Wouldn't be a proper OVA tie-in game if it weren't a little half-baked. A stronger early showing from launch-era Genesis' library if you take it as a product of its time. The low-sat art and rapturous sound design complement the slimy OVA designwork instead of detracting. Platforming is solid, combat is fun when you're pelting enemies with big charge shots, but not so much when the built in attack delay suddenly causes your shots to fire the other way. Some sections can be pretty memorization-heavy too.

Here's a game I've heard about from others from time to time. What an unusual title. This was originally based off a Manga series called Kujaku Ou. This is the 2nd game with the first being on the Mark III which came out here under the name Spellcaster. Never read the source material or watch the OVA. From what I read online about it, it seems to be something I'd probably hate tbh. But regardless I'll talk about Kujaku Ou 2 now.

This game is a 2D action game where you use 3 different types of attacks to defeat enemies and do some light platformer as you'll defeat some bosses along the way. Not every stage has a boss though so keep that in mind. You only start with one attack so you'll have to earn them through each Round.

The first attack is a standard projectile that can be charged for a more powerful bigger shot. The second attack is a flamethrower that can be angled up or down and lasts the longest but has the worst reach. The third attack has a bunch of projectiles bounce around the screen hitting anything in it's path with the downside being it's low power. There's also a screen nuke that you can only use once unless you've collected more of it.

You'll need to use these moves at the right times as they have their uses in each stages. Though I was personally a fan of the flamethrower and used that when I didn't need to use something else for a better situation. There's also an item that can speed of the charge of the moves and one that heals one hit point with your max being 3 hit points.

Level design is not too bad. There's some interesting things going on that aren't just straight lines like going through elevators to reach the end that are still...straight lines. Ok I'm sorry I'm bad at examples. But I do like the level where you gotta dodge those fire statues. They for some reason reuse them in Round 6 with the same background music too. The only round I'm not a fan of was the one with lava because some of the enemy placement isn't too great.

If there is one complain I have with the game is the game has too much stop and go that hurts the pace of a game like this. It's not all bad but it did feel a little too much especially with some of the poorly placed enemies like those ones that jump at you. Otherwise though it's a fun game when going through these levels, yeah I actually enjoy the game despite it's simplicity and flaws.

Bosses however are kind of a mixed bag. I feel like they could be hard but they are very easy to figure out their patterns after a try. I can't think of a single boss that was actually challenging. I almost would have said the final boss until I realize you can just jump to avoid the 5 way projectile it shoots and it's a joke of a fight. Also there's just a naked lady named Ashura in this fight. I'm guessing she's the same naked lady on the back cover? It seems they love to have her naked if reading what goes on in the OVA is actually true. Kind of weird if you ask me but whatever.

The game looks good for 1989. I think the environments kind of carry the game's looks a bit though. They got a really good look that honestly make me question what any of it is even meant to be. The designs of enemies also ask me many questions, some just look weird. There also some graphic changes depending on the region and some even exclusive to the Korea release. The music sounds so grundgy (I don't think that's a word) it's insane. I kind of love it though like it somehow fits the same perfectly that it makes me appreciate it. I have to say also that the charge sound is terrible and I hate it.

This game may have not changed my mind about reading the source material but the game is quite fun for me. This seems to be a mostly mixed game in terms of reception but I'm on the side that thinks it's good. It's nothing outstanding but for what it is, I like it. It's certainly better than the Hokuto no Ken game made for the console the same year. One more Kujaku Ou game would be made after this for the Famicom called Kujaku Ou II and it was a text adventure game. I will never play it. But I will someday probably replay this game because it's fun and in the end I think that's good enough for me.

Worth a look for the crazy art direction, reminiscent of H.R. Giger, not so much worth a play. You collect a few spells as you progress, and the first level as a result is really dull with your starting attack and not an ideal first impression. When you have all the spells around stages 4 and 5 it's pretty solid for a while, then it gets way too difficult afterwards. The final boss in particular takes a fucking obscene number of hits, even if you save up all your lightning spells (which work like shmup bombs) up to that point. Basically, did not get much fun out of playing it, but moreso out of looking at it.

Side scrolling shooter where you can swap between and charge up three different kinds of spells for your attacks. Main shots fires a projectile in front of you can can be charged to fire a wider one, a flame breath attack can be charged to lengthen the flame and duration while you can use up or down to direct it, the last attack fires orbs around you that bounce off surfaces. A final pickup allows you to perform a one time summon of a dragon (in the US version) for a powerful/screen clearing attack. Charging attacks all the way takes a few seconds but powerups can be found to reduce the time, you can move around fairly quickly but can only charge while still. Looks good for an earlier Genesis title, stages and enemies tend to have a more creepy atmosphere with some being more alien/Giger influenced. Somewhat floaty jumps and enemy placement in a platforming section makes one of the only difficult parts of a playthrough. Decent, short game.

Screenshots: https://twitter.com/Legolas_Katarn/status/1460082664942100482