Aksys games has brought another unexpected franchise to us from Japan. Cho Aniki Zero carries some of the most unusual characteristics seen in a shooter so far. The series has been going on for a while in Japan dating back to 1995 and most believed this title would remain there. Now PSP gamers in the US can check out what the series is all about.
Cho Aniki Zero opens up informing us that the men of Builder Planet are in trouble because they are currently going through a protein deficiency. With all the chaos going on Balzac II, the successor to a previous final boss from the Cho Aniki series, decides to take over. The player is tasked with fighting their way through levels of enemies to reach and take down Balzack II.
Now we will jump into the HOTs and NOTs of Cho Aniki Zero.
HOT
Unique
Cho Aniki Zero sports some unique features. This is not found so much in the gameplay itself, but within the environment and other various aesthetics. Half-naked body builders are flying around, although there is one female character you can choose from, shooting at other nearly nude males and very suggestive enemy types. Are you catching on to the premise of this game yet? Yes, it is a homoerotic adventure squeezed into a side-scrolling shooter. Pretty much everything you see will be an indirect, or in most cases extremely direct, sign of homosexuality. The concept itself has not been seen widely by US gamers and this is why most thought this game would remain in Japan. It is good to see developers like Aksys taking these risks though. They are providing a type of game to appeal to certain gamers that may often be overlooked or ignored. Regardless of how this game sells in the US it would be a pleasant surprise to see more games hit US soil that some might find too risky.
NOT
Premise
I said that some might find this game a little too risky for their tastes. The theme in this game is heavily present and if you are the least bit homophobic, then chances are what you will see or hear will make you extremely uncomfortable. You are flying around as a half naked ripped male or at least accompanied by one. Not to mention that every bit of every level is filled with opposing men who are wearing minimalistic clothing just waiting to take a shot in the face. It does not stop there. The logo is shaped is a phallic symbol. The loading screen displays the message “Oh…Oh God. Here It Comes.” This message might not be anything to think about if it was a lone man watching a missile come down right on top of him or even if it was someone in the bathroom getting ready to expel some bad food. Another place you can spot the references are in the special meters you build up. They are measured in Gallons of Man Juice and Eruptions. The flamboyant depictions even pop up once you lose all of your lives. To continue after using your last life you will be taken to a screen with two, once again, almost nude men….um….embracing?…each other tightly. You are instructed to rapidly hit the X button to build up protein so that you can proceed. This is accompanied by some distinguishable noises which ends with an explosion….of roses. The game is definitely aimed towards a specific demographic.
Gameplay
Even if you take out all the in-your-face homosexual references the gameplay falls short of anything memorable. You choose from one of two characters, one male and one female. After selecting your hero you are presented with a choice of another two characters, two built men each sporting speedos, which act as a second source of fire power and bullet absorption. Getting into the game itself you will notice it is a typical side scrolling shooter that is a throwback to games like Gradius. Unfortunately, it just does not add anything new to the genre that is worth mentioning. The enemies themselves can sometimes be hard to distinguish from the bland levels. There are five levels by the way unless you play on easy in which there are only three levels. There first three levels are a breeze and can be completed in no time. The final two can cause some irritation and mainly rely on the player’s ability to memorize patterns. As I said, even with the premise of the game aside for those of you just looking for a good side-scroller this one is not going to be the answer.
Price
Right now the game sits at $20. That is a bit much for a game that does not welcome all players in terms of its basis for the sights and sounds that you will be experiencing. Also, there is no notable innovation shown in the gameplay department. The combination of these two really makes it hard to suggest at such a high price.
VERDICT
Unless you have been a fan of the series long before it made its way across the ocean then chances are this game will not make you a follower. The lackluster gameplay is the biggest disappointment here. There is nothing special about it and, for that alone, it probably will not be a good addition to your PSP library. The game’s premise limits its audience even more since it revolves around the humorous and homoerotic adventure to stroke…I mean strike against Balzack the second. To top it all off the game really cock blocks itself with such a hefty price tag.