Micro Cabin

Akuu Senki Raijin

Akuu Senki Raijin

Nintendo Famicom Disk System - Released - July 12, 1988

Akuu Senki Raijin is a vertical shooter where the player controls a mecha that transforms into a starfighter. Like Square's earlier semi-classic Thexder, the player can opt to change between the two modes of their craft at certain points during each level. Upon touching ground as the mecha, the player is occasionally able to find other directions to continue exploring as a spaceship, presenting both vertical-scrolling and side-scrolling shoot-'em-up sections.

AshGuine Story III: Fukushuu no Honoo

AshGuine Story III: Fukushuu no Honoo

Microsoft MSX2 - Released - 1987

Developed by Micro Cabin, AshGuine Story III is a top-view action-RPG with real-time battles. You navigate through the game world just like in an RPG and you have to get into houses to talk to people to gather information.

Carmine

Carmine

NEC PC-8801 - Released - 1987

Carmine is a Role-Playing game, developed and published by Micro Cabin, which was released in Japan in 1987

Carmine

Carmine

NEC PC-9801 - Released - 1986

A first-person adventure game with RPG elements, released by Microcabin in 1986. The game featured environments rendered in 3D polygon graphics, for possibly the first time in a home video game, along with early survival horror elements. However, the game is better remembered for its cyberpunk narrative, which was adapted into a sci-fi novel shortly afterwards.

Carmine

Carmine

Sharp X1 - Released - June 1, 1987

A first-person adventure game with RPG elements, released by Microcabin in 1987. The game featured environments rendered in 3D polygon graphics, for possibly the first time in a home video game, along with early survival horror elements. However, the game is better remembered for its cyberpunk narrative, which was adapted into a sci-fi novel shortly afterwards.

Dragon Half

Dragon Half

NEC PC-9801 - Released - December 3, 1993

Meet Mink. She is in love with a pop singer and dragon-slayer Dick Saucer; however, to win his love, Mink has to find a magical potion to turn her into a human. In the game, Mink and her friend Lufa and Pia are having a vacation on the beach, listening to Dick Saucer's concert on the radio. When Dick mentions Mink in his "special thanks" speech, she decides to find him no matter what, even if it means changing her own nature.

Eiyuu Densetsu Saga

Eiyuu Densetsu Saga

Sharp MZ-2500 - Released - 1985

Fearing the wrath of the dragon, the king sends a young girl to the Northern Valley as a sacrifice in hopes to appease it. The Northern Valley is unknown to most, but there is one brave man who is willing to step up and save the girl called Linda. However it is said that only a legendary weapon can slay the creature... Not to be confused with Falcom's Eiyuu Densetsu RPG series, Eiyuu Densetsu Saga (Legendary Hero Saga) was originally a PC98 game developed by Arrowsoft and published by Microcabin back in 1984. Although known as a graphic adventure game (or 'Role Venture Comic' as Microcabin calls it), it is probably more accurate to call it a dungeon crawler as you spend the entire game navigating through a labyrinth. The game was released for several computer platforms with some differences between them, such as a different map layout. The most notable changes were made for the IBM JX and Sharp MZ-2500 versions. Released some months after the original, these versions completely ditch the digitized artwork and went for a more conventional aesthetic. All the menus are in Japanese, with some of the more useless commands removed (such as 'Kick'). It also uses all of the Japanese scripts, as opposed to just hiragana like in the original. Extra scenes and characters have been added, such as an encounter with a giant called Geirrod, but the overall plot remains the same.

Eiyuu Densetsu Saga

Eiyuu Densetsu Saga

NEC PC-9801 - Released - 1984

Fearing the wrath of the dragon, the king sends a young girl to the Northern Valley as a sacrifice in hopes to appease it. The Northern Valley is unknown to most, but there is one brave man who is willing to step up and save the girl called Linda. However it is said that only a legendary weapon can slay the creature... Not to be confused with Falcom's Eiyuu Densetsu RPG series, Eiyuu Densetsu Saga (Legendary Hero Saga) was originally a PC98 game developed by Arrowsoft and published by Microcabin back in 1984. Although known as a graphic adventure game (or 'Role Venture Comic' as Microcabin calls it), it is probably more accurate to call it a dungeon crawler as you spend the entire game navigating through a labyrinth. The game was released for several computer platforms with some differences between them, such as a different map layout.

Eiyuu Densetsu Saga

Eiyuu Densetsu Saga

NEC PC-8801 - Released - 1984

Fearing the wrath of the dragon, the king sends a young girl to the Northern Valley as a sacrifice in hopes to appease it. The Northern Valley is unknown to most, but there is one brave man who is willing to step up and save the girl called Linda. However it is said that only a legendary weapon can slay the creature... Not to be confused with Falcom's Eiyuu Densetsu RPG series, Eiyuu Densetsu Saga (Legendary Hero Saga) was originally a PC98 game developed by Arrowsoft and published by Microcabin back in 1984. Although known as a graphic adventure game (or 'Role Venture Comic' as Microcabin calls it), it is probably more accurate to call it a dungeon crawler as you spend the entire game navigating through a labyrinth. The game was released for several computer platforms with some differences between them, such as a different map layout.

