One of the most frequent questions I receive as a gamer is, “What kinds of games do you enjoy playing?” This question seems simplistic, but the answer is definitely not. I’ve given several different ones over the years, ranging from specific examples, such as Mario Bros., to broad genres, like puzzle games. As I get older, I realize my absolute favorite games are those that represent a connection to my personal life, especially games that take me back to a part of my past.
美少女戦士セーラームーンS: 場外乱闘? 主役争奪戦!(Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon: Outside Scuffle? The Competition for a Leader!)
When I was in high school, every day for over a year, I sat down in front of my television at 4 p.m., tuned into Cartoon Network, and heard a deep voice intone, “This one’s going out to all the ladies!” It signaled the beginning of Toonami, a two-hour segment of anime television, and the first show in line—Sailor Moon—is still a favorite. My love for it developed faster than I could ever have predicted. The characters’ steely resolve to protect the world from evil and joyful personalities endeared them to me. I set out to learn all I could about the show and immerse myself in all its forms. I soon found that the series spawned several video games, but I never got lucky enough to play any, as most of the titles were released only in Japan. But now, thanks to ICHEG, I’m lucky enough to play some of those Sailor Moon games for the first time.
One of our newest acquisitions is a basic fighting game released for the Super Famicom in 1994, entitled 美少女戦士セーラームーンS: 場外乱闘? 主役争奪戦!(Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon: Outside Scuffle? The Competition for a Leader!) In this game, various Sailor Soldiers engage in Street Fighter-style brawls and try to become the new leaders of the Sailor Team. The second game included in the acquisition is a blindingly pink dedicated handheld called 美少女戦士セーラームーンS: 決める! ハートアタック(Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon S: Decide! Heart Attack). Bandai released this game in 1994, and it pits Sailor Moon against enemies, such as Kaolinite and her fellow Dust Busters, from the anime’s third season.
美少女戦士セーラームーンS: 決める! ハートアタック(Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon S: Decide! Heart Attack).
Both of these games are extremely easy to play, even for a casual gamer like myself. And since they’re both fighting games, they don’t fit into my favorite game genres. But none of that matters to me when compared with the opportunity to immerse myself in a world filled with familiar characters. The ability of games like this to take me back to such a wonderful era of my childhood is much more important than the game mechanics or genre. It also thrills me to know the story of Sailor Moon itself proved popular enough to span so many mediums, including video games!
Do you have any games that take you back to your childhood or adolescence? Please share your stories! I promise I’ll be back to read them … after I finish dusting a group of Sailor Moon villains!