Inspector Parker (PC)

 So, i'm back. Time to put some wrinkles on my brain and follow the footstep of the famous Detective Holmes even though my intelligence only fits as Watson. I'm  playing Gamehouse's Inspector Parker (2003). 

There's the Inspector Parker himself. The player takes a role as silent investigator who's fresh graduate from Scotland Yard academy and Inspector Parker's protégé. I finished this game once long time ago and my old brother likes it even though he's not so into puzzle game. Even though i'm experienced with this game, i hit the Tutorial first.

 

For the first tutorial level, i'm given the puzzle board with 2 rooms. I get notebook panel on right. It contains testimony from witnesses that we gather. In this case, the testimony is: Knife is in the room below where Fred located. It's clear that Fred (in pink square) is the one in the bottom room and not Boris (in aqua square). Thus i should press left mouse button on Fred's icon. The main objective of the this puzzle game is simple: determine who or what in the room when the murder happens and the murder analysis will automatically revealed.  

 

Next tutorial level is slightly more complicated because the number of the room is increasing. The right mouse button has the opposite function of the left mouse button. You use it to erase possibility instead. According to clue, Gerald (the old English explorer stereotype) is somewhere on the left of Harriet (The old maid). So you should erase either Gerald icon on the most right of the pair or Harriet icon on the most left of the pair.

 

After doing so, the other Harriet or Gerald icon will be pulsing which means it's the only possibility located in that room and it's safe to press left mouse button on it or rather you must do that to finish the puzzle as soon as possible. Once you declare correctly, the selected icon will become large and other same icon in other room will disappear. Then you can carry on to work with other clue soon.

 

If you make mistake from either stating or removing the icon, you get thunder rumble sound. There's limit on how many time you can make mistake. But because this is tutorial level, you can make mistake how many time you want. :P

 

For the last tutorial level, we get 2 type of icon on the same room instead of 1 like in previous levels. Just analyze the clue more carefully and you will be fine. The clue with more than 2 icon is quite a bliss because it takes more room to determine thus it's less vague. Same goes to clue with "+" sign or exact number of room distance. "+" sign means the icon pair is on the same room. I think the most helpful clue is the one related with the room like in top-right corner. Because the room has the exact position possibility, this kind of clue is the most exact one and you should treasure it.

 

After tutorial, i go to Puzzle Mode with difficulty setting "Medium". I know that i have experience with this game but that's long time ago. I shouldn't be cocky and go for "Deadly" difficulty at least not now. As you can see in loading bar that board is randomly generated. Surely this to prevent the game being finished with memorization.

 

So here's my first real murder case. According to Maurice testimony: Boris in a room to the left and the parlor. Also he couldn't harm a fly. We will see about that.    

 

Maurice is the culprit afterall. You bloody liar! Engineer_dominationspy04.wav    

 

You think Maurice is dragged into the brig after that case but no. The bloody killer still there! After i sort the items again, guess what?

 

The miserable bum did it again! This time he uses knife to done in Aunt Agatha. Engineer_specialcompleted03.wav

 

After finishing another murder case (which isn't done by Maurice this time, honest), i graduate from the academy. Scout_award11.wav

 

Of course, i meet more difficult puzzle but this just in 3rd level so it's shouldn't be that hard. Each level always has one practice stage where one or two icon are revealed at the beginning thus make it easy for you. But for next stage, all icon are entirely mystery. In this stage, there's another icon type: motive for the murder. There's money, will, illegitimate baby, jewelry, broken-heart letter, and angry letter. Obviously, you want to work on clue that related to already revealed item. But as you can see, none of them are related to Laudanum but at least there's no other Laudanum icon in this place called Misanthrope Manor.

 

Thank you for your compliment, sir. I kind of wonder about the content of the will. Do Portia's deceased parent are longing for Aunt Agatha's demise with knife? Sounds terrible.

 

I remember that you can click on the clue to highlight related icon but you're only allowed to do it one at a time. The highlighted icon will be surrounded by blue/yellow circle at all time so you can work on the clue more easily. You can pause the game by clicking the small "pause" icon on right-bottom corner. If you pause the game, there's big "pause" message box blocking the board while all of the icons disappear. Just like Flipull, this game doesn't allow you to playing trick with pausing the game. There's also timer to obey but in this game it's ticking up and serves as record parameter and not time limit.  

 

The series of murder doesn't stop probably because i choose to continue the game and not because of the psychology problem of the killer, sir. Just saying.

