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PSP
Goku Makaimura + Bonus Dpad
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New Import, Ships Today |
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NCS
Game Synopsis
«©NCSX»
Twenty
one years ago, Capcom rehashed the age old yarn
about a damsel in distress. Instead of sending a
plumber to do a man's job however, a more
traditional hero archetype was summoned to perform
the rescue. Jumping
and throwing weapons like a banshee, a knight in
shining armor went on a mission
to save his betrothed from a demonic kidnaper.
The PSP version of Goku Makaimura recreates the original adventure
but with rich and vibrant visuals along with a
revamped game engine that runs in 2D but also
features 3D sequences as well. In the first level of
the game, the action is reminiscent of the classic
Makaimura where the knight battles a crowd of enemies
that approach on the ground and from the air. A
spitting Venus flytrap sends deadly kisses
through the air and a gruesome mid-level boss shoots
squishy eye creatures. Arthur only has a single jump
at the outset of the game but defeating the first
boss grants him a pair of winged shoes which add the
double jump to his repertoire. Arthur lofts even
higher when he picks up a special power-up later in
the game...
Three game modes are playable:
Beginner, Original, and Arcade. In Beginner and
Original modes, armor stock may be stored where
Arthur can take multiple blows before losing his
protective suit. He starts off with two armor stocks
and can take two hits before he's in his underoos.
Additional armors can be picked up to upgrade his
power level as well as his level of protection. In the Arcade
Mode, one hit demolishes his suit of armor
regardless of its power level.
Capcom Bonus D-Pad
Every copy of the Asian version of Goku Makaimura includes a bonus D-pad which sticks
over the PSP rift-pad. The d-pad is packaged inside
the UMD case. NCS staffers have been
playing the game with the analog nub without any
problems but the bonus d-pad is a nice little gift
for use with fighting games. Please note that the
Japanese edition of
Goku Makaimura
does not include the bonus d-pad.
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NCS
Game Notes & Spoilers
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In the intro to the game, a castle is under siege by
dark forces. Knight hero rides in on a horse and
spies the damage being wrought. He charges in and
finds a crown on the ground - a swirling demonic
visage appears in the background and has
princess in its hands before vanishing. The title screen appears
soon afterwards.
Upon pressing START the following game modes and
submodes may be selected:
NEW GAME / Beginner Mode, Original Mode, Arcade Mode
LOAD GAME / Resume a game from memory stick duo data
OPTION / Set BGM and SE volume levels / Set button
configuration
» Either d-pad or analog nub may be used to
control the knight.
» The purple shrouded specters in the first level
don't just kill by touch alone - if you watch them,
they'll slash out their red claws when passing the
knight, causing his armor and later his entire body
to disintegrate.
» The first level's mid-boss is a trunk that sticks
out of the ground and opens a big eye while it
releases eye-tadpoles of sorts. As the knight's weapons hit
it, squishy sounds of hammered flesh may be heard.
» If you stand on top of a gravestone and jump while
spooks are passing below, they'll raise their heads
to look at the knight but make no attempt to rise
higher to slash him dead.
» The vultures that dive bomb may be destroyed by
shooting upwards when they prepare for descent.
» Three Game Modes are available: Beginner, Original, and Arcade.
In Arcade Mode, the armor has no reserve and one hit
breaks it entirely. In the Beginner and Original
modes, armor stock may be collected to bolster the
knight's defenses.
» There's an Onimusha armor in the game that's
colored red. Extra armor pick-ups are added to the
top left of the screen where they are represented by
green orbs framed in a silver helmet.
» The first boss is a spectral ox-head wearing a
shamanic outfit of some sort. It hovers over the
knight and showers fiery torrents which light up the
ground and stay lit for a little while. To defeat
it, jump up on the headstones and shoot weapons at
it - every time four attacks hit, it bamfs away
before regrouping and returning to battle.
» We noticed that the slight weapon bug from the
Famitsu demo recurs in the PSP final release where
if you're firing away in one direction and then
turn quickly to the other direction, your weapons stop for about a second
even if you're hammering at the attack button.
After a while, the firing resumes. A dangerous flaw when surrounded
by specters.
» The cauldrons filled with bubbling yellow liquid
have different effects on the knight - the cauldrons
can turn the knight into a big and clumsy version of
himself while another dunking might turn him into a
chicken. Another effect is turning him into a micro
version of himself. We've also witnessed the knight
being changed into a big house frau who moved in
slow motion as spirits went on the attack. A
magician also appears from time to time to shoot
magic spells at the knight and we were hapless
enough to turn into a grasshopper once.
» After the first level is completed, the game
prompts the player to save data to memory stick.
»
The second level looks like the first one at the
outset but is filled with platforms that rise and
fall which make it a tricky prospect when jumping
due to the lava field below. Winged demonic insects
fly around but they don't break knight's armor -
they just clamp onto him and prevent him from
reaching full height when jumping. Shake them off by
wagging the d-pad left and right and they'll be
flung. There's one point which requires that the
knight walk off a ledge and then almost fall into
the lava but press jump at the first moment he steps
off the ledge and he'll jump onto the next platform.
This point is located
right before meeting the the mid-level boss which is
a coiled serpent who shoots purple eldritch
fireballs from its maw. Touching any part of the
snake will kill the knight. After defeating the
snake, be wary of the intermittent lava tidal waves
which wash over everything in its path. Only the
power of the double jump will save knight's hide...
Later in the level, spiders and baby spiders are
added to the enemy attack. The baby spiders smash
themselves against walls in an attempt to destroy
Arthur. There's also two minotaur-like creatures who
roam the platforms and attack with axes. When
a minotaur is attacked, it has the sense to shield itself with its
weaponry.
» The boss at the end of the second level is a
massive spider-like creature which shoots blue bile
from its maw while Arthur attacks it from below.
It'll also pile-drive its pincers into the ground.
When destroyed, it explodes in a mess of green bile
and explosive force.
» After completing the second level, the game
prompts another save point - only three data save
files may be created on the memory stick which is a
poorly thought out limitation. The player is also
given the option of replaying the first two levels
again or proceeding to the next area.
» The third level throws skeletal warriors and the
elements at Arthur. The skeletal warriors first
appear as skulls littered about the stage but
they'll pop out and attack with spears drawn at
inopportune moments. The wind and rain also provide
adversity for Arthur as they provide resistance to
his movement and beat against his jumps. There's a
twister mid-level which spins Arthur up if he should
get caught in its whirling force. This particular
level is beautifully designed and drawn. Eye candy.
There's a bunch of ogres later in the level that
pound the ground with their fists to immobilize
Arthur temporarily. When an ogre is destroyed, it
explodes in a storm of blood and guts. Rolling
rocks, snake-like creatures that exhale flames, and
lightning strikes that disintegrate ledges also
provide obstacles.
» When knight collects 4 armor stocks, he wears a red
cape and his armor turns golden. Three stocks and
his armor is blue.
» Overall, a challenging and well executed addition
to the Makaimura series with crisp visuals and
resonant music. Next to Loco Roco, this is the only
other contender in our opinion for PSP game of the
year. Thus far. The aforementioned niggle with the firing scheme
may be a potential problem that will probably be
fixed in the USA version of the game.
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This document and photos are ©NCSX 2006. All rights reserved. No
reproduction in whole or in part of this document
may be made without express written consent of
National Console Support, Inc.
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