I don’t even know anything about the Flash. I think my parents watched a show about him lately but otherwise I’m kind of clueless. I saw a video giving this game a 4 out of 5 but he also did the same with Rolan’s Curse so I went in with low expectations. My god this game is hilarious.

It’s your typical point A to point B platformer but like the whole game is jank. The combat never feels right, the jump is by pressing up on the d-pad and ladder climbing is atrocious. You also go so fast if you hold both buttons down and it pulls the sin of putting your character to the right of the screen along with a couple of blind landing moments. The plot is also basically just Flash thinking he’s done only for Tina to say there’s another bomb almost every single time.

Despite all that though, I kind of love the game. I’m not sure if I would say it’s good but I kind of just enjoyed the experience even if it’s janky as hell. I’m not sure if I’d recommend it but I can’t really bring myself to be mad at this game. It’s just funny to me lol.

Also the box art is funny too like why does he look so mad?!

“First step towards Eggconsole”

Well it’s been a bit since the last Eggconsole release and we’re finally here with the newest entry. While some games on this service have been somewhat known by some sides of the gaming community, I think this one is probably the most well known of the bunch so far. Ys is a series I’ve wanted to get more into but have only played the remake of the first on Steam and the 3rd game on SNES. I remember not thinking much of that remake but I wanted to play this and see how that changed things.

Well the plot is something I can’t really tell you because well here’s one of the more disappointing things about this release, it’s not in English. The how to play section tells you the beginning part of the story but nothing else. You’ll have to play other versions of Ys to get a good idea of what’s going on here. I’m not surprised it doesn’t have a translation considering it’s not too story heavy but it is a shame. I hope this doesn’t stay this way for some releases like Hurry Fox or you’ll probably not see reviews on them just because I’d be doing you a disservice. You may ask why don’t I just watch an English playthrough of another version, well I’m just worried it’ll have different plot points and don’t wanna spread misinformation. (I’m also lazy).

Ys is an action rpg where you’ll be exploring the land that’s not too huge trying to get many items, weapons, and much more. The land of Ys is not too huge with only a few big landmarks to explore so you’ll probably not get lost trying to find where to go in this land. You play the role of Adol Christin. Wait, his last name is Christin? I always thought it was Christian. What the heck? Like Jim from Hydlide, Adol has no attack button for his sword as the game uses bump combat. Bump combat is similar to Hydlide where you don’t wanna just go headfirst into the enemy. You wanna hit them when only a half of your sprite is touching only a half of their sprite. You’ll gain EXP and gold by defeating enemies and you can go to shops in the first town to buy certain items, swords, armor, and shields. The how to play section even helps you know there’s an easy way to get money at the very beginning to help with the grind a little as 1,000 gold isn’t enough to get starting equipment.

There are only three different dungeons in Ys, a temple, a mine, and a tower. These dungeons will be the places you’ll be spending most of the game in and I’ll talk about the first two. You’ll be finding many things in both of these dungeons and they can be pretty hard to navigate at times but you’ll get used to it. The mine has a small source of light for vision so be wary of that. Enemies later down can kill you fast so try to retreat or save a lot if you decide to go further. I’d also make sure you have a wing with you so you don’t have to backtrack back to the first town. There’s something so cool about just getting an item in this game and hearing that jingle. If you do ever get confused where to go or need help finding an item, I’d recommend this walkthrough to help you out. Though there were times I got stuff earlier than the guide like the heal ring in the mine.

Now once you’ve gotten 3 books of Ys, you can go to Darm Tower. Oh boy, Darm Tower is a big dungeon. You’ll actually need to switch disks which you can do on the pause menu in this release. Darm Tower is almost half of the game’s playtime, sure the game is short but whenever you think you’re done in this tower, there’s like so many more things. So many of the same pillar hallways too. There’s multiple bosses, traps, and even new characters to interact with like Dogi who breaks down a wall and I find that very funny. I’ll be honest, I don’t hate this tower but it can drag and I’m not a fan of how you’re already fully leveled meaning fighting enemies won’t mean much as you also can’t use your gold anymore as leaving this tower is impossible.