 

Now that there's 2 type of icon on the same room, the game become feistier. Not to mention now there's another icon type: the victim because Aunt Agatha is very tired to become dead everytime. Here's some tips regarding the clue with vague relation among the icon. By "vague relation", i mean like X is somewhere on the left of Y or X is somewhere above the Y. For example this clue regarding Boris and Fred. Because Boris on the left of Fred according to this previous bloody killer fine lady. You can erase Boris' possibility on the most right of the two and erase Fred's possibility on the most left of the two. As for the rest, you have to move on to other clue. You better get used to this pattern because it will appears very often from here on out.

 

I find the testimony from the witnesses is interesting. Here's the examples. Fred is neither a killer nor a fighter. He's lover just like that. On the other hand Harriet has mouth that as foul as mine. I thought maid is supposed to be polite but she proves the otherwise.

 

As i mentioned before clue with exact number distance is more helpful than the one without the number. In this case Fred mustn't be in the 2nd most bottom of the premise because he's 3 rooms above the baby, according to this clue.   

 

You get this small animation effect after sorting out all of the icon. Fred (once again) is the murderer, breaks a window, gets axe, kills Stella, and goes to angry letter. there's footprint and footstep between the phase which is neat effect in my opinion.    

 

After sorting another murder case, i'm now placed on C.I.D (Criminal Investigation Department). Soldier_cheers01.wav

 

On next level, this miserable git gives me some funny comment. Let's hope this murder case isn't your doing again, mister.

 

Really now? If there's murder case, naturally everyone here is could be potential suspect, including you too! Even you're not the murderer this time, i have to arrest you for unpleasant act, Mr. Jerk.

 

I keep my eyes very close on you, Maurice. It goes without saying that the more icon/possibility included, the more clue you get. I can't do anything further yet on this clue (Axe on the left of Maurice). But i can conclude that there's the one and only possibility that Rolly (the portly gentleman) above Maurice based on other clue. Some clue will complement each other whether directly or not. Even you can spot an exact outcome on some icon. I suggest you don't act harshly unless your conclusion is backed by the clue on notebook panel.  

 

Sniper_negativevocalization06.wav. Maurice is on it again! I knew it! I like to point out that the gun isn't revolver. It's matchlock pistol. Revolver is that handgun type with the circle magazine like you see in Wild West movie. Just saying.

After solving next murder case...

 

Wow. Just wow. Even though they're old, they can have love tragedy like youngster of this time to the point of involving murder. Demoman_jeers07.wav

 

I got promoted to Inspector! But things get more complicated as the Misanthrope Manor grows more room with more icon type: evidences left by the culprit. Some of them are usual/sensible such as piece of hair, footprint, fingerprint or blood. Some of them are fairly believable like cloth's button or handkerchief. But then there's bill note which doesn't make sense to me. You can get fingerprint from it, sure. But there's already fingerprint. ID card or brooch pin will be more sensible.

 

In this loading screen, Inspector Parker will introduce you to clue lock but i already spoil that much much early. :P

 

Inspector Parker isn't kidding about the case is getting more complex. Not only because of more room but also more icon type: item to dispose the victim's body such as: burn it with gasoline, bury it underground with shovel -classic style-, bury it in coal bin. Or the most ruthless method of them all: throwing it on tank full of Piranha fish! Why someone treat this carnivorous fishes as pet? What were they thinking? But i played Insaniquarium where the piranha can produce gem so who am i to judge? I like to point out that Harriet makes a bad joke about current predicament. Soldier_jeers01.wav   

 

Speaking of the old maid, Gerald says that he saw here somewhere below room where Boris located. I notice about you say "shooting". Would you kindly go with us for awhile, sir?

 

It seems Stella notice about the romance between Ophelia with Grandpa Gus earlier and she makes fun of it. In return she's killed and later her body put inside a wall. Sniper_jeers02.wav.

On next murder case...

 

Ophelia kills Stella again! This time she wants Stella's precious jewelry  and buries her body within coal bin. Spy_specialcompleted10.wav

 

I'm not sure about that, Boris. The problem with level with more room than previous level is: i can't enjoy the room visually. I think i want to see the rooms more thoroughly and admire their beauty but alas the game doesn't allow me. I know that the level become more difficult when there's more room but i will appreciate if i can see them clearly especially without all the icons. Also i wonder why the manor need to contain 2 torture rooms (on the right bottom corner).

