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Well now...what do we have here? A game from "Semicom", a company that, in essence, did work BEFORE 1994, under the name of Cheil Computer, which appeared on the scene during the second half of 1993 as an arcade game manufacturer. Their later games (Cheil Computer) went under the label "First Amusement" and afterwards, the arcade development team apparently split from the company to reform as Semicom...there is a LOT of neat information, overall, scattered through many tiny mini-writeups on Hardcore Gaming 101 and it would be rather redundant to reiterate the history of Semicom with every Korean arcade game I happen to play (which, will be several, after this upload, since Korean games are a desired thing in the channel), but that bit of backstory is a good general summary. You can learn a bit about MANY Semicom games at HG101 (though some are admittedly super short and could probably benefit from some expansion, though covering so many games is a daunting and very helpful thing all in itself):

http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/korea/part2/company-semicom.htm

So, for this write-up, I am going to say that, while the arcade flyer says the game is a "Unique Fusion Shooting Game!!!!", unique does not always translate into innovative or expansive. The game presents you with 5 quirky "family members", who each have different reasons for wanting to "diet", though the general premise is that they all want to...diet, lol...even "Fat", who I am assuming is the family pet??? You are probably already thinking it, so let me just get it out there...this isn't exactly what you expected a vertical shooter in 2001 to look or sound like, right? Upon looking through Semicom's history, their earlier games seemed generally more appealing (at least visually, since I only played a couple thus far, before perusing HG101's archives) and had more heart, even if some were clearly reskins and mixups of other popular games (Puzzle Bobble, etc.). Some in the late 90s were also good, but by 2000+, it seems the arcade development phase was generally an afterthought, on its way out the door.

That all said, Diet Family perhaps "suffers" a bit more than some other Semicom games in the design areas because unlike numerous past works...it seems as though Diet Family is a "fully original" idea. Meaning, while it is clearly a vertical shooter and it would be impossible to say it had NO interest in the stylings of other vert shooters, the characters and animations and premise are generally all from the ground, upwards. I'm not saying you can't be critical of the game, because, I mean...the arcade scene has had more gorgeous games in the 80s, I'm sure, but it is just something to keep in the back of your mind. Music and sounds? Functional. They work. They are sounds. Music is there. It isn't memorable, if I am being honest. You will likely forget how DF sounds immediately after you stop playing it. The plus is that is isn't especially ANNOYING, so there is that.

Now, the gameplay...DF is a bit odd in that you don't get powerups in a more conventional way. You are tasked with being ACCURATE, if you wish to have an easier go at the game, rather than destroying a wave of enemies to get a drop, or shooting a special enemy, or such...the exception here is during boss fights, where bosses will drop different things depending on the level of damage you have dealt to them. Otherwise, shooting accurately raises a "COMBO" count. As the video shows, the minute you fire and hit nothing, your combo is canceled, and starts over. As such, the higher you combo, the better items you get. In the beginning, doing combos is pretty difficult, but as more enemies flood the screen later on, you will get some form of combo, whether you like it or not...at least enough to upgrade your standard shot. You also have energy that is replenished with diet pills and the more you are damaged, the bigger you get, until you eventually lose and need to use a credit.

On the surface, this sounds intriguing enough...but unfortunately, DF suffers from a lack of diversity. All the characters have the same shot. Bombs/Specials are only cosmetically different, but function the same and stun everything on screen, allowing you to pluck enemies off one by one. You ONLY have your standard shot, and it will only upgrade ONCE, from what I've seen, into a basic multi-shot. You get life items, extra "lives" (if you combo high enough), and a standard shot upgrade...so, essentially, the first "Raiden" game, has more flexibility and weapons...make of that what you will. If there were "more" to the game and the presentation were spruced up a bit, it could be a lot more entertaining than what it is. As is, it is just quirky and might make you say "Huh...", upon playing it or watching it here, on YouTube. Lastly, please do not just consume nothing but diet pills and destroy food...that can't be good for you, most likely.