Main game
3.50 average rating based on 16 ratings
Preliminary: So far it's really cute--Look and Sound-wise--and plays well. Looks a lot like an arcade game, even the UI haha, yet it was originally released on the PC Engine, the version I'm playing. I think I prefer Rainbow Islands' mechanics and scrolling, but this is interesting so far. I already (intuitively/trial and error-y) figured out the umbrella mechanics and whatnot. Here goes nothing. (Looks like there are 8 main story worlds, shoulllld be doable but we shall see)
I was getting a bit unsure about it but then I threw multiple water globs at the big grand piano and it turned blue, and then when a large group of enemies bumped into the bubbly grand piano they all became bubbles and i was able to BAM them all and it was delicious haha. Still, just feels like something overall is missing compared to Rainbow Island (or cuz I just came off the high of Adventure Island II).
I'm already on the first boss, and I believe there are 8 of them so this def should be doable. I'm confused how to damage it though, no water is dripping. I guess I will look up the manual after all. Ahhhh …
Preliminary: So far it's really cute--Look and Sound-wise--and plays well. Looks a lot like an arcade game, even the UI haha, yet it was originally released on the PC Engine, the version I'm playing. I think I prefer Rainbow Islands' mechanics and scrolling, but this is interesting so far. I already (intuitively/trial and error-y) figured out the umbrella mechanics and whatnot. Here goes nothing. (Looks like there are 8 main story worlds, shoulllld be doable but we shall see)
I was getting a bit unsure about it but then I threw multiple water globs at the big grand piano and it turned blue, and then when a large group of enemies bumped into the bubbly grand piano they all became bubbles and i was able to BAM them all and it was delicious haha. Still, just feels like something overall is missing compared to Rainbow Island (or cuz I just came off the high of Adventure Island II).
I'm already on the first boss, and I believe there are 8 of them so this def should be doable. I'm confused how to damage it though, no water is dripping. I guess I will look up the manual after all. Ahhhh it's the power-up I collected, I can shoot a lightning ball thing from my parasol cuz of it. And also ahhh, so this is like a world map 
Day 1
If I'm understanding it correctly, it seems 8 worlds/bosses will be manageable after all. I may not be in love with the game so far, but as always the PC Engine/Turbografx impresses: it looks sounds and feels like an arcade game. Period.
Welp another world/boss done quickly, and still not really into it. I suppose cuz it seems quick enough I will commit to all 8 worlds, but I dunno. If something spectacular doesn't come about (like, the music is good but just isn't enough for some reason), I'll probly drop it. Just a good 3 star platformer for fans of the series. I prefer the rainbow mechanic, personally, but the parasol is learnable and fun enough.
Day 2
It's been a bit fun figjuring out the quirks of the mechanics and whatnot, using progressively larger enemies to harm the larger enemies etc. But just meh. Not having that much fun with it.
Yeahhh, I'm burned out on it
Look: 7.5/10 Cute. Very good for home console. But more and more to be expected into the 90s
Sound: 7.5/10 Again, cute. But not enough to stand out in 91.
Play: 7/10 It has everything that should make me like it, but I just don't. Feels blah. I almost gave this a 7.5 too, but realized the Play was essentially why I chose to stop playing it soooo.
Feel: 7.5/10
Attachment: 7/10 Meh.
Overall: 7.3/10
Playtime: ~30 mins
Completion: Not sure exactly? Somewhere past 2 bosses
While I always struggled with the way this series handles jumps, I always loved it. I played some of Parasol Stars back in the day on my Amiga but I never bought the PC Engine version (I do have Rainbow Islands on both format though... ). Now I finally had a chance to play the "original" version on my PC Engine Mini and I loved it. Great personality, lovely graphics and musics, fun to play. The first two/thirds of the game are also very well balanced, but the final part (and the extra levels) are really punishing and I don't think I would have been able to complete them without save state. But now I have it, so...