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Yu Yu Hakusho Gaiden (1994)
Platform: Sega Genesis
Region: JP
Genre: Fighting/RPG
 SPIRIT GUN! Uh huh, we all love that saying (it's Yusuke's very own) from the anime Yu Yu Hakusho. What we find here is a delightful version based on the events before the Dark Tournament Chapter, which is an interesting blend of both RPG and Fighting.
 The game takes place in a city in Japan. You play as either of the game's heroes - Yusuke Urameshi, Kuwabara Kazuma, Hiei, or Kurama. Your missions are apparently to solve each case presented to you by Spirit World Ruler Koenma. Botan, a Guardian of the river Styx, helps you on important missions. The basic plot is that Yusuke has apparently been shown an important message through Demon Toguro, who has invited him to a mysterious Dark Tournament. If he refuses, all of his friends, including himself, will die. They must embark on a journey to defeat the remaining demons in the city while undertaking the biggest adventure they have yet to see.
The game, developed for the Sega Mega Drive (Genesis) and released in Japan by Sega, features a unique blend of fighting and RPG. While you play as either character, they each have their own mini story-arc that expands as each character completes their quest. This diverse gameplay is not common on the Sega as most RPG's translated better on Nintendo's SNES. Still, it's a worthy addition to those RPG's that were never discovered, and they don't leave the story hanging. You can converse with various NPC's and make choices based on what they say. This sort of system, again, is uncommon for a Genesis title.
 True to the show, the fighting and special moves are fluidly animated and readily available. While somewhat of a letdown on the Game Gear versions, this version actually lets you use your assigned power. It uses Layered fighting, with blocks, punches and kicks. You must dodge your enemie's attack and fire back with your own. The fighting system, while simple, adds a variety of depth to the Story Mode.
The graphics for a Sega title are bright and disclose some of the more advanced features of the console, such as parralax scrolling and 16-bit sprites. Whereas most RPG's fail in the graphics department when converted from a show, no conversion loss is presented in Gaiden, as all characters look and feel like their Anime counterparts. Their mouths even move! The developers put the Genesis' limited color pallette to good use as well, as everything feels like it was taken right out of the show. It's amazing what they were able to pull off.
While the actual adventures are somewhat linear, it does allow you to choose specific paths and actually requires thinking on your part. Again this is a removal of the more traditional Sega-like beat 'em ups. If you're not thinking with a straight head you could backtrack and end up fighting the very same demons you beat, so this isn't a game you can just rush into.
Also, the departure from the Genesis FM chip for music is a welcoming addition. The music feels like it was taken right out of the show, with tunes from Rock to soft jazz. The soundtrack really goes well with each character and their specific personality, and the sound effects themselves are anything you'd expect from a Sega title.
However, once you beat the entire scenario you might not want to do it again. This is definitely a game for fans of the show, but the different path outcomes might make you play it a couple more times. And, a sad effort from Sega to not export this game to the Americas, but if you can get past the language barrier, it's an amazing and fun adventure that will sure to keep you satisfied. While the cart itself is quite rare, not to mention that you will need a Genesis 3 or Nomad, or similar modchip device to import it, you might want to consider taking it for a 24-hour limited run, as copies sell easily for over 70 dollars.
If you can hold out for a little longer, the mod team TDGMods are working to Americanize and translate the title, which is due sometime in 2008. It's a Genesis title, yes, and does show its age, but if you've never played it, take it for a spin. Chances are you'll like it, even if you aren't a fan of the Spirit Detective and his crew.
Music/Sound: 4/5
Graphics: 5/5
Replay Factor: 3/5
Overall Score: 4.5/5
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Reviewer Notes: You can check the status of this Translation Project by visiting TDGMod's site (http://3dfxdev.net/tdgmods).
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