Developer: Tomcat System Publisher: Irem Release: 10/02/92 Genre: Action
Among the PC Engine’s many shooters, action games, and oddities, Gekisha Boy might be one of the strangest. Instead of blasting aliens or saving princesses, you are a nervous photojournalism student trying to pass your classes by snapping dramatic, newsworthy pictures…while dodging everything from traffic to UFOs to streakers and vampires. The system was notably lacking in platformers compared to the SNES and Genesis. So this quirky mix of rail shooter and score-chaser that plays more like a fever dream than a traditional action game stands out even more. It is one of those titles that reminds you just how weird and experimental the PC Engine’s library could be. And I must say it has quickly become one of my favorite games on the platform.
In Gekisha Boy you play as David, a photo journalism student on the verge of quitting after his parents die in a plane crash. In mourning he decides to quit college. The principal however offers him a deal: if he can capture exciting moments around town he can graduate. Even though he is not confident in his capabilities David accepts this test.
Gekisha Boy is an auto-scroller as David jogs along. Instead of a gun, you have a camera to snap photos. You move the cursor to capture points of interest but it also functions as an offensive weapon as snapping pictures of hazards removes them. The challenge comes from trying to frame key events — people tripping, explosions, unusual characters — while at the same time dodging hazards like cars, falling objects, or rampaging animals. Each stage represents a different “assignment,” with massive bonus points for catching the weirdest and most dramatic events in frame. Aside from reaching the minimum point total you must capture a specific moment to pass. Snap the right moments, rack up enough points, and you move to the next level. Fail and you have to replay the stage over again.
Aside from framing you have limited rolls of films. Film is both a resource and your health. Contact with any hazard or “enemy” both stuns you and loses rolls of film. If you run out the level immediately ends. Wasting film on boring scenery drains your precious supply. So you are forced to balance survival with timing, capturing cool moments while also avoiding crashing out. It becomes a game of observation and reflex: spot something odd, aim, shoot, and then dodge before you get flattened. You can earn more film by snapping key objects but the game still necessitates good judgment to make it to level’s end.
The absurdity makes Gekisha Boy memorable. Each level spans a wide spectrum, from city streets to a movie set to a war zone to the bottom of the sea. The level design is immaculate: nearly every part of the environment has something interesting going on. You might see UFOs fly by for a brief second or King Kong climbing a skyscraper in the distant background. And the game loves its Michael Jackson cameos. Even better, you can trigger special events. Snap a picture of a window and the residents will appear with some goofy reaction. A lone kidnapper in an alley turns in to a Terminator (I swear I’m not making this up) when photographed. There are so many events and such occurring for brief moments that you can play each level four or five times and still find something new. That is the mark of a truly great game.
Aside from its design and mechanics the art direction is also why the game succeeds. Gekisha Boy has so much charm it is nauseating. The sprites are cartoonish and expressive, with constant slapstick humor unfolding around you. One second, a businessman might trip over a banana peel; the next, a parade of sumo wrestlers blocks your path. Each stage feels alive with detail, almost like a comedy skit in motion. The music is upbeat and catchy, with each stage sporting its own quirky theme. Sound effects punctuate the action — camera shutters, exaggerated “thuds” when you get hit, and goofy character noises.
The game is tougher than it looks and has a steep difficulty curve. Between limited film, tricky hazards, and the need for high scores to pass a stage, there’s little room for error. You have one level at most before the game asks a lot of you to pass each stage. Memorization helps — knowing when a gag will happen means you can line up the perfect shot. But first runs feel chaotic and overwhelming. Chances are by the mid game you will barely scrape by in one try as the point requirements become steep. It is less about twitch reflexes and more about learning each stage’s quirks. While it can be annoying replaying levels multiple times the fact you will undoubtedly find something new every time alleviates that. I wish it were a little more lenient but overall it is more than worth the at times frustration.
In Closing
Gekisha Boy is a one-of-a-kind PC Engine oddball — half action game, half slapstick comedy, and all charm. It may frustrate with its difficulty, but the genius of its gameplay loop and originality more than make it worthwhile. I had more fun than I was expecting playing this game and I urge you to give it a try, it is great. These are the types of games that make me love doing this.
