What prompted this (quite frankly baffling) fascination-bordering-on-obsession? Honestly, I think it was this recent post over at Kimimi's Blog. After I read Kimimi's commentary about the WonderSwan RPG, Namco Super Wars, I recalled being intrigued by a few earlier posts dedicated to games--Flash Koibitokun and Tane wo Maku Tori, especially--that were released for this odd, Japan-only portable.
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| The original, monochrome WonderSwan. |
(Quick aside: The SwanCrystal, released in 2002, was a fairly capable, and comparable, competitor of the GameBoy Advance--what with its screen resolution of 224 by 144 pixels and ability to display 241 colors at once. The WonderSwan Color, released in 2000, was similarly capable, but its screen was quite a bit less desirable than its curiously-named successor, while the original WonderSwan, designed by Gunpei Yokoi and released in 1999, had a monochrome screen à la the first GameBoy.)
Anyway, do any of you have a WonderSwan, or have you ever dreamed of owning one, as I currently am?
22 comments:
I'd love to get a SwanCrystal some day, but most of the games for it have a high import barrier being that they're RPG's and the like. Too text heavy for someone that doesn't know Japanese. I'll probably get a Neo Geo Portable before I get a SwanCrystal. I love handhelds and classic games, I totally have to get the more obscure ones eventually.
Actually, CYM, there are quite a few import-friendly games for the WonderSwan. You're right, though, that a good percentage of them are RPGs or have a lot of Japanese text.
As for the NeoGao Portable: I like the look of some of its games, too, but just haven't become obsessed with it (yet) like I have with the WS. I'm sure that'll happen eventually, though :)
If it's any consolation my Game Gear's here and I've got three games in the post for it ;)
I've only ever heard about them here. I'm sort of floored at how it could compete with Nintendo at all...and Gunpei Yokoi? I'll bet there's a story behind that name! He was heavily involved with Nintendo, if I recall. It strikes me as very odd that he would make a competing system...
what's up with the two d-pads?
I wish to have one of this someday... It looks too cool!
My girlfriend got me a Crystal for Christmas, I was delighted with it. Picked up a few games for it but it's hard picking out the import friendly games for the system and a lot are RPGs as you said. Anyway there's still a lot there to be enjoyed and some of the boxes are amazing, especially Rhyme Rider Kerorican. Love Klonoa and Makaimura on it.
@Adam; Bryan will tell you this but, the two D-Pads was so that the system could be played vertically as well as horizontally, for like puzzle games for example. Anyway. Yeah I liked my SwanCrystal. I found out about the system via its Final Fantasy rereleases and some Rockman EXE games. And accessories with cool names. Like the Wonder Gate. Y'know, if yr familiar with Evangelion, in Evangelion 2.0, Asuka plays a Wonderswan quite allot. It even has the known startup sound. But whatever cartridge she's playing has a Famicom wave design.
Kimimi: Ack! I forgot that you had bought a Game Gear. Which games did you buy for it? Or don't you want to spoil the surprise?
BTW, I just bought another GG game myself -- despite the fact that I don't yet own a GG system. I'll let you know which one it is shortly :)
Justin: Yokoi basically was banished from Nintendo after the Virtual Boy flopped. After that, he took his talents to Bandai, I believe -- and then died around the time the WS was released. Anyway, I'll definitely write more about the good ol' WS after I get one (which will be soon) :)
Adam: Some WS games have you turn the system on its side. To play those games, you use the left d-pad for movement and the right d-pad for action buttons.
Actually, at least two of the WS games I've already bought use this control scheme!
I'll explain more in later posts about the system and its games, I promise.
Pix3l: Yes, join the WonderSwan Fan Club with me :)
Retr0gamer: You have a Crystal already? I'm jealous! Which one/color? I want the blue one (not see-through) myself.
Anyway, yes, there definitely are a number of good, import-friendly games out there for this system. Makaimura, Mr. Driller, Rainbow Islands, etc.
SUIKA: Thanks for helping me explain this to Adam :) Also, so glad to see there are other WS fans out there!
I bought Ristar, Royal Stone, Eternal Legend and my friend's very kindly sending me GG Aleste 2 - I;m in heaven!
Wow. Someone needs to make that movie.
Kimimi: You know, I completely forgot that a GG version of Ristar existed! Is it any good? Also, I've heard good things about Royal Stone. Man, I need to get a GG soon :)
Yes, I agree, Justin. Such a strange, sad story -- or at least that's how it seems :(
GG Ristar's great! It's a sort-of remake of the Mega Drive version - some levels are very familiar but others are all new. There's a few new enemies in there too and some other bits and bobs, if you liked the MD game it's well worth playing.
And the graphics are pretty good, too? If so, I definitely can see picking up this one at some time. And maybe the GG version of Gunstar Heroes :)
Yeah, the graphics are very impressive! Funnily enough, I've been talking to a friend recently about picking up the GG version of Gunstar - great minds think alike :)
Yes, I think you're right, Kimimi! I've always read great things about the GG version of Gunstar, BTW, but I've never played it. Maybe after I finally get a GG :)
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