Cotton

~ COTTON ~

Success / Hudson Soft

Super CD-ROM

1993

A number of years had passed since I'd last played through Cotton when I decided to revisit it for this review, and I was able to recall pretty much nothing about it. That wasn't a particularly positive sign, but at least everything seemed fresh as I made my way through it once again.

Cotton is a sidescrolling shooter that features neither the fast feel of a Thunder Force nor the memorization requirements of an R-Type. I suppose it's comparable to Air Zonk, as it employs "chunky" sprites and leans towards the cartoony side of things. There's nothing challenging about it aside from initial encounters with a couple of bosses, but there's plenty to shoot at.

The music is very catchy (particularly Stage 2's theme), and Success did some cool things with the visuals: observe the shaking terrain at the end of Stage 1 and the wavy background during the graveyard boss fight.

They also produced some amusing cinematic sequences. The protagonist shows herself to be a real nut, running rampant one minute and apologizing to a defeated dragon boss the next. Incidentally, in the Japanese version, you can indeed view the text that accompanies these wacky interludes in English.

Well, I probably won't remember anything about the game in two weeks' time, but it was fun while it lasted; and I think it'll still be enjoyable when I revisit it again a few years from now. Don't expect good value per your buck if you spend a lot of cash on the US rendition, but if you're thinking about buying the affordable JPN version, then I say go for it.

Toy Shop Boys

~ TOY SHOP BOYS ~

Victor Musical Industries

HuCard

1990

The draw in this vert is that players "get to" control a party of three flying guys. Each dope wields unique weaponry (normal bullets, homing boomerangs, or a spinning laser blade good for swatting away projectiles). You change the "leader" of the group to switch weapons; the other two clowns just flank the shooter and essentially act as defense-only options. For all that, TSB basically plays like any other shooter that lets you change weapons with the push of a button. It counts on its multi-goof system to be its hook, but there really isn't that much strategy involved or many on-the-fly changes to be made.

And for a game with such a lighthearted theme, the visuals are inappropriately drab. The designers incorporated the "toy" concept into one background by randomly placing lego blocks amid boring browns, greens, and grays.

The fourth-stage desert is the one nice-looking area: the amount of detail put into the texture of the bright sands is surprising considering the simplicity that plagues most of the environments, and there are myriad dead things scattered about the attractive canvas.

The music is acceptable--somewhat jolly if pretty plain.

You'll have to deal with a decent number of small toy-themed enemies, but the action never really becomes intense. Although the weapons you're granted are underwhelming, you'll probably cruise right through the levels. The boss battles, on the other hand, may require some practice, which is good...

...but the checkpoints can be downright stupid. Die and you'll be back to square one with your weaponry and dropped down to slow-as-shit speed, and since your adversaries usually won't accommodate you with a sufficient supply of power-ups right away, making progress following but a single setback can be an unduly frustrating process.

It's hard to recommend Toy Shop Boys when the system has so many better verts, even if we count only the HuCard-based options. While there's nothing terribly wrong with its fundamental gameplay, the chip comes off as a weak product overall with drab graphics, annoying checkpoints, and a calling card that wasn't built on adequately. And those three kids look really dumb as they're flying around.

S.C.I.

~ S.C.I. ~

Taito

HuCard

1991

After Chase H.Q. had become an unlikely favorite of mine, I wasn't expecting much in the way of surprises from its successor. I figured S.C.I. was pretty much a sure thing, a followup that would give me more of the same chasing-down-the-scoundrels fun I'd gotten out of H.Q., but with a gun thrown in for good measure.

However, the addition of ammunition necessitated a reconfiguration of the controls, resulting in a scheme I've never been able to get completely comfortable with. This already-grim situation is in no way improved by the importance placed on precision driving, as deviating from the course even momentarily often has consequences graver than the traditional crash-and-recover driving game waiting sequence. You may end up falling from a cliffside route or plummeting into the sea or a sub-highway abyss. Even if you can cope with the new control arrangement and stay true to the trail, you'll have to worry about the belligerent drivers who share the road with you, as they have a nasty knack for sending your apparently light-as-a-feather machine flying with the slightest nudge. And if they aren't irritating you through aggression, they'll strike via passivity, as they sometimes set themselves up as roadblocks.

What the gun element does (to the delight of those who struggle with Chase H.Q., I imagine) is make it quite easy to obliterate the crooks' cars--that is, of course, if you can avoid taking a fall and remain on their tails. H.Q.'s pursue-and-pound system is simple and exciting; S.C.I.'s chase-and-shoot action typically feels either too easy (while you're carelessly blasting away and watching the bad guys' damage meter fill rapidly) or too frustrating (when the bums get away after you've been knocked off the road, leaving you to play catchup).

