PC Engine/Famicom/Super Famicom reviews & manuals

[lkermel]

I've meant to do that for a long time and I've finally started to add game manual scans to my site. Only a few are available so far (PC Engine only):

1943-Kai (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?194)
Adventure Island (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?adv)
Fushigi No Yumi No Alice (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?ali)
Armed Formation F (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?arf)
Sapphire (http://www.videogameden.com/cdrom.htm?sap)

I'll keep adding a lot more in the near future and they'll include Super Famicom games. They are all located in the Omake section from each review page, at the bottom. Do not hesitate to let me know what you think and also if there's a list of games you'd like to see first - I'm going now in whatever order my list of scans dictates me to go :)

[lkermel]

Added more manuals:

Aeroblaster (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?aer)
Appare! Gateball (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?aga)
Bomberman (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?bom)
Download (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?dwn)
R-Type II (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?rt2)

Do you like the actual format of the PDF files ? Any feedback ? :)

[Koa Zo]

Do you like the actual format of the PDF files ? Any feedback ? :)

Yeah, I think the PDFs work fine.

Are you using a full version of Acrobat to create the multipage PDFs, or is there some other program (free) that will do it?

I've had some random stuff scanned that I wanted to post as multi-page PDFs, but I don't have access to a full version of Acrobat.

[lkermel]

Have added a couple of Super Famicom docs for ShaoMappy:

Battle Zeque Ken (http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?bzd)
Kiki Kaikai (http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?kin)
Joe And Mac (http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?joe)
Ushio To Tora (http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?utt)


Are you using a full version of Acrobat to create the multipage PDFs, or is there some other program (free) that will do it?

I don't know about free programs... mine came with Photoshop when I purchased it and this is what I use to create those PDFs. I'd also be interested to know what people use in general...

[lkermel]

Just back from vacations and back in business. Have updated a couple of pages and added more game documentations:

Makai Prince Dorabocchan (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?sod)
Kiki KaiKai (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?kik)
Mizubaku Daibōken (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?lik)
Fantasy Zone (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?faz)
R-Type I (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?rt1)

[lkermel]

More updates and manuals:

Niko Niko Pun (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?nik)
Momotarō Katsugeki (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?mok)
Time Cruise II (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?tc2)
New Zealand Story (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?tnz)
Neutopia (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?neu)

[Cryomancer]

Oh, excellent, thanks for doing these. stuff like this really needs to get preserved for the future (and the present! the Japanese artwork is always so much better).

If you want my opinion regarding PDF, i don't really like it that much. When i do read a PDF, I use Foxit reader. If it isn't too much trouble, the scans themselves in a zip would be lovely as an option, but if file space is going to be an issue I do understand.

Are we permitted to beg for certain titles? I'd really like to see some Dragon Quest manuals if you have any...Valis too.

[badinsults]

I personally prefer manuals and magazine scans in Comic Book formats (CBR or CBZ). They are just rar or zip files with some extra info files inside. Comic book format is nice because the readers have more options than most PDF readers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comic_Book_Archive_file

[Cryomancer]

I also support the use of CBR/CBZ. It's only one rename away from being a standard zip if you wish, and vice-versa. Superior to PDF in my opinion for scanned things. PDF are more for things you want to have selectable text I think.

[lkermel]

Cryomancer & Evan_G, I'll look into these formats. I picked PDF because it's fairly standard but I'll definitively have a look at the CBR/CBZ file format.


Are we permitted to beg for certain titles? I'd really like to see some Dragon Quest manuals if you have any...Valis too.

Do you mean DQ and Valis for the Famicom ? I do have these but I'm doing first games reviewed on my site and I don't have a Famicom section yet :( (only Famicom Disk).

[Cryomancer]

Any of them would be cool, there are several DQs on Super Fami and and a bunch of PCE Valis games too. I understand though, that's cool. If you ever get around to them drop me a PM or something if you remember, heh. I'll definitely be checking out your site more often now though!

