It's Time to Fight! A year has passed since the epic battle that decided the fate of mankind and claimed the life of the beloved Angela. Dark omens once again tell of the return of an evil presence. Ushi is the last remaining master of the ancient art of Shin-Ken, and he calls upon Tetsuo, his disciple and adopted son, to investigate some strange happenings in a faraway farming village outside the city.
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Rough around the edges, didn't age well, not a bad game though
I love beat em ups, one of my favorite genres, but I had to put this one down. It looks great, gives me massive SNK vibes, it controls solidly enough. I just didn't like how repetitive it got which is funny because most people that diss on the genre say that's their reasoning for not enjoying it as a whole.
There are some command inputs and combos you can dish out which do feel satisfying but a good chunk of enemies you end up facing just feel like they're impervious to what you can do. Can't grab, can't block. It's a very barebones single player beat em up. The level design was also dogshit because it just has a bunch of "gotcha!" obstacles that immediately knock you down. It overall felt very cheap (which made me put cheat codes on to go through it) but I just wasn't having fun regardless of that. This feels like one of those beat em ups you need patience for and that just goes against what I love about the genre.
Maybe the remaster does touch up a few things to make this game a more worthwhile playthrough (I know it has co-op & widescreen) but as things are now I didn't care for this game and have no plans on finishing it either.
There are some command inputs and combos you can dish out which do feel satisfying but a good chunk of enemies you end up facing just feel like they're impervious to what you can do. Can't grab, can't block. It's a very barebones single player beat em up. The level design was also dogshit because it just has a bunch of "gotcha!" obstacles that immediately knock you down. It overall felt very cheap (which made me put cheat codes on to go through it) but I just wasn't having fun regardless of that. This feels like one of those beat em ups you need patience for and that just goes against what I love about the genre.
Maybe the remaster does touch up a few things to make this game a more worthwhile playthrough (I know it has co-op & widescreen) but as things are now I didn't care for this game and have no plans on finishing it either.
Released in 2002 for the Game Boy Advance, Gekido Advance: Kintaro’s Revenge has been called a hidden gem in the world of handheld gaming. While I can’t 100% agree with the sentiment, there is a lot to love in this classic GBA title. Developed by NAPS Team, this side-scrolling beat 'em up somewhat successfully brought the classic brawler experience to the GBA’s small screen, delighting fans of the genre with its fast-paced action and engaging, if frustrating, gameplay.
There is little to revolutionize in the beat ‘em up genre, so the gameplay on display here, while satisfying, is nothing new and is really what you'd expect from a classic beat 'em up. The two GBA face buttons are used to punch and kick, while the shoulder buttons act as a jump button. The directional pad moves you around the battle arena’s and allows the player to enter doors and climb down ladders. These controls are intuitive and responsive, but the array of attacks and combos is essentially non-existent. This leads to a gameplay loop that is essentially the same no matter what enemy you face. Dodge their attacks and attack with the same punch or kick combo until they are dead. I understand this is what a beat ‘em up is, but a little variety in at least the attack animations never hurt.
While the sound design isn't a standout feature, much like any GBA game, it's decent for the hardware it was designed for. The music sets the mood with its techno beats and certain ominous tracks that fit the game's dystopian theme. After a few hours, however, these tracks will likely get repetitive.
If there is one aspect of Gekido Advance I am more than willing to praise it is the graphics. Given the limitations of the Game Boy Advance's hardware, the game manages to impress with its detailed sprites, fluid animations, and varied character designs. Environments are dark and gritty, fitting the game's urban dystopian setting. The character models are well-crafted, and the art style captures the essence of classic brawlers found in the arcade. The short cutscenes scattered throughout the story really capture an early anime aesthetic and look great even on dated Game Boy Advance hardware.
Overall Gekido Advance: Kintaro’s Revenge is a testament to the enduring appeal of classic beat 'em up games. Despite the hardware limitations of the Game Boy Advance, it delivers a decent experience for fans of the genre. The game's challenging combat and repetitive controls, however, keep it from being a hidden gem on the system in my personal opinion. Despite its shortcomings, however, the game is a worthy addition to any GBA collection, offering nostalgic, action-packed gameplay that is both fun and engaging if for only a few hours.
There is little to revolutionize in the beat ‘em up genre, so the gameplay on display here, while satisfying, is nothing new and is really what you'd expect from a classic beat 'em up. The two GBA face buttons are used to punch and kick, while the shoulder buttons act as a jump button. The directional pad moves you around the battle arena’s and allows the player to enter doors and climb down ladders. These controls are intuitive and responsive, but the array of attacks and combos is essentially non-existent. This leads to a gameplay loop that is essentially the same no matter what enemy you face. Dodge their attacks and attack with the same punch or kick combo until they are dead. I understand this is what a beat ‘em up is, but a little variety in at least the attack animations never hurt.
While the sound design isn't a standout feature, much like any GBA game, it's decent for the hardware it was designed for. The music sets the mood with its techno beats and certain ominous tracks that fit the game's dystopian theme. After a few hours, however, these tracks will likely get repetitive.
If there is one aspect of Gekido Advance I am more than willing to praise it is the graphics. Given the limitations of the Game Boy Advance's hardware, the game manages to impress with its detailed sprites, fluid animations, and varied character designs. Environments are dark and gritty, fitting the game's urban dystopian setting. The character models are well-crafted, and the art style captures the essence of classic brawlers found in the arcade. The short cutscenes scattered throughout the story really capture an early anime aesthetic and look great even on dated Game Boy Advance hardware.
Overall Gekido Advance: Kintaro’s Revenge is a testament to the enduring appeal of classic beat 'em up games. Despite the hardware limitations of the Game Boy Advance, it delivers a decent experience for fans of the genre. The game's challenging combat and repetitive controls, however, keep it from being a hidden gem on the system in my personal opinion. Despite its shortcomings, however, the game is a worthy addition to any GBA collection, offering nostalgic, action-packed gameplay that is both fun and engaging if for only a few hours.
Dopo un primo capitolo che rivoluzionava in parte il genere dei beat 'em up, con questo titolo il NAPS Team ha fatto due passi indietro, tornando ad un sistema di gioco tradizionale che poco si sposa con un console, in questo caso portatile.
Oooo joguinho maçante do krlh