After perusing this recent post and this one, too, you couldn't help but wonder if Kitchen Panic's instruction manual could possibly compare to its packaging, could you?
Hey, I understand. I wondered the same thing myself after I first came across this obscure-ish, Japan-only GameBoy title.
So, what's the verdict? Have a look and tell me yourself.
The front and back covers (above) of Kitchen Panic's manual may be my favorite part of the whole she-bang thanks to the fact that its designers made them ape the look of the original GameBoy hardware.
Next up is the game's backstory, which of course I don't understand. I am pretty fond of the rather touching illustration of its protagonist embracing a woman I presume to be his mother.
A description of Kitchen Panic's controls. Not very visually stimulating, I agree, but this kind of thing was pretty par for the course back then so I'll give the folks responsible this booklet a pass.
Oh, hey, a screenshot of the game's title screen. I'm not sure what else is detailed on that particular page, though, I'm sorry to say. I believe the right-hand page, on the other hand, covers Kitchen Panic's "rules."
OK, you've got to admit the art on the right-hand page above is pretty adorable. Each of those illustrations are recreated in the game's intro, by the way.
These pages (above) describe the rewards players receive when they push three panels--which are dropped by vanquished insects--into one another during a particular stage.
Items! These basically enhance the protagonist's abilities--or at least that's been my experience with them so far. Anyway, I like how the manual's designers decided to use the actual sprites here rather than illustrated depictions.
I'm pretty sure the characters at the top of page eight translate to "Bonus Game." Anyway, more sprites--my favorite of which, of course, is the slice of cake that appears to be topped with a strawberry. (I really like the, uh, frog hat one, too.)
These character portraits are pretty well done, too, don't you think? I especially like the insect ones myself.
Unfortunately, I'm at a bit of a loss as to what information the pages below are supposed to share with readers, although I think the one on the left briefly describes each of Kitchen Panic's five stages?
Hopefully someone with a far, far better grasp of Japanese will chime in and correct me if I'm wrong--and also point out the gist of the right-hand page's contents.
So, what do you think? Does Kitchen Panic's manual favorably or unfavorably compare to its vibrant box art?
See also: my 'Great Gaymathon' review of Kitchen Panic, plus previous 'Manual Stimulation' posts
Tuesday, April 01, 2014
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