[lkermel]

I don't have any DQ reviewed for the Super Famicom yet, but I'll upload the PCE Valis documentations in my next update if I have them :) (my collection is in storage and I'm not sure yet how many CDRom games I have scanned).

[lkermel]

More updates and manuals:

Dracula X (http://www.videogameden.com/cdrom.htm?drx)
Gradius 2 (http://www.videogameden.com/cdrom.htm?gr2)

[Ed Oscuro]

I think there's something wrong with the Kiki Kaikai manual PDF - 2.42MB for the whole thing is quite slim, but the front cover is very heavily artifacted by the JPEG compression. Also a bit surprised at how much light is bleeding through the pages...I should check that out, but I don't really want to ruin my manuals pressing them through my scanner (of course, it'd be nice to have a reason to get it out of its box...sigh).

Also, that game is not a conversion. The PC-Engine and Sony-produced MSX versions are, however (and I think those versions benefit from being based on a well-produced arcade game, although there's no beating the visuals in the second two games). Other than this minor point I think you did a great job in explaining what's going on (haha, I always wanted to call Sayo "Kiki" ;)

[lkermel]

More updates and manuals:

Gate Of Thunder (http://www.videogameden.com/cdrom.htm?gth)
L-Dis (http://www.videogameden.com/cdrom.htm?ldi)


I think there's something wrong with the Kiki Kaikai manual PDF - 2.42MB for the whole thing is quite slim [...]

Thanks for your feedback Ed Oscuro, I really appreciate it :)
I have updated the KikiKaikai docs - these SFC docs are sorts of tests and you're right, I went a bit overboard on the compression side on this one. The new one is better but it may end up being too large... anyway... I've also fixed the review, I can't believed I've said that about the SFC version. Don't hesitate to let me know if you see other mistakes of this kind, there are so many reviews on the site now, there're probably more of them, I'm only human ;)

[bombman]

That's pretty cool, I started doing that for my own website, but my scanner broke and I lost a bunch of games, so I got kind of depressed and didn't want to do it anymore.

replacementdocs.com does take japanese manuals, I uploaded Golden Axe MD and there's several Famicom manuals there too, and a few others.

[bombman]

Also, I am of the opinion that you should keep them in PDF format.

[bombman]

If you're taking requests, I'd like to see the manual for Kaze Kiri.

[lkermel]

Thanks bombman for your feedback :)

replacementdocs.com is indeed a great site and it is becoming a reference. I've also looked at other formats but I'll stick to PDFs which is a lot more standard I think.

I'll add Kaze Kiri to the list of manuals - I'm now wrapping up a new update for my site, but I'll definitively add the manual after that :)

[bombman]

Thanks bombman for your feedback :)

replacementdocs.com is indeed a great site and it is becoming a reference. I've also looked at other formats but I'll stick to PDFs which is a lot more standard I think.

I'll add Kaze Kiri to the list of manuals - I'm now wrapping up a new update for my site, but I'll definitively add the manual after that :)

Thanks, maybe I'll get back to uploading manuals again, if I can get a good scanner for cheap.

[lkermel]

Thanks, maybe I'll get back to uploading manuals again, if I can get a good scanner for cheap.

I know exactly what you mean! I've been scanning all my games (boxes, manuals and media) for the last 8 years or so, and I've already killed two scanners in the process ;)

[bombman]

Any updates? I am in the process of scanning my own manuals, at any rate.

I like your website btw, SFAM and PCE are two systems I'm definitely unaccquainted with.

[lkermel]

There's a bunch coming soon. I've been busy on other projects but I hope to post more manuals soon - maybe even this week if I have time to get to it :)

[lkermel]

More updates and manuals:

Gradius (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?gra)
Salamander (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?sal)

[lkermel]

More updates and manuals:

46 Okunen Monogatari (EVO) (http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?evo)
Gaia Gensouki (Illusion Of Gaia) (http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?gge)

[bombman]

Cool, cool. Still waiting on Kaze Kiri though... ehhehheh....

