Odd finds in Akihabara.
Today was supposed to have been mild and sunny, so I set out to do some back alley prowling in Akihabara. I had a few streets picked out that I hadn’t checked out before so it promised to be an interesting day.Well, the weather didn’t pan out too well, it was overcast and colder than I’d expected, but I didn’t let that hold me back. I checked out the streets I’d set my sights on and did find some interesting stuff:
¥300 CD players
A game shop selling North American games (hellishly overpriced)
A new place to buy cheap DVD players
A used laptop bonanza
Places to buy funky (different colored) light bulbs
Prowling completed, I checked out my favorite game shops to see if there was anything interesting (and cheap) to be had.
Games tend to be more expensive than in the US here (starting price for most PS2 games is about $65, Gameboy, DS and PSP start around $45), so the bulk of my game shopping is for used or discounted titles. A lot of the shops I go to have a “¥1,000 or less” rack, and I always give those a look.
A couple of interesting finds today.
First up – Nezumikusu (?????).
“Nezumi” means mouse, and when I tried to look up “kusu” all I found was that “kuzu” means feces.
I kind of doubt the game’s name is “Mouse Shit.”
But, this being Japan, you never know. It’s an Xbox title from a couple years ago and I really don’t know who the target audience was. When it came out it was the usual ¥6,800. I got it for ¥300.
New.
It’s amusing for ¥300, but I can’t see anybody having bought the game at full price.
The premise – as far as I can tell – is that your group of mice (sharply dressed in various combinations of vests and bowties) are trying to rid the house the live in of enemy mice (dressed like German soldiers, complete with spike-topped helmets). Basically you just have to spot them and they vanish. Find all the enemy mice in the level and you’re done. Oh, there are the occasional hooligan-esque punch-ups between the opposing mouse factions. Amusing, and worth the money I paid. Heck, that’s less than a rental fee, so it’s kind of hard to argue with a price like that.
The other title I picked up today was Mister Mosquito. (The link goes to a video at gametrailers.com since I can’t locate an official site for the game.
It’s another game from a couple years ago, and this one only ran me ¥480 (used). Although I got a Japanese copy, this one was released in English (unlike the mouse game), so I knew the basic premise.
You’re a mosquito and must feed on a family.
Mom, Dad and Daughter are all there for you to drink your fill. Of course, they’re not too happy about it and will try to swat you before you can reach your goal (a certain quantity of blood must be sucked to clear each stage). So far I’m digging this one more than the mouse game. The mouse one is just run around, look for other mice and beat the crap out of some of them. Not a bad concept, mind you, given that it’s mice and all.
But it can’t stack up too well against a mosquito-simulator. ^.^