his girl and saved the land
from the evil Meka Dragon, and
he’s just sat down for five minutes
hoping to get a cup of tea and a bit
of a kip, when invaders from across
the galaxy appear and pinch a load
of legendary weapons and armour.
In fact, he’s so put out by all this, he
changes his name to Leo, dyes his
hair bright green and sets out to plan a viable strategy for success,
knock seven shades of Deep Blue this sucker is full-on auto-scroll at
out of these little scumbags that are all times so you need to keep on
about as welcome as a dose of clap. your toes and focus on what you’re
And to make things worse, all these doing instead of tickling the dog
years of running around naked in and munching a biscuit as you play.
the jungle and he STILL can’t get a Believe me, it doesn’t work.
decent tan.
And if that’s not enough to raise
From the very first second, you can the tension, the good old original
tell that Leo really means business Wonder Boy style health system has
- after all he’s running...all the time. been slotted neatly back in place, so
There’s no standing around to you’ll need to collect lots and lots of
take stock of your surroundings or fruit to stop your life being sucked
Watch out for ice; you’ll slip around
like an oiled baby in a non-stick pan.

Don’t venture too close or you’ll

get a taste of his huge fiery balls.

4 Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair ©1989 Hudson Soft/Alfa System ©1988 Westone
 Issue 4

Pop that pink fairy and you might just get a quick
snog out of her (or maybe just a wand to the head)

away faster than marriage and I’m very tempted to cook it dinner
children ever could. one evening.

Now this wouldn’t be too fair if you You see, in many games you tend
were given the same old offensive to find the ‘best’ weapon and
tools. Throwing small hatchets or stick with it, never picking the less
gently poking critters with your effective ones or the complete
tiny sword won’t cut the mustard duffer (for there is always one). But
here. No, this time Leo has far Beat off these ghouls before they
more power as at the very least his become fully erect and block your path.
sword shoots out cannon ball sized
projectiles that maim anything that
dares to get in their way.

Naturally, as in pretty much every

video game ever invented, there are
power ups, but Monster Lair has a
weapon system that I like so much
5
PC Engine Gamer

Here’s a bit of a rundown on what

Yes, it’s a flying snake that coughs up beach balls.
to expect:
Spiral - this sends multiple
flying blades around you
in a circle. It’s only good for short
range, but can come in handy as
protection on blind jumps or if you
want to push ahead fast.
Wide Ring - A spread of
rings shoots from your
sword. Best used at great distance
to mop up multiple enemies, or on
bosses that throw many tiny things
Hmm, this looks familiar...
at you.
Beam - A narrow beam
weapon, it’s powerful but
you have to be accurate to get the
results.
Fireball - A nice one to get
you out of close shaves, this
shoots fireballs forward and behind
you, relieving you from those times
where you are attacked from both
the designers have thrown a wet
sides.
fish in the spokes of that particular
Missile - One of the best
bicycle, as each weapon you pick
weapons to get, this shoots
up is only effective for a limited time
missiles with massive explosive
before you resort to old faithful pea
potential. If you keep your finger on
shooter again. Thankfully, weapons
the button, they will zoom off until
drop in abundance and you’re
they hit, but if you don’t then these
never at a loose end for something
form an offensive and powerful
to collect (they also raise your
barrage in front of you. The must-
health so are a viable alternative if
have weapon for bosses.
fresh fruit seems to be lacking). The
Big Fire - A rare drop, and
upgrades themselves are varied
that’s no surprise, as this
enough, forcing you to alter your
shoots huge swirling balls of fire
strategy on the fly depending on
that devastate anything in their
what you end up with.
wake. Awesome.
6
 Issue 4

That’s not all though dear reader, that watching a chimp’s tea party
for when you are done with a level that is going horribly wrong before
of frantic platform hopping, the your eyes. Monster Lair is just pure
second half of every level has you arcadey goodness, and I find myself
riding a stylish pink dragon in a not caring a jot whether I can finish
traditional shoot ‘em up scenario. the game (which I quite definitely
Admittedly, these stages are more can’t) because I just enjoy the
a warm-up for the approaching playing so much. It’s fast moving,
nasty boss creature, but they are a great reflex platforming that (aside
welcome diversion nonetheless. from a few bosses) never feels like
it’s cheating you into dying unfairly
The bosses are quite a highlight in - the finger is always pointed back
Monster Lair. They are all very well at your ineptitude, so you only have
designed and most are memorable yourself to blame.
encounters from the R-Type
So how good is Monster Lair?
style snake to the fruit machine
mushroom. This is, however, where GAUGE OF GOODNESS
one of Monster Lair’s few flaws is
apparent, as some of the bosses
(particularly the later ones) are
Natalie Portman
disproportionately challenging
compared to the levels themselves,
meaning that you will drop a good
many lives if you’re unlucky enough
to have the wrong (or no) weapon. Monster Lair

