Ranma 1/2: Akanekodan Teki Hihou

"A great Ranma game! (if you've got the translation patch..)"

A game based upon an Anime, huh? I know that's what you're thinking, you've seen the Anime and thought it was kind of stupid, right? Well,this certain Anime, Ranma 1/2, created by a skilled Manga artist, is set to be an Anime classic.
A quick look at the Anime: It's a story about a boy called Ranma Saotome, who has been cursed so that he turns into a red haired girl every time he gets splashed with water. he attends a Martial arts school, and meets many friends, lovers and wierdos as he journeys through life.
Sounds kinda ordinary for an Anime, no?
Think it's gonna be a good game?

Well, I've played this game through once, and once was enough to know that this was a Ranma 1/2 RPG classic.
Take a look:

Plot: 9/10
Graphics: 6/10
Sound effects and Music: 7/10
Controls and menu features: 7/10
Battles: 7/10
Replay value: 8/10.
Difficulty: Easy - slightly hard. (depends on your own experiece as a gamer)
All rounded up: 8/10.

The plot - Ranma gets a rude awakening to Akane splashing a bucket of water over him, making him switch genders.
Not nice, huh? Then he follows her into the Dojo for some training (your first battle).
Suddenly as the family ( and co.) are having breakfast two gansters break in and kindnap the ''Panda'' ( it's actually Ranma's father who also got cursed); so Ranma has to go on a wild goose chase for the villians.... but not before Ryouga challenges Ranma... *sigh*
Then, a huge hubbub erupts. Things start getting deep; Ranma's friends are kidnapped, a new villian called Kamusaru (A big grey puddy-tat) comes into the scene and to top it all off Ranma has to collect a group of sacred treasures before Kamusaru gets his paws on 'em or he will transform into the Ghost Cat King and bring the world to ruin... doesn't sound like much, right? Trust me, if you look at it plot wise it's great. And did I mention, this game is also pretty funny ^_^.

Graphics - Ah. The graphics. Now, they look kinda pixelated, and horribly basic to those who have played Seiken Densetsu 2/3 and Final Fantasy VI, but you can still tell the characters clearly apart, and the profiles are good. And that ain't a Bee you're looking at, that's a pig with a yellow hankerchief called P-chan.

Sound effects and Music - I really don't think much of sound effects in this case, as they are soley for battle.
The Ki blast sound effects and kicks and punches are good.
Now, the music... yeah, the jam is playing in my head ^_^
Although the score doesn't rest in the likes of Nobuo Uematsu, it's still great. The mix of Chinese and Japanese classic, bright and fitting to towns, the World map is cool, and the battle music matches the mood, quiet, sometimes creepy and urgent themes to caves... and the last battle music is great.
Of course, it's a matter of musical taste.

Controls and Menu features - The controls are basic, which is good for newbies to RPG's. Your main two buttons are A and B - A to accept, B to cancel. X button opens the main menu.
On the topic of the main menu, there are a couple of options, like the basic Item, profile, Save (you can save anywhere, which is a BIG plus to newbies and professionals alike), and exit. The miniscule flaw is that there's no Techniques sub-menu, so you can't cure your teammates if you run out of healing items. Ah well. Sometimes you can't have everything

Battles: Now, sometimes these can turn out into all-out smash and blast fests like in some games, but man, does it feel good ^_^. There is some strategy involved, like you can raise or power down some stats of the victims or teammates, and use instant kill items (Like ''Akane's Lunchbox''), or throw attack items, like you can have something that casts a basic element spell on the enemy. It's really up to you to add spice to battles with stratagems.
Tips and Hints: Using a bucket on any of the characters (apart from Akane, she didn't get cursed) will result on them changing both form/gender, and attacks. This is useful, but some characters are best kept to the their origional forms.
Another thing: If you're feeling confident, push the X button in battle. A big dustcloud forms and all the enemies and teammates alike jump into the scrum. This doesn't work in Boss battles though.

Replay Value: Well, this game is of a medium length, but some Boss-Battles would not like be fought again, as you will see. However, if you truly love this game, then go ahead and try it. See if you can clock it in a day.

Difficulty: Easy - Slighly hard.
It's really the Boss Battles and enemies which make it hard for you, so trying lots different strageties will help AND training up will most deftinetly help. Even if it takes a week, a year, you'll get it. And buying new armour and weapons.
Also keep this is mind: When characters turn into the opposite gender using the bucket, they may be able to access more areas. Animals don't have any particular barriers.

So, there you go: a great game. Have a try. Find it at Motoki's Video games centre, with a English patch.
What d'ya think of it, huh? is it lame? Boring? Great? Wicked? Funky or Phat?
Well, it's a matter of opinion, that's for sure.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 10/28/01, Updated 10/28/01