Culture Brain developed a few quirky titles that came stateside. The RPGs are Little Ninja Brothers (NES), Ninja Boy 2 (Game Boy), and Magic of Scheherazade. I like them all for the same reasons: interesting setting, unusual RPG systems, and strange humor (which Wanda would appreciate). Magic of Scheherazade has an Arabian Nights theme, which I am a sucker for—Al-Qadim: The Genie’s Curse (PC) and Exile (Genesis) are favorites. Some compare it to Legend of Zelda, but that’s half-baked. Almost every bit of Magic of Scheherazade is slightly unexpected.
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REVIEW: The Magic of Scheherazade
REVIEW: Sword of Vermillion
Not caring about Square, I consider the Genesis the supreme 16-bit RPG system. There’s Phantasy Star 2, 3, and 4 (classic), Shining in the Darkness (old school), and Shadowrun (excellent), but also numerous PC ports and American games: Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday, Might & Magic: Gates to Another World, Dungeons & Dragons: Warriors of the Eternal Sun, Faery Tale Adventure, etc. Yet one of my favorite Genesis RPGs is the neglected Sword of Vermillion. Genesis fans don’t like Sword of Vermillion’s homely graphics and repetitive structure, but if you have patience for Phantasy Star 2, you may dig it.
REVIEW: Virtual Hydlide
I’m America’s biggest Hydlide fan. Hydlide is old-school fun and Super Hydlide (Hydlide 3) is uniquely enjoyable. While Virtual Hydlide is rough, it’s not like the haters would have you believe. As an approximate remake of Hydlide, Virtual Hydlide was dated even in 1995 and there’s no excuse for the (much discussed) sluggish framerate. Still, it’s not the 1/10 game many claim—I say at least a 4.
REVIEW: Mytran Wars
Mytran Wars: A PSP squad-based tactical mecha game with 2 separate armies and customizable units. Cool.
REVIEW: Braindead 13
NOTE: Just for fun, the Japanese box art is shown, but Braindead 13 came out in America (and is American).
Braindead 13 is an interactive cartoon (ala Dragons Lair) released on about every system (including CD-i, 3DO, and Jaguar), and another “game” that tries the definition of the word. While the premise is fun (sassy repairman escaping monster-filled mansion) and the animation is plentiful, the play is trail and error tedium. With infinite lives, prepare for 1001 deaths.
wandaelektrix
willyelektrix
Last Human Family 