But that’s just a minor niggle,

because the game itself is more fun
Always watch for attacks from behind. Red Dwarf

An Enema

Marmite

Red Dwarf © BBC, Marmite is a trademark of Unilever UK Limited, Natalie Portman is hot 7
PC Engine Gamer

Conversion Connections DURP.

Barring some minor cosmetic
changes (and I’m not talking botox or
boob-job), Wonder Boy II was a pretty
damn accurate conversion on the PC
Engine, and Monster Lair continues
this trend. PC Engine Arcade Mega Drive
missing, but sound effects are so close
Aside from the obvious limitations as to be almost identical. In fact, the
with parallax scrolling and the programmers at Sega were so blown
modifications to the palette, Monster away by the awesome power of the
Lair is an almost carbon copy of the PC Engine version that when they
arcade original. The life panel is a came to convert it to the Mega Drive,
touch different and some animation is they just gave up trying.

Visually, it’s just as good a stages, but generally there’s always

representation of the arcade as something nice to look at.
you could ever have hoped for.
The designs are appealing and the One of the major selling points
scenery, while simple and cute, for me is the sound. Glossing over
suits the game perfectly. The visuals the fact that the sound effects are
get a little less exciting in the later just about spot-on arcade perfect,
The cacti are so cute it’s a the music is where this game truly
shame to cut their faces open. shines.

Some people have commented

that this game didn’t have a reason
to be on CD. To them I say ‘pish and
tish’ (or I would if still living in the
middle ages). I maintain that there’s
no reason for it not to be on CD,
and the utterly superb soundtrack,
8
 Issue 4

arranged to perfection, does an Dum da-dum dummm, dum da-dumm. Dum

awful lot for the atmosphere and da-dum dummm, dum da-dum dum dum.
enjoyment of the game. This was
one of the early CD-Rom games,
and was certainly one of the ‘killer
apps’ for me, as I’m sure it was for
others.

And one final thing that puts the

final icing on the cake - Monster
Lair has simultaneous two player
gameplay. If I had any friends I’m
sure it would be super fun.
videogameyness that makes is a
In conclusion, Monster Lair is joy to play. And be assured that it
like the After Burner of platform will be a game that you will come
games. It’s simple, ideal to be back to, and enjoy, far into the
played in short bursts, and is just future when most other titles are
ultimately full of good, honest forgotten. SP
THE OVERLY COMPLICATED SCORING SYSTEM
GRAPHICS BALANCE
STAR QUALITY
Almost arcade perfect, cute Perhaps too hard to complete GREAT
and appealing and all superbly for many, but a well balanced BOOZE-UP
designed and memorable. and graded difficulty. EDMUND!
SOUND EFFECTS MUSIC

Top quality arcade sound Some of the most awesome

effects add greatly to the game music on CD-Rom. The

927
if you know the original. arrangements are perfect! TOTAL SCORE
PLAYABILITY ADDICTIVENESS

Great control with no issues You’ll play this in bursts rather

make this a pleasure to play - it than long sessions - but you
just feels so natural. will always come back for more. /1000
GRAPH OF PREDICTED INTEREST

SECONDS HOUR DAY WEEK MONTH YEAR DECADE

MAKER: HUDSON SOFT • YEAR: 1989 • FORMAT: CD-ROM

Blackadder II ©1986 BBC 9

PC Engine Gamer

Newstopia
Yesterday’s News Today

The Bees are Disappearing

According to reports that
everyone has read by now, Hudson
Entertainment (the American one
that isn’t the real Hudson Soft) has
This turn of events has cast doubt
been given a swift axe to the neck
on whether the new PC Genjin
by their powerful overlords, Konami.
title for Xbox, Wii and PlayStation 3
will get a release outside of Japan,
Konami has fully acquired Hudson
which has caused a great deal of
Soft after getting it really drunk at a
relief among fans of the series.
party once and taking some rather
embarrassing photos.
When I failed to approach
Konami’s CEO, he quite definitely
Staff at Hudson Entertainment
didn’t say, “This will be a day long
didn’t tell me, “At last. We’ve been
remembered. It has seen the end of
kept locked in the stationery
Kenobi, it will soon see the end of
cupboard for months with only
the rebellion.”
scraps of chicken skin and toner for
sustenance.”

