~Columns~ oriental-style music and repetitive gameplay may induce drowsiness

• Created by Jay Geertsen at HP in 1989 for HP-UX, Sega later licensed this falling-block puzzle game for arcades and various consoles.

• Players arrange vertically falling stacks of three jewels to match three or more of the same color horizontally, vertically, or diagonally to clear them.

• A special multicolor jewel appears periodically, destroying all jewels on the field that match the color of the jewel it lands upon.

• While the arcade version is abstract, later ports like SFC and Columns Crown added characters like treasure hunter Cure to provide context.

• The Master System version launched in NA/EU in 1990 but skipped Japan, featuring unique backgrounds and jewel sizes compared to other versions.

• It received high praise globally; Wizard magazine even rated the Sega CD version a B+, describing it as similar to Tetris but "a bit better".

• Fans enjoy the "chain" system and aesthetic, though some find the oriental music and repetitive gameplay "sleep-inducing" during long sessions.

• It is noted for difficulty; the narrow field and reliance on "diagonal matches" make it harder to recover than Tetris or Puyo Puyo.

• The series expanded with sequels like Columns II and III, eventually featuring collaborations with Sakura Wars and Osamu Tezuka characters.

• Originally titled "Drops" during testing, Sega later provided the game's source code to assist in developing the arcade version of Puyo Puyo.

~The Mystery of Atlantis~(Atlantis no Nazo) The legendary Zone 42 is "black hole"

Released by Sunsoft in 1986, rookie explorer Wynn ventures into the risen island of Atlantis to rescue his missing master from the evil Emperor Zahira.

Wynn fights with "Bom" explosives. His master's design is recycled from the game Ikki, and the final boss is the fire-breathing demon Zahira.

The game consists of 101 non-linear "zones" connected by various doors and hidden warp points, requiring exploration to find the correct path.

It is praised for its high freedom and shortcuts, allowing experts to clear it quickly.

Its fast-paced BGM is also highly regarded for its quality.

The difficulty is notoriously "unreasonable" due to tricky jump physics influenced by inertia and the risk of self-destruction from one's own bombs.

Zone 42, known as the "Black Hole," is a famous trap stage with no platforms, leading to an inevitable game over for players who mistakenly enter it.

Several zones are inaccessible during normal play, and some stages featured intense background flashing that was removed in later ports for safety.

~Darwin 4081~(Darwin 4078) The Mechanics of Digital Evolution

• A 1986 vertical shooter by Data East set inside a giant spaceship where players interact with energy lifeforms called "EVOL".

• The core mechanic involves ship evolution; collecting "EVOL" items transforms the craft into 19+ forms with varied weapons and sizes.

• Taking damage or the passage of time results in "involution," usually resetting the ship to its weakest state, "PISTER".

• Unique forms like "BLACK DEAME" are reached through specific conditions, such as taking damage during the "DEAME" stage.

• Players must manage a trade-off: evolved forms provide high firepower but feature larger hitboxes, making them easier targets.

• Released internationally in March 1986; modern Arcade Archives ports include online rankings to compete with global players.

• Praised for its original evolution system, avant-garde microbiological artwork, and unique minimal techno soundtrack.

• Criticized as a difficult "death-learning" game where certain evolved forms are disadvantageous against specific bosses like "Peta-f".

• The series expanded with sequels "SRD" and "Darwin 4081," and its evolution system influenced the action game "Act-Fencer".

• Created by Tomo Furukawa as an entrance exam project; he secretly added complex mutation paths to the final product to surprise his boss.

~Valkyrie no Boken~ The Dawn of a Shieldmaiden’s Legend

• An action RPG released by Namco in 1986 for the Famicom. It is the first title in the Valkyrie series, blending exploration with character growth.

• The evil wizard Zouna steals the "Key of Time," plunging Marvel Land into darkness. Valkyrie descends from the heavens to recover the key and restore peace.

• Features the shieldmaiden Valkyrie and her ally Krino Sandra (Whirlo). Notably, Valkyrie has black hair in-game despite her blonde hair on the box art.

