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PSP
Umihara Kawase Portable
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New Import,
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NCS
Game Synopsis
«©NCSX»
Originally released on the Super Famicom back in
1994, Umihara Kawase is a platform
action game where a little girl swings around the
levels with the use of a rubbery grappling hook. A
Playstation sequel made it to market in 1997 and
fourteen years after Umihara's debut, Marvelous
ships a PSP version of the game which adds new
levels and an illustrations gallery. New modes
include a Practice Mode to test your skills and a
Replay Theater Mode to watch your performance after
a level has been completed.
Umihara begins her travels on the lower-right corner of the game
screen. By pressing the "SQUARE" or "O" button, a
hook is shot out and tethered to platforms which
then allows Ms Kawase to gain air, leap from ledge
to ledge, and even perform actions reminiscent of a
vine swinging muscle man. The "TRIANGLE" and "X"
buttons make Umihara jump but it's only a little
jump that's primarily used in conjunction with her
grappling swings.
To provide adversity, enemy goldfish, lizards, and assorted creatures
normally found in water mindlessly walk back and
forth on platforms but the real challenge is gauging
the lift and distance of each swing to reach nearby
platforms. Umihara Kawase never sold
big numbers in Japan but the original designers
likely never targeted the game at a wide audience.
The controls are quirky until you discover the
hook's tension system and the feats that it allows
Umihara to accomplish. Only then will players marvel
at the intelligent design that went into the game
and sing its praises...
Region-Free
Japanese PSP games may be played on North American and European
PSP handhelds. There is no region-coding on PSP game
UMDs.
Jan
Code: 4535506300911
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NCS
Game Notes
» The main game menu contains the following
selections:
Play Game - Adopt the persona of Umihara
Kawase and go swinging
Replay - View your own game play for any
one of 90 stages
Practice - Test your skills on stages
that you've already completed
Key Config - Adjust the face and trigger
button assignments
» Control over Umihara Kawase is through the
D-pad. The analog nub only shifts the screen left
and right to check for critters or to map your path.
To shoot the grappling hook diagonally upwards,
press the "L" or "R" trigger.
» Once the grappling hook is attached to a
platform or a beast, pushing down on the d-pad will
tighten the tension on the rubbery tether. To
slacken it up, push up on the d-pad. By using this
principle of tension, Umihara can swing in versatile
ways to clamber onto platforms that might not
otherwise be reached. The tension system also allow
Umihara to tether the hook to the edge of a platform
and by simply adjusting the tension of the line,
she'll be able to shoot herself up onto the
platform.
» Umihara Kawase's jumps are small hops that
don't scale much distance but that's exactly what
the game's designers wanted. Instead of using jumps
to traverse platforms, you're forced to use the
grappling hook and master the art of swinging across
the stages.
» A 5:00 minute time limit governs each level.
» Each level in Umihara Kawase is called a
"Field."
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This document and photos are ©NCSX 2008. 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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