Kato & Ken Observed in Spot the

Historical Photograph Difference
Below are two screenshots
from the PC Engine.
How many differences do
you think you can spot?

A B
Answer: 57344

10 Kato Chan & Ken Chan ©1987 Hudson Soft, PC Genjin 2 ©1990 Hudson Soft/Red, Gate of Thunder ©1992 Hudson Soft/Red
 Issue 4

Fish & Tips

Hints and cheats to help
you stay ahead of the pack

Necross no Yōsai: Debug Mode

Fed up trying to wade through reams of Japanese text to play the game?
Then why not take a moment away to listen to the music or watch one of
the animated sequences with this handy little tip.
1. Navigate to the password screen (it’s the middle one)

2. Type in the following password (get a Japanese person to help

you if you have trouble deciphering the characters)

3. Enjoy all the sound effects and music, or browse through

hundreds of animated scenes (I got bored just after number 700).

Necross no Yosai ©1990 Ask Kodansha/Lad-R 11

PC Engine Gamer

Rastan Saga II
Once in a while, something gritty, let’s take a look at what
truly remarkable happens. A makes this the truly unique
development team manages to experience it is.
take all their experience and skill
and somehow, magically combine The original Rastan Saga was
them, resulting in a product that released in the arcades in 1987
achieves results that you couldn’t by Taito. It was well received, with
have expected in your wildest its Conan-like fantasy setting,
imaginings. Well folks, Rastan Saga II challenging platforming action
is such a game. Holes can be tricky to spot, especially
with the chunky backgrounds
But before we get into the nitty

The brave warrior sets out on his

quest, then realises in horror that he
forgot to get dressed this morning.
12 Rastan Saga II ©1990 Taito
 Issue 4

Wallop these blocks to clear a path. The medieval version of elevators,

It’s kinda like barbarian Tetris. these pillars shift up and down.

and exceptional soundtrack. So

therefore, a sequel was inevitable,
which followed in 1988. Of course, (frankly unimportant) story revolves
this goldmine of a franchise was around the land of Rastania,
primed just in time for the PC which was a rather sacred holiday
Engine, and Taito in their wisdom spot containing a temple called
chose to bypass the first Rastan “Skyscraper”, control of which would
(which after all was a whole year bestow the new owner with rule of
older than the sequel, and therefore the aforementioned land. While this
logically it was surely a year seems a somewhat questionable
rubbisher) and go straight on to governmental policy, there it is.
convert number two. And naturally some bright spark
has twigged that it might be
While Rastan Saga II is quite advantageous to give it a bash, so
different in practice, on paper it has rounded up a whole army of
sounds like more of the same. The otherworldly minions to invade the
temple and generally beat
people up a bit.

Now this mysterious

“wicked group” started to
get on people’s wicks, so
a courageous young man
has risen in revolt against
them, while everyone else is
probably still watching the
Downwards pointy sword action is telly.
handy, but not always effective.
13
PC Engine Gamer

that wants nothing more than to

lop your head off for sport. Dispatch
him or her (or it) and it’s back
to a bit more running, jumping,
swinging on ropes and general
all-round barbarian frivolity. What
could possibly be wrong with that?

Well.
Sword envy was a common thing
back in those simpler days. When I approached this game to
review, I promised myself that I
And so you take control of this would take a more positive outlook
young hero, a man whose bulging than people might expect. My
muscles and stylish red boots opening paragraph, for example,
you could only dream of having. is essentially true. It takes a great
Progressing through the various
landscapes, defeating monsters
sometimes gives the opportunity
to alter your weaponry. You begin
with a rudimentary short sword
and shield (which can be raised
above your head to avoid falling
blocks) but also available are such
classics and the ‘bloody great big
sword’ and ‘a pair of claw gloves so
you can pretend you’re that dude Upthrusts are quite useful, and a bit of cold steel
from those X-Men films.’ There are poked up the arse is always a laugh.
also other little bonuses like the
ability to expel a powerful electric
charge from your current weapon,
which can really cause some nasty
burns.

