Preliminary: Well I thought this wouldn't be much, and wouldnt' have a fan translation out there. But I was wrong. There is quite a bit of dialog and there is a fan translation out there. I was a bit meh about it starting with a fightring game format (which was very easy), butt he music since then has been top notch. And tho the Look isn't realllly something spectacular, it is for a handheld game.

I don't realyl know how but I finished the first level lol. And love the level select screen. Unfortunately the iffy graphics and occasional clunkiness and, well, the fact I didn't do the fan translation, meahs it is unlikely I will paly through the whole game. But this is impressing me enogh to warrant a full playtest and likely a 3 star. Great example of a handheld platformer, especially for 1995.

Day 1

Controls are surprisingly tight tho occasionally the system gets overwhelmed. The music keeps being a highlight, even if enemies are repeated. And there are lots of ncie touches like the two different playable characters feeling quite different, and little things like the animations when you don't move for a while. I bet I'd find them even more special and/or humorous if I'd watched the show.

Here I am already on the 4th level, haven't looked up for any hepl or guidance on the controls, intuitively figuring things out, staying interested not just because of the good music but also because of the variety of mechanics and design elements I've encountered so far. I still have no clue where my health is lol, nor how I end a level (it seems to be collecting those uh things), but I am having fun and that's how a platformer, especially a straightfotrward handheld one, should be.

(Yes it is by collecting those stars for sure, and it seems there might be secret levels/areas? or multiple paths?)

These fighting game bosses really bog it down. The transformation is cool, but the pacing gets much slower and more calculated. Finalllly got through that slow boss. I really wish I had gotten the English translation tho because this could be a 4+ star. But then again if I'm not willing to repaly these few levels is it really? Hmmm. (I found a longplay for the fan translation and am just skipp to the cutscenes from now on lol tho so far they haven't really proven worth it. They're good but classic anime pre-next-battle talks)

I've been mostly preferring playign as the Sonic-esque guy, tho I should venture into the femme character more. I read that's how you get the different routes, and I like that she shoots fire. But just preferring his controls and speed more. And every level seems designed that you can get through as either, so no worries of entrapment etc.

I think this would be a fun one to speedrun. (I see some people have.... 20m!)

Yesss, lvoe the tune of uh, I dunno the level after the first boss? with the water.

Wow! You can go even faster with a run button. It takes a second to kick in so I had missed it before. I love that there is no time limit yet everything is fast-paced, designed in a way you could learn it and go real fast, and even has a run to make it uh faster. I already felt like I moved very quickly haha. Weeee time to emphatically go fast and die a lot.

Even tho it's time to wrap up for the night, it's been hard to put down. Which has been a nice change of pace because I've been having some weird heart stuff going on and it's nice to finally have something capture me enough to distract me from it. I love my Picross but I am officially at the last row of the original Mario's Picross, so the difficulty is a bit much when you're having brain fog and weird feelings etc.

These boss fighting game segments are... not it. Yea I really don't like this second boss. But I got through it. Omg wait there's a second form?! This boss is also highlightingt he clunkiness/delays that do come up. Ugh I was enjoyingt he platofmring levels so much why did they have these bosses. Ok now I really got through it. Uff!

These next levels are good too, but definitely with the complexity and difficulty rising, its flaws are coming to light more and more. The clunky scrolling and occasional jagged/lag situation going on.

Day 2

Ugh another boring sluggish "boss". If it weren't for these, this game would really shine and flow better. Oh great. Another second form. O graet! Even better -- one I was supposed to lose but kept trying to beat lol.

I really should've gotten the English fan translation because uh apparently I have to go back as the other character and do the different routes? To finish up? Ah okay yes at least it's the level I ahppened tro try first that seems to unlock the other path. Turns out I had accidentally done the alternative path first? Even tho its symbol is very obvious and in the way, but I dunno. Ohhh I think I was suppoesd to get these orbs in those levels. I dunno. I don't like palying as the femme character as much, she brings out the sprite slowdown and clunky scrolling.

The fact I've gone back to two levels and explored on my own to find the orbs says a lot. But I really don't like playing as the femme chracter, again the sprite slowdown is real bad as is the scrolling, it's almost unplayable. But here I am . Playing it anyway :-p

Welp I got 3 of the 4 Orbs and I am realllly tempted to quit nonetheless. With the bad fighting game bosses and the terrible scroll/lag in controls as the femme character, I can't really rationalize it. I'm thinking I try for the 4th orb and if I have to continue playinga s her, I will quit. If I go back to being able to play as either, maybe I will continue.

Well ok maybe they hooked me back in with the great tune for the bridge level (apparently called Lake Bridge) and the way she dances when you haven't entered an input for a while. But still... playing as the other character is much better.

Ugh despite my better judgment I went back and got all the Orbs... so why can't I continue.

So then I did the desert level for a third time and still wouldn't unlock. Whatevs. Playing as her is terrible and the jump gets messed up when playing as her and the fight bosses are bad, so I'm moving on. Turns out I still played the majority of the game though according to this play through video.

Look: 8/10 Great for handheld

Sound: 8.5/10 One of the highlights for sure and a big part of what kept me going

Play: 7.5/10 If it were rjust the fast-paced fun platforming levels with the option to play as either, this would easily be an 8+

Feel: 8/10 The fact I returned to those levels and still feel like I want to solve it or play the fan translation says a lot. The fact I didn't do just that shows it can't be the 8.5/5 star type level

Attachment: 8/10 Neat game, if I return to it I'll play the fan translation and hopefgully a guide will exist by then.

Overall: 8/10