 

After solving that murder case, i'm promoted to Chief Inspector! Well, if you keep throwing the works at me. You never get promoted to Chief, Inspector Parker. :P

 

What's oubliette? Oh. Apparently, it's underground jail. Why this manor has jail? Later, i know that misanthrope is fairly close to sociopath. They should change the name into Miserable Manor! Obviously, clue-locking feature become nigh mandatory as dozen of icons are cramped into small room (which become smaller because there's more room into manor that never change its size from the beginning). With the lock turns on, the related icon will be enlarged a bit which allow you to deduct or claim possibility more accurately.

 

You can click on magnifying glass icon on bottom-right corner, to ask for hint at the cost of extra time on timer. The thing is, it's not so helping. The hint (from Inspector Parker) only points out icon that you can deduct with logical pattern that i told you before. I was in rush and immediately left-mouse click on that rope then i get the unwelcome thunder rumbles. I though the hint is  pointing out one correct possibility and not the otherwise. Scout_jeers06.wav  

 

You can say that because you're the suspect type and not the victim type. As i mentioned before clue with distinct number is quite helpful but you have to be smart/careful on the count. Handkerchief icons on first 4 columns from the left, are definitely false possibility. The same goes to Evelyn icons on first 4 columns from the right. So deduct all of those. I forget to mention you that when you become Chief Inspector, you can only be allowed makes 1 mistake only. More than that, you have to start over the level.

 

After finishing that case, the story mode is over. You will be presented with picture of the suspects, victims, and Inspector Parker himself. There's also the front view of the blighted mansion. Looks nice outside but it's horrible outside what with all of the murder and dark underground rooms.

 

Then Inspector Parker suggest me some options. 1) I can replay the story mode from the beginning. 2) I can choose a level as i want. 3) Try the timed mode. Or lastly 4) Try the Deadly (hard) difficulty. As far as i know in hard difficulty, the clues are all the vague instruction type. The -you know-  clue without exact number room distance. Also no clue that related with the exact room. Meaning the hard difficulty offers less variation but make the game more difficulty as intended. The culprit of the first case on hard difficulty is: Maurice! Ok. I think i'm done here. 

 

Gamehouse's Inspector Parker (2003) is pretty fun puzzle game with murder crime setting. The gameplay is fun and easy to understand. Unfortunately it gets boring quite fast for me. Because there's not much variation on later stages. At least not without clogging many rooms with a dozen or two icons. If the icon type also randomized on less number of icon type, it will be more enjoyable. In early part of the latter murder scene, it takes lots of time and effort to work on the clues and you have to cycle through them over and over again. But once you discover some of the real possibility, it will get easier from that point. Not only your analytic skill, The game also demands your patience. There's different mode that can offer you with extra playability. The music is appropriate with mystery theme but only 1 track exist on stage, which can also add the sense of boredom in me. The sound effect is fairly good. The graphic is pretty wonderful.

 

To me, Inspector Parker (2003) is kind of like Minesweeper but with more logical solution and less relies on luck. Casting aside of gameplay that becomes boring fairly fast, this game get my recommendation. It only need slightly improvement to make it great. I feel like my brain get some wrinkle by playing this game for 5 hours so play it with your discreet. Sorry for anyone named "Maurice" who happens to read this review, but it seems the game hates Maurice this time.

Guardians / Denjin Makai II (Arcade)

Time has passed and today is the 4rd birthday of my blog, already. As per usual i will write about video game that's very special to me and this time it's Side-Scrolling brawler game. It's Winky Soft's Guardians / Denjin Makai II (1995)

 

I can't resist urge to make the title screen into moving gif. Those 8 characters are the roster and all of them has dynamic entry so why not make gif out of it? This game only release in JP version so title "Denjin Makai II" may refers to that small words above the title and not other version's title. It also suggests that there's prequel of this game. That's true. The prequel feels little worse and has smaller roster but still playable nonetheless. What's the plot? My best guess is: some big conglomerate group that own great military power and technology is about to do evil plot (most likely world conquest) and it's up for the band of hero to stop the villains.