Naturally, after a few sub-stages in

each level, you are thrown (or more
accurately, you leap) into an arena
with a particularly angry beastie
14
 Issue 4

deal of skill for a development team known, but also manages to take
to produce a title which, given its a dump on its classic prequel with
heritage and no-brainer money- such skill it is to be admired.
making possibilities, manages to
propel the player into new and But let’s remain positive. What
quite amazing realms of complete makes Rastan Saga II so great at
apathy that they have never before unentertaining me? Could it be the
experienced. impressively large sprites that work
absolute wonders in cramping the
They have succeeded superbly in gameplay and proving that bigger
creating a sequel which not only is not always better? Or could it be
disinterests me in ways I had never the stunningly twee soundtrack

Conversion Connections
It’s all very well reviewing the game which results in a much blockier
‘as is’, but how does it compare as an looking game. Some background
arcade conversion? details (like trees) are missing, but on
the whole it fares very well.
Surprisingly, it is mostly very accurate.
The sprites are spot on, save a few The gameplay is much faster in the
frames of animation that had to be arcade version, although the jumping
dropped. Colours are accurate - the PC seems to have a delay which the PC
Engine has a slightly more vibrant and Engine version doesn’t suffer from.
contrasty palette, so it’s not as subtle Levels also scroll continuously and
in places. The backgrounds are also don’t have the somewhat jarring fade
generally pretty good, although the out that just feels odd.
main failing is a lack of parallax scrolling
The tunes are the same, but the arcade
music is both faster and uses far more
appropriate sounds. It’s a lot more
heroic, which does make a difference
to how the game feels, but still doesn’t
save it from itself.
PC Engine Arcade Mega Drive

15
PC Engine Gamer

Bosses are not massively strategic,

but some of them are just massive.

The Bad, the Good and the Ugly

There’s a lot of things wrong with making you walk frustratingly slowly
Rastan Saga II, so here’s a quick (see above).
rundown: • Enemies can often hit you before
• Everything is too big, making the you have a fair chance to hit them.
gameplay area feel cramped. • Some jumps are just cheap and
• Walking is frustratingly slow, making unfair.
you want to jump everywhere • Despite the big sprites and
because it’s faster. closeness to the arcade, somehow
• Rushing the game by jumping it still looks a bit naff.
everywhere is a sure way to die, • If the bosses require any strategy
other than bashing them while
GRAAWR! being killed, I’m not interested
MONGO LIKE
CANDY! enough to work it out.

In balance, here are some good points:

• You get used to the badness after a
while.
• It’s a fairly decent conversion.
• Unlike Mahjong games, at least it’s
somewhat playable.

Here’s the ugly:

• You are.

16
 Issue 4

that sounds more like something I always look forward to this bit
my granny would knit to than the
theme of blood soaked barbarian
action?

Well, it’s all these things and more.

Control is horrible, collision is
often unfair and frustrating, and
the whole package just feels so
strangely bland and unexciting that
you’d rather be off playing Deep
Blue...really. horrible pickled plums you get in
Japanese rice balls. You know the
And the fact that if one tiny ones. They make you gag.
management decision was made a
little differently, we just might have Take my advice. If you ever get your
had the original Rastan Saga on the hands on this HuCARD, flush it like a
PC Engine, and that just makes this morning turd. SP
as hard to swallow as one of those
THE OVERLY COMPLICATED SCORING SYSTEM
GRAPHICS BALANCE
STAR QUALITY
Big, accurate sprites and The game is well balanced, I HAVE
A CUNNING
backgrounds, but it just looks getting gradually more PLAN, MY
like a bit of a mess at times. challenging as you progress. LORD.
SOUND EFFECTS MUSIC

The white noise effects are The tinkly, weedy sound is

adequate but can start to grate inappropriate and the tunes

431
after a while. aren’t memorable. TOTAL SCORE
PLAYABILITY ADDICTIVENESS

Hampered by little annoyances Aside from the basic urge to

and frustrations, these take a see the next level, you just feel
lot of the fun out of the game. it’s not worth the effort. /1000
GRAPH OF PREDICTED INTEREST

SECONDS HOUR DAY WEEK MONTH YEAR DECADE

MAKER: TAITO • YEAR: 1990 • FORMAT: HUCARD

Blackadder ©BBC 17
PC Engine Gamer

Top Banana A fight to the death...

but who will win?

