Shinrei Jusatsushi Taromaru review

[jp]

Well shit, since you guys are interested, here we go.

Premise of Taromaru:
Shinrei Jusatsushi Taromaru (translation: Psychic Warlock Assassin Taromaru) follows the adventure of the psychic warlock assassin Enkai and his apprentice/companion Taromaru. As psychic warlock assassins, it is their job to fight off evil warlocks and their armies of demons, ninjas, and whatever the fuck else they feel like getting to work for them.

This adventure starts off simple enough. A farmer's daughter has been kidnapped, please save her! But Enkai and Taromaru soon find themselves against an army of warlocks, hellspawn, ninjas, and the most powerful warlock of all! (I assume. If he has other warlocks working for him as well as some of the crazy demons you fight he has to be up there).

Gameplay is simple enough. Its a basic 2D sidescroller. Movement wise you jump and dash and all that good stuff. You have two attacks, both of which can be charged. One does damage, the other brainwashes an enemy and makes them yellow meaning they fight alongside you. If you hit Y while you have an enemy captured, it explodes and kills everything on the screen. You can also block, and blocking deflects ANY attack. So using it is a good thing. You have a lock-on simple that locks on to the nearest enemy, once it locks on, you can use either attack to either kill the enemy or brainwash it (not all enemies can be brainwashed). You use one of the triggers to switch around which enemy is locked on. A lot of people complain about this since they wanted "Psuedo-Shinobi", so please keep in mind this game is trying to do something different. And yes, it will work your thumb out (as that is another complaint).

You can play as Taromaru or his mentor Enkai. At first glance there isn't much difference, but after extended time with the game you begin to realize they both play worlds apart. Enkai's symbol can reach anywhere on screen. Taromaru's symbol has a very small range. Enkai is a lot slower than Taromaru. Enkai's attacks are also more powerful. But Taromaru's charge attack can bounce off of enemies hence killing multiple enemies at the same time. Which is helpful.
"Well if Taromaru can hurt multiple enemies then wouldn't he be easier to use?"
Nope. Enkai has unlimited range. And this makes the bosses towards the end A LOT easier than if you were playing as Taromaru.

Speaking of boss fights, there's a lot of them. Like, 5-10 per level. Its like a Treasure game (and very well could have been made by Treasure people given Hiroshi Iuchii's involvement). There's "5 levels" (at least, thats how I consider it. The game flows together seamlessly so there's no indications of a new level or anything). The game can be played through in about 45 minutes to an hour.

Music is fucking awesome. Be sure to turn the sound up (especially the bass!!!) 'cause this game has "one of those" soundtracks. Very hard hitting, very cool. Graphics are also damn good.

Overall, one of my favorite games ever. Its "different", but thats why I love it so. That and the general design and music in it. Good shit!!!

Now, crappy pictures I took with my phone!!!!! (Don't worry bru, I didn't take pics of a lot of the cooler things! No spoilers or anything!) Most of these are from the first level anyways.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/pzykotikjp/Taromaru/e1.jpg
The game starts with a boss fight!!!! (1st level)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/pzykotikjp/Taromaru/e2.jpg
Die fire!!!! (1st level)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/pzykotikjp/Taromaru/e3.jpg
Ninjas, warlocks, and... stuff! Everywhere! And in the top left you see a guy freshly fried by Enkai! (1st level)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/pzykotikjp/Taromaru/e4.jpg
Twin skeleton boss fight. Good shizznams! (1st level)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/pzykotikjp/Taromaru/e5.jpg
Centipede boss fight!!! (1st level)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/pzykotikjp/Taromaru/e6.jpg
Enkai fighting a weaker warlock. He had to summon a demon to help! Pssssh! (1st level)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/pzykotikjp/Taromaru/e7.jpg
That boss is actually kinda easy... (1st level)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/pzykotikjp/Taromaru/e8.jpg
Killing zombies is bloody fun!!! (1st level)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/pzykotikjp/Taromaru/e9.jpg
When in a tight spot... BLOCK!!! (1st level)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/pzykotikjp/Taromaru/e10.jpg
Arachnaphobia... (2nd level)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/pzykotikjp/Taromaru/e11.jpg
HOTHOTHOTHOT!!!!! (2nd level)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/pzykotikjp/Taromaru/e12.jpg
Warlocks and witches... (2nd level)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/pzykotikjp/Taromaru/e13.jpg
Another boss fight against a warlock (2nd level)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/pzykotikjp/Taromaru/e14.jpg
<Big the Cat voice> FROGGY! (2nd level)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/pzykotikjp/Taromaru/e15.jpg
Enkai is actually fighting the screaming face in the background... (3rd level)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/pzykotikjp/Taromaru/e16.jpg
SHIT!!! (4th level)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/pzykotikjp/Taromaru/noname.jpg
As my MA490 professor would say: "Just a little flavor of what awaits at the final level." (Final level)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/pzykotikjp/Taromaru/t2.jpg
Taromaru kills stuff... lots of stuff... in a row!!! (1st level)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/pzykotikjp/Taromaru/t4.jpg
Another example of Taromaru's multi-enemy attack. (1st level)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/pzykotikjp/Taromaru/t5.jpg
This is the part where I feel Taromaru comes in handy the most. (2nd level)