Bosses in this game are probably going to be the part where you’ll die the most that isn’t being underleveled against enemies. It’s just hard for me to get hits on it while not getting hits myself. Not every boss is challenging, in fact there was one I was overleveled for and stomped it easily. Though don’t get discouraged when fighting them, just learn how the bosses attack and then learn the best strategies for offense. You’ll get healed at the end of every fight so don’t worry if you’re almost down for the count. Then we have the final boss who isn’t as bad as I remember. I thought he was the hardest but it only took me two tries this time which was shocking. While the fights can feel tough at times, just keep at it and you’ll feel proud of your victory.

Honestly I was just amazed at how the game is still fun, it kind of reminded me of Hydlide where I could understand why someone would say “hasn’t aged well” even if I don’t like using that phrase, Ys 1 is still a fun time. The only really dull moments was just sometimes the walking around felt a little slow along with some of the loading but speed up is available and can help along with rewind if you like using that. If you don’t like the one in-game save slot, Eggconsole releases usually have four save slots so you can use those. There is also a scene select but only for the beginning of each dungeon so don’t use this if you wanna skip to the final boss, you’ll be disappointed.

The game has some really nice graphics for the PC-88 even if it does have some choppy scrolling. I really like the environments here, the nice artwork for places like inside buildings and the nice backgrounds in places like the final boss area and credits. Maybe I just really like fast moving effects. I also like the colors even if it still has that limitation of not too many colors to use. The music by Yuzo Koshiro and Mieko Ishikawa is amazing stuff. Like I thought Silpheed had really good music and this is even better than that game’s music. It starts as early as the title screen with such a lovely piece of music. This release also has the last scene select to let you listen to the unused audio tracks since the steps to normally do it wouldn’t work on a controller. Seriously give the OST a listen and later versions would even improve these songs.

I was happy to see that Ys was better to me on this playthrough and being able to play the very first release of it was really fun to do. It’s always nice to just see a landmark title like this and while I wouldn’t say this is the first version you should play, I’d say it’s at least worth checking out. Even in 2024, Ys 1 is a fun game and it makes me hopeful that we will see the sequels added at some point. Like I’ve already said, be cautious about buying this release, it might be better to just play a different version first if you wanna read the story and such. Still regardless of the circumstances, this is so far my favorite game I’ve played of the four Eggconsole games I’ve done. With that, I’ll end the review here. I’ll see you next week for Hydlide 3!

Was really impressed with how fast and impactful Aleste is. The game is a vertical shmup like every other Aleste game and for the console it’s pretty good. I was really enjoying myself despite the repetitiveness of the game. The locations are varied, the FM sound is pretty nice and the many weapons are fun too. The weapons are on a timer sadly so you’ll need to strategize. I also found weapons 1 and 2 kind of useless but the rest are decent to very good. With all the chaos happening, you’ll need all the help you can get.

No other review seems to mention it but there’s a ton of slowdown in this game especially by the time you get to stage 3. It can be unbearable at times, it’s like I’m playing a Super Famicom shmup. It does hurt the game a little and is mostly why I don’t have it at an 8/10. The game is also not too hard but you will suffer the consequences if a stray bullet gets you. It’s punishing enough but nothing impossible especially with the awesome weapons.

This was a nice shmup to play and it takes a bit to see the game the whole way through. The chaotic nature really sets this one as a very interesting shmup for the era. There are better Aleste games out here but the score average on this page surprises me, it’s a good game and is worth playing if you have a Mark III/Master System.

A little sad to see the low scores for this game on here because I found this to be a nice JP exclusive for the handheld. It was released late into the system and uses a concept from a canceled Virtual Boy game called Bound High. They used that ball bouncing concept to make a 2D puzzle game for the system and it works pretty well.

You’ll go through eight stages trying to find five gems in each stage as you walk, push blocks, and bounce around going room to room or even through teleporters. One tip I’d give immediately is to never rush things as you die in one hit and at any time, you can freeze time and look around by holding select. This game wants you to plan things out to get a jewel or just get out of the room. The game for the most part is pretty well designed but there are a couple of moments I felt that fell flat on its face or just felt like it needed more testing. The game is still pretty fun and clever otherwise.

