Joy Mech Fight

As it has always been exclusive to Japan, when I first picked up this game, I had no idea what to expect. After I started the story mode just for kicks, I realized that this was a full-fledged fighting game on the NES! There are multiple fighters, unique movesets, destructive combos, and detailed backgrounds. None of this seemed like it belongs on the 8-bit machine, but some very clever programming made it not only possible, but also playable, and actually really enjoyable. I'm definitely not the only person impressed by this game though. It's clearly made some kind of impression in it's home country, as evidenced by Sukapon's presence as an assist trophy in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

As I still can't read Japanese, the story was a little difficult to follow. Thankfully, it's not really that important. Playing as the cute-and-simple Sukapon, you have to take down other fighting robots one by one. Those robots are also playable outside of story mode if you just want to play a quick fight, each having distinct moves to set them apart. In terms of gameplay, the combat is very similar to what you would find in the early Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter games, but it feels a lot more fluid thanks to the lack of actual limbs. This unique anatomical structure allows for agile attacks that would look strange and out of place in a traditional fighting game, including long-range kicks and (my personal favorite) fighting cartwheels. Thanks to design choices like that, Joy Mech Fight manages to feel like a proper fighting game while still having an identity of its own.

Since it never properly released in the US, the odds were stacked against me for ever trying this game out. However, thanks to Nintendo Switch Online's region-free Famicom Online service, I was able to give it a shot, and it immediately stood out as one of the better multiplayer NES experiences. The graphics align with the console they live on, but the gameplay feels straight out of the SNES, which I found very impressive. I'm not very good at fighting games, and Joy Mech Fight is no different, but I was still engrossed the whole time I played. It's still not the easiest game to get your hands on, but if you do, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

The game is available for Switch here (as of 4/3/21): https://store-jp.nintendo.com/list/software/70010000000850.html

Popular posts from this blog

Meow Tower: Nonogram Pictogram

Image
I seem to have a thing for mobile games about cats, and I am a huge fan of Nintendo 's Picross series. Normally those two interests don't overlap, but Meow Tower changed that. Combining the fun of befriending cute cartoon cats and solving intricate number puzzles hooked me immediately. While it's technically not a Picross game, seeing as that is a Nintendo trademark, the nonogram puzzles are still the same, and I loved being able to play them on my phone. Granted, there have been plenty of options to play these kinds of puzzles on the phone for years, but Meow Tower  sets itself apart from the rabble thanks to its stellar aesthetic. The developers behind this game are true artists. While it's a solid, straightforward nonogram game at its core, Meow Tower just looks so much better to play than any of the numerous generic options that crowd the app stores. The bubbly sticker-book style used for the art and menus gives Meow Tower a lot of charm and personality from t
Read more

Space Lich Omega

Image
Inspired by the ever popular Candy Box and Candy Box 2 , Space Lich Omega is an browser-based RPG adventure with an almost entirely ASCII display. However, it chose to step away from the established fantasy style of it's inspiration for a more science-fantasy theme. I ended up having a fun time with this game, despite its need for a little polish, thanks to the unique story and hilarious pop-culture Easter eggs that can be discovered throughout the different explorable locations. Despite the crude-ish interface, I never had any trouble navigating throughout the game. I actually ended up beating it in a relatively short time, especially when I had my gunk production going all out, allowing me to jump my health up enormously. Although I did need to do a little grinding every now and then for an item that I missed, that didn't interfere with my enjoyment too much. Ultimately, this is no Candy Box , but it still has its merits and is worth playing if you ever find yourself in
Read more

The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes

Image
Reusing game engines has proven to be pretty popular in the Zelda series. It offers developers a chance to craft more experimental and risky games, as the initial investment on the engine was covered by the previous, more traditional release. As a huge fan of A Link Between Worlds , I was ecstatic to learn it was getting a pseudo-follow-up. My excitement only grew when Nintendo sent me an early-access demo, and I somehow had no concerns that this was another multiplayer-focused game, despite my preference for solo play. Since the previous multiplayer Zelda games had pretty functional single-player modes, I anticipated that I could expect the same here. Unfortunately, that wasn't an entirely accurate assumption. Like its predecessors , Tri Force Heroes is level-based in order to accommodate its multiplayer focus. All of the stages are designed like dungeons, so they hold up really well for puzzle-solving challenges, but they lack a lot of the same charm you can find in Four Swor
Read more