[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[ Techno music ]
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Alright folks, it's Dr.Sparkle again
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Geez, It seems like forever \Nsince the last episode.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well anyways, sorry it's so late \Nbut here we are again.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The PC engine schedule \Nseems to get a bit more hectic
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as we get closer to the \N1989 holiday season.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Today, we're gonna finish up July and\Nblast through all of August and September.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're gonna' see a number \Nof arcade ports today,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as well as some obscure \N(and rather shitty) original titles.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We ended last episode with a \Nclassic shooter, Blazing Lasers,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we begin this episode with a \Nnot-so-classic shooter, Side Arms
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(or Side Arms: Hyper Dyne, \Nas it's officially called in Japan)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is the second port of a Capcom \Narcade game for the system
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(the first being SunSun 2)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and, once again, this is published \Nby N.E.C., not Capcom themselves.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,However, in the U.S., this was one of the very \Nfew TurboGrafx games not published by N.E.C.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Rather, it was by a small company \Ncalled Radiance Software,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which seemed to have \Nvery close ties to Capcom.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They were also well known for \Ntheir involvement in the canceled, ah,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Nintendo Entertainment System \NCalifornia Raisins game.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The guy who ran Radiance, \NChristopher Riggs,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,actually lists himself as being a Product \NDeveloper at Capcom in the early 1990s.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Prior to Radiance, he apparently \N
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,co-founded a company called \NPacific DataWorks, with, uh, Troy Lyndon
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(who was an interesting guy who much later, uh, was behind the, uh, the infamous Left Behind computer video game.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Pacific DataWorks mostly did \NDOS and Commodore 64 ports
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for Capcom (including Side Arms!).
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Riggs also had a company called Riggs Interactive \Nwhich did, uh, computer ports for Capcom.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it's no surprise that the first Radiance \Ngame is, of course, a Capcom port.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Anyhoo, \NEarth got blown up or something, and
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,your little robot mecha dude is out there, \Nuh, to kill lots of aliens.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Mechanics are moreorless like similar \Nshooters of the era (such as Gradius).
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Enemies drop power-ups, speed-ups, \Nand other types of, uh, special weapons.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Nothing too new or exciting, here, \Nbut there are a couple interesting ideas.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The main one is: you can turn around \Nand fire in the opposite direction
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by hitting the second button
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(making Side Arms kind of a \Npredecessor to Forgotten Worlds).
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, Side Arms was originally \Nan arcade game from 1986.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Aside from the ability to fire, uh, front and back, \Na big feature of Side Arms was that two players
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,could occasionally combine into \Na single more powerful form
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(with one player controlling the mech and \Nthe other controlling his special attack weapons).
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The home version dropped this 2-Player mode, \N
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(meaning that your combined form is \Nbasically just a temporary upgrade).
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It lasts until you get hit.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The other cool feature is the ability to select your... \Nwhich weapon you wanna lose from the Start menu
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(as opposed to losing your current weapon when you \Npick up a new one, like in most other shooters).
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can actually carry a whole \Nbunch of weapons at once.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, this is actually very helpful, since certain types of \Nweapons are more useful than others in some spots.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, certain weapons are pretty much vital for some areas.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this leads me to one issue that so many Shoot-em-Ups have. \NIf you die once, you are pretty much screwed.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Side Arms is even much worse than many other similar games.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When the action gets hectic \Nand you screw up and get killed,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you'll be brought back to life with, like, \Na single random underpowered weapon,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,generally with enemies, like, \Nclosing in on you from all sides.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, get killed and odds are good that you'll \Nget killed again within a second or two.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And there are so many damn enemies \N(like missiles, et cetera) that home in on you
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and follow you around, as you try to avoid them.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when you have, like, a very basic weapon that only shoots in one direction, it's pretty difficult to pick these guys off.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Also, like Gradius, picking up too many speed power-ups will make you move, uh, too fast and be hard to control precisely.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Overall, it's actually a pretty hard game \N(harder than Gradius or R-Type, in my opinion)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it actually, uh, looks great and I liked it \Nbetter than the Genesis port of Forgotten Worlds.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We exit July with a real stinker. \NFrom AICOM, it' s Takeda Shingen.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Aha!", you say, \N"We've already seen this game on Chrontendo.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was, like, a strategy game, \Npublished by HOT-B."
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, no. This is actually a completely \Ndifferent and unrelated game called Takeda Shingen.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, Takeda Shingen (the real person) \Nwas a 16th century warlord, known for
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(among other things) \Nhaving a badass set of armor
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(which is, uh, sort of \Nsemi-accurately depicted here).
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Rather than being a Strategy game, \Nthis is a rather dull Beat-'em-Up
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's a painfully slow affair.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You have exactly two moves \N(at least at first).
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's Attack with a sword slash \Nand Jump.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You'll be, uh, taking enemies head-on, \Nuh, just sort of hacking at them until they die.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They block a lot, so normally \Nyou'll just, sort of, walk up to them
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and start repeatedly slashing at them.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They'll block a few times and then you'll get a hit in.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This was a port of a Jaleco arcade game \N(which looks a lot nicer).