The game doesn’t have anything too frustrating until you get to the final stage where getting into the final room is really cryptic. Here’s my tip, go to the bottom corner of the map, then go up and then go back down immediately and you’ll get into the room. I had to use a guide to help me. Bosses are also a very weak point of the game. They feel not well thought out in the slightest and honestly should have just been removed as they are all largely pretty damn easy.

The game is oddly not that impressive graphically despite it coming out in 1997. It doesn’t even have SGB support. It’s not ugly looking or anything but it just doesn’t wow me. Maybe my expectations are too high. The music is pretty nice but it’s a bit repetitive for how long you’ll be in them but they can be addicting to hear depending on the song.

Chalvo 55 is a nice little game for the GB. There’s a lot to enjoy about the game’s level design even if it’s far from perfect. It’s worth giving it a try if it looks fun to you. I’m glad I gave this a go and reminded me I need to one day play Chameleon Twist which the devs of this also made. If it wasn’t a little overpriced, I’d probably get a copy of the game. I personally think more GB games need to be discovered so I hope this gave you some awareness of this specific title. Hope you enjoy it if you give it a go!

I’m disappointed with this one, I was expecting more of the same and all I got was a lame shmup and action hybrid game. It doesn’t really do either well even if I do like the integration of the vehicle/mech hybrid they use in the Anime. Hey you actually fight Baron Ricks in this game though it’s inaccurate because he should be dodging bullets with 0 animation JUST LIKE THE ANIME! The game feels rushed and copy pastes a lot of the same ideas throughout the eight stages. Also you save Apple and Champ and you supposedly can use them in the odd numbered levels by pressing A or B on the P2 controller but nothing worked. I know they’re playable because they show up in the credits.

It’s just a sloppy 2D action game that was a dime a dozen in the 8 bit generation. I really want to like it but I could only see myself playing it again for a video review. The game doesn’t even use the Zillion name in Japan, this is why the title screen only says Tri-Formation if you were wondering. The FM sound is nice and even uses the OP theme Pure Stone for the odd numbered stages. I would personally just ignore this game, it’s just not worth your time and just go play the first game instead if you haven’t.

I watched the Anime this game is based off of to prepare for this game. All 31 episodes. It was a decent time but I was more excited to play this game as it’s a fan favorite among Master System owners. While the game’s plot and events don’t really follow an episode of the Anime, it’s a good game for the system.

You start off with JJ as you must explode the Nozha’s base by putting a special disk in there along with a code. You need to find Apple and Champ too as they have been captured. The whole base is a maze that will have you finding many passwords to put 4 digits into to activate doors and elevators. It’s RNG which symbols it’ll be and changes every time you enter the room if you haven’t finished the room. Because my memory sucks, I tried writing down each one I did and eventually made a key to make it easier. Many rooms have enemies or traps for you to deal with. You can do codes to remove traps for the cost of a disk so don’t overdo it, only do once you feel you need to do it for especially if it’s mandatory to avoid damage.

The level design is fairly good throughout the entire game with my only gripe being that the game’s difficulty was at the highest in the 2nd area with the final area being pretty bearable due to just being at the max level. The enemy variety could be better though but this was probably unavoidable due to the source material. There is one boss at the very end of the game and is even topped off with a stressful escape sequence that makes you replay the whole game again if you fail to make it in time. I do love though that if you run out of time in the outside area, you’ll still live and play unique victory music as you get back to the ship. I also like how the game has a convenient way to heal at the ship and one to start at the area you’re in. Despite the repetitive gameplay at times, it can be pretty fun and addicting.

