Tag Archives: climbing

Konami, PlayStation

Ganbare Goemon: Uchū Kaizoku Akogingu, PlayStation

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Yippee! A Goemon game on the PlayStation! This one called Ganbare Goemon: Uchuu Kaizoku Akogingu (in English: “Ganbare Goemon: Space Pirate Akogingu“), and it’s apparently a direct sequel to Ganbare Goemon 3 although Sasuke and Yae are not playable characters in this game. This was the first Goemon game on the PlayStation and it was first published by Konami in 1996.

Thankfully this game was given an English fan translation in 2020 by Adventurous Translations, which makes it playable to non Japanese speakers. According to the readme file on the translation patch the game was not much fun to translate (mostly for technical reasons), and isn’t seen as being a very good game by the person who translated it. That said: I got the translation patch to work fine and am overjoyed that I can now play it in English, so a big thank you to Adventurous Translations for their efforts (they are much appreciated).

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Ocean Software, ZX Spectrum

Hunchback II: Quasimodo’s Revenge, ZX Spectrum

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The sequel to the hit game Hunchback was released in 1985 by Ocean Software. Hunchback II is another platform game where you control Quasimodo on a mission to collect bells and survive through seven screens of conveyors and climbing ropes. Make it to the end and again rescue Esmeralda as she waits patiently for her green-coloured hero.

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Impact Software Development, Ocean Software, ZX Spectrum

Nightbreed, ZX Spectrum

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Nightbreed is a relatively obscure movie license from Ocean Software, based on the Clive Barker film of the same name (which was based on his 1988 book, Cabal). It was designed and programmed by Chris Kerry and Mark Rogers.

Chris Kerry you might remember from Jack and the Beanstalk and Monty Is Innocent infamy; Mark Rogers had programmed a number of games by this point, including Avenger and Run the Gauntlet.

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Capcom, NES/Famicom

Gargoyle’s Quest II, NES

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The sequel to the intriguing Game Boy game, Gargoyle’s Quest, was first released on the Nintendo Famicom in 1992 by Capcom. It is another spin-off from the successful Ghosts ‘N Goblins series.

Again, you play as Firebrand – the winged demon from Ghosts ‘N Goblins (and Ghouls ‘N Ghosts) – and again it features platforming action, with an interesting ‘fly-and-float’ mechanic.

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Capcom, Game Boy

Gargoyle’s Quest, Game Boy

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This interesting 1990 action adventure platform game is a spin-off from the classic arcade game Ghosts ‘N Goblins.

It features the flying demon character (called Firebrand in English language versions and Red Arremer in the original Japanese version) in the lead role, and who was first seen as an enemy in the Ghosts ‘N Goblins arcade game. That, in itself is quite unusual – getting to play a baddie from an earlier game in a later sequel, and this game is more than just a simple platform game.

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Konami, Super Nintendo

Ganbare Goemon Kirakira Dōchū: Boku ga Dancer ni Natta Wake, Super Nintendo

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Also known (in English) as: “Go for it! Goemon: The Twinkling Journey – The Reason I Became a Dancer“, this fourth instalment of the much-loved Goemon [Super Nintendo] series is about as crazy, challenging and fun as a video game can be.

Many feel that this final Goemon game on the Super Nintendo is the best in the series, so it’s great that it’s finally been given an (unofficial) English translation. The game follows the same pattern as previously, with isometric exploration sections, interspersed with side-scrolling platform/action sections.

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NES/Famicom, TAD Corporation, Taito

Toki, NES

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Toki is a conversion of the 1989 arcade game by Tad Corporation and it features a jumping ape who can spit bullets at his enemies. It’s a platform game with relatively short levels and occasional boss fights, and it is known for its rock-hard difficulty.

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Fabtech Inc., Megadrive/Genesis, TAD Corporation

Toki: Going Ape Spit, Megadrive/Genesis

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This 1991 Sega Megadrive conversion of Toki is only loosely-based on the original 1989 arcade game, which is good because the original was much too hard to be fun, and this is more playable.

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Atari Corporation, Atari Lynx, Imagitec Design

Dinolympics, Atari Lynx

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Also known as The Humans, Dinolympics is the Americanised title of this original puzzle game, developed by Imagitech Design and released on the Atari Lynx in 1992.

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Atari Corporation, Atari Lynx, Tenth Planet Software

Gordo 106, Atari Lynx

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This original Atari Lynx platform game features an escaped lab monkey, called Gordo 106, who is on a mission to free other animals from the cages of the ‘evil’ scientists, and to ultimately make his way to freedom outside the laboratory.

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