One reason for that: PC Genjin's manual is painfully short. Also, it's surprisingly mundane. Given this PC Engine platformer's over-the-top in-game graphics, I expected its manual to include similarly wacky imagery. Sadly, that's not the case.
Calling PC Genjin 2's manual "wacky" may be a bit of a stretch, but it's certainly wackier than the one created for its predecessor. It's also quite a bit more colorful--a fact that's made clear with a simple glance at its cover.
The manual's first real inside page is mighty colorful, too. I especially like the pop-up effect its designer(s) employed.
Although I've always felt a bit crotchety (you know, in a "you whippersnappers get off my lawn!" sort of way) about the way PC Genjin's graphics were cleaned up and otherwise changed in PC Genjin 2, I'm far less conflicted about the overhaul ol' Genjin himself received in that interim. (To see what I'm talking about, compare the illustration below to the ones found here.)
The main thing of note on the following two pages of the PC Genjin 2 manual, in my opinion: The drawing in the lower-left corner of the first page that seems to show Genjin in drag. (To be honest, I'm not sure if players are supposed to think he's in drag or if we're supposed think he's literally turned into a girl. I prefer the former possibility, so I'm going with that.)
A map! Are you surprised by its appearance here? I'm not, as all three PC Genjin manuals seem to have them. I think PC Denjin's manual even has one. Anyway, I digress.
This manual's illustrators must have had crossed eyes, as they show a lot of cross-eyed love on the pages below. I especially like the surfing dino, by the way. It's funny how he not only has an egg shell on his head, but also a sailor's cap, don't you think? Talk about over-accessorizing!
And here we have my favorite pages of this particular manual. This game's bosses are the series' best, in my opinion. That said, the dino-like thing wearing sunglasses and a bikini on the second page is sure to show up in my nightmares tonight.
Next up: The even weirder manual made for PC Genjin 3. While you wait for it to be published, why not watch this rather informative playthrough of PC Genjin 2?
See also: Previous 'Manual Stimulation' posts
4 comments:
I didn't know Bonk was known as PC Genjin
Yep, that's the character's original/Japanese name. It's a riff on "PC Engine." I can't seem to remember what Genjin means, though. Oh, according to Wikipedia, Genjin means "Primitive man." Makes sense to me!
That pink boss in the tutu was my absolute nemesis when I played this game as a child. Oh my gosh...but I finally whooped her, and it was the happiest day of my little life.
Did she spin around and spew a bunch of projectiles (snowballs, I think) as she did it? Honestly, I haven't played this in AGES! Guess I should get back to it soon -- and maybe write up a Great Gaymathon review for it.
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