• Includes leveling, item collection, and 7 spells. Unique mechanics determine growth rates and initial stats based on the player's zodiac sign and blood type.

• The original game was Japan-exclusive. However, its prequel, "Xandra no Daibōken," reached Europe under the title "Whirlo," featuring Krino Sandra.

• Highly praised for its beautiful BGM, charming character designs by Hiroshi Fujii, and a high degree of freedom that allows for various playstyles.

• Notorious for having zero in-game hints. Players often struggle to identify critical items or mission objectives without a strategy guide.

• Players are limited to only 8 item slots and cannot discard items. This leads to difficult management, especially when essential items fill the slots.

• Despite its cryptic difficulty, it is a landmark title for Namco, establishing a beloved heroine and a unique world that remains a fan favorite.

~King's Knight~ vertical scrolling STG called "Formation RPG"

• King's Knight (1986) is a scrolling shooter by Square, uniquely marketed as a "Formation RPG" that blends action with character growth.

• In the Kingdom of Izander, four heroes must train individually and then unite to rescue Princess Claire from the evil dragon Tolfida.

• The party consists of Ray Jack (Knight), Kaliva (Wizard), Barusa (Monster), and Toby (Thief), each possessing distinct stats and weapons.

• Stages 1-4 are solo quests where players collect hidden "Ancient Treasures" to level up stats before the final team battle in Stage 5.

• The game is praised for its innovative structure and a memorable, epic soundtrack composed by the renowned Nobuo Uematsu.

• It is considered a difficult "memorization game"; missing essential hidden items can make the final stage nearly impossible to complete.

• Stage 5 is criticized for its large hit box and the inability to change character formations at will without specific items.

• This was the first Famicom game designed by Hironobu Sakaguchi. Early development plans reportedly included actual RPG dungeon exploration.

~Gradius II~(Vulcan Venture) Technical Masterpiece for the Famicom

• Gradius II is a 1988 horizontal shooter by Konami for the TWIN 16 board. It evolved the series by introducing selectable weapon loadouts for strategic depth.

• Set two years after the first war, the Vic Viper is launched to defend Planet Gradius from a new Bacterian special force called "GOFER".

• The "Power Meter Select" offers four weapon types and two shield options. It retains the "back-to-checkpoint" revival system from the original game.

• The invincible "Option Hunter" appears after keeping four Options for too long. It steals them to prevent high-level players from dominating too easily.

• The overseas arcade version is titled "VULCAN VENTURE". Unlike the Japanese release, it includes a continue feature to aid players' progress.

• It won the 2nd Gamest Grand Prix for its exceptional graphics, music, and balanced difficulty. Its soundtrack by Konami Kukeiha Club is highly acclaimed.

• Early arcade versions had a bug that caused a game over at 100 lives. Some bosses also had unintended but intentional "safe spots" left by the staff.

• The Famicom port is a highly praised rearrangement. It achieved four options and voice samples using only internal hardware without extra sound chips.

• In the Famicom version, the ending track "FAREWELL" is longer than the arcade version. It is considered one of the best musical tracks in Famicom history.

• It is seen as a masterpiece of Konami's golden age. It refined the Gradius formula to near perfection and remains highly influential in the genre.

~Dezaemon~ a pioneering "dream-like" tool that successfully turned many players into game creators

• Dezaemon is a STG construction series by Athena where players create custom graphics, music, and stages.

• The system provides deep editing tools, including a 29,791-color graphics editor and an icon-based music composer.

• Users create their own stories and characters, while sample games like DAIOH GALE provide pre-made examples.

• It was praised for its high freedom and all-in-one suite, which was revolutionary for home consoles at the time.

• Significant problems include a high risk of save data loss and extreme weapon balance issues, particularly with lasers.

• Dezaemon+ for PlayStation added rotation effects but decreased the maximum number of stages from six to five.

• Subsequent titles like Dezaemon 2 added horizontal scrolling, while Dezaemon 3D allowed for 3D model creation.

• A hidden 1994 dev message revealed a secret data backup method using a custom-made cable for the joypad port.

• It is highly rated as a pioneering "dream-like" tool that successfully turned many players into game creators.