S.C.I. isn't a bad game, but it isn't always an enjoyable one either. Frankly, even though S.C.I. has better graphics, I prefer Pack-in Video's similar Knight Rider Special.

I'm not the biggest fan of these types of control setups.

Pre-stage screens provide information on what's to come. "HILL" must be the secret codeword for "bus."

Busting up the enemies isn't such an arduous task if you remain on course.

In some spots, a helicopter will drop off the limited-use rocket launcher, which allows you to deal even greater damage to your foes.

This particular helicopter would rather destroy you than lend a helping hand.

Drive carefully (and evade crash-happy assholes), or you'll end up off the edge or in the drink.

The last level is dumb: a quick drive through the desert concludes with a stop at the enemy base to plant explosives. There's no opposition to contend with (save for the time limit).

Takin' it to the Hoop

~ TAKIN' IT TO THE HOOP ~

AiCOM / NEC

HuCard

1989

I put off purchasing this game for many years, as I was in no rush to pick up something that, according to numerous reports, is inferior to wrinkled old Double Dribble. Actually, Takin' is essentially a cartoony rendition of DD. As such, it bears little resemblance to real basketball and looks goofy as hell... but really, who cares? It wasn't intended to be a serious basketball sim (you'd be better off with TV Sports Basketball if that's what you're looking for). It's just a fast-paced, carefree game of hoops that plays reasonably well and has amusing character "portraits"; and it demands little in the way of strategy aside from the occasional substitution of players. Taking it for what it is, I had fun with it... for a few minutes.

Then I got annoyed with it. The games run way too long, with no apparent means of shortening them available. The screeching music drives me crazy, even after I set the volume incredibly low. And the worst part of all is the "difficulty curve." Exhibition and early Tournament matches present practically no challenge: you'll be ahead by an insurmountable margin at the end of the first quarter and have to endure three more long periods before finishing up or advancing. But later in the tourney you'll encounter steal-happy opponents who need do little more than graze your players in order to capture the ball. Of course, despite their defensive "skills," the computer-controlled ball handlers still perform foolishly, making it easy to regain possession and transforming the game into a turnover fest. And when your dopey foes finally start to wear down, you'll have no trouble nailing boatloads of successive baskets and taking control of the contest completely. I certainly don't expect realism from the Takin' experience, but these sorts of matches are just plain stupid.

Choose a city to play for and meet the misfits on your club.

Play along and pretend there's some sort of strategy involved in the gameplay.

Dunks and free throws receive the fancy (read: usual) close-up treatment.

You'll be burying the computer and realize an eternity still remains before the final seconds will tick off the clock. Fun.

Halftime "entertainment."

Think the computer needs to make better use of its bench players?

If you're willing to sleepwalk through early-round blowouts and trade innumerable turnovers in the farces that are the later matches, you too can survive the daunting Takin' tournament bracket.

Genji Tsushin Agedama

~ GENJI TSUSHIN AGEDAMA ~

NEC

HuCard

1991

Genji is an interesting, enjoyable forced-scrolling platform game. The weaponry at the hero's disposal constitutes the highlight of the affair: Agedama can attack his adversaries with fireballs; tornadoes; wave beams; musclebound genies; lightning bolts; and the SUPER SKULL OF DEATH, which causes the action to stop as the play area quakes and flashes (perhaps reminding one of the full-power-blow effects in The Legendary Axe).

Our multi-skilled protagonist can also perform a quick little somersault, which has the dual advantage of hurting his enemies while rendering him momentarily invincible (like how "slides" work in quite a few other action games). Boss fights are fun, although I eventually figured out how to use the somersault to cheese my way through most of them.

The soundtrack, which was produced by T's Music, seemed a bit primitive at first, but the melodies grew on me before long. The graphics are bright and colorful, with pretty skies, seas, and waterfalls enhancing the usual "grassy" levels, and even the deserts and caves are anything but bland.

The game isn't as fast paced as New Adventure Island, and its stages aren't as cleverly designed as NAI's. It's painfully short, clocking in at a mere six levels while similar games like NAI, J.J. & Jeff, and Monster Lair offer lots more. And the forced scrolling is dropped midway through the fifth strip, making later-stage play feel rather methodical until one reaches a sweet boss gauntlet (which features a warship, the previous bosses, a wizard guy, a bunch of cannons, and a two-form final foe).