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The game isn't exactly hot shit,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but your character moves much faster \Nand there's a bit of action.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is hardly top tier stuff, as of 1988, \Nbut it seems reasonably bearable.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's even, like, bonus rounds \Nwhere you can get on a horse and do some target practice.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The horse stuff got completely stripped \Nout from the PC Engine version
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the result is just \Nso damn monotonous.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, I got a good way through this game \Nand there were a pretty limited number of enemy types.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's basically dudes with swords \N(who are just like you), \N
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,dudes with a long flail on a chain \N(and these guys are annoying),
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and dudes with a long spear.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Boss battles are at the end of each level, \Nthough each level looks about the same,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so there's really not much to \Ndistinguish one level from the other.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Bosses are really nothing exciting. \NThis guy is just a big version of the swordsman.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Post-boss fight, you visit a shop \Nwhere you can refill your health
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and buy some critical of...\Noffense and defenseive upgrades,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,such as the war fan.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, in real life, uh, Takeda's \Noften depicted with his war fan.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's a famous story about how he \Ndeflected an enemy blade with his fan, once.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this game, naturally, has him, \Nyou know, carrying it around.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Takeda Shingen isn't really a fun game to play, \Nespecially in comparison to contemporary
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Beat-'em-Ups like Golden Axe or Final Fight.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Later, you get some better attacks, but the \Nlack of variety really kills any excitement.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It just feels like you're fighting the \Nsame fight over and over and over again.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Your health bar is pretty long \Nand health refills are pretty frequent
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so there's not much challenge at all \Nfor the entire first half of the game
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(until you get to this boss, who's, like, \Nten times harder than the last one).
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, overall, Takeda Shingen \Nis a bummer of a game.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, we enter August with Maison Ikkoku \Nand a new publisher, Micro Cabin.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We've heard their name come up \Na few times before in Chrontendo.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They were actually a pretty prominent \Npublisher of, uh, games for Japanese computers,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,back in the '80s.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Like a lot of other sort of dodgy PC Engine games, \Nthis one has some pretty decent music.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Right. So, Maison Ikkoku is one of these \Ninescapable menu-based adventure games.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Luckly, for us, we have an English translation \Nby Dave Shadoff and Matt LaFrance.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You play as one Yusaku Godai:
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a down on his luck student, living in \Nsort of a rundown boarding house.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The manager of the boarding house \Nturns out to be (of course)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a beautiful young woman who was \Nrecently widowed, named Kuyoku.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This was based on a popular manga, by the \Nfamous manga artist, Rumiko Takahashi,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who you might know from such comics as \NUruse Yatsure and Renma One Half.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It basically chronicles, uh, Godai's desire to express his love for Kuyoku, as well as the wacky residents of the boarding house.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Eventually, of course, at the end of the series, \Nthe protagonists get married.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This first appeared on the M.S.X., \Nback in 1987.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It looks pretty similar to this port, actually!
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It also wound up on the F.M. 7 and few other computers.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, the first console appearance of this game was on the Famicom, which we saw very briefly in Episode 33.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At the time, I'd pretty much said, \N
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Well, we'll check this out in more detail \Nwhen we reach it in ChronTurbo."
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and now, my dear friends, \Nthat day has arrived.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It turns out to be a reasonably normal adventure game.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Uh, this character, here, is some kind of weird pervert dude who builds tunnels and peepholes in the walls between the rooms.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Uh... You find a porno mag, \Nwhich contains "pretty radical stuff".
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Later, you can actually, uh, give it back to him... \Nsort of, uh, win his favor.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Much of the game takes place inside the titular Maison Ikkoku.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Uh... Maison is simply the French word for "house", \Nwhich (I think) is being used ironically
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(in the sense that calling this place "Maison" you know, \Nsort of, tried to, like, give it a touch of class.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Um... Ikkoku, I believe, means \Nhotheaded or tempermental
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(perhaps referring to the \Nvarious nutty residents here.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In this game, you actually save \Nby going to the bathroom.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's naturally all sorts of goofy sexual \Ninnuendo going on between the characters.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this, so far, seems to be the first \NPC Engine game that actually shows
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,nipples in one of its human characters \Nin an obviously sexualized way
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(as opposed to nipples on a \Nstatue or a monster or something).