Once you put the credit and push the start button, you're brought into this character selection. You know the usual trilogy a la Final Fight: one is fast but weak, another is slow but strong, and the last one is average in strength and speed? Imagine that trinity is expanded into 8 characters and you get this roster. In Side-Scrolling brawler/Beat em up game,  8 playable character is hardly common especially in 90s. Here's some reference: The most characters in Capcom's Side-Scrolling brawler game: 6 in Dungeons & Dragons - Shadow of Mystara. In Noise Factory's Sengoku 3, the casts are also 6 person (4 initial + 2 unlockable ex-boss). While in Noise Factory's Gaia Crusade, the casts are 7 persons (5 initial + 2 unlockable ex-boss). The most common size of roster in average Beat em up game is 2 or 4 persons. The only game that compete this game in size of roster is Gekido Urban Fighter on PS1 or Streets of Rage 3 on Sega Genesis/Megadrive. So 8 persons roster feels very luxurious. Don't worry about the quality of characters! 8 of them are pretty distinctive with each other. For some reason the female casts are located on each ends. Because the game only contains 5 levels and can be finished in rather short time, i have to replay some of them to show you all the 8 characters. For the first pick, i go with Girulian because he looks like the generic blonde guy and also he's ex-final boss of the prequel. I think he's the "Average" type person because he looks like the leader of the group because he looks like X-Men's Cyclops if Scott Summer is blonde and reborn in Anime art. You can see his movelist above (from left to right): 1) Holding "attack" button and then moving joystick down then up. 2) Holding "attack" button and then moving joystick back then forward. 3) Pressing both "attack" and "jump" button for the usual damage-surrounding move. 4) Pressing both "attack" and "shoot" button for big special move that drain your health upon use. and lastly 5) Pressing "shoot" button for semi-projectile/projectile attack.

Stage 1. Military Base

 

Look at them chilling and smoking. They will never know what hit them.

 

By that i mean oil drum. Yes. The control is quite generic: joystick to move your character around, one button to attack in the direction your character facing, second button to make your character to jump, and third button for ranged attack. Hitting the enemies consecutively will produces combo. Pressing attack button will make player pick up nearby weapon, score item, food item, or even item container that you can throw at enemy like i do here. There's not much weapons that you can pick here. Only 3 of them: Sword, Bar, and Bomb. The last is the usual hand grenade that you throw at enemies to blow them up. Here's the thing about the rest of the weapon: some character can pick one of them and treat the other as "1000 points" score item. Also the weapon takes different form depends on character that wield it. For example some sword becomes katana, fencing, or double edge type. I was hoping the bar will assume form of iron pipe but i never witness that happens yet.

You can execute running by moving joystick twice forward and the hold it. After that you can follow up with either running attack or running jump attack. You can rolling/somersault sideway by moving joystick up/down twice, which is handy to dodge projectile.

 

Of course, they deploy evil dogs to do their ill bidding. So i stab them with this candy cane. It's supposed to be fencing sword that i mentioned but it looks more resembles mint flavored candy cane what's with those blue-white stripe and the lack sharp edge of that thing. Besides provide you with extra range and damage power, sword also grants you access to new combo and special move. So it's neat idea to get weapon while the opportunity comes.  

 

After defeating those doberman and their master, i come in to deal with the first boss. Yes, that big soldier with grotesque muscular proportion is the first boss and he's loved by his underling because of it. I feel bad to that guy that manage to make card pyramid. Also i kind of wonder what synthetic orange looks and taste like.

 

The usual grabbing mechanic is here. Get very close to enemy to initiate grab. You can do secondary grab move by pressing "attack" button while grabbing an enemy up to 2 times (the third time will knock them away). You can throw them to left or right by pressing "attack" button and holding joystick left or right. There's also more powerful throw/grapple by pressing "jump" and then "attack" button. As for the boss, he likes to twist his own muscles in inhuman way but not difficult to deal with. Also i manage to slam him against the wall. Quite hilarious.

 

He feels stressed and humiliated then he breaks down the floor thus making him and the cameraman fall. But he will returns as regular enemy once in a while in future, mind you.

 

Before the stages except for first and final stage, you can choose between 2 options of stage by moving joystick left or right although the stage bosses remain the same. For 2nd stages we get: Long Bridge and Linear Railway. I will keep choosing the first option. And before showing my playthrough on final stage i will show you the alternative stages while showing you the other character.

Stage 2-A. Long Bridge

 

The stage start with a blast! A group of shield bearer that makes perfect human barricade, being blow out by bunch of grenades (presumably thrown by the heroes) while their peers hanging out leisurely without a hint of explosive terror unfold nearby.

 

The score items are gem, stack of cash, a safe (!), and Funko Pop miniature doll of the character. Like here for example: is doll of Kurokishi. What baffles me is, you do not get higher score if you pick the doll of your current character. But that just my minor complaint.

 

Then i find abandoned cat on cardboard box while occasionally meow-ing for help. To the rescue! Picking up kitty worth 2000 points. Here's another reason why i love this game.

