Japanese PC reviews needed (PC98/X1/FM Towns)

[Sketcz-1000]

My piece on Japanese computers went up in the articles forum:
hg101.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=recent&action=display&thread=6923&page=1

After reading comments I've decided to massively expand it, especially the games bit at the end. To save some time and work I thought I'd post and ask if any HG101 readers wanted to contribute any mini-reviews. Kimimi has provided quite a lot, but I'm looking for more to balance it between:
PC98
PC88
X1
X68k
FM Towns
and even other more obscure systems such as Fujitsu FM7, PC6001, Tomy Pyuta, etc. Anything really, apart from MSX. I've intentionally ignored the MSX for this article since it's way too big a subject, and it was released in the west (well, technically so was a model of PC6xxx, but you know what I mean).

All I need is 50-100 words (plus game name, system, year of release, developer), and a single good screenshot, and the name you want to be credited under. I thought we could put each person's name to the review and build up around 30 or so, instead of the 5 currently there.

Feel free to post text/images here, or PM me for my email address.

[kimimi]

I can certainly add some more PC98/X68k games, but I don't have anything set up for the others :/

[Sketcz-1000]

So far I've got these penned in for addition:
Battle Gorilla
Night Slave
Kagirinaki Tatakai
Die Bahnwelt
Tatsujin-Oh
Lightning Bacchus
Mirrors
100 YEN DISK
Geograph Seal
Super Mario Bros Special
Mario Bros Special
Brain Breaker
Aquales
The Scheme
Wibarm
Hover Attack
Rayxanber
Thunder Force
Rusty
Zak McKraken

Several I'll be taking fro existing HG101 articles. If anyone wants to add anything, especially for the Fujitsu FM7, which I have nothing on, please post.

My harddrive actually died not too long ago, hence why I've got so little stuff easily accessible. Might be time to reinstall my archive DVDs and go spelunking.

EDIT:
an old topic by ReyVGM might prove handy:
hg101.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=games&action=display&thread=2479

[Ryu the Grappler]

Don't forget that Snatcher (PC-8801, MSX2) and Policenauts (PC-9821) were technically PC games before their console releases.

[Sketcz-1000]

I could borrow from the current articles and add those - but I also want a big push for games never mentioned elsewhere before. Hover Attack and Kagirinaki Tatakai are two recent discoveries the result of Hg101 users. I like to get the unknown out there.

[Trickless]

Since the tokugawa topic has pretty much derailed to the point of no return, I'll chip in a couple of reviews here. They're quite possibly the best names for any video games

If you need it cut down to less than 100 words then just take the 2nd paragraph onwards. And it's up to you if you want to include the 'relevant games', i'd thought it would be interesting for those reading the topic.

(Screenshots look weird with the black background!)
--------------------


JESUS
ジーザス
Format: PC-8801, FM-7, MSX2, X1
Year: 1987
By: Enix


PC88 Screenshot

In the year 2061, the appearance of Halley’s Comet has sparked fears of the apocalypse predicted by Nostradamus. A group of researchers from the space station JESUS are sent on a special mission to investigate Halley's Comet, but it all goes awry when one of the space ships loses its communication signal. Hayao Musou is given the task to go onboard and find out what has happened with the crew.

This sci-fi adventure game by Enix is often praised for its movie-like story, although it is obviously influenced by the Alien films. The gameplay is all menu selection, but it does have a good mix of puzzle and exploration – and the atmosphere adds an element of horror too. Koichi Sugiyama composed the music, with the theme song being the most memorable piece. A very enjoyable game, and not to be missed by Japanese adventure games enthusiasts. Whilst not nearly as good, the sequel JESUS II is also worth checking out.

Also released for the Famicom as JESUS - Kyoufu no Bio Monster (1989)



Relevant games:

JESUS II (1991) | PC-8801, PC-9801, X68000

PC88 Screenshot


--------------------


Dead of the Brain - Shiryou no Sakebi
デッド・オブ・ザ・ブレイン - 死霊の叫び
Format: PC-9801, MSX2, X6800, FM-Towns
Year: 1992
By: Fairy Tale


PC98 Screenshot

One night Dr. Cooger invites his friend Cole over to his house to show off his new creation - a revival medicine fluid that can bring the dead back to life. After some events which resulted in a police man getting killed, the Doctor uses the fluid to revive him, but ends up turning him into a raging zombie instead. The nightmare truly begins when the Doctor accidently spills the fluid in a cemetery during their escape...

The first of Fairy Tale’s Nightmare Collection series, this horror adventure is packed with suspense and gore. The game is played in first person using a point and click interface, and like in most adventures it has a list of commands for the player to choose. There are also some timed scenarios (usually involving a zombie or two); failure to pick the right action within the time limit will result in a game over. It steps into sci-fi territory in the closing moments, but the gruesome scenes will please every horror fan.