Eiyuu Shigan: Gal ACT Heroism

Eiyuu Shigan: Gal ACT Heroism

Sega Saturn - Released - April 16, 1998

Eiyuu Shigan: Gal ACT Heroism differs in premise and structure from the vast majority of Japanese RPGs by focusing on non-linear questing rather than following a developed narrative. The game is set on a nameless island, which has elements of medieval fantasy as well as futuristic civilization. It allows the player to control a party of three female students from the School of Adventuring. The player can name the girls, but not change their unique battle techniques and proficiencies. The goal of the game is to reach a higher rank than the three competing teams (also containing girls only). Each team is accompanied by a guardian elf, and might also meet and/or hire other NPCs. The game has an internal schedule, which reminds the player of the other competitors and what they might have accomplished in the meantime. Game progression is non-linear: the four cities on the island can be accessed right from the beginning. Each city contains special locations where the party can choose to accept a mission. These missions can also be completed in any order; each has an approximate difficulty label. Accepting a mission usually unlocks new hostile areas, which are inaccessible otherwise. During a mission, the game plays the same way as most other Japanese RPGs: exploring the dungeon, the party finds treasure and fights enemies in turn-based combat (viewed from first-person perspective). There are no random battles: all the enemies are visibly walking on screen and can be avoided. Combat largely relies on techniques, which are grouped by classes and are unique to each girl.

Elm Knight: A Living Body Armor

Elm Knight: A Living Body Armor

NEC PC-9801 - Released - November 20, 1992

Elm Knight is set in a futuristic world, dominated by the totalitarian regime of the Empire, which hunts down the so-called "Irregulars" - people who have supernatural abilities. The young Rick Chandler is attending the Pilot Academy, where he learns to control giant robots known as "MPS". He discovers that he might be in possession of magical abilities (which would make him an Irregular), and escapes to the desert, where he meets a girl named Selena, who directs him to the base of a rebel organization. Joining the rebels, Rick must face his Imperial superiors, some of which are closely related to him...

Final Mystery: Murder Club

Final Mystery: Murder Club

Microsoft MSX2 - Released - 1988

Final Mystery: Murder Club is an adventure game with simulation elements. The player controls the private detective J.B. Harold, who must investigate the murder of a wealthy businessman named Bill Robbins and bring the murderer to court. The player has to do all the work a real detective would do: find clues, gather evidence, interrogate suspects, establish the motive for the crime — and in the end, make sure the case will stand up in the court.

Fray in Magical Adventure

Fray in Magical Adventure

Microsoft MSX2 - Released - January 1, 1990

Fray in Magical Adventure is a 1990 spin-off "gaiden" (sidestory) game in a role-playing video game series Xak developed and published by the Japanese software developer MicroCabin. Even though it is directly connected to the more serious Xak storyline, Fray has a less serious tone and light-hearted comedic approach to telling the story. It was originally released for the MSX2 and was later ported to several different systems. Fray is a simple action RPG. The game proceeds by the player's character Fray fighting through a preset overhead view map shooting opposing monsters, jumping over obstacles, and locating powerups and Gold, the game's currency, along the way. At the end of each stage the player will fight a boss and enter a town or safe haven where the player can purchase new equipment, hit points and the option to save their progress. Fray advances in power through the items that she can equip such as different rods and shields. Battles are in real-time as Fray walks around on automatic vertically scrolling game map as well as the monster characters. She has an attack and defense rating, and can switch between different projectile weapon styles as well as use special attacks and healing items.

Fray in Magical Adventure CD: Xak Gaiden

Fray in Magical Adventure CD: Xak Gaiden

NEC TurboGrafx-CD - Released - March 30, 1994

This version of Fray in Magical Adventure differs from the original MSX and subsequent computer releases in several ways. It retains the major events of the story and gameplay mechanics; even though it has more detailed graphics, it still looks too similarly to the original release to be qualified as a remake. The major difference is in the layout of locations and enemies. Some levels are entirely different, even when they are composed of the same elements. For example, the introductory level of the original version is skipped; the subsequent level has a different layout and new enemies. There are more treasure chests in this version's levels, more items, and more areas that require jumping. This version also has different cut-scenes (for example, the introduction describes some of the events during Fray's study years, which were absent in the original version). The conversations with other characters are longer; certain events are triggered in a different way (such as the necessity to first talk to the guard to trigger the conversation with the mayor in the first town). There is voice acting during important cut-scenes.

Fray: Shugyouhen

Fray: Shugyouhen

Sega Game Gear - Released - December 27, 1991

This is a top-down action game, which can be called a shooter of the run and gun variety, even though it is set in a medieval world. Fray can only use her staff, which works as a ranged weapon, casting projectiles. By pressing down the action button, it is possible to increase the size and the power of the projected missile. With the exception of towns, the screen scrolls vertically when Fray moves forward. Like in most shooters of this type, Fray receives damage when she touches an enemy or hit by its projectile attack. Fray visits towns on the way, where she can buy weapons, armor, potions, and magical spells.

Gall Force: Eternal Story

Gall Force: Eternal Story

Sharp X1 - Released - 1987

Galppo Club

Galppo Club

NEC PC-8801 - Released - 1986

Gitahei

Microsoft MSX2 - 1986

Guardian War

Guardian War

3DO Interactive Multiplayer - Released - May 6, 1993

Welcome to GUARDIAN WAR. This is a story about another world, another time. This was a beautiful world guarded by Goddess Erald. Darkness feared the Goddess Erald, and there was no way that Darkness could enter this beautiful world, until..... GUARDIAN WAR! -All combats take place with 3D animations. -Gain experience and new powers. -32,000 color 3D graphics. -Fully animated 3D magic effects. -55 3D computer graphic characters.

