#micom basic

[oldgamemags]

The Japanese magazine advertisement for ‘Popful Mail’. You may know it as a Sega CD game, but this was the earlier PC-98 release.

[thearkhound]

Arcade Game Gallery: R-TYPE Leo

The following is a translation of the Arcade Game Gallery article that appeared in the February 1993 issue of Micom BASIC Magazine written by Naoki Yamanaka. It features concept art and settings for IREM’s arcade R-TYPE Leo, along with an overview of the series thus far at the time.

History of the R-Type Series

R-TYPE Leo

is the latest entry in the R-TYPE series, which debuted in 1987. Its novel gameplay system became a hot topic everywhere following its release. The original

R-TYPE

was a large influence on many games that came afterward with its novel ideas, starting with the presence of the Force, an auxiliary weapon that was not only invulnerable, but could also ram into enemies, followed by large enemy warships that couldn’t fit the screen and the beam-wave cannon launched by holding down the shot button. Its popularity was not limited to the arcades, as it spread to consoles and computers with versions for the Sega Master System and TurboGrafx-16, as well as the MSX2 and Sharp X68000 [and even western computers like the Atari ST and Commodore Amiga].

A sequel titled R-TYPE II was released for the arcades two years later, which introduced the Beam-Wave Scattering Cannon, a more powerful version of the Beam-Wave Cannon that is launched when you hold the shot button a bit longer. A reworked port titled Super R-TYPE was released for the Super NES.

In R-TYPE LEO, the bits (now known as the Psi-bits) that have played a role as a secondary auxiliary weapon in prior games, have replaced the Force as the main auxiliary weapon.

In relation to the rest of the series, R-TYPE LEO is not a sequel to the previous R-TYPE games, but rather it is a side-story set in an alternate universe where some events in the past happened differently. As a result, the Bydo Empire did not came into existence in this world and because of this, the Force does not appear in this game.

R-9 (Leo) & The Psy-Bits

The R-9 from LEO, which serves as the player’s ship, is basically the same ship as the R-9 that was deployed to battle in the original R-TYPE, aside from the fact that it’s not equipped with the Beam-Wave Cannon.

Instead, the bits, which were energy condenser intended for defense, were modified for attacking. It adds a laser converter and rechargeable energy known as “Cip” (pronounced saipu), and employs a system in which the pilot’s psychowave is entered as input for the ship’s controls. The result is a new type of Bits known as Psy-Bits.

R-9 Equipment

Psy-Bits

They’re equipped above and below the R-9 after acquiring the Laser Unit.

The Psy-Bits will aim towards the opposite direction depending on whether the joystick is being pushed forwards or backwards.

By holding and releasing the shot button, you can initiate a “Psy-Bit Cipher” attack, in which they will seek out and ram into enemy ships. It can also pass through hurdles.

The Psy-Bit Cipher Attack will be canceled if you let go of the button or the energy display at the bottom of the screen runs out. Energy will be automatically replenished when the Psy-Bits are attached to the ship.

Weapons

The weapon that can be used by the R-9 itself and the Psy-Bits will differ depending on the color of the second Laser Unit picked up.

There are three types of weapon: a Cannon Laser (red), a Reflect Laser (blue) and a Homing Laser (green). They can be upgraded by up to three levels.

From left to right.

The Laser Unit. It changes colors over time.

Guided Missiles. Unlike the previous games, there’s only one type instead of two.

Speed-Up. You can keep taking it without any problem.

Enemies

From left to right and then up to down, starting from the upper left corner:

Lead,Jiita, Base, Spleet, Kaito

Spidd, Gerudo, Meteo, Cannon, Domu, Teal, Pillar

Prisoner, Ladder, Orudo, Laser Bee, Lamia, Daria, Skader

Gieg, Bigu, Spark, Thunder Cannon, Druid, Leather Rock, Hazard Rock

Paradox, Logic, Crazy Cannon, Moo, Loader Mother, Sadondeal, Loader

From top left to right and then bottom left to right

Sadistin, Daggerd, Foress

Zera, Twin Coil, Cyber-Brain, Messiah

[oldgamemags]

MicomBASIC, August 92 - The top Game Boy games in Japan for the month.

[oldgamemags]

MicomBASIC, August 92 - Game music is big business in Japan. What are the latest releases? 

[oldgamemags]

MicomBASIC, August 92 - The Top 10 PC Engine titles in Japan.

[oldgamemags]

MicomBASIC, August 92 - What are the top Super Famicom games for the month?

[oldgamemags]

MicomBASIC, August 92 - The top Mega Drive games in Japan for the month.

[thearkhound]

1987 Maze of Galious Q&A from Micom BASIC

Another Q&A for an MSX game by Konami game. This time, it’s for  Knightmare II: The Maze of Galious, which was published in the June 1987 issue of Micom BASIC Magazine. This issue’s column also contains how dual-game inter connectivity works with the MSX version of Q-Bert and information on a high-score contest for Hinotori, which I opted not to translate.

Message from Kobe

In this issue our lady from Konami’s promotion department has interviewed the people behind Maze of Galious.

Q: Is Pampas (the unborn child of Popolon and Aphrodite) a boy or a girl?

A: That’s a pretty sharp question... It’s a troubling one too, ‘cause the truth is that we never actually decided the child’s sex. But Pampas isn’t born yet at the start of the game. Therefore you can interpreted it like Ribbon Knight in the sense that the child’s gender hasn’t been given yet. So (the child) is male and a female at the same time. By the way, is there anyone who can save Baby Pampas? The child appears in the ending, so please do your best.

Q: Are there any anecdotes about the game’s development?

A: Actually... There was supposed to be an eleventh world consisting of 20 screens, but due to memory constraints it was cut completely unfortunately. But there’s still 10 worlds that need to be cleared, so good luck.

And now we introduce the developers. Just imagine their faces.

RYOKUN (male) - I heard there are many people who found the joy of marriage at the midst of development. Like they say “family first!” Oh.

HAL (male) - Because of Galious, I became a work fiend for six months that skipped out on various dates! Was it worth it?

TOMOYO (male) - I have a pimple...

MAI (male) - I have a younger twin brother working alongside me in the same department. Sorry if we got people confused.

CHIAKI (female) - I’m the only female of the team. Since the company had a telephone, I would sometimes break in during the night to use it. How pitiful of me.

HIPO (male) - I wonder if I’ll be watching the in-store demonstration of Galious under the same sky this time.

UEHARA (male) - Even though it’s been days since development has ended, the stench of the Gyudon bowls that I brought from Yoshinoya at night still lingers on.

These were the seven responsible for bringing The Maze of Galious to life.