Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon (Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon)
Game by (Angel)
Reviewed by (Tuxedo Mask)
(tanooki@flash.net)
(http://nwjb.vintagegaming.com)
Size: (131KB)
Save: (NONE)
Released: (1992)
Works with: (Original Gameboy)
****************************************************************************

Opening Snide Remarks: Sorry, but you aren't going to get a snide remark out
of me over this game, take a hint from my nick.  Anyways, Sailor Moon's
first outing for Gameboy is a four stage combo story mode and action game.
On each level of the game you get to use just Usagi (Serena) and follow her
adventures from the first year of Sailor Moon that aired in Japan.  If you
have seen the American version you will recognize most the things, though
some sadly got cut.

****************************************************************************

Gameplay Descripion: In this game you go along through the four sections of
the game which take place in many familiar places around town such as the
Osa-P, Juuban Jr. High School, and more.  You will also meet up with many
of your long time friends such as the other sailor senshi, as well as people
like Naru (Molly), and Umino (Melvin).  Though when you get into the action
sequences it pretty much leaves a lot to be desired.  The controls are to be
kind somewhat not forgiving or flexible.  The options left to you for simple
movement and attack are not the greatest.

Liked: The story sequence, and the action area's, once.
Hated: The action area, it was nice to see once, but not again.

****************************************************************************

Graphics Description: The graphics in this game like the gameplay are like
two sides of a coin again.  In the story area's you are given great looking,
and large graphics of the streets in Usagi's home town.  She, Luna, and many
of her friends are easily distinguishable.  When you talk with people in
this mode you are gifted with some large, beautiful, very well drawn stills
of the characters from Sailor Moon in exceptional detail which looks like
they are out of the cartoon.  Then onto the graphics for the action squence
which I'll keep brief.  They are bland at best, and not very inventive nor
imaginative.  Each level though looks somewhat distinctly different are
highly tiled looking, and seem highly repetitive.

Liked: The story sequence(again) graphics and especially the stills.
Hated: ....

****************************************************************************

Sound/Music Description: The music in this game in both the story and even
the action areas sound quite nice.  As soon as you turn on the Gameboy you
are presented with the Sailor Moon theme "Moonlight Densetsu" (Legend of the
Moonlight) which sounds exceptional.  In the story mode and the action areas
the sound effects and music fit the areas extremely well though a few of the
sound effects aren't all that inventive.

Liked: The music a lot, especially the title themes accuracy.
Hated: Some of the sound effects and a musical piece or two could have been
a bit better.

****************************************************************************

Play Control/Game Design: The controls in the game are satisfactory, but not
the greatest, especially in the action areas.  The movements are quite easy
for the story mode as you just walk around, and can jump if you feel like it
though it's not needed.  In the action areas though the controls do leave a
bit to be desired.  Jumping seems more of a chore as it seems a bit hard to
distance your movements.  Attacking is pretty bland with the moon tiara as
you will find its hard to throw it in air, and on the ground it is nothing
more than the look of a pea shooter.

Liked: The ease of control and the fluff(jumping) in the story mode.
Hated: Pretty much the entire control mechanism of the action areas.

****************************************************************************

Improve: A lot to list here, but mainly, shoot the sucker that designed the
entire action sequence areas.  Everything from the graphics, sound, and
especially the control needs a total re-write.  Also I would suggest that
the next time around, the use of the other senshi would be a big plus.

RIYL: If you do love Sailor Moon or anime games, get the second one Sailor
Moon R as its leagues better over this title.  Also any other anime game of
the like in style would be a great choice too.

****************************************************************************

Final Words: Whoever programmed this game, aside from the music, and the
graphics in the story mode needs to not only be fired from that company if
he wasn't already, but not allowed to work for another, and preferably shot.

****************************************************************************
Score
Gameplay: 2 1/2 of 5 stars
Graphics: 2 1/2 of 5 stars
Sound/Music: 3 1/2 of 5 stars
Play Control/Game Design: 2 1/2 of 5 stars
Personal Opinion: 2 1/2 of 5 stars
Total: 13.5

Final Score: 54%

****************************************************************************

Currently Known Codes: (NONE)