Happy Fret

Happy Fret

Sharp X1 - Released - 1985

Harry Fox

Harry Fox

Sharp X1 - Released - 1985

Harry Fox

Harry Fox

NEC PC-8801 - Released - 1984

Adventure game developed by Micro Cabin in 1984

Harry Fox: Yuki no Maou hen

Harry Fox: Yuki no Maou hen

NEC PC-8801 - Released - 1986

Adventure game created by Micro Cabin in 1986

Harry Fox: Yuki no Maou Hen

Harry Fox: Yuki no Maou Hen

Sharp X1 - Released - 1986

One year after the end of the first game, the mother and her kit are living together in the forest when a sudden winter storm strikes. The mother tragically dies when the two are separated in the snow, leaving the kit to fend for themselves. Scared and alone in the cold, they're left to fend for themselves. Finally, they remember Mari, the girl who saved their life in the last game, and set out to find her - only to discover they'll need to return the favour...

Illusion City

Illusion City

Microsoft MSX2+ - January 1, 1991

In the beginning of 21th century a terrible disaster, called "demon-coming crisis", devastated the Asian continent. Hong Kong was most affected by the mysterious demonic attack. Terrible diseases turned the once prosperous city into a pale shadow of itself. But once people came back to see what happened to the isolated city, they saw it was ruled by a new order - a corporation called SIVA. The new order proclaimed New Hong Kong to be an independent state. People's Republic of China and United Kingdom signed an agreement in which they both renounced their claims over the city. The player takes on the role of Tianren, a "diver" (demon-hunter) who lives in Hong Kong. His place of birth and the identity of his parents are unknown. Together with a girl named Meihong, he was brought up in the house of a wise Master. Traveling through the huge city, gathering information and fighting demonic forces, Tianren will have to unravel the mystery surrounding the corporation SIVA and the supernatural beings from Chinese myths. Illusion City is a Japanese-style role-playing game with several distinguishing characteristics. Unlike most games of the genre, it has no overworld, and takes place entirely in a vast city divided into several districts. The player advances the story by exploring the city, talking to non-playable characters, gathering information, receiving missions, and eventually heading into large, complex hostile areas. There are no random battles in the game; all enemies are visibly moving on the field, and many of them can be avoided. Combat is turn-based, utilizing an "over-the-shoulder" perspective similar to that of Phantasy Star II. Characters join the party as dictated by the plot; an active party includes three combatants. A wide variety of weapon and armor types can be purchased or found in dungeons. Each character has his or her own weapon proficiencies, which can be increased by repeatedly using the same weapon type. Firearms require specific ammunition (e.g. bullets, shotgun cartridges, etc.), which is expended in combat and must be re-stocked. In addition, certain characters can use offensive, supportive, and healing techniques. The game's visual style aims for realistic presentation of locations and characters, and shares more common traits with contemporary Western visual aesthetics than the traditional Japanese anime art.

Kimagure Orange Road

Kimagure Orange Road

Microsoft MSX2 - Released - 1988

The game is based on the manga and anime series Kimagure Orange Road. The protagonist is a young boy named Kyosuke Kasuga. He and his siblings (twin sisters) possess supernatural abilities: telekinesis, teleportation, time shift, etc. The tradition of their family forbids them to use these powers publicly. Whenever they fail to hide their unique nature, the whole family has to move. But now Kyosuke has met a beautiful girl, who is being courted by another guy - a big temptation for him to use the powers... Kimagure Orange Road: Natsu no Mirage is a Japanese-style adventure game. The interaction is performed by selecting verb/object combinations from an omnipresent menu. There are no puzzles, but the list of verbs include (beside the usual "Examine", "Talk", and "Move") also the commands "Take" and "Use" (an item). These are sometimes required to execute in order to trigger the next event of the story.

Kitahei

Kitahei

Microsoft MSX2 - Released - 1986

Kitahei is a computer version of the ancient Japanese game shogi, which is a board game that plays much like chess. You can play it against the computer or another player. You can also save your progress to disk to come back to the game later.

Konpeki no Kantai

Konpeki no Kantai

NEC PC-9801 - Released - December 22, 1994

Konpeki no Kantai

Konpeki no Kantai

3DO Interactive Multiplayer - Released - April 21, 1995

The game follows all combat operations depicted in the anime series of the same name, with battles fought on an isometric map. The player also has the capability to develop new weapons. However, where the anime series ends with Japan declaring victory with the US and Britain over Nazi Germany, Japan's survival in the war is uncertain when Otaka's government is deposed in another coup, Yamamoto dies in jail, and the Deep Blue Fleet's secrets are exposed.

Konpeki no Kantai 2: Perfect

Konpeki no Kantai 2: Perfect

NEC PC-9801 - Released - December 8, 1995

Lucienne's Quest

Lucienne's Quest

3DO Interactive Multiplayer - Released - September 14, 1995

Lucienne’s Quest is a game in classic roleplaying genre, but presented in full 3D graphics (and sprite characters) uncommon for the time. The battles are fought in traditional turn-based manner, but allow for more strategy than most classic RPGs. The game places ambient obstacles on the battlefield to block some attack paths, but allows the player to strategically reposition his fighters along the bottom two rows of the map before every turn to take advantage of the terrain. The game also features a dynamic day/night system which serves little purpose other than changing one of your party members from human into a werewolf and back.

