When the Mega Drive debuted in Japan in 1988, it began a long run of quirky Japanese games based on franchises most westerners had never dreamed existed. It’s understandable then, that most of these series never left the Land of the Rising Sun. Take the platformer Osomatsu-kun: Hachamecha Gekijo, or Nonsense Theater in English, for example. Could you imagine anyone on your street playing this instead of Golden Axe or Ghouls ‘n Ghosts? We can’t either. Still, it’s something to check out, at least out of curiosity.
Tag: Sega of Japan
Ax Battler: A Legend of Golden Axe
Most everyone loves the Golden Axe series. The main trilogy is considered sacred by hack-‘n-slash fans, but all cringe when talk of the spin-offs comes up. For some reason, Sega was never able to really capture the same magic (vases) with later outings, and most of what’s out there is better left untouched. Case in point: Ax Battler: A Legend of Golden Axe for the Game Gear. Is it trying to be like Zelda II? If so, we don’t think Link has too much to worry about with this one.
Sorcerian
Playing an import RPG can be pretty darn hard, especially when the initial menu screen is the most text-heavy in the game! Such is the case of Falcom’s Sorcerian, which shows little mercy from the get-go. Its character creation menu and options are all in Japanese, and it’s virtually impossible to even create a character if you’re not fluent, let alone actually play the game. Many gamers never got past this, and they missed out on a decent little action/RPG. Thankfully, a partially translated ROM is out there, and it is the only way to get anywhere with the Mega Drive version.
Tetris
The story of Tetris is long and convoluted enough to fill an entire book, and those wanting to know the full story about the tangled legal mess that the game’s home rights turned into are encouraged to check out David Sheff’s Game Over: Press Start to Continue. It has all the details about the litigation and underhanded plays that occurred as multiple entities and people tried to cash in on the Russian phenomenon. One company that was caught in the crossfire was Sega, which tried to release a version of Tetris for the Mega Drive, only to find itself slapped down by the legal issue. Few copies were actually released, and a slew of pirate versions have since cropped up, fetching ridiculous prices on eBay.
Battle Golfer Yui
Every so often, a game comes along that takes an established dynamic and turns it completely on its head, or it at least shakes it up a bit. Sega’s Battle Golfer Yui is one such title, and the way it mixes a game as tranquil as golf with evil organizations and world domination is something everyone must experience. While it may stutter here and there in execution, the premise alone makes it worth at least checking out.