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Um... For the most part, you go around \Ntalking to people, collecting items,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and using them in sort of unintuitive ways.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here's your love interest, though you actually call \Nher by the rather formal name, um, Kanrinin-san,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,rather than her real name.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can't interact with her too much yet. \NUm... You actually have to get on her good side first.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A lot of the game involves, uh, talking to people and \Ngetting on their good side by giving them things.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Among the other things, uh, you find, uh, her bra is \Nup on the roof and you have a daydream about her,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,um, once, uh, you found the ladder \Nthat allows you to climb up on the roof.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Aside from the house, you can travel to a \Ncouple locations nearby, such as this store.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The cashier is meant to look like Lum from Urusei Yatsura. \NYa' buy things here to bribe the residents with.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Um... A great deal of time is spent, you know, \Nsorta' dealing with these annoying housemates.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just like in the comic, Godai tends to fantasize \Nabout putting the mack on his landlord,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but he's too scared to do anything.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The main goal of the game revolves actually \Naround trying to look at that picture you see
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on the left hand side of the screen, \Nbelieve it or not.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And, you know, like a lot of these sorts \Nof things, your goal is kind of vague
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you make progress \Nin seemingly random ways
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but the art is good, the music is decent, \Nso it's still a lot better than some of the awful,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,uh, the other awful Adventure games we've seen.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hudson was, of course, the \Nco-creator of the PC Engine
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they published all the console's \Ngames in Japan for about the first year.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But by this point, they are outnumbered \Nby third party publishers (at least in Japan).
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is the first of three Hudson-published \Ngames today, Power League II
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a baseball game, of course, and the \Nsequel to the first Power League game,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which was released about \N14 months before this one.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are a plethora of modes here \N- typical stuff:
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Single Game mode, a Penant Mode, All Star \N(nothing we haven't seen before).
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, the first Power League game \Ngot a U.S. release, under the name
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"World Class Baseball".
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Power League II was never \Nreleased outside of Japan, though.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, there are six \NPower League games on the PC Engine
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the first one was the only one \Nto get a non-Japanese release.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Naturally, this looks and feels a lot \Nlike the first Power League game.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If we look at the two back to back, \Nwe see the sprites have been changed a bit,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but both games look very similar \N(with one exception).
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the first game, after the batter got a hit, \Nit showed the outfield straight down,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with the uh, camera's line of sight \Nbeing perpendicular to the ground,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,much like the, uh, Sega Genesis', uh, \Nsports games, like Tommy Lasorda Baseball.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Power League II uses a much \Nmore traditional 45 degree angle
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(looking sort of down and out over the field).
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As always, playing against the CPU is tricky.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's certainly a way to strike \Nout the CPU, but I didn't find it.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Generally the CPU would get a good powerful \Nhit against anything I would throw at it.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I was at the bat, I'd get lots of fly balls
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(and, uh, the computer would actually \Ncatch these with absolute 100% accuracy)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as well as tons of foul balls
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(like, about 4 out of 5 hits would \Nbe a foul ...or just really weak hits).
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Of course you have to play these things for a \Nlittle while to sorta' get, you know, the feel to them
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I didn't play it long enough to actually, \Nyou know, get very good at this thing.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, Power League II is \N(just like its predecessor)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a sharp-looking baseball game that \Ndoesn't really stand out in any way,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,other than its, you know, \Nnice looking graphics. \N
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we will get to see four more of \Nthese during the life of the console.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Our third PC Engine game, \Nfrom Naxat (a.k.a. Taxan)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who had previously released the, uh, \Ngreat pinball game, "Alien Crush"
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as well as a golf game. \NNow, we have a pool game from them.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Break In, featuring \NSimulation, Action, Technique
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Geez! is this an instructional sex game?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Simulation is sort of a tournament mode, \NAction is just like one-off, uh, playing a game,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and Technique is like a \Ntutorial practice mode deal.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Break In is pretty generous with \Nthe types of games you can play.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For example, you have, uh, Yotsudama \N
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(a four ball game that's played \Non a table with no pockets
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and doesn't really resemble \Nnormal pool that much)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and "Bowliards", which appears to be \Na, uh, (actually is misspelled here)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is sort of a hybrid between \Nbowling and billiards.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hmm! Yes, I would like some nice shiny oranges and a glass of... orange soda? ...or maybe a big glass of [???]?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Man, we're gonna' get f---ed up on that [???] there.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Lots of options, here. \NChoose singles versus doubles,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who is controlled by computer \Nand who is controlled by... "Man"
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Sorry, ladies! This is a man's game.)\NPick a character,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(choose from either seven \Nmen characters or "Woman")
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Dragon"!? Come on! \NThis guy's hobby is golf?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm surprised it's not... \Nyou know... Billiards.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Actually, I'm kidding. \NThere are seven female characters as well.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hmm! I like Emmy's dumb '80s fashion and, \Nuh, Sophia's, sort of, adorable geek chic
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but really, uh, Sigrid, the boozy \Nactress seems like the coolest to me.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So picking a card determines who breaks.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, when you actually get ready to \Nshoot a va... shoot the ball, here,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you have a great deal of control, much \Nlike the typical golf games of this era.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You have this image ball concept \N
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(not something I've seen \Nin pool games prior to this)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,CPU players are generally \Ndecent but not 100% perfect,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is a nice switch from the \Nvarious baseball games we've seen.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Franky's pretty cool, but I \Nthink that mustache is fake.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Like a lot of other PC Engine games, \NBreak In has some pretty chill music.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, this is the Technique part.