Magical Chase GB: Minarai Mahoutsukai Kenja no Tani e

Magical Chase GB: Minarai Mahoutsukai Kenja no Tani e

Nintendo Game Boy Color - August 4, 2000

Magical Chase GB: Minarai Mahoutsukai Kenja no Tani e is a port of the original Turbografix-16 release. The game's protagonist is a witch called Ripple flying on a broomstick, along with two anthropomorphic stars which serve as Gradius-style options.

Maison Ikkoku

Maison Ikkoku

NEC TurboGrafx-16 - Released - August 4, 1989

Maison Ikkoku (めぞん一刻?) is a graphical text-adventure game developed by Micro Cabin and published on multiple popular Japanese home computer systems towards the end of 1986. It was ported to the Famicom by Bothtec in 1988. Micro Cabin then ported the game one final time to the PC Engine in 1989. The game is based on the popular manga and anime series of the same name, Maison Ikkoku. The story is a bitter-sweet comedic romance involving a group of madcap people who live in a boarding house in 1980s Tokyo. The story focuses primarily on the gradual developing relationships between Yusaku Godai, a poor student down on his luck, and Kyoko Otonashi, a young, recently-widowed boarding house manager. In the game, you take the role of Godai performing various missions that deal with the storyline of Maison Ikkoku. You have to avoid Yotsuya's pranks, save money to throw a party, proclaim your love for Kyoko and other things. The action takes place all over Tokeizaka and not just the boarding house. Players can visit Soichiro's grave, Chachamaru, the train station and many other familiar locales.

Maison Ikkoku

Maison Ikkoku

Microsoft MSX2 - Released - 1987

A humble adventure game. This game will be enjoyed by fans, but others may not find it interesting. In addition to pleasing the tenants with various things like cup ramen and liquor you must also get on the good side of the manager. The story advances the more you enter the manager's room, but aside from that there are few restrictions on what you can do. Aside from a couple of exceptions you will not encounter "game over

Maison Ikkoku: Kanketsu Hen: Sayonara, Soshite...

Maison Ikkoku: Kanketsu Hen: Sayonara, Soshite...

Microsoft MSX2 - Released - 1988

The game is based on the manga Maison Ikkoku by Rumiko Takahashi. Set in Tokyo of the 80's, the story can be described as a romantic tale with a touch of comedy. It centers on a boarding house which is managed by the young and lovely widow Kyoko Otonashi. The protagonist is a college student named Yusaki Godai, and his relationship with Kyoko is the main plot line. The game's story approximately corresponds to the middle volumes of the manga until the conclusion. The game is a "puzzle-less" adventure, the gameplay mostly focusing on simply depleting all the verb commands at every given screen and moving between locations. The commands include the usual "Look", "Talk", and Move" typical for Japanese adventures (no "Think" command), but also context-sensitive commands "Eat", "Drink", etc., as well as the possibility to use certain inventory items.

Mystery House

Mystery House

Fujitsu FM-7 - Released - 1983

Mystery House is likely the very first Japanese full-scale text adventure game with pictures. The game is inspired by Hi-Res Adventure #1: Mystery House and although it uses the same name and gameplay, there is no Agatha Christie-esque subplot, no competitors and the player is alone. The objective of the game is to find a treasure that is hidden somewhere in the house and then escape with it. Several items can be found around the house that can be picked up and used in order to proceed. There are also various hazards that will kill the player's character if not careful enough. There are no room descriptions and the text commands are in very simple English. This has to be done in a two-stage input; you have to type a verb first, then press RETURN and then enter the noun. Example: Open - RETURN - Door. Directions must be abbreviated (e.g: N/S/E/W/U/D). Controls differ between some versions: The PC-6001 and the MSX versions use cursor keys for the movements instead of text commando's. The FM-7 version does not use a two-stage input, but you need to input full sentences instead. (e.g. open door).

Mystic Formula

Mystic Formula

NEC TurboGrafx-CD - Released - July 23, 1993

In a world where advanced technology and magic co-exist, the Magic Empire controls the vast arid wastelands and the dwellings of mythical creatures. A group of four treasure hunters come across an announcement promising a reward of one million credits to whoever would recover a mysterious purple stone with the engraving of the Empire's crest on it. The four find the artifact relatively quickly, but it is stolen from them by another group with an agenda of their own. Now the heroes must bring the stone back while dealing with the dangerous foes on their way. Mystic Formula is a top-down shooter. The player navigates the protagonist through hostile environments, shooting at regular enemies and bosses, and avoiding their attacks. The player can choose to control any of the four treasure hunters: a balanced lead character armed with a laser pistol; an elf who shoots fireballs from her staff; an agile female thief; and a sturdy, slow, yet powerful robot. All the characters use ranged attacks that can be upgraded with power-ups. In addition, another type of a power-up brings forth one of the characters from the group to aid the player in combat, controlled by the AI. Two-player mode is available as well.

Naval Ops: Commander

Naval Ops: Commander

Sony Playstation 2 - Released - January 22, 2004

In Naval Ops: Commander, you are not only in control of your own vessel--you command a battle group consisting of your primary ship, and up to three additional escort ships. Maneuver your escort ships into any formation, have them defend strategic positions, and execute various battle techniques for massive naval battles. Naval Ops: Commander features 150 different types of escort ships that can perform anti-aircraft, anti-submarine, and assault functions. To create your battle group, you can either purchase ships or wrest control of enemy ships during combat.

