Following the hit arcade title released in 1995, Game Tengoku hit the Sega Saturn in 1997. It featured classic Jaleco characters mixed in with all-new original characters voiced by a number of popular voice actors, and was a character-based shoot ‘em up that was well ahead of its time!
It also featured characters designed by famous manga artist Tatsuya Souma, plus fully-voiced skits, four original songs, and animations! All while making other shooting games jealous of how well it pulled off its game mechanics! It managed to be a character-centric game without succumbing to any of the cut corners that usually come with such a title.
To this very day countless fans still call for a remade port of this title!
◆ New Elements
New Character: “Clarice (True)”
The protagonist of the 1985-released arcade game City Connection from Jaleco. Mangaka Tatsuya Souma is in charge of the character design. A code that unlocks “Clarice (True)” is included with the Japanese PlayStation 4 standard and limited editions.
—Clarice (True) – Designed by Tatsuya Souma
—Car – Designed by Kenichi Sonoda
—Clarice Bomber – Designed by A-10
Newly Added Modes
In addition to “Arcade Mode+,” which lets you play with a vertical screen like the original arcade version, there is also support for online rankings.
PlayStation 4 and Steam are the Platforms
In Japan, the PlayStation 4 version will be available as physical standard (4,800 yen) and limited editions (9,800 yen), as well as a digital version (3,800 yen).
The standard edition will include a bonus footage DVD of the original video animation and voice actor interviews included with the “Paradise Pack” of the Sega Saturn version, as well as a product code to download new character “Clarice (True).”
The limited edition will include the content included with the standard edition, as well as a replica script for the original video animation and an art book.
The Steam version has yet to be priced.
◆ Story
The self-proclaimed “Super Duper Genius Smart Guy” Yamada has plan to take over the gaming world, and sets his sights first on the world of video games by taking control of all the arcade cabinets at the “You&Me Kamiyoga” arcade in Kamiyoga, Tokyo! But part-time arcade employee Yui Ito is ready to take him on! Determined to put an end to this before the arcade opens, she hastily hacks together all the used arcade circuit boards she has lying around and calls upon all the main characters to take down this evil genius!
◆ Stage Overview
1. Arcade World
A stage designed after a Japanese arcade. Face off against ash trays, game cabinets, and money changing machines.
2. Crane World
A stage designed after crane games. Face off against stuffed animals and other mascots.
3. Shoot ‘em Up World
A stage designed after shoot ‘em up games. Face off against spaceships and robots out in space.
4. Karaoke World
A stage designed after a private karaoke room. Face off against song lyrics as they come to life.
5. Console World
A stage designed after console games. Face off against various consoles and RPG style characters.
A stage designed after big enclosed arcade games. Face off against race cars, jet fighters, and the arcade systems themselves.
7. Retro World
A stage designed after 8 bit era games. Face off against retro style pixel art characters.
8. Polygon World
A stage designed after 3D CG games and the inside of a computer. Face off against wire frame and polygonal characters.
Extra: Time Attack
Compete for the highest score in a set amount of time. There is no limit but time, so go push yourself to the max of human potential!
■ Characters
◆ Characters
Yuki Ito
Voiced by: Kumiko Nishihara
Age: 19
Part-time employee at the You&Me Kamiyoga arcade. She loves to talk but also gets overwhelmed and excited easily. She’s a huge game nerd and whips out her collection of used arcade boards to fight off the evil genius Yamada and his terrible plot.
Genius Yamada
Voiced by: Shigeru Chiba
Age: Unknown
Sets off to take over the game world with his brainwashed Genius Army and mechs in order to create his dream “Game Tengoku.” A self-proclaimed evil super genius scientist, but evil super pervert scientist might be a more apt title.
◆ Playable Characters
Janus Starmine
Voiced by: Tomokazu Seki
Age: 27
The pilot of Fighter EX from Exerion. A feisty, hot blooded guy with an easy to read flight pattern. The way he clearly puts more thought into forward fire-power than anything else on his ship tells you all you need to know about him. His craft, the Fighter EX, has a speedy firing rate and impressive power, but lacks spread.
Seria
Voiced by: Mika Kanai
Age: 19
The pilot of Pupera from PLUS ALPHA. She looks the must upstanding of any of the pilots in the game. But the way she has not the slightest shred of doubt about anything she says or does leaves the rest of the team worried that she’s really the one running everything behind the scenes. Her Pupera can be upgraded to both a 3-way and a 5-way spread, which makes it super easy to use.
Z-DYNE Mk-II
Voiced by: Ryotaro Okiayu
Age: 128
Read as “Zed Dyne Mark Two”. The successor to the transforming mech Expel from Formation Z. It is controlled entirely by a high-level AI and holds no pilot. As one might expect from an AI he can at times be far too serious, but being studious (today we might say he features “deep learning”) he is able to learn from his surroundings and adapt day by day. He normally uses fast firing, lock-on lasers with homing ability which, while good, are not terribly strong.
Pig
Voiced by: Akio Otsuka
Age: Around 10
A pig in polka dot underwear and the main character of Butasan. Well aware of the risk of ending up in a butchers shop, he has lived his life in ever-present danger, and as such has decided to take things into his own hands, heading out to battle with bombs in hand (trotter?!). Despite his adorable looks, this brave little pig has been through countless battles, and has even worked as the bomb expert in a spec ops squad. His attacks pack a punch, but he probably has the slowest firing rate around.
Momoko
Voiced by: Hekiru Shiina
Age: 11
A psychic fifth grader and the heroine of Momoko 120%. Now this is important, so let’s go over this again: she’s a fifth grader. Her sense of purpose and responsibility are basically what you might expect from such a kid. But! The so-called Momoko Bomber is in a lot of ways the strongest of its kind.
Miki
Voiced by: Miki Takahashi
Age: 18
The pilot of the very un-cool moving pillbox, “Genesis 3”, from Field Combat. She’s got an awful personality at odds with her looks and voice. Her craft is pretty weak, but she has faith that her reinforcements will back her up.
Misato
Voiced by: Satomi Korogi
Age: 12
Miki’s lively, ill-fortuned, younger sister. She’s always harassed… err… ”adored” by her sister. She joins in during the Karaoke Stage and fights from the Genesis 3 with Miki.
◆ Evil Genius Hench(wo)men
Kato
Voiced by: Masami Suzuki
Age: 17
A high school student brainwashed by Genius Yamada and forced to work for him. Also known as Helper 1. Though technically his “helper”, the closest thing she knows to games are sticker printers, so she really doesn’t understand his ideals or what he’s trying to accomplish.
Nakamura
Voiced by: Kumiko Ise
Age: 16
Another high school student brainwashed by Genius Yamada. Also known as Helper 2. Compared to the smooth talking Kato, she seems to be much more mild mannered. Oh, and she just HATES scary stories.
