Tag Archives: Japanese

Aisystem Tokyo, Megadrive/Genesis, Taito, Ving

Rainbow Islands Extra Version, Megadrive/Genesis

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The “Extra Version” of Taito‘s classic Rainbow Islands is a modified version of the original arcade game, where the levels have been rearranged and the enemies changed to make the game more challenging. There are some new power-ups to discover, and the bosses have also been changed too. Rainbow Islands Extra was released into arcades in limited quantities in 1988, and was also released on the Sega Megadrive in 1990 and the FM Towns in 1992.

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Konami, NES/Famicom

Lagrange Point, NES/Famicom

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Released in Japan only by Konami in 1991, Lagrange Point is a science fantasy JRPG set on a human colony ship in space (located at the Lagrangian points between Earth and the Sun). Communications are lost between colonies, so a search team is sent in to investigate.

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Masaya Games, NCS Corporation, NEC, PC Engine, TurboGrafx-16

Double Dungeons, PC Engine

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Developed by NCS Corporation and published by Masaya Games in Japan and NEC in North America in 1990, Double Dungeons is a one or two-player, first-person, dungeon-crawling JRPG with real-time combat. The game’s unique selling point is that it features two-player split-screen cooperative play, which is unusual for a game like this, and which makes it simultaneously playable with a friend.

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Dreams Co., Ltd., Game Boy Color, Taito, TDK Mediactive

Rainbow Islands, Game Boy Color

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Rainbow Islands on the Game Boy Color was ported by Dreams Co., Ltd. and published by TDK Mediactive in 2001. From what I can tell it was only released in Europe, which – considering it was created by a Japanese developer – is a little strange.

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Square, Sting Entertainment, Super Nintendo

Treasure Hunter G, Super Nintendo

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Developed by Sting Entertainment and published by Squaresoft in 1996, Treasure Hunter G is a tactical Japanese Role-Playing Game that features exploration, turn-based combat and a fantasy-based storyline that mixes magic and technology. It was released in Japan only, but a fan translation makes it playable in English.

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ITL Co. Ltd., Megadrive/Genesis, Taito

Chase HQ II, Megadrive/Genesis

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The Megadrive/Genesis exclusive, Chase HQ II, was developed by ITL Co., Ltd. and published by Taito in 1992. It is an enhanced, multi-vehicle adaptation of the classic 1988 arcade game, with similar gameplay to its parent.

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Sega, Sega 32X

Shadow Squadron, Sega 32X

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Developed and released by Sega in 1995, Shadow Squadron (also known as Stellar Assault in Europe) is a first-person, 3D space combat game with fast-moving filled polygons. The game can be played by one or two players and features a co-op mode where one player steers the ship and the other mans a gun turret.

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Nintendo, Super Game Boy

Donkey Kong, Super Game Boy

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The Game Boy port of Donkey Kong was first released by Nintendo in 1994 and it really is something special. I’m showing the Super Game Boy version of Donkey Kong here, with its special arcade bezel border and enhanced colour palette. It was, in fact, the first Game Boy cartridge released with Super Game Boy enhancements. If you want to see the original B&W version, click here.

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