That said, it’s got some notable issues. Jumping over mines is painful. You have to be perfect with your timing and it’s even worse if you have an improved jump. Thankfully leveling your gun to max can get rid of them easily. Jumping is also a bit weird as it has a half second of wind up which can make jumping at times a bit weird. You also have a really high jump once you improve it. Crouching also never feels perfect which can be a little annoying. I also never liked when the game forced me to take hits by laser walls, just feels like a health check. You also only start with one continue and you only ever have one continue everytime you start a new area. If you liked the Anime, you might be disappointed that it won’t have much appeal to fans. I was a little disappointed Baron Ricks was only on the game over screen and ending.

The game graphically looks nice, good uses of colors and the sprites for the main characters are good along with the images of the characters though Baron Ricks could look better. I adore the screen when it starts where JJ shoots the screen as it turns red. God it’s sooo cool! The music is also nice but there isn’t much of it and sadly this was before FM audio was a thing so you get none of that here. The sound effects are fine too but I swear they sometimes sound weird but maybe it’s an emulation issue.

Zillion was a pleasant game to play through, I enjoyed my time with it. It’s got issues and I can see why some have looked down on this game a bit more over the years but I personally found the gameplay pretty engaging and interesting throughout. It’s at least worth trying and you don’t really need to watch the Anime to get good context on this game. It’s kind of a shame the game has very little coverage here as it’s a pretty neat title for a system I still don't know much about still. Would gladly replay and even own it. I also wish Backloggd didn’t use the US cover like good god who even approved that back in the 80s!?

A decent little distraction. This is a homebrew fighting game trying to be like a Master System game with a cast from the system. It has a decent variety of characters with two secret ones too. Sadly the balance of it is pretty awful but I can't really be too mad. The AI for Opa Opa is also very cringe and I despise it. Surprisingly I had the most success using Alex Kidd further proving you are all wrong that his first game sucks. Also make sure you play on hard mode. Give it a try as it's free and not the worst half an hour you can spend.

I spent $40 to watch the OVA based off of this only to realize the game barely even follows the source material. The things I do only to get hit in the head for wasting time.

But yeah the game isn't bad, though I think I partially think this cause I used save states. The game is brutally hard and it feels like they give you mechanics like the ring shield (which wasn't even in the OVA btw) only to just circumvent the bs the game throws at you. It's only five stages but the level design does not compliment the stiff controls whatsover. So much of it is slanted surfaces and just never really feel good to platform with. There's even wind mechanics in the first and last level like why would they do this?! They don't even have many items littered across stages, it's just health refills and a 1-up in each stage.

Enemy placement is rancid. You can tell it won't be good the moment you notice how many times the game loves to throw enemies off screen rushing at you at blazing speeds. The bosses though are actually pretty easy and don't feel well thought out at times. It doesn't help the timer is really strict too. Did I also mention you have 0 I-frames? You will die fast if you rush. You also have limited continues so good luck!

I wanted to think people on here and other sites were being too harsh. My stupid mental self was thinking "ahh, I watched the source unlike them, I'll truly get what makes this good" only to play it and find out I'm sort of on the same bar. It does have decent music at least but it doesn't impress me graphically. It surprisingly lacks fanservice which the OVAs loved using. I can't really recommend the game unfortunately, even if you're a fan of the source material, it's a pass in my book. I don't blame anyone for hating this game even if I didn't despise it.

I honestly forgot this game existed until very recently and this is a good shmup by HAL. I will say though it probably won’t amaze you either. It does look nice and has good music, the gameplay is a mixed bag. It does have a cool gimmick with these weapons that can go in front or back that can save you from death and give you strong weapons. I wasn’t a fan of the weapon labeled as V as I found the hitbox size kind of underwhelming. I mostly used the lasers as they’re powerful and got decent forward range. You can also get speed ups and speed downs and I tried not to overdo it.

The first two stages are nothing too crazy but then the game goes crazy on tight spaces and split paths for every other level. The game isn’t too hard but it is very easy to die due to all of the walls. The last stage was also cruel with patterns you’ll never guess on the first attempt, fast as hell projectiles, and some awful traps like a door that closes when it reaches halfway the screen. Despite the issues, the game can still be fun and the stages are varied enough to stop the game from being boring.