Also released for the PC-Engine CD as part of Dead of the Brain 1&2 (1999). Other games in the Nightmare Collection are Marine Philt (1993)and Dead of the Brain 2 (1993)



Relevant games:

Marine Philt (1993) | PC-9801, FM-Towns

PC98 Screenshot

Dead of the Brain 2 (1993) | PC-9801

PC98 Screenshot

[Ryu the Grappler]

I figured as much. I've played the Hokuto no Ken adventure game that was released by Enix for the PC-88. I could do a quick write-up of that i you want me to.

Jesus: Kyōfu no Bio Monster and Portopia Renzoku Satsujin Jiken were both PC games originally, but I'm only familiar with the Famicom ports.

EDIT: Trickless beat mentioning "Jesus" to me

[Trickless]

Jul 18, 2010 13:51:22 GMT -5 Ryu the Grappler said:

I figured as much. I've played the Hokuto no Ken adventure game that was released by Enix for the PC-88. I could do a quick write-up of that i you want me to.

Good choice! If you do write it, I think it might be worth mentioning that it was the first Hokuto no Ken game.

[Ryu the Grappler]

Jul 18, 2010 18:38:58 GMT -5 Trickless said:

Jul 18, 2010 13:51:22 GMT -5 Ryu the Grappler said:

I figured as much. I've played the Hokuto no Ken adventure game that was released by Enix for the PC-88. I could do a quick write-up of that i you want me to.

Good choice! If you do write it, I think it might be worth mentioning that it was the first Hokuto no Ken game.

Way ahead of you.

[Sketcz-1000]

A couple of people emailed me on Tokugawa, which was nice. And yeah, those entries are awesome, thanks for posting them. I'll add them to the feature when I get back to my computer (bloody thing seems on the verge of dying not a month after getting it).

[Deleted]

Jul 18, 2010 13:47:38 GMT -5 Trickless said:

JESUS
ジーザス
Format: PC-8801, FM-7, MSX, X1
Year: 1987
By: Enix

MSX2 game

[susanismyalias]

Holy CROW that Dead of The Brain game looks cool. Anyone know if it ever happened to get translated perchance?

[Trickless]

Jul 19, 2010 9:11:06 GMT -5 @mp83 said:

MSX2 game

Ah yes, my apologies. Thanks for spotting that out, post has been modified.

Jul 19, 2010 10:42:58 GMT -5 susanismyalias said:

Holy CROW that Dead of The Brain game looks cool. Anyone know if it ever happened to get translated perchance?

JunkerHQ (Policenauts fan translation) are working on an English translation of the PC-Engine version; which has Japanese voice acting and some extra animations.

[snakeplissken]

Hello, i'm new here. I'm reposting my review of the adventure game Mirrors for Fm Towns and PC-88 CD here:




Mirrors (PC-88 CD / FM-Towns) (PC-88 1990 / FM-Towns 1992)
Software House: Soft Studio Wing

This adventure/visual novel game is maybe Soft Studio Wing's finest moment. Like the majority of the games created by this japanese software house, it deals with the sudden irruption of the paranormal and the macabre in the everyday's life, in order to uncover some strange, and often morbid and shocking, secrets.A vast majority of the games also haves some strong references to classical japanese culture and buddhism and Mirrors is no exception.
In these aspects, Soft Studio Wing's games resembles a lot the works of Go Nagai, but i am digressing now.
Mirrors puts you in the role of David, the singer of a famous rock band, Elleno Vision. David is haunted by some bizzarre nightmares, in which he is chased and killed by a mysterious maniac. After waking after one of these horrible nightmares, David finds out that the band's manager has been murdered in a grisly way. The band is about to skyrocket into success and start it's first world tour, so David and his bandmates decide to carry on despite the tragedy that has occured. But the horror won't fade away, and David, willing or not, will have to face the mistery behind all of this.
The game strongest point is it's atmosphere: haunting and chilling, created by a mix of great CD music (i often find myself to put the game CD in the stereo), haunting and eerie photo-like static graphics (the PC-88 version has a darker and more suitable palette in my opinion) and a very interesting storyline.
Mirrors also contains a lot of references to classic horror and thriller cinema: for example, David catchs a fragment of a Friday the 13th movie on television early in the game, the FM Towns title screen recalls directly the ending of Dario Argento's Deep Red and David's fiancee looks are based on the beautiful Nastassja Kinski, daughter of the notorius Klaus Kinski.
The game features multiple endings, based on the choices you take during the game. It seems also that the PC-88 version has an extra ending that the FM-Towns version doesn't have, so i'd reccomend to play that version. Sadly PC-88 CD emulation is very rough and problematic: in order to run the game you'll need to install ASPI drives. M88 emulator is open source and the source code can be easily found on the Togukawa boards: if you are interested in improving it, you're welcome and I will be very grateful to you!

[lordkarnov42]

Feel free to yoink my abandoned overview of The Black Onyx from here:
gameraper.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=1112

And my translation here:
fullmotionvideo.free.fr/forum/viewtopic.php?t=719

if you wish.