Check out my Mega Drive manuals here: http://www.megaupload.com/?f=NVQ0UJ3G

[lkermel]

Dho ! I forgot about Kare Kiri ! I'll try to dig out this one and put it on the site for you :)
Your Megadrive scans look neat and there's a lot of them !! Keep up the great work !
I can't believe that I now have more than 20 Gigs of scans... so many docs to put online... if I keep the flow going and upload a couple or so a week I may make it :)

[lkermel]

More updates and manuals:

Daimakaimura (Ghouls & Ghosts) - SuperGrafx (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?dak)
Chohmakaimura (Super Ghouls & Ghosts) - Super Famicom (http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?sgg)
Demon's Blazon - Super Famicom (http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?deb)

[lkermel]

More updates and manuals:

Kaze Kiri - PC Engine (http://www.videogameden.com/cdrom.htm?kaz)
Akumajou Dracula (Super Castlevania IV) - Super Famicom (http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?aku)

[lkermel]

More updates and manuals:

Dynastic Hero - PC Engine (http://www.videogameden.com/cdrom.htm?wo5)
Mother 2 (Earthbound) - Super Famicom (http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?mo2)

[lkermel]

More updates and manuals:

Bahamut Lagoon - Super Famicom (http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?bal)
Sonic Wings (Aero Fighters) - Super Famicom (http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?swi)

[lkermel]

More updates and manuals:

Final Soldier - PC Engine (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?fis)
Super Star Soldier - PC Engine (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?sss)

[bombman]

Couldn't you make the manuals a bit more... readable? I really have to squint on some of these....

[lkermel]

More updates and manuals:

Spriggan - PC Engine (http://www.videogameden.com/cdrom.htm?spr)


Couldn't you make the manuals a bit more... readable? I really have to squint on some of these....

Sure, I've been progressively increasing the resolution of the scans as the tiny Furigana can be hard to read. Is it what you mean ?...

[lkermel]

More updates and manuals:

Gokuraku! Chuuka Taisen - PC Engine (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?clm)

[lkermel]

More updates and manuals:

Advanced Variable Geo - PC Engine (http://www.videogameden.com/cdrom.htm?avg)
Winds Of Thunder (aka Lords Of Thunder) - PC Engine (http://www.videogameden.com/cdrom.htm?wot)

Keep an eye on my old updates as I'm about to raise-up the resolution from my early scans...

[lkermel]

Video game den is now on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Video-Game-Den/298052335457?v=wall) !
From today I'll also post updates there, so become a fan if you'd like to heard about the latest news or find out about upcoming updates. Don't hesitate to leave comments as I'm always looking to improve the site :)
Yo !

[lkermel]

More updates and manuals:

Veigues Tactical Gladiator - PC Engine (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?vei)
Image Fight - PC Engine (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?imf)

[lkermel]

More updates and manuals:

Chō Aniki - PC Engine (http://www.videogameden.com/cdrom.htm?cho)
Ai Chō Aniki - PC Engine (http://www.videogameden.com/cdrom.htm?aic)

[lkermel]

More updates and manuals:

Download 2 - PC Engine (http://www.videogameden.com/cdrom.htm?do2)
Chō Aniki Bakuretsu Rantōden - Super Famicom (http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?cho)

[lkermel]

More updates and manuals:

Macross 2036 - PC Engine (http://www.videogameden.com/cdrom.htm?mac)
Assault Suits Valken - Super Famicom (http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?val)

[lkermel]

More updates and manuals:

Macross Scrambled Valkyrie - Super Famicom (http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?mac)

[lkermel]

More updates and manuals:

Starfox (Starwing) - Super Famicom (http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?stf)

[Eyedunno]

More updates and manuals:

Starfox (Starwing) - Super Famicom (http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?stf)

Sweet! Another one I actually own!

