Majikurimento - Magic++: Nariyuki Makase no Nijiiro Yuusha Game Sample 1/2 -- PC-98
Majikurimento (known as Magic++ for short with "Majikurimento" or being a combination of the words "Magic" and "Increment") is a colorful top-down action game with light RPG elements developed by Cosmos Computer in 1993. It is compared somewhat within Japanese game circles to Micro Cabin's "Xak" side story, "Fray: In Magical Adventure". The whole title is "Majikurimento: Magic++ - Nariyuki Makase no Nijiiro Yuusha" or "Magic Increment - Magic++: Rely on the Rainbow-Colored Hero". The game is somewhat comical in its approach with a student of the "Demon King Academy" who roasts themself trying to resurrect an evil god as part of their homework, an attractive master at the "Academy of Heroes" (Nena or Niina/ニーナ) who entrusts the task of looking into the news of the demon disaster and disappearance of everyone at the Albert Kingdom to her naive but determined student (Pirurun), and a world that makes no sense with such things as a candy kingdom (Sweetland) and characters who break the fourth wall. While its intentions are good and the game actually "doesn't" require you to be 18+ to play it, its execution is somewhat flawed and its interface a bit clunky.
The general concept of the game is good; you travel around finding items, defeating enemies, and ocassionally meeting NPCs who impart information and usually allow you to access other areas in order to progress. The environments have a bit of depth and appeal to them as Pirurun can jump, actually fall off ledges into water or holes, and ascend areas which require a certain degree of elevation to proceed. There are a variety of special items that heal you, protect you from harm, temporarily improve your parameters, increase your max HP, or have various other benefits. Additionally, Pirurun's basic attack is ranged. The game's greatest aspect however is that Pirurun has the ability to utilize different spells by picking up different symbols that defeated enemies leave behind (Stars, Suns, Moons). By grabbing two, you can gain a special temporary skill. and mixing and matching them also gives you special skills. The abilities include shooting a powerful mega-beam, raining a volley of powerful swords from the sky, wrapping yourself in a brief invincible energy field (good for dire situations and running into powerful foes to destroy them), a barrier which absorbs a few hits, a fairy who does low damage to all nearby enemies and heals you with the damage she deals, freezing time, and more.
The graphics are pretty good by PC-98 standards (impressive as there is a small HUD) with decent-sized characters and enemies, environmental objects which casts shadows (that actually shade and hide characters), and other things that animate like water. The music is decent, but repetitive and not diverse enough (as the game is broken into large stages, you'll hear one tune for the majority of the level). The thing that screws the game up however are the controls and bugs. The game is noted for its laggy controls, particularly when struck by enemies which can sometimes change the direction you're facing, and it's often difficult to reface an enemy before they hit you again. It's often difficult to hit an enemy on screen before they hit you as a result too and this aspect of the game can make boss battles quite difficult. On the plus side, there are certain continue points on a level if you die (which is quite likely) and you can save at certain points. The game also has strange bugs, one of which is to continue to survive even after you die when an angel comes out of you (it's playing "you died" music and your health is empty, but you can continue to run around, fight, and explore). The game also quickly becomes repetitive and somewhat dull due to enemy patterns and few new abilities as the game progresses.
Still, the game is pretty decent and a conscious effort from a small-time developer / publisher. These videos goes from the intro through the first level. Enjoy.