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/pzykotikjp/Taromaru/t6.jpg
Taromaru killing ALL the zombies at ONCE!!!! (2nd level)


There you go guys. :)

[Bruhaha69]

Awesome, thanks for the shots.

Now I just gotta finish lost planet up today or tomorrow and get the Saturn warmed up. The way you talk about it, I'm thinking (and hoping) that this is one of those games I'll be able to play over and over and over again, which is a great thing. Haven't had a game like that in a long time.

[jp]

Yeah, once you beat it you unlock Ranking mode, which makes you play through the game on one life, and then gives you a rank when you die (or beat it). I need to take a picture of the ranks so I can get them translated.

[Bruhaha69]

I got 2D skills. It will be done.

[jp]

I got 2D skills. It will be done.


:SM34

[jp]

Split this so that the review thingy can have a topic (hope thats cool with you bru).


I'm going to post two more reviews tonight. :sneaking:

[Bruhaha69]

Yea, no big deal. Makes more sense to keep the review in its own spot.

It may sound weird, but I'm actually looking forward to hearing the soundtrack in the game. I watched a short video on youtube a few months back and it sounded pretty sweet. Japanesque, but looked like it helped pump up the action.

[Bruhaha69]

Well, I got the game. Now I just need to get home and play........hopefully my GXTV will work. I played an Xbox game on it 2 days ago and the speakers started to go in and out. I'm gonna need a new TV.

[Da_Shocker]

Well, I got the game. Now I just need to get home and play........hopefully my GXTV will work. I played an Xbox game on it 2 days ago and the speakers started to go in and out. I'm gonna need a new TV.

How much did that game cost Bru? I know it's runs over 200 bones on ebay. ANd btw my GXTV is pretty much on it's last legs too. :SM9

[Bruhaha69]

I ended up spending 250 on it. I think that'll be the most I've spent on a game. No spine card, no reg card but the disc, manual and case (not worried about the case sinc eI can replace it) are all pretty mint. I just hope it kicks ass the way I'm hoping it will.

O yeah, I didn't mean to win the game. I put in 125 pounds thinking I'd lose. Ends up, I was 1 pound over the highest bidder and no one big against me. That's one way to force yourself into an expensive purchase.

Friggan GXTV's, man. I can't say it didn't last me through some good games, but I know the speakers fading in and out is the start of bad things. I really wish they made a 20in model of that TV.

[jp]

Awesome to hear that its finally in bru! Can't wait to see how you feel about the game! :)

[Bruhaha69]

Well. I just gave it a once through (and missed a SF Zero 3 Saturn auction at the same time haha).

I have to say, I've never played a game quite like it. I died quite a few times going through the first time. I used 2 continues and got my ass kicked. Still, this is an awesome game. The autotarget thing threw me off and I was extremely happy to find the right and left triggers used for changing targets. I pressed them hoping they'd switch targets and thats exactly what they did.

I love the graphics. Definitely right up there in the 2D mixed with 3D saturn realm (2.5D if you wanna go there). Bosses are excellent. Nice big good looking sprites with damn good designs. Same goes for the enemies. There's a pretty nice variety of enemies in there, too.

Music is also very nice. I thought the end credits music, in particular, was awesome. Haven't played a sweet-ass 2D game like this in awhile

I feel like a turd asking, but what the hell does the "A" button do? I thought it was for absorbing attacks, but I didn't manage to do anything with it. I definitely charged it a lot.....for no good reason since I didn't know how to use it haha. I made the block button my best friend.

I gotta say, I'm not let down. I played like a chump and I still had a good time doing it. Feels great to have the Saturn fired up again and this was a good game to start with. Thanks to JP for talking about the game here and on the CSB or I never would have went out and bought it. Definitely one to buy for the Saturn.