I might as well be proactive though and list my whole modest collection, in case you have some of these scanned or are have the manuals and are willing to scan some. Apologies for any that you've already put up (including Star Fox).

Umihara Kawase (already have the manual, but I wouldn't mind a digital copy too :P)
Garou Densetsu
Garou Densetsu Special
Clock Tower
Chrono Trigger (already have the manual, but I wouldn't mind a digital copy too :P)
Super Street Fighter II
Super Soukoban
Super Mario Kart
Super Mario Collection
Super Mario World
Super Metroid
Star Fox
Street Fighter II
Street Fighter Zero 2
Sutte Hakkun
Seiken Densetsu 2
Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce
Chinhai
Doremi Fantasy
Viking no Daimeiwaku
Final Fight
Final Fantasy IV
Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy VI
Benkei Gaiden: Suna no Shou
Mario no Super Picross
Musya
Mother 2
Ranma 1/2: Chougi Ranbu Hen (already have the manual, but I wouldn't mind a digital copy too :P)
Lemmings
Waratte Iitomo! Tamolympic

[lkermel]

Hi Eyedunno !
I've just looked through your list and I think the only other one I have already put up is Mother 2 (http://videogameden.com/sfc.htm?mo2). I'll try to upload some of the ones you need for my next updates :)

[Eyedunno]

Hi Eyedunno !
I've just looked through your list and I think the only other one I have already put up is Mother 2 (http://videogameden.com/sfc.htm?mo2). I'll try to upload some of the ones you need for my next updates :)
Sweet! Yeah, I already got Mother 2 from your site months ago. :) Might I request you start with Viking no Daimeiwaku (Lost Vikings JP), Musya, and Zelda: ALTTP?

[lkermel]

No problem Eyedunno ! I'll add these games to my list - I'll get to them in the next couple of weeks :)

Today's update and manual:

Marchen maze - PC Engine (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?mma)


-

[Pancake Bunny]

Just FYI, there are some zelda manuals on this site including Kamigami No Triforce

http://zs.ffshrine.org/link-to-the-past/japanese-instruction-manual-scans.php

[Eyedunno]

Just FYI, there are some zelda manuals on this site including Kamigami No Triforce

http://zs.ffshrine.org/link-to-the-past/japanese-instruction-manual-scans.php
Thanks a lot!

[lkermel]

More updates and manuals:

Nexzr - PC Engine (http://www.videogameden.com/cdrom.htm?nex)

[lkermel]

This one is for you Eyedunno :)

More updates and manuals:

Lost Vikings - Super Famicom (http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?lov)

[Eyedunno]

Thanks bunches! I love the Japanese artwork for this game.

I think your review was a little harsh though; this is easily in the top three best puzzle games on the system, if you ask me...

Anyway, thanks again. :)

[lkermel]

I feel that Vikings has something missing... something that graphically connects everything together... it is lacking that extra identity spark that could have turned it into an incredible looking game. The gameplay is awesome and fun but, again, I wasn't really impressed by the graphics and level themes... I didn't play Vikings back in the days though, maybe this is why I looked at it from a different perspective. You know what ? I'll give the game another go and see what it has in store that I overlooked :)
By the way, do not hesitate to send me a short "Point of View" for this game if you want. I'd be delighted to add it to the page - the more feedback, the better ! ;)

[Eyedunno]

I didn't play it as a kid either, and I agree that the graphics and enemy designs are nothing special, but the cleverness of the premise and the quality of the level design (especially in the last two or three worlds) more than make up for that, I feel.

[lkermel]

More updates and manuals:

Umihara Kawase - Super Famicom (http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?umi)

[lkermel]

New review:

Thunderbirds - Super Famicom (http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?thb)

Yo !

[lkermel]

More updates and manuals:

Magical Chase - PC Engine (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?mac)

[lkermel]

New review:

Heavy Barrel - Famicom (http://www.videogameden.com/fc.htm?hba)

[Nintega Grafx-16]

You have a great web page lkermel! Bookmarked!

