People often hate on Natsume for releasing buggy games with little care given to the localization, but they were once quite the trailblazer as far as exactly which games they translated and released outside of Japan. The best known example is Harvest Moon. This is a farming simulation that’s more focused on the characters, and there’s nothing else quite like it. Another lesser known release is Pocky & Rocky. Don’t feel bad if you’ve never heard of it; this quirky shooter was up against some heavy hitters like Legend of Zelda and Super Mario World. I’m sure the distinct Japanese flair also had a hand in keeping this one unknown. Despite this the game has attained a cult following over the years, and it’s often heralded as a hidden gem on the Super Nintendo. This is just the type of notoriety that gets my attention, and after finally adding this one to my collection I have given it a spin. It might not warrant the high price but Pocky and Rocky is solid.
Pocky and Rocky stars the two characters from the title of this game. Pocky is a shrine maiden, and Rocky is a tanooki who belongs to a group of goblins (yokai in the Japanese version) called the Nopino. Unfortunately the latter has lost his colleagues to a mysterious masked demon who has used mind control magic on them. It’s up to Pocky and Rocky to face off against his army of henchmen many of which are based upon popular creatures of Japanese folklore. This title is a top down run and gun style game. You begin by choosing one of the two characters who are identical for the most part but have specific traits that differ from one another. Both are armed with a projectile attack as well as a short ranged melee weapon (Pocky uses a magic wand, and Rocky uses his tail). You can move both characters in all eight directions and in most areas the screen scrolls with you. Some levels require you to move up or down with some minor sequences where the stage requires you to move left or right. Enemies automatically re-spawn which serves as a nice mechanic to move you forward, but there’s also a timer in place to prevent you from taking your sweet time. Each level features a boss encounter at the end, but many have mini-bosses that you must defeat to proceed. It’s fairly traditional in design, but this game uses a few interesting mechanics.
First of all this game is HARD. Both players have a small life bar indicated by hearts that increases by one with each level that you complete. You also each have spare lives, and when you die you’re thrown right back into the action. Enemy placement is extremely smart, and many of them have different methods of attack. You really have to get used to the abilities at your disposal because you’ll need all of them to succeed. My initial reaction was to stick with the projectile attack, but I soon learned my lesson. While this is good against most enemies and allows you to keep distance between them the melee attack neutralizes many of their projectiles which is absolutely necessary in some areas. Furthermore both characters can also dash forward by pressing the X button. This doesn’t damage enemies, but it is essential for getting out of the line of fire of many opponents. Use of all three of these abilities is a must if you plan to make it all the way through. The game also contains numerous power-ups. One increases the number of projectiles you throw with each attack, another switches these to fire based shots, and finally you have a temporary shield item. All are extremely useful, and they are prevalent throughout each level. These are often hid inside of breakable items, but are many times are placed well off the beaten path in more dangerous routes.
The highlight of this package is its multiplayer mode. Just solo the experience is enjoyable, but it really shines when you bring along a friend. Gameplay is simultaneous and it’s extremely helpful to have a buddy along for the ride. In addition you’re given a new team-up style ability. Both characters can dash into each other sending one flailing around the screen damaging all enemies in their path. I really liked this feature, and always appreciate a well done co-operative adventure. The level design with mobile terrain and enemies with specific environmental hazards are really cool, and it becomes quite hectic while playing with a friend. I do have a few minor complaints however. While I appreciate a good challenge as much as the next guy Pocky and Rocky takes this a little far. I struggled to make it through the main story, and that’s even with a friend tagging along. Enemy patterns and placement are unpredictable, and you’ll die frequently throughout this adventure. Unfortunately the game also lacks a means by which to continue from where you left off. There’s no battery backup, nor is there a password system. It’s downright unfair in my opinion.
On the other hand the graphics are downright pleasant. Everything is extremely colorful, and the characters/enemies are all highly detailed. What I really liked in this release is the scenery. One stage takes place in the shrine, another deep within the woods, and you also traverse a Halloween themed cemetery, an airship, and a daunting castle. It’s highly stylized, and I found the themes downright fun to be honest. It’s all very imaginative, and has a distinct Japanese flair to it. Most screens are chock full of enemies and projectiles, and though the game does slow down at times it’s still quite impressive. I especially enjoy the boss designs. These are so well done that they will stick with you long after you’ve completed the adventure. The soundtrack isn’t particularly memorable, but each piece of music is competently written and accents the on-screen action well. This too has a distinct Asian quality to it that is definitely suiting. Though it’s not one of my favorite soundtracks I enjoyed the music well enough.
It’s a shame that this one didn’t get more attention upon release. Pocky & Rocky is a really well done shooter. I just wish that Natsume had toned down the difficulty just a little because I found myself struggling especially in the later areas. This is definitely a SNES game to look out for if you want a solid co-op title that’s a little different from the other offerings on Nintendo’s console. It’s a shame that this one is so expensive because otherwise I would fully recommend seeking it out. It just doesn’t warrant the high price tag, but it definitely suitable for hardcore collectors that don’t mind dropping a hundred bucks.
