| Graphics: |   4.5 |
| SFX: |  4 |
| Music: | 5 |
| Gameplay: | 5 |
| Challenge: | 4 |
| Replay: | 4.5 |
| Overall: | 4.5 |
| Genre: | Fighting |
| Reading ability: | Not Required |
| Company: | Angel |
Background:
Sailor Moon S is a fighting game in the style of such greats as Street Fighter II, and Sailor Moon itself is probably the most popular anime/manga series in Japan and America followed by Ranma 1/2. This game takes you into the world of the third series of Sailor Moon, which is not aired in the United States sadly. If you've ever wanted to try and see what Soldier could kick everyone else's butt, this one is for you. I found that even non-Sailor Moon fans found it fun with the diversity in attacks, setup, and suprise attacks offered to the player.
The Game:
This game is a bit different from the other fighting games of its period (c. 1994) for the home consoles. The game in STORY mode allows you to choose from 6 Scouts, but 3 more open up in the 1P vs COM mode. You can choose from Bishoujo Senshi(Pretty Soldier) Sailor Moon, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Chibimoon, Pluto, Neptune, and Uranus. The level backgrounds for most the characters will be familiar to anyone who's seen Sailor Moon R which aired everywhere I believe, and all but Neptune and Uranus appeared in it. In STORY mode you can choose from the first six soldiers I listed above and then work your way through them to the end to prove you are the best around and deserve to lead the sailor soldiers. The game uses just 4 buttons (2 Punch/2 Kick), though you can setup an auto mode for people who have trouble with half and quarter circles in which L and R can do some of those functions for attacks.
The Good:
Yes, at heart it still is a "beat-em-til-they-fall game" but it has added twists. This game introduced the ACS system which is the Ability
Customization System. This system allowed you to choose from six strengths to build up which were: Attack Power, Desperation Attack Power, Defense Power, Playfulness(Handicap), Life Bar Extension(over 100%), and Magical Weapon Attack Power. Now depending on the game mode you chose, either STORY, or 1P vs COM you could get 10 or 15 points to work with respectively. This here is how you can make the game real hard, or much easier for yourself. If you find the game start to get easy, fill up the Playability, the Scouts will more often fall on their butt in a hop back or misfire a projectile. At that time they sit and giggle(or something else) for a second in which the opponent can woop on you. This game also came not only with those modes but a 1P vs 2P, a Tournament Mode with 8 Soldiers, and also a Practice mode where you can hit the target, or hit start and see a few of your Soldiers moves avaliable. I think the biggest rush though from the game comes from the Desperation attack. When its 10sec or less on the clock, or you're beaten badly and panting for breath you can do it, and as often as you like. This is what you have to look out for, it can take off over 1/2 an energy bar when and if it connects, so even a hopeless battle might not be so hopeless after all. Fortunatley those moves, as well as the standard attacks, have similar controller moving methods as Street Fighter II to do an attack. For instance, Sailor Moon's Moon Tiara Action is the same movement as Ryu's Fireball attack which will make this easier for some to learn.
The Bad:
The game as fun as it is seems sometimes short if you've got quite good at it, but it's not really a "bad" just set the ACS different or put it in difficult mode, which I assure you it is. Also the game is linear, there is a set order you fight all the Sailor Soldiers in so that could tend to get a little boring if you are nitpicky about such little things. Fortunately, unlike many fighting games there isn't at least anyone in this game that can be qualified as worthless. Though all diverse, no one really has the upper hand. My gripe is that in this game you can't use those 3 outer senshi in the story mode. I am quite partial to using Haruka(Uranus) because of her speed and power. Another small bad to this game would be the fact that two of the backgrounds are reused again for another character, but not exactly, as you see(or don't) they are at night time. Those two are Sailor Venus(Night - Crystal Tokyo) where Chibimoon is in the day, and Sailor Mercury(Day - Waterfountain) where Uranus is in the night. Note though the music isn't the same, I just wish they could have been more creative. Venus should have had another background like maybe a wherehouse district(like when she appears in the show) and Uranus as she has nothing to do with water should have had something new too.
Overall:
Overall, this game I feel is probably one of the best fighting games from Japan for the Super Famicom. The game is quite diverse in the options allowed for you to change the strengths of yourself in the game, and of the enemy. This game also allows for battle in tournament, or a practice area to work on your combat skills. This game should be a definite buy for anyone who has loved Sailor Moon wherever it aired, and for someone looking for a well balanced and entertaining fighting game with some suprises.
Contributing reviewer:
tanooki@flash.net
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