Godzilla

Long before a games playability became compromised by scheduled/unscheduled maintenance or hindered by systemic fragility and when you were physically required to move to purchase, or most likely rent games from retail shops called vid-e-o stores? These facilities dealt in the leasing of commodities such as “vidIo” tapes (Am I saying that right?”). These were special “tapes” that had recorded data on them displayed on shelving units in the stores (if unsure consult your nearest elderly person). These “vidjo” stores presented various inventories for customers to appraise, which included video-games. The process entailed that you’d enter through double doors, sometimes motorised (Of course operated by magic) that had sensors that detected your approach, and opened allowing access to a select few games. You’d then produce legal tender which could be redeemed for goods and services often referred to as “money”, either in metallic or paper form. A transaction would then take place between two participants whereby the erstwhile currency would be exchanged for produce, relative to the item you buying of course and trade money for the goods you wanted. Such arcane practices are difficult to comprehend I know, but these were very abstract times. Negotiating past T Rex’s and the feet of Brontosaurus and alike was a time when games capacity for legal leniency, or perhaps ignorance were highly contentious.

“The Revenge Of Shinobi” is a game that confers only moderate recollections for me. I remember struggling to negotiate my way through the preliminary stages, observing my father dismissing the game with aggressive looking gestures and profaning suggestive words of encouragement to his controller. Well that’s how I interpreted it anyway. I recall many of my shurikens propelled at such meek velocity that they may as well graze the opposition toe! What I never realised was just how many liberties the game took and more importantly how it was never indited for clear copyright infringement. This was a game Featuring…..