Interface
52 / wfmag.ccSystem Profile / PC EngineKato-chan & Ken-chan
HuCard 1987
This one’s a bit of a cheat, since its US
counterpart, JJ & Jeff, will be available on
the PC Engine Mini. But the western release
removes the original’s Japanese comedians,
and some of their racier abilities – here, Kato
and Ken are capable of stunning enemies with
rollicking gales of flatulence, and there are
various other puerile gags dotted throughout.Circus Lido
HuCard 1991
The action-puzzler equivalent of Little Shop of
Horrors, Circus Lido casts you as a chameleon
named Leon, whose sole aim is to swallow
insects and then spit them into the mouths of
carnivorous plants. It’s a process that requires
a fair bit of thought as the level layouts grow
more complex. Why is it called Circus Lido?
We honestly have no idea.Mr Heli
HuCard 1989
Irem’s answer to Sega’s hit Fantasy Zone (also
available on the PC Engine), Mr Heli’s star is,
yes, a sentient helicopter, but it’s otherwise a
conventional multi-directional shooter. The act
of digging out crystals and spending them on
upgrades gives Mr Heli its own flavour, though,
and the game as a whole is as well-made as
you’d expect from the creators of R-Type.Hany on the Road
HuCard 1990
This game’s hero is a Haniwa – a type of
clay figure you may recognise from Animal
Crossing – and it’s an action game in the vein
of Capcom’s SonSon, with items to collect and
enemies to avoid on a scrolling road. Developer
Face also made a similarly odd sequel – a
shooter called Hani in the Sky, which was
marked out by a really eccentric control scheme.Long Nosed Goblin
HuCard 1991
This is the kind of game that made importing
such a delight in the early nineties. Where else
could you find a shooter – outside Konami’s
Parodius series – so steeped in Japanese
humour and folklore? Expect to encounter
mischievous raccoons, fruit-throwing insects,
and witches riding vacuum cleaners. It’s
colourful, cheerful, and generally glorious.PC Gamer
10 PC Engine obscurities
A selection of curios you (sadly) won’t find on the PC Engine Mini
01 02
050304