Pocky & Rocky (SNES, 1992)
Graphics-8.5 Sound-8.5 Control-8 Challenge-8/8.5* Story-5
Level Design-8 Frustration-7.5/8* Fun-8 Originality-6.5
Overall Score-8
*2-player
+
2-player co-op
Slide/dodge move (allows for more interesting enemy patterns and better flow)
Block move (block smaller projectiles and enemies)
Difficulty options
Well drawn anime visuals inspired by Japanese mythology and expressive sprites
Smart bombs
Good bosses overall (some appear during the level in an arcade fashion, large and detailed)
Mini-bosses
Nice cutscenes, great sound effects overall
You can go backwards in levels
Hidden deities hand out power ups when found
Ride on a weird cat-like animal (for a limited time) in some levels
Good variation
+/-
Unlimited continues (start at the beginning of the current level with lives and bombs restored - however if the second player starts later he/she doesn't get their lives back)
Small delay after using the slide
Power ups disappear after a few seconds (you can open item containers by shooting at them through walls)
-
Bumping into the other player when dodging sends him/her flying across the screen (taking damage and falling into pits - very annoying later on)
Some trial & error (boss patterns, cave stage, airship stage and onwards)
Minor slowdown in 2-player
Pretty lame dialogue in cutscenes (was completely removed from the Euro version, poorly translated?)
Final boss is a lot harder in 2-player mode (can't exploit a hit detection bug or predict who he'll target with his strongest attack)
Notes:
Hit detection bug at the final boss (lets you not get hit by his strongest attack)
6 stages long
Level Design-8 Frustration-7.5/8* Fun-8 Originality-6.5
Overall Score-8
*2-player
+
2-player co-op
Slide/dodge move (allows for more interesting enemy patterns and better flow)
Block move (block smaller projectiles and enemies)
Difficulty options
Well drawn anime visuals inspired by Japanese mythology and expressive sprites
Smart bombs
Good bosses overall (some appear during the level in an arcade fashion, large and detailed)
Mini-bosses
Nice cutscenes, great sound effects overall
You can go backwards in levels
Hidden deities hand out power ups when found
Ride on a weird cat-like animal (for a limited time) in some levels
Good variation
+/-
Unlimited continues (start at the beginning of the current level with lives and bombs restored - however if the second player starts later he/she doesn't get their lives back)
Small delay after using the slide
Power ups disappear after a few seconds (you can open item containers by shooting at them through walls)
-
Bumping into the other player when dodging sends him/her flying across the screen (taking damage and falling into pits - very annoying later on)
Some trial & error (boss patterns, cave stage, airship stage and onwards)
Minor slowdown in 2-player
Pretty lame dialogue in cutscenes (was completely removed from the Euro version, poorly translated?)
Final boss is a lot harder in 2-player mode (can't exploit a hit detection bug or predict who he'll target with his strongest attack)
Notes:
Hit detection bug at the final boss (lets you not get hit by his strongest attack)
6 stages long