I would like to know what options are in the options menu, though? any save file options. My lithium battery is dead.

[jp]

The A button is used for brainwashing enemies. If you hit an enemy with it (yellow lightning) enough then they'll follow you and attack enemies.


The only save is unlocking Ranking Mode once you beat the game.


Very glad you enjoy it man!!!!

[Bruhaha69]

hahaha OOOOOOOO. Brainwashing. I was wondering why that lady was floating around helping me for awhile. Cool.

I think I'll play through a few more times before I try using Taromaru. If he has shorter range, it'll probably be a bit tougher to beat.

[jp]

Yeah... the final 2 "levels" are a bitch with Taromaru.

[Bruhaha69]

That's another thing I liked about the game. No levels. Just a big string of connected sections. Makes you feel like you're actually going somewhere, taking boats and going down waterfalls. I'm guessing I was entering a new section whenever the Japanese text hit the screen. The game has awesom clouds, too. Clouds and the moon look great. I love 2D games. We need more high quality 2D games like this.

[Da_Shocker]

Damn that game sounds sick but I don't have the funds to get it right now. BTW Bru IDK u were in England. I'm gonna try and get my GXTV repaired. I've had it since like 1999 and it is very dear to me lol.

[Frogacuda]

Some better shots I took a while back:
http://sfkosmo.classicgaming.gamespy.com/treasure/related/taromaru/taro1.jpg
http://sfkosmo.classicgaming.gamespy.com/treasure/related/taromaru/taro2.jpg
http://sfkosmo.classicgaming.gamespy.com/treasure/related/taromaru/taro3.jpg
http://sfkosmo.classicgaming.gamespy.com/treasure/related/taromaru/taro4.jpg

I don't like the game as much as jp does, but it's not bad.

[Bruhaha69]

Damn that game sounds sick but I don't have the funds to get it right now. BTW Bru IDK u were in England. I'm gonna try and get my GXTV repaired. I've had it since like 1999 and it is very dear to me lol.

England? What the?!! Is that in my profile or somethin?

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, I see. No, I'm in the US, the auction was just from someone who was in England. I bid the 125 pounds without even considering what that came to in US dollars (which ended up being about 250 and change).

I loved that Frog boss.

Speaking of Frog (and off topic again), hey Frog: Do you use any capture equipment for getting screenshots or just use a camera? I only ask because I know you do a lot of game history and review type work. Also, those screens look too clean to be snapped off a camera.

[Frogacuda]

Those screens are taken in an emulator. A good emulator (meaning an accurate one that doesn't attempt to "enhance" the image) is a great way to get a pixel perfect clean shot.

For doing guides and reviews and such, I try to favor PC versions because I can get perfect shots from those, too. If I'm stuck capping from a console, you use capture hardware on a computer and use a direct line.

[Da_Shocker]

Frog u mean to tell me there is a wroknig and stable Saturn emulator out there?

[Frogacuda]

Frog u mean to tell me there is a wroknig and stable Saturn emulator out there?Yeah, there has been for quite some time (those shots are probably a year old). There are currently two Saturn emulators that can run a majority of commercial games, and of those one of them is capable of running over 85% of games accurately and glitch-free.

http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~phantasy/ssf/index.html

It's updated all the time, too, so bookmark it and check it every now and then for updates.

[HawkClay]

Bru, one thing you can do if your PC has the ability to take an A/V input, is plug your system directly into your PC and take a screenshot using whatever program you want to use to capture it. This is how I do it (or did when I had time at least)! The program I use is Ulead. I also do this to capture music from games that I want a soundtrack for! For this I used MusicMatch Jukebox. Of course that works best if there is a sound test though! ;)

[Bruhaha69]

Sweet. That would come in handy for Astal since I NEVER see that soundtrack available anywhere. Damn them for not letting you listen to it off the CD.

Thanks for the tip, Hawk.

[HawkClay]

Astal ehhh? Hmmm...

[jp]

Sweet. That would come in handy for Astal since I NEVER see that soundtrack available anywhere. Damn them for not letting you listen to it off the CD.

Thanks for the tip, Hawk.


I hate it that they did that with Astal as well. Almost every other Saturn game lets you rip the soundtrack from the CD... but nooooo... not Astal.


And Astal has such kickass music too. :(

[DarthArcturus]

Astal's music does indeed kick ass. :band:

[HawkClay]

Astal's music does indeed kick ass. :band:

^^^
That emoticon reminds me of the title screen to Chuck Rock! :SM14