Super Famicom Sparkster

Well known on the Mega Drive, yet this Super Famicom version really has the shackles off as Konami lets rip with vertically scrolling shooting levels with Sparkster on a hang glider to arrive for a boxing match with a boss, Goemon style. The crazed runners who speed past with a missile in tow require players to duck and weave in later levels. No further spoilers, suffice as to say there are so many special touches. We under the misconception that the definitive version was on the MD. Top stuff on the SFC.

Ginga Force and Eschatos Wonder Pack

Genki is gearing up for the arrival of this superb double pack on Friday. Great value, Genki just wishes for better hand - eye co-ordination, rather than deteriorating. Sometimes I think it could be tactics, but watching some of these super play DVDs brings a sinking feel to the pit of the stomach. Still practise makes perfect and one day the aim is to hit the coin - ops of the Big T(okyo) with plenty of confidence and a bag full of 100 Yen coins. I fear it could be 500 Yen coins at this rate mind....

Ginga Force continues Qutes obsession with polygons to give the on screen shooting frenzy a real 3D feel as enemy vessels rise and fall from all angles. Combine this with some subtle lighting and it really keeps the trigger finger twitchy. Constant banter with the avatars helps add a little distraction from the intense action.

With Eschatos think of what Miyamoto san would have done given such raw polygon processing power on Star Fox and you are there. Eschatos has some scary bosses and genuinely breaks onto a new plane of shooting as they warp across the screen taking your line of fire with it. And as all good shoot em up fans know, bosses that can rotate freely do have a nasty tendency to reveal another side to their ship with fully intact blasters. Thankfully for Genki Easy mode exists.

Go Gyaru: Gal Gun

Genki is excited about the overdue PS3 arrival of Gal Gun. Though perhaps that requires rephrasing in light of the subject matter. Certainly not your average shooter in the way the on screen 'camera' target is fired at the ladies in the game to win over their affection. As such it is a real cult favourite with the discerning otaku, though Photograph Boy on the PC Engine was never quite like this... Akiba culture has alot to answer for.

I wanted one of those: Hyper Boy

A real joy for anyone who grew up playing Grandstand games of similar dimensions. And Genki certainly cut a few teeth playing a yellow table top version of Frogger. This very smart accessory from Konami assists the original GameBoy. The handheld slips into the back of the Hyper Boy and gives it stereo sound through its side speakers. There is also a magnifying glass on its screen to give the screen dimensions a boost. The joystick and arcade style buttons help gameplay on almost all variety of games, especially shooters and fight titles. Thus avoiding the much feared finger cramp which few gamers can get insured against.

Club Nintendo Mario DSi Pouch

Genki got a bit over excited on seeing these hats initially. Though it is perhaps for the greater good that they can't actually be worn. Certainly a very recognisable cap worthy of doffing your own hat to. Probably best not worn, especially to prevent the DS, DSi or DS Lite that can be stashed inside its pouch from taking a shock to the system.And also prevents poor: "It's me: Mario!" Impressions....

Misty Eyed Classics: Nam 1975

Playing Metal Slug Advance and watching the Deer Hunter (well almost) got Genki thinking about the gaming equivalent of Apocalypse Now being set during the Vietnam War and some slightly unnerving later developments. But the game doesn't rely on any big license for a film that it may well be missing. Instead the player is present at the bottom of the screen and young marines must fire into the screen using the Operation Wolf style cursor, but at the same time cartwheel, duck and scramble away the marine to safety. Thus stretching eyesight to the max. A really atmospheric title that will draw players in to its depths. Never got past the piano scene in Deer Hunter mind. Think playing too much Nam 1975 made me fear the worst.... Do feel free to comment on either!

Mysty Eyed Classic: Metal Slug Advance

Mystery memories still prevail of popping coins into Metal Slug in the arcade, most likely with a bit of cigarette smoke still wafting in the air, like a jungle scene from a ropey Nam film. It stood out next to the likes of Ridge Racer and Tekken at the time simply by bucking the trend of 3D. But a couple of coins in (unlikely to have been 10p pieces, despite the nostalgia... Most likely 50p's....) its charms were soon more than apparent.

The concept of a handheld version of Genki's favourite run and gun really gets the gaming juices flowing. The NGPC version was of course an excellent conversion, yet the GBA screen dimensions allow for the extra space to be able to see what's coming ahead. And its usually an enemy barrage with some comical expressions when they are met by a tank or the like. Another gold star title for the roster that makes the GBA an old school gamers fave.