 

Then a field commander come to pick me up and i ride on top of his van. Then bonus stage happens! This gallery shooter is pretty easy. My targets may prepare their weapon but they don't actually fire it. Maybe the idea of enemies shooting at the player in this section is discarded for some technical reason. Even so they take lots of bullet to go down. The section isn't bad. The targets move considerably fast for shootout in speeding vehicle. So i shoot at those enemy soldiers, combat vehicles, and for some reason a couple of civilian. I feel bad shooting at them.

 

I take it back. That guy flips the bird at me. You deserve this triangle laser barrage, bastard! Because the action is fast in motion, i never notice that rude gesture before. Speaking of rude.

 

The 2nd boss stage is Ninja who like to create his clones while in gesture that tell you to be quite. It's milder, but still rude nonetheless. Obviously, you can't hurt him if you keep beating his clone. Once you manage to get clean hit on him, he will vanish and replaced with log. Later her will stab you from above. It's like Hanzo Hattori's (from Samurai Shodown) Utsusemi Chizan. You have 3 option to counter this. 1) If you throw him, he can't do that ninja trick at all. 2) Running attack will allow you to attack him safely 3) You have to perform forward combo, executed by doing combo while holding joystick forward. Your finisher combo most likely allow you to pass safely his stabbing from above. 

Stage 3-A. Forest Zone

 

On this forest level, i kick Ksitigarbha (Buddha statue that sets on roadside or graveyards)...

...the giant bell falls on me. This is why you should be nice to any good deity, reader.

 

It seems sheers number of soldiers doesn't work well against me. So one of them take initiative to chop down tree that hopefully hits me. It doesn't work wonder because it's obviously telegraphed to me. Instead, it hits my enemies. Soldier_specialcompleted-assistedkill01.wav     

 

Okay. This is very ludicrous. Who dare drop large basin at me, huh? Obviously Winky Soft

 

Look at that lass who arrogantly watches her friend kicked by me while sitting on her (sleeping) fat friend! Speaking of kick, you have not 2 combo type (like in Capcom Beat em Up games: one with strong blow finisher and another with throw finisher). But 4 of them! They're: neutral, forward, up, and down. 1) Neutral combo which is executed by doing usual combo without any joystick input, deals generally good damage and minimizes your character's movement during combo. 2) Forward combo that i mentioned before, has maximum forward movement and it's ideal for more aggressive combat. 3) Up combo which is executed by doing combo while holding joystick "up", usually with anti-air finisher. 4) Down combo which is executed by doing combo while holding joystick "down",  is the combo with the shortest chain and range. It's good to deal enemies in quickest manner.  

 

The 3rd stage boss is giant robot with laser beam eye, gatling gun that fires mini rockets, extending punches, and drones that either reflect laser from the boss or freeze you upon contact. Obviously, his weaponry mostly stationed on his front but if you attack him from behind too much he will give you quick back elbow strike. My only advice besides attacking from behind is: using hit-and-run tactic by using running attack or running jump attack. He's big target so you can most likely hit him even if you jump very high.

Stage 4-A. Subway

 

Imagine this couple having their first date in this subway mall. They are nervous that they don't know what to do for first time so they stare at each other silently. When suddenly evil soldiers that ride drone come in to break the silent and the couple know what to do: run away while flailing their arms. The drones are quite annoying enemies because when defeated they explode and the explosion can hurt you. I don't like that hand-like statue of children fashion in this era. It reminds me of that hand demons from Ghouls n Ghosts.  

 

Girulian has ability to perform clothesline drop by pressing both "attack" and "jump" button while running nearby enemy. The desperation move input is not only for the "clearing nearby enemies" move. You can use it while jumping, running, or even while grabbing enemy for different special move that depends on character you play as. Also i like to tell you another thing that important. Most special move (including the desperation move) costs you some energy. The energy bar is located right below your health bar. You can execute special move even beyond the energy bar but it will cost some of your health and the energy bar is fully replenished. There's 2 way to recover energy: 1) Hitting enemies with non-special move. 2) Charging your energy by standing idly for a moment. The first way recovers energy the least but you can fend off enemies while doing so. The latter recovers energy the most and fastest but leaves you vulnerable. The idle moment require to charge your energy is pretty brisk though.

 

Using your character's shot also costs you energy. I want to say that Girulian does the optic blast like X-Men's Cyclops but it seem he shoot his laser from his wristband instead. Nonetheless, the laser is useful to deal big damage to all enemies in front of him.