Tyris Flare OPA OPA

Golden Axe Fantasy Zone

ROUND 1 : WEAPONRY WIN

Her sword may be lame, but her magical ability He might look harmless...until destructive
to summon volcanoes, walls of flame and giant lasers stream from his body to shred all foes
fire breathing dragons are enough to give even around him. He also drops Monty Python
the hardest enemy the squits. style 16-ton weights, so that’s an instant win.
WIN ROUND 2 : TOUGHNESS
Anyone can take on an army of henchmen these Not only does Opa Opa hide behind his
days and not break a sweat, but to do it in just a arsenal of high tech weapons, he also shatters
small red bikini and boots really shows what this into a million pieces at the slightest touch. Pretty,
gal is made of. but what a wuss.
WIN ROUND 3 : PHYSICAL PROWESS
Tyris is truly at the peak of physical perfection. Poor Opa Opa can get a good sprint going, but
She runs, leaps, kicks, stabs and never shows any quickly tires out and has to fire up his engines if
signs of fatigue. If it wasn’t for those ugly girl- he wants to get his daily quota of alien murder
muscles, she’d be almost perfect. filled. Get back to the gym, my little egg friend.
WIN ROUND 4 : INTIMIDATION FACTOR
Let’s face it. Anyone would be intimidated Opa Opa is about as intimidating as a well painted
by someone waving a sword casually at Easter egg in an Easter egg painting competition.
their face. Add to that the fact that Tyris is a The only way he’d be less threatening is if he was
woman, and that’s plain terrifying. wearing pink Uggs.
ROUND 5 : MOST FUN AT PARTIES WIN
You might think a hottie like Tyris would go Opa Opa is a boon at parties. You can get him
down a treat, but even in a ball gown she has to give rides to the kids, and if he cracks open
the physique of Schwarzenegger and if drunk, his cockpit he makes a great ice dispenser.
she could burn the place down with her magic. If you get bored, you can also fry him.
OVERALL WINNER
Tyris Flare
Tyris may be bent on revenge, but is driven by a sense of justice. Her
devotion to physical training and mastering the elemental magic of fire
shows a true strength of character (or lack of anything better to do).
18 Golden Axe ©1990 Renovation/Telenet/Sega, Fantasy Zone ©1988 NEC Avenue/Sega
 Issue 4

Dr. Bakuda’s
Happy Hour
Shown the error of his ways, Dr. Bakuda has
turned his powers to good and wishes to
spread joy and cheer to all around him.
Please note the opinions of Dr. Bakuda may not represent the opinions of the Editorial staff.

I was in my weekly anger everything, the pestiferous gecks.

management class the other day,
drawing a nice picture of a kitten And not only that, they are probably
under a rainbow. It kind of reminded the only company that shoehorns
me of the wonderful old animated about 45 minutes of eye-offending
movies, nay events, that the Walt adverts for their excretable products
Disney company produced in my on the start of their DVDs. It takes
youth. It’s such a lovely feeling of about 20 clicks of the skip button just
magic watching those movies that to get to the damn menu! And worse
it brings you right back to your than that, they have the utter gall to
childhood. release a new feature called ‘Fast Play’.
Using fast play actually TAKES LONGER
I crapping hate Disney with every to get to the movie than just hitting
fibre in my body. They think they ‘menu’. Fast Play plays all the frigging
are the bloody be-all and end-all of adverts. What the hell is fast about
animation. They’ve not produced a that?
decent film in decades (and don’t
you dare count those extended The only good thing about Disney is
merchandising adverts like Alladin and that they bought Pixar. Pixar is great.
The Little Mermaid). They rip off other Pixar is NOT Disney in my eyes. Disney
people’s ideas (see: The Lion King) should be down on their knees,
and what makes the bile rise in my licking the boots of Pixar clean with its
throat the most is the way that bunch tongue. And Disney’s link with Studio
of uncreative jack-a-napes brand Ghibli is somewhat redeeming. And
everything like they invented it. Oh, the Pirates of the Caribbean movies
it’s no longer DVD, it’s ‘Disney DVD’. were good. Tron was also cool.
It’s not Blu-Ray, it’s ‘Disney Blu-Ray’
because of course Disney invented Actually, I really like Disney.
Berabo Man ©1990 Namco 19
PC Engine Gamer

Gaming Tongue
The world of gaming is not confined to the PC Engine.
Joe Redifer gives you a taste of whatever else is out there.

