Thursday, May 20, 2010

It's not all fun and games

"It" being life--or, at least, my life at the moment. That's not to say I'm not spending some of my free time playing games. I am. I'm just not spending much of my free time playing them--and when I am playing them, I'm not playing recent releases.

What I am playing: PC Engine games. In particular, games like Bikkuriman World, Gekisha Boy (aka Photograph Boy), Honey on the Road, Mizubaku Daibouken (aka Liquid Kids), Obocchama Kun and Parasol Stars. I've also spent some time with Alien Crush, (the much-maligned) Deep Blue and Final Match Tennis.

Namco's Obocchama Kun

(Full disclosure: I've been playing all of these games via emulation. Now, before anyone jumps down my throat about the perils of piracy, let me say this: I will soon--very soon!--be the proud owner of an actual PC Engine and a number of PC Engine games. Also, I plan on owning physical copies of all of the above-mentioned games--and then some--in the not-too-distant future. So, let's just consider my current, questionable activities to be akin to trying on a shirt or a pair of jeans before buying them, OK?)

FACE's Honey in the Sky

Anyway, the thing that has struck me while playing many of these games is how innovative they are/were. Games like Deep Blue and Honey in the Sky could easily be called precursors of the current "bullet hell" (shoot 'em up) genre, for instance, while games like Honey on the Road and Obocchama Kun took what were considered at the time to be the rules of the platforming genre and ran with them. And then there are games like Gekisha Boy and Mesopotamia (aka Somer Assault), which defy classifications and rules altogether.

As such, it's sad that so few of these games left Japan--and the ones that did were largely ignored. Thankfully, some of them can be experienced through Nintendo's Virtual Console service and Sony's "Game Archives" download service. To experience the rest, well, you'll either have to pick up an actual PC Engine system or download an emulator.

11 comments:

Viewtiful_Justin said...

The box art is WAY wacky on that second one...wow.

I keep checking your DIY warehouse and crying. :-P

Bryan Ochalla said...

Ha ha! I'm glad you like the cover art for Honey in the Sky. It might be my favorite cover art ever -- or at least my favorite bat-shit-crazy cover art ever. Hmmmm, maybe I should do an "in my oh-so-gay opinion" post about that subject...

As for my DIY warehouse -- sorry. I haven't played DIY in some time. If I don't pick it up again this weekend, I'll be sure I take it with me when the hubs and I go back to our old stomping grounds (Madison, Wis.) in a few weeks.

Are you still playing it? If so, any new games (or comics or music) to share?

Zigfried said...

I salute your impending PC Engine purchase!

Bryan Ochalla said...

Thanks, Zigfried! (Can I call you Ziggy?) It should be here today -- or Monday. I can't wait!!

IvaNEC said...

Your comment about Deep Blue being a precursor to bullet hell shooters is really interesting. A buddy of mine once slammed the game because the enemies never actually fire any bullets (or projectiles of any kind, for that matter, unless we count smaller fish). But that's what's so cool about the impression that the game made on you: it reminded you of bullet-heavy shooters, not with a lot of bullets, but with tons and tons of ENEMIES.

Thinking about DB in this way, it reminds me of modern Dynasty-Warriors-style beat 'em ups. Perhaps Deep Blue inspired both manic shooters AND manic brawlers. ;)

Going strictly by traditional bullet hell traits, Raiden and Kyuukyoku Tiger seem like the sub-genre's likeliest forerunners, at least as far as PCE titles go.

But that's easy to notice. Coming up with unusual takes on these things is a lot more fun.

Bryan Ochalla said...

Oh, I like the way you think, IvaNEC! I've never thought of DB being similar to beat 'em ups...

Anyway, I know DB wasn't really responsible for the birth of the bullet hell genre, but it certainly is some sort of precursor -- as are many other PCE shooters.

Speaking of shooters, thanks for posting the review of Metal Stoker on your site. I'd never heard of the game before reading your review -- and it really piqued my interest!

Zigfried said...

I will respond to Ziggy, but don't spread that around. If everyone calls me that, then there could be apocalyptic consequences.

Also, while the DB/bullet-hell connection was interesting, IvaNEC is a madman for linking DB to brawlers. Not that I've ever actually played Deep Blue. I'll have to change that... and then review it!

Bryan Ochalla said...

OK, I won't call you Ziggy. Zigfried is more refined anyway :)

RE: Deep Blue -- you've never played it? I'm guessing you're like me -- the horrible reviews kept you from giving it a try. I didn't even think of it until I read IvaNEC's review and a review at magweasel.com.

Anyway, don't get me wrong -- the game isn't without (major) flaws, but that doesn't mean it isn't interesting. I esp. like the fact that your health recovers as long as you don't shoot. Oh, and the bosses are pretty cool, too.

Bryan Ochalla said...

BTW, Zigfried -- I just checked out your site. Great job! I'll pay it a regular visits, I'm sure :)

Funny aside: When you posted your first comment here, I thought you were one of IvaNEC's cohorts at thebrothersduomazov.com!

Zigfried said...

And now I've linked back! Visiting Duomazov so that I could click their link and visit your site was getting old.

Bryan Ochalla said...

There's a link to my blog on Duomazov? I didn't know that -- and I visit the site a few times a day at this point (I have to read every review, you know)...