 

Then Girulian decides to break the floor beneath him to escape from surrounding enemies and drop into this subway section. Then he has to fight not one but two futuristic ED-209 which were transported via train on background. You can break the cannons on the train even they are nothing but destructible decoration. It's just cool to destroy these cannons with your punch/kick/laser beam.

 

Giant soldier with inhuman proportion, ninja, and super hi-tech giant robot can't stop me. Thus they send this mutant abomination to get rid of me. It has head of nautilus, shell of turtle's, legs of lobster's, and tail of an oversized prawn. Plus a pair of sea snake's head. It seems someone at developer's team had a horrible seafood accident the night before they design this stage boss. The main problem doesn't come from the main body, mostly. Those sea snake's heads that can go and bite everywhere is the main problem. Much like that big ugly alien in Alien Storm, he's quite susceptible to attack from backside.But for safer method: use the hit-and-run tactic with running attack or jumping attack.

 

Surprise! Surprise! This boss stage has second form where it loose most of its limb while retains the jaw pair. Now it doesn't have either front or back part anymore, its body now is symmetric and equal. So attacking it from behind is no longer efficient. In this form the snake heads become more aggressive and has ability to spit explosive fireball while the main body occasionally jumps really high and will drops at you. Girulian is defeated so Skullbyule get his turn. That fetal position is his running attack: sideway rolling cannonball, if you will. It doesn't deal big damage once. It hits multiple time, instead. And i can use it to attack enemies that currently lie down. Nothing more humiliating than some giant mutant rolls on you like some kind mattress on elementary gym class. Before we move on to final level, i will go through alternative stage on previous levels first.

Stage 2-B. Linear Railway

 

Here's Rou does his desperation attack which looks like him does ribbon ballet but with electrocuted whip with sickle end. Graceful as it may be, it's deadly nonetheless. Rou probably possesses the widest desperation attack. Rou is another "average" type character and judging by his looks and moveset, he's exorcist. His shoot attack is talisman papers he throws nearby that will lock enemies in place for awhile. Unfortunately, his punches are considerably short so enemies more likely slip away from his combo.

 

Some super special move is desperation attack but stronger like Girulian has. While the other is big powerful ranged attack like Rou's here. It will be very wrong if you unleash the super special move that cost some of my health and it doesn't hit anyone like me here. By the way, our hero jump out of the train and drop to this amusement facility...

 

...and ends up fighting the ninja in virtual reality room. I like that he keep jumping into background before fighting me and wears appropriate accessories with the virtual stage. In wild west stage, he wears cowboy hat and revolver. In horror stage, he wears Frankenstein monster's mask. Lastly in alien planet stage, he wears astronaut helmet.

 

Then the bonus stage occurs after defeating the ninja. Instead of speeding combat vehicle (and rude civilian), you get to shoot thematic target such as cowboy, zombies, or space ostriches (?).  For some reason, the usual grunts also within this virtual stages too.

Stage 3-B. Chinatown

 

The stage starts with miniature building recreation place dubbed as "Gulliver's Journey" where i destroy mini Taj Mahal palace to reveal a pair of soldiers doing hanky-panky. What makes them really surprised is the sudden appearance Tulks the living muscles. It's understandable though. To be honest, Tulks' design is unsettling to me. He wears practically nothing but thong. And he holster his gun on his crotch area, for God's Sake!

 

Ok. That's harsh of me to say that. Let's see then. He's clearly The "Strong" type character. He has various grapple as you expect from him that's a wrestler, from jumping backbreaker to German suplex. He's one of character that possesses special grapple by pressing both "Attack" and "Button" together while grabbing an enemy and do mind that it cost some of your energy. The special grapple is where he rolling backward along with his opponent and sets both of them aflame and later throw them really hard. Also i discover that he has air throw! Spy_positivevocalization03.wav

 

Near the exit of Gulliver's Journey place, you will find this Taco vendor that peacefully attend his cart while smoking. Until you (or enemy) smash it and he freaks out really bad and funny that his expression could be the same level of "The Scream" painting by Edvard Munch. But i feel bad for him.   

 

After defeating the giant robot, Tulks proudly shows his well-built muscles in public. Their expression become sour. The old man begins to remember his trip on some nudist beach because he looks at Tulks' nearly-naked buttock. That dog is the only sensible one to decide to look away from him. A few moment later, the authority takes Tulks into custody for public indecency even though he saves The Chinatown from evil militaries. 

