About Umihara Kawase SFC

The first Umihara Kawase debuted on the Super Famicom in 1994. Published by TNN, it introduced the world (or least Japan and some import-savvy gamers) to the innovative gameplay and well thought out level design of Umihara Kawase. The graphics are nothing special, they're simple and pleasant, but there's nothing in the way of flash. Same goes for the music, although its relaxing nature complements the onscreen scenary while simultaneously working to relieve the player's tension from trying to conquer the difficult challenges. The overall presentation is barebones, there isn't even any sort of intro, just a title screen. However, it's clear the energy of the developers was focused in the right place, because the control and gameplay of Umihara Kawase is as tight and polished as the best offerings from Nintendo or Sega.

The game is no slouch in the difficulty department either. You start with 10 lives, with a couple 1-ups to pick up along the way, but no continues whatsoever. It's quite possibly to get through the game in 20 minutes or so, but since there are so many alternate routes (obtained by finding harder to reach level exits or completing a level within a certain amount of time) and the difficulty level can get so high it'll keep you busy for quite a while. There's no password or save system (although you can save your favorite replays through levels) but it isn't really necessary since a single play through the game is fairly short. The only real negative aspect is the lack of a practice mode, which makes mastering reaching the tougher alternate doors even that much tougher.

Umihara Kawase is truly one of the best platformers of the 16-bit era. It doesn't have the speed of Sonic or the classic appeal of Mario, but it has a unique style unlike any other platformer I can think of. If you've played and enjoyed Umihara Kawase Shun, get it; if you like 2D platformers, get it; hell, if you're into games in general, get it.