For some reason, Genji always seems to be priced at either a reasonable ten bucks or a bloated thirty-plus. If you spot an inexpensive copy, I recommend buying it, as the adventure is fun (if fleeting) stuff.

Galaga '90

~ GALAGA '90 ~

Namco / NEC

HuCard

1989

There used to be a code of ethics for vertical shooting that was followed by human and alien alike. Mankind was allowed a craft that would reside at the bottom of the screen as the invading armada aligned itself at the opposite end. Each side was granted its weapon of choice (a pea shooter, without fail). And they went at it. No world-obliterating armaments and none of that “change speeds on the fly” nonsense. You shot from one end, they shot from the other--battle done mano-a-mano, with one winner emerging. Galaga ‘90, the old guard's ultimate revenge, takes us back to the times when wars were waged with dignity.

Now, the fact that we’re traveling back a few years doesn’t mean that we have to be crude--Galaga ‘90 does “old school” with style. Take those pitch-black backgrounds from Atari classics and adorn them with flashing stars of various appealing colors. The twinkling luminaries slowly descend as we head into battle, some plummeting more quickly than others. This gorgeous “snowfall” is accompanied by pretty images of enormous satellites and icy planets in the distance. Who needs Mode 7 and swirling lava and other such junk when we’ve got simple, sincere beauty such as this?

Of course, you’ll probably be more concerned about the myriad intergalactic creatures who prance about the attractive canvas. Winged insect-like beasts and chubby alien miscreants alike surge onto the playfield, partake in fancy flying antics, and settle into their battle positions (rows near the top of the screen). It’s a likable bunch, to be sure. You’ve got your “Big Bangs,” who inflate themselves when you nail them with your missiles and ultimately pop like balloons. There are the charismatic “BOOMs,” who spontaneously give birth to mini-renditions of themselves upon being slaughtered. And then there’s the tough fella--the “Man of War.” This character is certainly an adept fighter--he uses his steel-plated wings to defend himself prior to launching his attacks--but he’s also smart: watch as he positions himself in front of his allies, thus protecting with his armor not only himself but also his comrades.

While they may appear meek, your enemies become extremely fast late in the adventure, making them tough to take down as they soar about the screen in erratic patterns, firing missiles at you all the while. These guys aren’t only relentless; they’re downright ferocious, and they make the experience a hell of a lot more intense than you’d ever expect it to be based on initial impressions. Nonetheless, Galaga ‘90 always remembers not to take itself too seriously, as you'll discover when your screen starts flashing with an unforgettable message: "THAT IS GALACTIC DANCING." Wacky tunes begin playing as your insect-like foes do the improbable: they call off their assault to... dance. But don't you stop firing away, as you’ve just stumbled upon Galaga ‘90's take on bonus rounds.

Well, it’s got charm in spades. It’s got length, for sure, as it presents twenty-nine levels to blast through. It makes for a good challenge, as anyone who has been crushed by a surging Bodyguard can attest to. Its replay value is quite high, especially considering the respective sights to be seen over four separate routes through the adventure (you gain access to alternative paths by acquiring special capsules and performing "dimension warps"). It even exhibits beauty, which is the last thing one would expect from a game that, in essence, revisits and pays homage to relics.

But what makes Galaga ‘90 truly special is the way it can put a player in a zone like few other shooters can. Once you’ve honed your skills, identified your adversaries’ assault patterns, and developed your strategy for attack... once you find yourself wiping out entire waves of enemies one after another and see your supply of reserve ships increasing while your score soars... this is when you’ll be not only hooked but also immersed. You’ll discover that zone of intense concentration that nothing can shake you from. This sort of feeling--this unwavering focus and the pride one feels from maintaining a high level of performance--is what keeps one coming back for more. The game becomes more enjoyable after you beat it, as you return time and time again to take additional shots at breaking personal records. Galaga ‘90, a TurboChip with a simple premise and a rather mundane exterior, becomes in the eyes of the player who has experienced it not only unique but also extraordinary.

You choose between a standard single-craft model or a double-ship right at the beginning. You can upgrade to the mighty triple fighter later on.

"Boss Galaga" uses his tractor beam to capture ships from your stock. Allowing him to do so and then merging with the craft he abducted after striking him down is actually a method of upgrading.

The graphics aren't all about simple stars on black.

Blast up the galactic dancers. Perfection is celebrated with fireworks.

Snag dark-blue capsules to perform dimension warps, which take you to tougher paths. Only by traveling the most challenging route can you see the best ending.

Most areas feature single-screen engagements, but some sections scroll vertically.

The boss creatures are pretty neat. Sadly, there are very few of 'em.