Importing games from Japan was always a costly venture. Moreover, it also required a Japanese console system during the heyday of the original Playstation. Unlike today where consoles like the Playstation 3 are region free, gamers then had to endure regional locks that prevented Japanese games from working on their hardware. As it’s historically known, Japan has been noted for developing some of the quirkiest games in the industry. Some of these games – while blatantly strange in execution – were entertaining and original. Unfortunately, some of these titles never made it to the States.
Unless you were among the elected few who could afford the import prices at the time, there was no way to experience these games. Thanks to game developer MonkeyPawGames, Playstation 3 gamers finally have the opportunity to experience some of these lost gems from the PSOne library.
Rapid Angel by Japanese developer Techo Soleil is an awkward venue of side-scrolling action that follows the story of three young girls. While the plot of the game is not necessarily described on MonkeyPaw’s website (the game is written in Japanese after all), it is assumed that the story involves important documents and large sums of money. There is a villain group hellbent on stopping the young girls and they intervene every step of the way.
Rapid Angel resembles your standard side-scroller from the late 1990’s; it uses the same basic mechanics that all games from the genre did then: collecting power ups, killing enemies, and jumping on platforms. This is where the similarities end, however. While the basic principles of the genre remain the same, the combat is a unique blend of punching, kicking, magic, and special moves. You can also block incoming attacks from boss and foe alike.
The controls are rock-solid, even when jumping to smaller platforms. Unlike some of the games from the same era, there’s never an issue of over-jumping a platform. You’re always in control over your jumps, not matter how critical they may be. Plus, having the ability to double-jump makes traversing some of the more difficult terrain much easier.
Unlike some platform games from the 1990’s, Rapid Angel uses a health bar. There is also a generous clock that ticks down slowly for each level, giving the player enough time to find the exit. There are a variety of items to collect along the way as well. Aside from food that replenishes the aforementioned health bar, a clock replenisher and bombs can be found along the way. Bombs are plentiful and drop off fallen enemy soldiers. While bombs are powerful, they are best used during boss encounters and up close for maximum damage. Additionally, only five bombs can be carried at one time.
The boss encounters are numerous and some of the most unique events in Rapid Angel. While there is one main character that follows you throughout the story (a young man wearing Victorian clothing, brandishing a guitar), other boss characters seem to borderline the strange. A fat man with a robotic crab claw – and what can only be described as a Yeti wearing lipstick – are just two of the many bosses that are encountered. Everything seems to tie into the story, which – again – is very difficult to follow, but the experience is full of energy and entertainment.
Rapid Angel’s 2D graphics still look sharp despite their age. The sprite animations are a bit stilted, but this is just a minor distraction. The real beauty is in the backgrounds; they’re very colorful and look great in HD. The special attacks are not terribly exciting, but they’re decent nonetheless. Most games tend to age poorly, but Rapid Angel doesn’t seem to suffer from this problem.
Rapid Angel is the type of game that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It has its challenges, but it never becomes so difficult that it causes frustration. Rapid Angel is a great game; it should have seen a release outside Japan during the late 1990’s.
Platform gamers looking to experience Japanese gaming will not be disappointed by Rapid Angel. It has the right balance of action, platforming, and quirkiness to keep any gamer content.
Mike Pittaro
Platform: Playstation 3 (Available on PSN)
Developer: Techo Soleil
Publisher: MonkeyPawGames
ESRB: N/A
Price: $5.99
(Want to win a free copy of Rapid Angel? PixelPerfectGaming – in collaboration with MonkeyPawGames – are giving away free copies of Rapid Angel and Yakiniku Bugyou from the PSN Import Store. No special skills are required to enter. You can read the details on how to enter by clicking here.)
| Review Score | |
|---|---|
| Graphics |   |
| The graphics still look good despite being over a decade old. | |
| Sound | |
| The in-game music is quirky, but fitting. | |
| Gameplay | |
| An interesting blend of action and platforming. | |
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Rapid Angel is worth the investment, even if you're not a fan of the genre. | |