I feel like I should enjoy this game more but tbh it just doesn’t do too much for me outside of just being good. Shmup fans will enjoy it but it’s not really a must play. I would argue you should try it and I hate that I forgot to put it on that one list. The game however has not had much of a legacy and I think HAL has only ever referenced it once in a Kirby sub game. Give it a go if you like shmups, would be nice to see more thoughts on this obscure one.

I kind of hate how every time I see this game I think about how Game Sack has covered this game in like 6 different videos.

Ok but for real though I have to say this and I was surprised when I played this and LOVED IT SO MUCH! Like it's grainy and it's just pressing two directions or two buttons but it's so chaotic and I love it. It was also just nice playing this and actually having a chance which was an issue I had with Time Gal. Also the intro song is really cool. Road Blaster FX (Japan name) was so awesome and I'm very surprised this currently my favorite Mega CD game...wow.

A decent little Rolling Thunder wannabe but with a theme that reminds me of Super Sentai. Sadly there’s not much to say about the game as you beat up enemies with punches and kicks and you can get three different costumes that can get a special weapon. The red gives a sword, the blue gives a gun, and the green gives a boomerang. One tip I’d give is make sure you’re aware of the punch attack by holding up and attack. You can also charge ground attacks and even do a special kick if you lack a weapon.

That said it’s got flaws. The controls are the worst part of the game, not that it’s bad but moreso that they just don’t always work in moments where you can get an item you might miss or trying to hit a fast enemy. I also find going down off a platform to be very finicky. The music while good only has about 4 songs so it might get on your nerves after a while. The last stage goes on for a little too long and for some unknown reason you refight the first two bosses here twice. The final boss is also laughably easy where it has a simple to understand pattern and just dies quickly to many punches. I guess they thought not being able to do charge attacks would make it hard but no, it’s pretty pathetic.

Unless the theme of the game interests you, it’s not something I’d recommend you playing. Sure it may be decent but it’s nothing spectacular and it could have been possibly a good game with some fixes. Play at your own risk but I am glad to have beaten it after it bested me last night.

This has a GB version which I’m reviewing but isn’t listed as a version. I’ll update it if that ever changes (edit, thank you for whoever updated), also here is the cover art.

There’s not much to say about this game, it’s a fun little puzzle game that originated on the MSX. You drop eggs on seesaws to bounce your chicks up to the top while a hungry wolf is out for them constantly. You need to have the eggs hit him before he gets a chance to eat them. There’s a lot of strategy especially if you want the high score as you have to make sure you do it fast, have as many chicks as possible, and beat the level in less than 30 eggs. Though you don’t have to worry if you only want to see the end as long as you only have one chick alive. Lose them all and it’s game over with limited continues.

There’s also some bonus games that can award you with a new baby chicken. The first is catching eggs with a basket while also not having the wolf eat the babies holding it. The second and third are both mashing B before the chicken or chicks meet their demise. The last one is whacking wolves from eating a chick.

Yeah it’s a pretty neat game with five difficulty options too for people to enjoy and be able to see the ending on any of them. Surprised no one talks about it but maybe GB puzzle games are just usually at the bottom of the barrel of discussion if you’re not one of the big hits or slightly big niche. Give it a try if it looks or sounds fun to you! What’s surprising is it doesn’t even have a US release despite the only thing Japanese is the logo of the game. How weird, wonder why it wouldn’t get a US re-WHAT THE FU-

This is a port of an Arcade game by Namco. I think the original was isometric but this port is top down. It starts off pretty fun but the game is a little too long for how simple the gameplay loop feels. The water stage is also pretty bad with awful rng raft patterns that I feel even the devs hated because the level is incredibly short. Bosses never feel too fulfilling and the difficulty is just all over the place, the final boss is also way too hard compared to most of the game.

Despite the issues however, it can be fun especially once you learn how to get good at the game, don’t give up on it and keep trying to learn and you’ll find some enjoyment here. There’s also a lot of fun powerups to get as well so try to look for them. It could be better but I wouldn’t mind playing this from time to time. Give it a try if it looks interesting to you.