Developer: Red Company Publisher: NEC Release: 12/13/91 Genre: Action
I have lamented the lack of platformers for the Turbo Grafx-16 many times. At a time when the mascot platformer and action games reigned supreme the system was severely lacking in the US. Truth be told where there were some that rightfully should have released in the US like Rondo of Blood and Cyber Wiber the majority in Japan were based on anime licenses no one had heard of. Yeah we got Keith Courage (based on Mashin Hero Wataru) but let’s be real, NEC were scrambling for anything to pack in with the system. It is a damn shame things shook out this way as there are some underrated gems out there. Genji Tsūshin Agedama is a weird auto scrolling platformer that has a mean streak but remains well worth your time if you are import hunting.
The story centers on Agedama Genji, a student from the Planet Hero who comes to Earth for training during his summer vacation. Agedama runs afoul of Rei Kuki, a wealthy brat who practically runs the city thanks to her rich grandfather. Rei uses her grandfather’s vast fortune to terrorize the city as its resident villain which spurs Agedama to become its hero as Agedaman.
Genji Tsūshin Agedama is more than just a video game. It was part of a multimedia assault featuring manga, anime, and a video game in an attempt to make the property popular. This one had big name talent behind it and was a minor hit in Japan. Too bad it never made the trip overseas, the system desperately needed more quality games like this.
While Genji Tsūshin Agedama is a platformer it is an auto runner like Atomic Runner. The screen auto scrolls as you battle enemies and navigate platforms. Once upon a time auto runners were common on consoles but that specific genre is the domain of mobile phones these days. Because it scrolls automatically the platforming is not complex and almost rudimentary. The biggest challenge comes from avoiding enemies and waiting for the screen to progress. As such the game does not rely on it too heavily. Falling in a pit only loses some health and the game is fairly generous with its life restoring power-ups. It relies more on its action of which it has more than enough to spare.
The main hook in Genji Tsūshin Agedama is your ability to charge your attack. There are several different levels to the charge attack, and all told there are a whopping sixteen different projectiles at your disposal. The meter has five sections that span the elements. There are a ridiculous number of elemental effects, from tornadoes to lightning to green waves of wind. Some of the more….exotic ones summon genies that bounce around the screen or charge across the environment. The most powerful is a literal nuke! Charging is relatively quick, so fast in fact you might overshoot the particular attack you are looking for. The various power-ups increase the power of these attacks even further, making you a walking bad ass.
It goes without saying that the charging mechanic all but breaks the game. There is no limit to how many times you can use these attacks, meaning if you find one you really like you can literally spam it with reckless abandon. In fact you must as the default attack is pathetically small and weak. You are overpowered from the start and only grow in strength as you progress. The pace is brisk, even for an auto runner. Some levels are incredibly short and the game’s short length only highlights its lacking depth. Toward the end it stops auto scrolling and becomes a traditional platformer. It is actually a good change of pace and I wish the game played around with this more. It is also easy, outside of two exceptions.
For the most part Genji Tsūshin Agedama is easy. As I said you are incredibly powerful even from the start but it goes beyond that. You have eight hearts initially and health power-ups are frequent. Halfway through each level there is a room that will fully heal you which is a massive boon. You can literally spam your way through most of the game and the game will not challenge you. Even the bosses are simple as your attacks cover so much ground and your dodge roll grants invincibility frames. I breezed through the game until I hit a wall at the fourth level.
The game has a sudden difficulty spike that is nasty. Stage four introduces invincible enemies you can only be stun and not kill. This is one of the longest levels in the game and working around these nuisances the entire time while also platforming is frustrating not fun. I can appreciate the attempt at doing something different but this ain’t it. The final level is so crazy it is unbelievable. If you can survive the nonstop barrage of resilient enemies you face a brutal boss rush with no chance to heal. The final encounter follows almost immediately and has two phases. I have no problem with a difficulty spike when it is measured. But here they drop the ball in terms of balance and it colors my perception of the game overall.
In Closing
Genji Tsūshin Agedama is a solid mid-tier PC Engine action platformer, one that delivers fun, colorful, and energetic gameplay, but does not rise to the level of the classics. It is a fun little action game with character, but somewhat limited in depth and scope. Regardless it remains one of many lost gems we were robbed of in the West.
