Ninpū Sentai Hurricaneger: Shuriken Mode (PlayStation)

So-called Shuriken Mode is almost exact copy of mini-game that you've seen in Story Mode. The goal is the same - you're killing Magerappas by throwing shurikens (Square button) and destroying the stuff they throwing at you with your Keitai Ninto Hayatemaru (X Button). Unlike parts of Story Mode, stages in Shuriken Mode are long and you'll need to kill a lot of enemies, while trying to survive. The goal this time is to make it as quick as possible and to try to beat your own personal records. There's no difference between characters in this mode (aside from voices), but I'll show you all of them in this video.

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Ninpū Sentai Hurricaneger: Taisen Mode (PlayStation)

Taisen Mode ("Taisen" means "Competition" in Japanese) in this game is like an in-built fighting game. You can play as any in-game heroes and villains (you can even use GaoRed from Gaoranger mode), but you'll need to unlock them by playing the other modes. Also, you can unlock Hamster-kanchō. All in all, it's a typical fighting game. So, rules are different from those in Story Mode and Hurricaneger vs. Gaoranger mode. You can perform regular special moves, of course, but there'll be no NP gauge. Unfortunately, there's no two players option and the only way to play this mode is the one against CPU, so, it isn't that fun. Especially since it's incredibly unbalanced and characters like Nanami and Ikkō are way too overpowered. But still, it's a nice mode to have.

In this video I'll show you some random fights with all heroes (GaoRed included).

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Ninpū Sentai Hurricaneger & Hyakujū Sentai Gaoranger: Chō Sentai Super Battle: All Modes Playthrough

In this video I'll show you all modes of Ninpū Sentai Hurricaneger & Hyakujū Sentai Gaoranger Chō Sentai Super Battle (忍風戦隊ハリケンジャー & 百獣戦隊ガオレ ンジャー 超戦隊スーパーバトル) game for SEGA Pico. And even though usually SEGA Pico is all about so-called "Storyware," where you are supposed to read the children's book while looking on game-like  interactive images on the TV, this time it's more like a proper game. Like there are two fighting modes, shooter-like shuriken mini-game, etc. All of  them are extremely poor thanks to SEGA Pico's limitations, but still, there's much more to see in this one, than usual. Here's a quick description of in-game modes:

1. Hurricaneger fighting mode

Unlike Gaorangers' alternative of this mode, you can use only the main team in this one. Basically, it's a fighting game in SEGA Pico format. Controls are terrible (thanks to the fact that SEGA Pico can offer you only D-Pad and one single button) and this mode has a serious problems with registering your moves (like it'll look like you've hit the enemy while actually you didn't), but there are special moves and battles of giants.  Also, sprites are beautiful, so, it's really sad that they didn't make such game for Nintendo's Game Boy Advance. You can play both as heroes and  villains in this mode, but only heroes' victories will lead into a battles of giants.

2. Hurricaneger mini-games

Two mini-games in this mode. First - button masher. You should press the only button as fast as possible to let Hurricanegers' Shinobi Machines to gattai (combine) into Karakuri Kyokan Senpūjin. Second - shooter-like mini-game with shurikens, where you need to kill enough Magerappas and a boss until you'll run out of time. An interesting thing is that this game utilizes so-called "touch pad".

3.Gaorangers' fighting mode

Almost the same thing with Hurricanegers' fighting mode, but with much more characters (again, you can play both as heroes and villains, but only heroes' victories will lead into a battles of giants). Also, believe it or not, even though the whole controls relies on D-Pad and one single button, you can perform different special moves in regular fights, change characters on the way and even change the gattai (combination) of your giant robots! Like you can turn GaoIcarus into GaoCentaurus, or change Power Animals in GaoKing formation. Unfortunately, both this and Hurricaneger's fighting modes are extremely random. Two special attacks are enough to win for both you and computer, but for you it's hard to perform those thanks to terrible controls, while computer is way too stupid and most of the time will just try to kick the air. Also, it's really hard to get your enemy. Especially with low ranged attacks (that's why Sae in this mode is the worst choice). Fighting modes in this game are incredibly random, unbalanced and poor, but they sure look nice.