Naval Ops: Warship Gunner

Naval Ops: Warship Gunner

Sony Playstation 2 - Released - June 24, 2003

The game is a one-player simulation of naval combat, in which the player commands an individual ship. In the opening cutscene, a World War II-era destroyer is caught in a dimension-warping vortex and transported to a parallel universe where the technology level is the same (although science-fiction weapons such as rail guns are available), but the world is at war between two main factions, the Empire and the Freedom Forces. The first mission of the game revolves around navigating a destroyer to safety while being bombarded by unidentified ships. Upon rendezvous with friendly forces, later identified as the Freedom Forces, the crew decides to join them in the war against the Empire.

Noon

Noon

Sony Playstation - Released - January 29, 1998

Roll the "Noon" which is a legendary jewel! Crush it! Throw it to your rival! Connect 3 Noon with the same color and call upon the disrupting NOON in your rival's territory! You will win the match if you manage to fill all territories in your rival's area! This is the fighting puzzle action game with 6 warriors!

Pop Breaker

Pop Breaker

Sega Game Gear - Released - February 23, 1991

Pop Breaker is a puzzle game with action elements. The goal of each level is to destroy certain things. The basic way to do this is to shoot them, but there are various obstacles which need to be circumvented, e.g. mirrors which reflect shots; the direction is indicated by small arrows on the floor. Destructible blocks are distinguished by their colour, for example a purple block becomes blue when shot once and vaporizes after the next. Enemies are also capable of destroying blocks. Reflected own and enemy shots (along with mines on the floor) can kill the space ship, but extra lives can be earned by collecting power ups. One speciality is that the player can change the position of the gun; either left, right or central.

Princess Maker 2

Princess Maker 2

3DO Interactive Multiplayer - Released - December 9, 1994

A hero saved the human race from utter annihilation by the gods. This same hero then was charged by the heavens to take care of young seed dropped from there. This seed becomes his daughter, and her guardian will be watching her progress. In Princess Maker 2 the player assumes the role of a father to the blessed daughter of the heavens. For the next eight years, the hero will nurture and guide her in the path of the player's own choosing. It is possible to choose the path of the zodiac-influenced daughter by scheduling her to jobs and schools, which will raise her statistics (strength, combat skills, cooking, faith, etc.) Each month allows the player to designate three different tasks for her to follow. Balancing between character development, stress level, health and financial income is the focus of this game. Mini sub-quests and various plot options revolve around the young lady adventuring in the wilderness, provided that she's strong enough to tame the wilds. The player can equip her with armor and weapons to fight off wandering random monsters in turn-based combat. The game starts with the daughter at age ten, from which point the player guides her until her adult years. Choices made during the course of the game will determine her eventual marital status, accomplishments and her relationships with other people.

Puppet Tale

Puppet Tale

3DO Interactive Multiplayer - Released - 1994

Seilane

Seilane

Microsoft MSX2 - Released - 1988

Seilane is an Action game, published by Micro Cabin, which was released in Japan in 1988.

Seilane

Seilane

NEC PC-9801 - Released - December 10, 1987

One day when Prill visits Bukimi forest, he finds all the villagers have all been turned into stone statues. But more worringly his sister was nowhere to be seen. As he explores the forest, he later learns that the person responsible was the Demon King Pazul. With help from his friends, Prill sets off on a journey to save both his sister and the villagers, but it won't be easy as the Demon King is determined to stop him in his tracks.

Shogi

Shogi

Microsoft MSX - Released - 1985

Sirius-1

Sirius-1

Sharp X1 - Released - 1984

Street Sk8er 2

Street Sk8er 2

Sony Playstation - Released - March 15, 2000

Grab your skateboard and be prepared to grind the rails and grab some big air! Street Sk8er 2, the sequel to the first-ever skateboarding game for the PlayStation has finally arrived. More than an upgrade to the 1999 hit Street Sk8er, with Street Sk8er 2 you can now design and compete in your own skate park, hit wide-open skating arenas in five international cities and play with 10 all-new customizable characters. With Street Sk8er 2, quarter pipes, half pipes, bowls, rails and ramps can be placed in any manner within the abandoned warehouse that serves as the skate parks' home. Killer combinations can be created (such as a long rail grind straight into a bowl, or ramp up into a quarter pipe). Spontaneity and imagination are the only tools needed to build a fun fantasy skate park. Best of all, the parks can be saved onto memory cards for trading or competing with friends. You can also skate through five major international cities, unlocking hidden bonuses as you progress. San Francisco, Moscow, Miami, Washington D.C. and London are recreated in Street Sk8er 2 for your skating pleasure. Virtually every surface on the city streets is skateable. Players can grind off the curbs on San Francisco's world-famous curvy Lombard Street, jump off cannons in Moscow's Red Square, roll over taxis in London and pull off insane tricks in the empty swimming pools of a Miami hotel. Each city is also filled with an abundance of breakable objects that can be discovered and busted for added points. There are also numerous animated objects that affect gameplay such as the moving escalators in the Moscow subway. Evade police cars chasing you in the streets San Francisco, or watch the lunar modular being launched while visiting the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C. Street Sk8er 2's 10 customizable characters each have individual skater attributes that affect gameplay. Certain characters may excel in speed, others may be experts in maneuvering, while still others perform the best tricks. Four characters are available at the beginning of the game and as you progress through the game others can be unlocked. Building skills such as cornering and jumping will make the characters stronger, resulting in bigger air and more time to pull off `phat' tricks. The extra skills will also enable you to reach places within each city that were previously inaccessible. Once you build up a character they can be saved onto a memory card to be played later or against friends. Street Sk8er 2 also offers 30 skateboard designs to choose from, including the latest models from Powell Skateboards. Skating takes place in three modes, Street Tour, Free Skate and Multi-player. In the five level Street Tour, you race against the clock while performing mind-boggling tricks for points through the streets of Moscow, London, San Francisco, Miami and Washington D.C. in addition to events such as Big Air, Bowl, Half Pipe, Rooftop Park and Noah's Park. In all, you will compete in 10 championship events in Street Tour. In Free Skate mode, you can explore tracks without the pressure of a timer, as well as practice moves and master courses. Multi-player mode features two-player split screen or four player serial skating action in addition to Pool Duel, a mini split screen game where the first player to break five of his opponent's boxes wins. In Street Sk8er 2, you can choose from two trick control systems that determine the difficulty of each level. Those who want to jump right into grinding heaven can select Amateur mode for easy pick up and play with over 200 tricks at the push of a button. Skaters who want more of a challenge can go for ultimate control over executing fly tricks and dope combinations in Pro mode. The soundtrack for Street Sk8er 2 includes music from seven Warner Bros. bands, including 12 songs from Deftones, Ministry, Citizen King, Showoff, Static-X, Shootyz Groove, 8stops7 and Del The Funky Homosapien. In addition, the soundtrack contains one song from the Chick Magnets, who had previously won a band search contest sponsored by Electronic Arts and Heckler Magazine.

