Very hard to find Ranma 1/2 games in North America. There's many places which you could get them
imported from (or you could probably find them in your nearest Chinatown or Tokyotown
or equivalent). Here's a review of the ones I know about. Feel free to email
me if
you have any questions.
This one was an action/maze/RPG, having to go around, talk to people, ocassionally
fighting people. I got stuck on the second level in the Kunou mansion (it's a maze!) Has a password system which allows you to start at the beginning of each
level. Also, water? Yep... you can evade fights sometimes if you're the right
"person" at the right place...
Ack! A fighting/quiz game. Basically, you go around building up your character,
gaining experience points by fighting people (strategy fighting... like in
Final Fantasy-style RPGs, but you have to assign power for offense and defense like in
Dragon BallZ-style video games) or doing quizes on events from TV episodes of Ranma
1/2 (that's usually a problem if you can't read Japanese!!! =(...
Has a password system to keep your progress... (hope you know how to write
Hirgana legibly ^_^)
"Ranma 1/2 Datou, Ganso Musabetsu Kakutou-ryuu! (Overthrow of the Indiscriminate Fighting Style)" Masaya/NCS
Action/Versus game
Control characters other than Ranma
(whatever I missed goes here)
Never played this one either... (recurring trend, eh?) One-on-one fighting
game. Only uses 8 characters: Ranma-kun, Ranma-chan, Ukyou, Kodachi, Kunou,
Ryouga, Mousse, and Kouchou (principal).
Can control characters others than Ranma in story mode
Separate storyline for each character
Tag-team mode
USA version created
Some slight improvements over the first game, Hard Battle is the only Ranma 1/2
game (for now) to be released here in the US. The voices were redone, however,
and apparently don't sound as good as the original Japanese versions (the voices
used were NOT from the Viz actors for the series). Gameplay is a bit slower
than the first, but the special moves actually called out, rather than hearing
grunts, yells, or whatever being called out. Ten characters: Ranma-kun,
Ranma-chan, Akane, Shampoo, Ukyou, Moose, Genma-panda, Ryouga, and Gambler King (actually thirteen,
since you CAN use the boss AFTER you beat the game or use a code and you CAN use Happousai.).
The boss is Pansuto Tarou, who you have to fight twice (once as human, once
as bull/yati/eel).
"Ranma 1/2 Akaneko-dan teki Hihou (Hidden Treasure of the Crimson Cats)" Touhou/Shougakukan
RPG game
Control Ranma and other characters
Save feature (3 slots)
Finally got to play this one. An "okay" RPG, as alot of things (the graphics especially)
could have been better. Apparently, Ranma is tossed into another dimension while
in pursuit of Crimson Cats Gang. Characters come and go, but Ranma is always part of your
group.
"Ranma 1/2 Chougi Rambuhen (Super Skill Wild Dance Chapter)" Shogagukun "Ranma 1/2 Super Battle" "Ranma 1/2 Anything-Goes Martial Arts" ToHo
Action/Versus game
Can control characters others than Ranma in story mode
Separate storyline for each character
Tag-team mode
Features some characters which are not in the anime (as of this writing) and in Viz translations
Features SUPER moves
USA version =(
One word. Cool. Graphics nicer than the previous two fighting games. Although
slower than Hard Battle and Neighbourhood Combat, the game surpasses them in
all other areas. Twelve characters: Ranma-kun, Ranma-chan, Ryouga, Moose,
Shampoo, Ukyou, Akane, Mariko, Genma-panda, Kunou, Kodachi, Hinako (actually
thirteen. The boss is also usable in this game). Herb
is the boss in this one. Each character has two or three special moves
and one super move which can be done when he/she is powered up (powering up
makes you vulnerable to attack, though). This game was to be released in late '94 or
early '95 using Viz dubbed voices, but was canceled due to ToHo's poor sells of the
Ultraman game that was released about a half year earlier. ToHo didn't want to lose
any more money on importing japanese anime games to North America that would not be a hot
seller and there were already too many fighting games (like Street Fighter and
Mortal Kombat) that had the North American video game market beyond the
saturation point.
Can control characters others than Ranma in story mode
Has versus mode
Relatively new, pretty neat puzzle game... if they've got puzzle games like Dr. Mario,
Columns, and Baku-Baku, why not make one for Ranma 1/2? Four different types
of "tiles"- rock (red fist), scissors (blue "peace" symbol),
paper (yellow palm), and "bubbles". The general idea behind the
game is simple- rock-scissors-paper... putting a rock on top of a scissor
would beat the scissors, a paper beats rock, etc. Whenever a "reaction"
is made, the adjacent "bubbles" disappear (allowing for chain-reactions).
After a certain number of chain-reactions, characters execute special techniques
(like Ranma's "kachuu tenshin amaguriken". Six playable characters in the game
as far as I know: Ranma, Akane, Ryouga, Shampoo, Moose, and Genma. Each character
has different offense, defense, attack, and speed ratings, giving certain
advantages or disadvantages in gameplay. The Gambler King is also in this game as a boss, but as of writing time, there aren't
any codes available (sorry). Game also has water (which reduces the offensive
capability of a "cursed" person and helps in getting rid of blocks
in tight spots), versus mode, and a "story" game (Ryouga's on the moon! <grin>).
