NEC HOME ELECTRONICS/FALCOM

1994

A strange hybrid between RPG and platform game, Popful Mail is yet another entry in Falcom's long list of classic games. Naturally taking the fantasy setting common to games of this ilk, the player is cast in the role of fiery red-headed warrior girl Mail. The game proper is sort of similar to Sorcerian, in that it's side on and presented in a simpler style than out-and-out action games. That's not to say that there isn't any action - it is very much a platformer, with many gaps to jump and enemies to dispense with. The attack method is a little different to the norm, as you can damage enemies by either landing on them or by making contact while jumping. This seems strange at first, but you soon get used to it and it does make for some frantic moments in the game. As you progress, puzzles have to be solved and bosses have to be defeated, as you'd expect.

As mentioned, the presentation is simpler than pure platformers - the sprites are very small and the backgrounds are a little 'blocky'. But that doesn't seem to matter as the graphics are generally well drawn and use some lush, bright colours making them attractive enough to look at. Presentation is top notch, with high quality opening intros and additional snippets throughout the game. One piece of trivia for voice acting buffs is that one of the characters is voiced by Akira Kamiya, who voiced Ryo Saeba in the City Hunter anime and Shutaro Mendo in the Urusei Yatsura series (among other things). He also voiced Guy Kazama in the Japanese Engine game Red Alert (Last Alert).

I admit to having only played through the first part of this game, but I feel safe recommending this as a quality title that is great fun to play - and quite collectable too. Get it if you can.