[woof]

I have a request, if you have the manual for Hitler No Fukkatsu (Bionic Commando in the west) I would like to see it scanned, if you have time, thanks

[lkermel]

Sorry for the delay, I was away for a week and didn't have access to the web...


You have a great web page lkermel! Bookmarked!

Thanks Nintega Grafx-16, I don't often receive feedback about the site, so I really appreciate yours, yo !! :)


I have a request, if you have the manual for Hitler No Fukkatsu (Bionic Commando in the west) I would like to see it scanned, if you have time, thanks

I sadly don't have Hitler No Fukkatsu... I think the game is way too pricey for my wallet, but who knows, I may find a cheap copy one day, fingers crossed ;)

[lkermel]

More updates and manuals:

Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past - Super Famicom (http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?zel)

[lkermel]

New review:

Makaimura (Ghosts'n Goblins) - Famicom (http://www.videogameden.com/fc.htm?mak)

Yo !

[lkermel]

More updates and manuals:

Coryoon - PC Engine (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?cor)

[lkermel]

New review and manual:

Acrobat Mission - Super Famicom (http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?acm)

I'm kind of excited about the (tiny) milestones I just reached - 550th game reviewed and 170th SFC game tested. Yo ! :)

[lkermel]

More updates and manuals:

Tatsujin - PC Engine (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?tat)

Yo !

[lkermel]

New review and manual:

Joy Mecha Fight - Famicom (http://www.videogameden.com/fc.htm?jmf)

.

[lkermel]

More updates and manuals:

Musya - Super Famicom (http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?mus)

You'll also find in this review an exclusive American handbill for the game.

[Eyedunno]

W00T, another game I own (but without manual). Thanks. :)

And I'm very much inclined to agree with your review this time. I actually bought this game strictly because I like its Japaneseyness and it has amazing backgrounds and enemy designs, but yeah, gameplay-wise, it is mediocre at best. This is kind of sad, because a medieval Japanese Castlevania with spears could have been awesome, and this game has the right idea as to the range of motion Jinrai/Imoto has, but it just doesn't control fluidly enough to be much fun.

One little thing: It should be "Daikisshō" (pronounced like die-quiche-show), and I also would suggest "Ashura". Either Ashura or Asyura is technically okay, and Japanese people might actually get confused and combine the two, but it's still weird, and Ashura matches the Hepburn romanization you use everywhere else except in the word "Musya" (it's "Musha" in Hepburn, but the package itself uses Kunrei romanization for that, so yeah, it can't be helped :P ).

[lkermel]

W00T, another game I own (but without manual). Thanks.

y'welcome !! I'm actually going through your list - I've received many other lists so I kind of combined them into a super-list and I slowly go through it, a game at the time.

About the romaji names you're totally right !!! I meant to fix this and totally forgot !!! thanks mate :)

[lkermel]

New review and manual:

War of the Dead - PC Engine (http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm?wod)

.

[lkermel]

More update and manual:

Puzzle Bobble - Super Famicom (http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?pub)

[lkermel]

New review and manual:

Shadow of the Beast - PC Engine (http://www.videogameden.com/cdrom.htm?stb)

[Dire 51]

This may be of interest to you all: I recently scanned the Holy Diver manual.

Manual cover (http://opcfg.kontek.net/t3m/hd_man00.png)
Manual page 1-2 (http://opcfg.kontek.net/t3m/hd_man01.png)
Manual page 3-4 (http://opcfg.kontek.net/t3m/hd_man02.png)
Manual page 5-6 (http://opcfg.kontek.net/t3m/hd_man03.png)
Manual page 7-8 (http://opcfg.kontek.net/t3m/hd_man04.png)
Manual page 9-10 (http://opcfg.kontek.net/t3m/hd_man05.png)

[lkermel]

Sweet !!! This game looks really cool, I didn't know about this one...