The Golf

The Golf

NEC PC-8801 - Released - 1982

The Life Stage: Virtual House

The Life Stage: Virtual House

3DO Interactive Multiplayer - Released - 1993

Referred to only as a "software program", it offers players the freedom to design a variety of structures. Homes, apartments and offices are included in the different variety of play areas. Environments can be as realistic or unrealistic as possible. The player will select the structure's style, shape and the number of rooms. Choose color schemes, furniture and decorations as you see fit. Once done creating, "walk around" inside and experience the excitement of having created a place of your very own! The game was notable for having detailed 3D polygon graphics for its time.

The Tower of Cabin

The Tower of Cabin

Microsoft MSX2 - Released - 1992

The Tower? of Cabin: Cabin Panic

The Tower? of Cabin: Cabin Panic

NEC PC-9801 - Released - November 6, 1992

Urusei Yatsura: Koi no Survival Birthday

Urusei Yatsura: Koi no Survival Birthday

Sharp X1 - Released - 1987

The scenario in the game is the same as in the anime. We get and invitation to Okiko birthday party. The person who finds her first is going to get a kiss, so a fierce competition among the invited guests ensues. The mansion is a maze with lots of traps laid about. The characters are carefully transferred from the anime so it's needed to know the original to get the most of fun. It's possible either to go the shortest way or to eliminate all the other competitors, so it can be considered multiple-branch story. The ending also depends on how other characters are dealt with so it's multiple endings as well. The system is command selection, but the number of commands is quite large, so the difficulty level is really high. In the early visual novels years lots of works were clinging desperately to the popularity of anime franchises, but this work is really well done and it shows how a game can be better in many elements than the original anime.

Urusei Yatsura: Koi no Survival Birthday

Urusei Yatsura: Koi no Survival Birthday

Fujitsu FM-7 - Released - 1987

The scenario in the game is the same as in the anime. We get and invitation to Okiko birthday party. The person who finds her first is going to get a kiss, so a fierce competition among the invited guests ensues. The mansion is a maze with lots of traps laid about. The characters are carefully transferred from the anime so it's needed to know the original to get the most of fun. It's possible either to go the shortest way or to eliminate all the other competitors, so it can be considered multiple-branch story. The ending also depends on how other characters are dealt with so it's multiple endings as well. The system is command selection, but the number of commands is quite large, so the difficulty level is really high. In the early visual novels years lots of works were clinging desperately to the popularity of anime franchises, but this work is really well done and it shows how a game can be better in many elements than the original anime.

Urusei Yatsura: Koi no Survival Birthday

Urusei Yatsura: Koi no Survival Birthday

NEC PC-8801 - Released - June 5, 1987

The scenario in the game is the same as in the anime. We get and invitation to Okiko birthday party. The person who finds her first is going to get a kiss, so a fierce competition among the invited guests ensues. The mansion is a maze with lots of traps laid about. The characters are carefully transferred from the anime so it's needed to know the original to get the most of fun. It's possible either to go the shortest way or to eliminate all the other competitors, so it can be considered multiple-branch story. The ending also depends on how other characters are dealt with so it's multiple endings as well. The system is command selection, but the number of commands is quite large, so the difficulty level is really high. In the early visual novels years lots of works were clinging desperately to the popularity of anime franchises, but this work is really well done and it shows how a game can be better in many elements than the original anime.

Urusei Yatsura: Koi no Survival Birthday

Urusei Yatsura: Koi no Survival Birthday

Microsoft MSX2 - Released - 1987

The scenario in the game is the same as in the anime. We get and invitation to Okiko birthday party. The person who finds her first is going to get a kiss, so a fierce competition among the invited guests ensues. The mansion is a maze with lots of traps laid about. The characters are carefully transferred from the anime so it's needed to know the original to get the most of fun. It's possible either to go the shortest way or to eliminate all the other competitors, so it can be considered multiple-branch story. The ending also depends on how other characters are dealt with so it's multiple endings as well. The system is command selection, but the number of commands is quite large, so the difficulty level is really high. In the early visual novels years lots of works were clinging desperately to the popularity of anime franchises, but this work is really well done and it shows how a game can be better in many elements than the original anime.