Stage 4-B. Bayside

 

P. Belva can grabs 2 enemies and his special grab is big swing that can clear enemies around. Here's the story when i was junior high schooler: i was at the arcade section of water park and i saw Beat em Up arcade on its attraction mode where a yellow robot performs spinning piledriver and i'm very sold with the idea. Of course, the game is this one and the yellow robot is P. Belva here. That's the reason he is my main. P. Belva is another "Powerhouse" type but he's the most nimble one because his dash is fast and he has ability to double jump! Those cans is special item that related to energy bar. One replenishes energy to fullest. The other grants you unlimited energy. While another one gives you "Special" status that makes your character's name blinking. Some said that during that occasion you can unleash some super secret special move but unfortunately i don't know how to pull it or at least i can't discover it by myself.  

 

Then i meet soldiers that do Super Sentai style pose. Usually, i just interrupt them harshly but this time i let them finish it for show.

 

The 4th boss get some dramatic cutscene before the fight. No, i don't get mad that he stole my kill. It's just me charging my energy for the fight.

Zeldia's turn

 

Zeldia get her own demonstration that not tied to specific stage because i'm run out of stage to show. Zeldia, the angel with Vega's claw is the "Speedster" character. She can't pick bar but she can performs slashing wave while equipped with sword. It's executed by pressing both "Attack" and "Jump" button while running.  

 

Her special grab is kind of brutal where she flies above while carrying her opponent and then plummet them to the ground while drilling them with her claws. It resembles Jedah Dohma's (from Vampire Savior) Ira Spinta move. Like P. Belva, she can perform another grapple move by moving joystick forward twice and then press "attack" button. P. Belva drag his opponent's head to the ground. While in Zeldia's case, she chokes her opponent's neck with her thighs and push them forward. This grapple move probably what Shermie (from King of Fighter) does.

 

P. Belva has double jump while Zeldia has ability to float (that drain energy overtime) by pressing and holding  "jump" button while jumping. Releasing the "jump" button while makes her flies across the screen and pressing "attack" button will readies her claw thus he can skewer everyone along the screen. Medic_positivevocalization01.wav

Believe it or not. In prequel, Zeldia is a mutant monster akin to Skullbyule that can breathes fire. In the ending, she leaves her monstrous body like a butterfly leaving its cocoon and become what she's now. 

Zeldia is "speed" type character that has various grapple move and ability to stab everyone in straight line while flying. No wonder she's another my main.

Stage 5. Central City

 

So here we are at final stage. I mentioned Skullbyule before in Final Fight review and he's "Strong" character and also my main. So my mains are total 3. Skullbyule refuses to pick any melee weapon. But once he pick grenade, he can emit explosion from his claw and no one else can do that! Demoman_specialcompleted11.wav   

 

When you press "jump" button while your character grabbing enemies, they usually vault over or jumping along their opponent. But Skullbyule is different. He launches his enemy upward and then he readies his horn to stab them. That looks hurt.   

 

I forgot to mention that there's enemy driving jeep from behind in Forest Zone and he's back in this stage. I didn't know before that i can destroy them with my claw's blast. Heavy_specialcompleted03.wav

 

Skullbyule's shot is hornets. Even better. Mutant hornets! They're more vicious than your regular hornets. They seek any enemies nearby. If you know "Insect Swarm" plasmid in Bioshock, you know how fierce Skullbyule's projectile attack is.

 

Dogs and some mutants like to grab you and you can break free from them by pressing both "attack" and "jump" button but it's different from desperation attack. In Skullbyule's case, he gives anyone who dare to grab him a swift kick. If you look closely, his feet is hoof. You can imagine how hard his kick is, then.

 

There's soldiers who hop between crocodile mutants to reach this floor. One of them get eaten by the mutant. R.I.P nameless mook.

 

Then we arrive at elevator section. Some of the enemies, drop from above. While other slide along the rail like that bloke. They got style.

 

After defeating another dozen of drone and soldier, i encounter a stereo boss fight. Spy_sf12_badmagic04.wav

Luckily this is the only boss rush in this game.

 

Skullbyule takes temporary retreat so Jinrei continues the mission. He's ninja so he's the "Speedster" character. He's more assuring ninja than Guy, because Jinrei can throw shurikens around like real ninjas do. He's my brother's main and i kind of like him too especially when i discover that he has air throw! He has good jab's reach/move speed ratio, he has faster movement speed than Rou. Meanwhile Rou is too slow to compensate his short reach. As for the final boss, he's another shifty blonde guy with moustache like Rugal Bernstein (from King of Fighter). He uses his massive flying chair against me. You only need to watch for the pair of tentacle heads. He's like the first form stage 4 boss only -you know- flying.