Ys: The Oath in Felghana

PSP • XSEED • 2010
Being that I actually purchased more difficult. I am simply unable
a PSP solely to play Ys Seven, I to select a lower difficulty that
decided to get the other Ys games “Normal” because I don’t want to
on the system as well and snapped be beaten up by my friends, but
this one up when it was released. honestly I think it might be a good
idea to play this game on a lower
difficulty level.

The music is outstanding and

rearranged compared to the
PCE-CD version. I won’t say it is
better but I will say it is equal or
near-equal in most respects (the
Insert ‘huge balls’ gag here. mountain theme isn’t as good, but
the volcano theme is better, etc).
It is a remake of the fabulous Ys The stages are rather long-winded
3 and has existed on the PC and as the game tries to be more than it
whatnot for years and years now, really is.
but we’re not here for a history
lesson. As a big fan of Ys 3, I was Suffice it to say I have fallen bored
eager to blow through this one as with the title and have yet to finish
I usually just plough through Ys 3 it. JR
Some of the scenery
games, enjoying it all of the way. is really quite pretty.
But lots of things were changed.

The new 3D look throws me off

a bit, but it is still playable. There
are lots of new items and even
some new bosses. It is also much

20 Ys: The Oath in Felghana ©2010 Xseed/Falcom

 Issue 4

Pilotwings
Super Famicom • Nintendo • 1990
Aim for the cat, dude!
I first saw Pilotwings being displayed
in a store on a Japanese Super
Famicom many months before
the SNES launched in the USA. I
was mesmerized by the spinning
and tilting playfield which was
powered, in part, by the mighty DSP
chip inside the cartridge as the full
potential of the Super Famicom had
calm and relaxing music. You simply
already been reached before its first
try to land correctly or fly through
game was completed.
rings or whatnot. Amazingly you
aren’t called upon to stop some evil
regime and save the entire universe.
I also happened to think that one of
the teachers in the game was quite
cute. Hey, I was a teenager with
ragin’ hormones!

Over 20 years on and we still

don’t have personal jetpacks.

“I must have this!” I thought to

myself, “But I needn’t have it right
this second”. I didn’t get the SNES
I don’t know if I ever completed the
right at launch due to lack of funds,
game or not as it is not a game that
but within a few months it was mine
demands such play. It is very casual.
after I picked the console up at my
But I do know that the Nintendo 64
local grocery store along with a TV
version, while good, had nothing on
dinner, some oranges and a bottle of
the SNES game. I plan to purchase
shampoo.
and enjoy the upcoming 3DS but I
am fairly confident that it will sour in
Pilotwings is the ultimate leisurely
comparison, but we’ll see. JR
game due in large part to its very

Pilotwings ©1990 Nintendo 21

PC Engine Gamer

Space Harrier
ARCADE • SEGA • 1985
It was games like this
one which helped me
decide which would be
the first gaming console
I ever bought, the Sega
Master System. I wasn’t
tremendously good at
games back then, but I was Just as much fun today as it ever was.
impressed enough by this and Space Harrier was no exception
and other Sega games that my with tons of colour, a crap-ton of
choice was clear. I was an arcade scaling sprites and lots of objects all
game lover and I felt Sega had the moving around very fast at a rock-
best arcade games, so the SMS was solid 60 frames per second.
the console of choice for me.
I used to impress onlookers as I
zipped through Stage 14 “Asute”,
the fastest and most frenetic stage
in the game, without dying. I simply
loved this arcade game and still do.
It has aged very well in my opinion.
However I was disappointed that
there was no final boss. The SMS
It may look unique, but I had a
dream like this just last night. version had a final boss called Haya-
Oh which had awesome music, but
A bit after buying that console and the last boss in every other version
beating the home version of Space of the game including the arcade is
Harrier, I began to get really good at just a wimpy reappearance of Valda,
the arcade version which featured the single-headed skeleton dragon.
slightly smoother graphics and a But that doesn’t stop me from
touch more colour than the home loving the arcade version.
counterpart (though it is nearly
impossible to tell the difference Here’s a tip for you which should
between the two versions if you work in ALL versions of this game:
stand 2 miles away). Sega really was The harder you set the difficulty, the
ahead of their time in the arcades easier it actually is. JR

22 Space Harrier ©1985 Sega

 Issue 4

Kangaroo
ARCADE • SUN ELECTRONICS • 1982
I used to play this game in the also hit a bell which plays a little
grocery store when I was a little kid tune, but I never was able to figure
while my mom did the shopping. out if it had any other purpose.
I was pretty good at it and could Maybe it makes the monkeys stop
even make it up to round 4. I was throwing chewed-up apples at
the envy of all the other kids in the you for the time being. The game
neighbourhood. also features original BGM which is
something that games at that time
did not usually feature. It rocked
hardcore as most music from
Sunsoft games tend to. Yes, this
company eventually became what
is known as Sunsoft.