4.Gaoranger mini-games

Two mini-games again. This time with Gaorangers. First - slot machine. Just press the button at the right time to get the combination of Gao no Hōju (Gao Jewels) you want. Why? Well, the game will show you what kind of giant robo the Power Animals from those Jewels will make. No other meaning here. Second game looks more promising, because it'll remind you about the famous Sapper game right away. By controling GaoLion, you should dig earth on Tenkū Shima (Sky Island) and find some Gao no Hōju with other Power Animals. Unfortunately, there are no mines and the only problem you'll have in this one is timer. But even timer isn't a real problem, since after you'll use like 2/3 of your time, you'll be shown the exact locations of where you should dig. So, nothing interesting here again (and I know that SEGA Pico is kids-oriented, but at least make a proper goal, will you?).

5.Drawing software

Yep, our regular drawing software. It was in previous Super Sentai games for Pico and it's included in this one too. Kids supposed to use "touch pad" of SEGA Pico to draw things on their TV's screen. Because it's much more fun than using paper and pencils... NOT.

P.S. Sorry for my poor attempt to write in katakana. Even though it's only katakana, it's still too hard for poor gaijin like me to remember the order of those strokes ^^;;; I'm very ashamed of myself ^^;;;

And that's basically covers the game. There are some options in fighting modes menus that I won't use, but only because there's no need to. Those are basically the same thing, but with different rules. Like you can skip regular fights and start with giants right away, or you can fight against enemies with infinite health. It won't be interesting to watch me going through all those variations, so, I'll skip them.

P.P.S. Original game resolution. My poor attempts to upscale it look ugly, so, let's stick with the original.

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Hyakujū Sentai Gaoranger (百獣戦隊ガオレンジャー): Complete Playthrough (SONY PlayStation)

Hyakujū Sentai Gaoranger (百獣戦隊ガオレンジャー) is 25th entry in Toei's long-running Super Sentai Series (スーパー戦隊シリーズ) that is considered as 25th Anniversary series. This game is based on the original series and includes some parts of it as cutscenes.

Player should follow the original plot and defeat two Baron Orgs (Hansen Org and Bulldozer Org), then Highness Duke Org Shuten, then Rōki and, finally, Yabaiba, Tsuetsue and Highness Duke Org Rasetsu (yep, no Highness Duke Org Ura in this game). As a nice bonus in the end of this game we'll get an exclusive monster called King Org.

Gameplay is divided in two parts. First one is a typical Beat 'Em Up game. Player takes a role of Kakeru-sensei (GaoRed) and can't choose. The other heroes will join in the middle of the battle and will allow player to perform powerful special attacks. To make it short - if Kakeru-sensei is fighting alone, triangle button will make him to shoot Gao Mane Buster, which will cost him some life (there's also a hidden move with Gao Mane Buster that doesn't need life to work, but instead requires a right combination of buttons). But if there's another member nearby, triangle button will activate a special move, which deals a lot of damage and won't harm Kakeru-sensei.

A battles of giants are different.  In this game player will use GaoKing, GaoMuscle Striker and GaoIcarus (yet again, can't choose), but there won't be much difference. In battles of giants there are two phases. In the first one you'll need to dodge, or strike back enemy's shots. If you've played The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (ゼルダの伝説 時のオカリナ), then you know what to do. Note that not all attacks can be reflected and sometimes it's better to dodge, since it's too easy to miss a shot and those will deal a lot of damage. In such cases quick dashes (double pressing on D-Pad) will help a lot. Anyway, when you'll see a special mark, you should press attack button to enter the second phase.

In a second phase it's enemy's time to dodge. It won't be able to attack and that's the only time when you can deal proper damage. Unfortunately, enemy won't stay still and you'll need to catch it, which may be hard. And you won't have much time - after some seconds enemy will push you back and you'll need to dodge again.

There are two kinds of attacks in second phase. First is a powerful strike (X button) and second one is a quick series of punches (O button). Second one is the best way to catch enemy. Move, use quick dashes and try to catch enemy with punches. Then, when it'll jump away from you to the left, or to the right, do the quick dash to the same direction (you'll land on the same spot with your enemy) and do powerful strike. Repeat.

That's basically it. This game is actually very short - there are only five short levels and special final battle, so, you can beat it in like 20 minutes if you'll skip the cutscenes, but, of course, I won't skip them, since those are absolutely awesome. Well, it's just henshin (transformation) and gattai (combination) scenes from the original series, but still, it's a great thing to see them in game.

That's it, Hyakujū Sentai Gaoranger: The Game ^_^ Gao!~

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