 

Then his chair fuses with himself and become this monster. His move is: 1) He plunges his arm to the ground and ground spikes shoot out from the ground, which predates what Alex Mercer (from Prototype) can do. 2) He grabs your face and repulse you to the ground. The last move is the most damaging one and also very rude. My strategy is: keep running jump attack or jumping attack at him like in previous phase.  

Then he's absorbed with giant mutant on background and the final phase is on! Here he looks like massaging the ground. The move may looks silly but it's damaging you if you get too close to those hands. The final boss can also shoots laser from his mouth and creates whirling blades from his hands. Again, the key to deal damage on him in relatively safe manner is: running jump attack or jumping attack.

 

Suddenly a giant beam erupts from the center of the area that knocks Jinrei out. Now that he's out of commission, Kurokishi takes turn now. She's the sexy female character and the "Average" type ones. She can unleash sonic boom by pressing both "attack" and "jump" button while jumping. (Late) Charlie Nash will be proud of this fact.

 

After destroying the final boss, Kurokishi exits the stage through hole in center of the stage. Then she's on extraction helicopter and blowing kiss at you. The field commander isn't impressed with that 4th-wall-breaking flirty action. He's serious man. Another complaint is there's no story exposition unlike in prequel. No plot text. Only this successful extraction cutscene. But that just my minor complaint.      

 

What baffles me is that strange building (which -i'm sure- is the evil HQ) doesn't explode. Not even small burst! Nothing at all.

Winky Soft's Guardians / Denjin Makai II (1995) is a wonderful Side Scrolling Brawler. I even dare say it's better than Alien Vs Predator (1994), because the roster and moveset is bigger. The reason why the developer team goes wild with the moveset because of energy bar inclusion. It allows the player to unleash various special moves without feeling too overpowered. Moreover, you can replenish the energy bar in rather easy way. Most of arcade game has lots of stages and feel overly long plus steep difficulty curve. Feels like the game wants to strip your quarter after quarter in unhealthy way. While this game only has 5 stages that's pretty brief even to take account of final stage is longer than other stage with pretty friendly difficulty curve. It seems the attraction point of this game is the replayability value even though it's very uncommon for arcade game to think about replayability. The factors that determine the game's replayability is: 1) Relatively short gameplay. 2) Big roster. 3) Big moveset (including unwritten special moves). 4) Alternative routes.

Not only the heroes, but also the enemies have some character on them. They're not some mindless thug that too focus on beating you. They have life. They hang out. They strike some cool pose. They laid back. They make dynamic entrance and such. My other minor complaint is there's no lifebar for the lesser enemies so i can't make strategic goon management during the fight. As for the boss fight, they can be tricky to defeat except for the first boss. And the efficient strategy to defeat them kind of monotone: jumping attack or running jump attack. The weapon and moveset is unique for each character and worth to conduct experiment on them.

Here's the summary of the roster:

·           Powerhouse type: the beefcake, the robot, and the mutant

·           Average type: the cyclops, the cheesecake, and the exorcist

·           Speedster type: the angel, and the ninja

Everyone can deal great damage in short period. Even the speedsters, thanks to their fast attack speed. I think Rou is the least good on whole roster. The moveset is useful all around. The back attack is swift and intuitive enough to strike anyone that creep you from behind. It's executed by pressing "attack" button and holding joystick backward. The drop jump attack (executed by by pressing "attack" button and holding joystick "down" while jumping) can be used to deliver extra punishment to downed enemies. Because the desperation move only cost energy instead of health, you can use it more often without worry unlike in other game. On the other hand, the shot command cost hefty energy. So use it sparingly. I forget to tell you that you can block by holding "attack" button. It's pretty useful defensive method but i forget to apply it because i'm busy beating enemies to death most of the time. The bonus stage is simple yet fun. The graphic may looks shabby but at least better than crayon-like graphic in Mug Smasher. The music is pretty good.

 

Guardians / Denjin Makai II (1995) is the best non-Capcom  made Side Scrolling Brawler. So it's definitely get my AAA recommendation. I'm saying that not only because of my nostalgic sentiment but also the gameplay itself is very fun for its genre. Because i have always been Side Scrolling Brawler connoisseur, you can trust me for recommended Beat Em Up games! Really.

Lastly, i want to say that thank you from the deep of my heart and soul for reading my articles up to this date. I really appreciate you, reader.

As much as i want to ramble (mostly) about video game, i decide that i will take a break for about 2 weeks. Please, understand! And thank you very much.