Warship Gunner 2

Warship Gunner 2

Sony Playstation 2 - Released - March 21, 2006

A continuation in Koei's Naval Ops series, Warship Gunner 2 has the player take control of huge naval forces in an alternate 1940's, with the ability of not only using traditional weapons of the times, such as huge deck guns and cannons, but also more advanced technology such as huge lasers. The player has the option to choose which ship they would like to use, using the analog controls to aim weapons and move the game camera to see more of the battlefield as well as using the d-pad to steer their ships. They can also research technology to build bigger and better weapons and build their own custom ships from the ground up with over a 1,000 customizable parts to use. Players can employ anything from destroyers, battleships, cruisers as well as submarines to destroy their enemies and has 100 missions to play in as well.

What's Michael?

What's Michael?

NEC PC-8801 - Released - 1989

Adventure game developed by Microcabin in 1989. Based on the manga by Makoto Kobayashi.

Worry

Worry

Sharp X1 - Released - 1984

Worry is an adventure game in Japanese where the objective is to find treasure in a mansion. Several items can be found around the mansion that can be collected and need to be used in order to proceed. There are no room descriptions and the text commands are in very simple English. This has to be done in a two-stage input. You have to type a verb first, then press RETURN and then enter the noun. Example: Open - RETURN - Door. Movements can be done with typing forward, back, left, right, up and down or using the cursor keys. There are several differences between the versions. In the Sharp X1 version there is also the option to use a joystick instead of the cursor keys or text commands. The text commands can be either typed in a two-stage input or in full sentences and in English, Japanese or a combination of both. The text commands in the MSX version needs to be in full sentences and is ONLY in Japanese. There are some room descriptions as well. Also the solution differs from versions. The game was initially published under the name of Mystery House, that included Mystery House II and its predecessor, but this was quickly discontinued in the later versions.

Xak II: Rising of the Redmoon

Xak II: Rising of the Redmoon

NEC PC-8801 - Released - 1990

Three years have passed since the brave young warrior Latok Kart defeated the evil demon Badu, bringing peace to Xak, the world of humans. But one of Badu's servants, a sorcerer known as the Necromancer, has escaped. He plans to summon another dark being, known as the Gospel, from the demon world Zekisis to the world of Xak. Meanwhile, Latok and his companion, the fairy Pixie, are on the way to the village of Banuwa, hearing the rumor that Latok's long lost father has been seen nearby... Rising of the Redmoon is the sequel to The Art of Visual Stage and the second entry in the Xak series. The gameplay is nearly identical to that of the predecessor: Latok wanders through hostile areas, fighting enemies in action melee combat, gaining experience points and leveling up. A few options have been added, such as praying to Duel, a legendary god of war, to restore hit points.

Xak III: The Eternal Recurrence

Xak III: The Eternal Recurrence

NEC PC-9801 - Released - April 23, 1993

The great hero Latok, the descendant of the war god Duel, has returned to his hometown Fearless, where he lives peacefully with his mother. But one day, a messenger brings terrible news: the castle of Farland was attacked, the king, the princess, and countless soldiers brutally slain. Zomu Dizae, the third and the final demon commander of the dark world Zekisis (Latok has defeated the other two, Badu and Gospel), has arrived. He is aided by the treacherous Necromancer, who turned the soldiers of Farland into monsters. Will Latok be able to defeat the evil once again? Xak III: The Eternal Recurrence is an action RPG, similar in gameplay style to its predecessors, but also incorporating some elements first introduced in Tower of Gazel, such as the ability to jump and having companions (although this feature is much more limited here). Jumping ability is crucial in many cases, as there are obstacles that can only be avoided by jumping over them. Latok starts at level 50, but still can gain experience points and become stronger. A new (and very useful) feature is hit points restoration, which occurs when Latok is standing still. To counter that, enemies can re-spawn, which means that there aren't many completely safe areas in the game.

Xak III: The Eternal Recurrence

Xak III: The Eternal Recurrence

NEC TurboGrafx-CD - Released - September 30, 1994

The great hero Latok, the descendant of the war god Duel, has returned to his hometown Fearless, where he lives peacefully with his mother. But one day, a messenger brings terrible news: the castle of Farland was attacked, the king, the princess, and countless soldiers brutally slain. Zomu Dizae, the third and the final demon commander of the dark world Zekisis (Latok has defeated the other two, Badu and Gospel), has arrived. He is aided by the treacherous Necromancer, who turned the soldiers of Farland into monsters. Will Latok be able to defeat the evil once again? Xak III: The Eternal Recurrence is an action RPG, similar in gameplay style to its predecessors, but also incorporating some elements first introduced in Tower of Gazel, such as the ability to jump and having companions (although this feature is much more limited here). Jumping ability is crucial in many cases, as there are obstacles that can only be avoided by jumping over them. Latok starts at level 50, but still can gain experience points and become stronger. A new (and very useful) feature is hit points restoration, which occurs when Latok is standing still. To counter that, enemies can re-spawn, which means that there aren't many completely safe areas in the game.