The controls are extremely stiff and

PETA would have a fit over this game. are slow to react. This was perfect
for me when I was a kid since I had
The premise is similar to Donkey no skill and I was an idiot. Now that
Kong in that you play a completely I have massive skills and a brain
useless and unmemorable faster than any CPU, the game does
character who needs to get to the not respond fast enough for me
top to rescue someone who is and as a result it is much harder to
clearly more valuable to the enemy play now than it was for me back
than you are. Why they are holding then. When all is said and done, this
baby kangaroos as hostage is never game isn’t as good as Blaster Master
explained in the game’s story, but I and there really is no excuse for
am hoping that the monkeys plan that! JR
to eat him or her. Is that monkey giving him the finger?

You wander upwards jumping to

hit fruit with your head. This serves
no purpose other than to add
points. Fruit was a very popular
point accumulator back in old
arcade games, it seems. You can

Kangaroo ©1982 Sun Electronics 23

PC Engine Gamer

The Final Countdown

A definitive top 10 of PC Engine game features

Smart Bombs in Shoot ‘em Ups

10. Raiden 7. Star Parodier
Raiden’s bomb A choice of weapons,
is a bit rough depending on your
round the character, each
edges, but the sensitively designed
fact you are in boy and girl
dropping it on colours. The flying
some hillbilly’s PC Engine shoots
estate makes out big spinning
it all that more globes, much like a
pleasurable. Take bubblegum fart.
that farmer Bob, you toothless old hick!

9. Gate of Thunder
If the loud screeching sound doesn’t
cause a violent bowel movement in your
enemies, the massive wall of fire racing
towards them at high speed is sure to
make them turn tail and run...at least until
they burst into
flames and die 6. Cotton
in screaming Despite Cotton being a cute little girl, she
agony. It’s the can still make sith-like bolts of lightning
humane way to shoot mercilessly from her fingertips, and
do it you know. do it without hammy overacting too.

8. Final Soldier
Rather than some
brutish fiery death
bomb, this hippy
weapon looks like
a nice explosion of
pretty flowers that
tastefully spiral out
from your ship,
radiating peace and joy.

24 Raiden ©1991 Hudson Soft/Seibu Kaihatsu, Gate of Thunder ©1992 Hudson Soft/Red, Final Soldier ©1991 Hudson Soft, Star Parodier ©1992 Hudson Soft/ Inter State/Kaneko, Cotton ©1993 Hudson Soft/Success
 Issue 4

5. Parodius 2. Winds of Thunder

As Forrest Gump
proved, simple is
sometimes more
effective, and this
slowly growing
explosion looks
great as it fills
the screen and
annihilates anything
in its way, burning
your retinas in the
process.

Although short lived, the variety of these

4. Super Star Soldier super weapons and the sheer relief when
Space heroes of the future can take you press that button make these more
solace in the fact that the last thing welcome than a couple of porn stars at
that those evil alien children say before Charlie Sheen’s house.
their death is
something like,
“Look Daddy, 1. Kyūkyoku Tiger
fireworks! Daddy? This is just an awesome sight, and is
why is your face EXACTLY what you want to see from a
melting Daddy?” smart bomb. Massive rings of fire cause
untold devastation to all that make
contact, and the satisfying rumble leaves
no doubt that you’ve dropped one (a
bomb that is). This is a big bang. This is
things blowing up. This is what real men
want to see. Kabloooooooey,

3. Tatsujin
This game
couldn’t be
harder if it
took viagra,
so you’ll be
needing
plenty of
these bombs to progress. Luckily they
look both scary and wonderful and are
one of the classic bombs in gaming.

Parodius ©1992 Konami, Super Star Soldier ©1990 Hudson Soft/Inter State/Kaneko, Tatsujin ©1992 Taito/Toaplan, Winds of Thunder ©1993 Hudson Soft/Red, Kyukyoku Tiger ©1989 Taito 25
w w w. p c e n g i n e. c o. u k / s u n t e a m