Xak III: The Eternal Recurrence

Xak III: The Eternal Recurrence

Fujitsu FM Towns Marty - Released - September 10, 1993

The great hero Latok, the descendant of the war god Duel, has returned to his hometown Fearless, where he lives peacefully with his mother. But one day, a messenger brings terrible news: the castle of Farland was attacked, the king, the princess, and countless soldiers brutally slain. Zomu Dizae, the third and the final demon commander of the dark world Zekisis (Latok has defeated the other two, Badu and Gospel), has arrived. He is aided by the treacherous Necromancer, who turned the soldiers of Farland into monsters. Will Latok be able to defeat the evil once again? Xak III: The Eternal Recurrence is an action RPG, similar in gameplay style to its predecessors, but also incorporating some elements first introduced in Tower of Gazel, such as the ability to jump and having companions (although this feature is much more limited here). Jumping ability is crucial in many cases, as there are obstacles that can only be avoided by jumping over them. Latok starts at level 50, but still can gain experience points and become stronger. A new (and very useful) feature is hit points restoration, which occurs when Latok is standing still. To counter that, enemies can re-spawn, which means that there aren't many completely safe areas in the game.

Xak Precious Package: The Tower of Gazzel

Xak Precious Package: The Tower of Gazzel

Microsoft MSX2 - Released - 1991

The events of this game take place shortly after the hero Latok defeated the demon Gospel in Xak II: The Rising of the Redmoon. Latok hears rumors about a man who looks exactly like him and was last seen near an old tower infested by monsters, which nobody dares enter. Latok and his girlfriend Fray arrive at the tower entrance and meet their friends there. Latok decides to venture into the tower with just one companion, unaware of the fact that the "false Latok" was just a trap set by powerful demons, intended to lure him into the den of evil. Xak Precious Package: The Tower of Gazzel is a side-story in the Xak universe. It differs from the main Xak series in several gameplay-related aspects, even though graphically it is very similar to the previous Xak games. Most importantly, Tower of Gazzel is not an RPG: Latok begins the game with maximized parameters and can not become stronger. The combat is similar to other Xak games: Latok attacks enemies with a sword in real time, and receives damage when they touch him. Tower of Gazzel is much more oriented towards puzzle-solving than the previous games. The entire game takes place in the tower, which is a huge maze containing various obstacles that the player must find solutions for (locked doors, seemingly impassable areas, etc.). Latok can jump over some dangerous spots (such as poisonous puddles). An important gameplay element is Latok's companion. Each of the four available companions has a different ability: for example, Fray can cast spells, Pixie can handle certain mechanisms in the tower, etc. In order to solve many of the puzzles, it is necessary to bring the right companion to the spot and let her take care of the problem.

Xak: The Art of Visual Stage

Xak: The Art of Visual Stage

NEC PC-8801 - Released - 1989

Two hundred and fifty years ago, the god Duel defeated an evil demon named Badu, encasing him in a mountain of ice. Now Badu has managed to escape from his prison. Demons have overrun the land, and the king of Wavis sends a messenger to a warrior named Dork Kart, asking him to defend the country. However, Dork is absent, and his sixteen-year-old son Latok decides to do the king's bidding, and even go as far as to confront Badu himself. Xak: The Art of Visual Stage is an action RPG, in which Latok travels through the world of Xak, exploring its outdoor environments and dungeons, and eliminating many enemies encountered on his way. Defeated enemies grant the player experience points, allowing Latok to level up and become stronger. The protagonist often needs to meet minimum level requirements in order to wield better weapons and equip better armor.

Xak: The Art of Visual Stage

Xak: The Art of Visual Stage

NEC PC-9801 - Released - 1989

Two hundred and fifty years ago, the god Duel defeated an evil demon named Badu, encasing him in a mountain of ice. Now Badu has managed to escape from his prison. Demons have overrun the land, and the king of Wavis sends a messenger to a warrior named Dork Kart, asking him to defend the country. However, Dork is absent, and his sixteen-year-old son Latok decides to do the king's bidding, and even go as far as to confront Badu himself. Xak: The Art of Visual Stage is an action RPG, in which Latok travels through the world of Xak, exploring its outdoor environments and dungeons, and eliminating many enemies encountered on his way. Defeated enemies grant the player experience points, allowing Latok to level up and become stronger. The protagonist often needs to meet minimum level requirements in order to wield better weapons and equip better armor.

Xak: The Tower of Gazzel

Xak: The Tower of Gazzel

NEC PC-8801 - Released - June 14, 1991

The events of this game take place shortly after the hero Latok defeated the demon Gospel in Xak II: The Rising of the Redmoon. Latok hears rumors about a man who looks exactly like him and was last seen near an old tower infested by monsters, which nobody dares enter. Latok and his girlfriend Fray arrive at the tower entrance and meet their friends there. Latok decides to venture into the tower with just one companion, unaware of the fact that the "false Latok" was just a trap set by powerful demons, intended to lure him into the den of evil. Xak Precious Package: The Tower of Gazzel is a side-story in the Xak universe. It differs from the main Xak series in several gameplay-related aspects, even though graphically it is very similar to the previous Xak games. Most importantly, Tower of Gazzel is not an RPG: Latok begins the game with maximized parameters and can not become stronger. The combat is similar to other Xak games: Latok attacks enemies with a sword in real time, and receives damage when they touch him. Tower of Gazzel is much more oriented towards puzzle-solving than the previous games. The entire game takes place in the tower, which is a huge maze containing various obstacles that the player must find solutions for (locked doors, seemingly impassable areas, etc.). Latok can jump over some dangerous spots (such as poisonous puddles). An important gameplay element is Latok's companion. Each of the four available companions has a different ability: for example, Fray can cast spells, Pixie can handle certain mechanisms in the tower, etc. In order to solve many of the puzzles, it is necessary to bring the right companion to the spot and let her take care of the problem.

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