Cyber Citizen Shockman 2: A New Menace

Cyber Citizen Shockman 2: A New Menace
Japanese cover art
Developer(s)Winds
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)
ReleaseTurboGrafx-16
  • JP: April 27, 1991
  • NA: November 22, 1992
Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
  • WW: September 22, 2023
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Up to 2 players

Cyber Citizen Shockman 2: A New Menace (改造町人シュビビンマン2 新たなる敵, Kaizō Chōjin Shubibinman 2: Aratanaru Teki) is a 1991 video game developed by Winds and released exclusively for the TurboGrafx-16.[1] It was released in the United States in 1992 as just Shockman, making it the only original release in the Cyber Citizen Shockman series to be released outside Japan.

Plot

A New Menace takes about two years after the original Cyber Citizen Shockman. Arnold (Tasuke (太助) in the Japanese version) is no longer a student and works as a cook in a local restaurant. Sonya (Kyapiko (キャピ子)) remains a student. Since the fall of the Dark Skull, Doc has constantly suspected that another invasion was coming sending Arnold and Sonya on searches for the new invaders although never finding anything. However, one day, after Doc is kidnapped, Arnold and Sonya find out that an alien empire led by Ryo is planning to take over the world. Also, two other villains have appeared with similar powers to Arnold and Sonya. They are dark Shockmen named Jeeta (ベータ Bēta) and Mue (ミュー Myū). Arnold and Sonya must now rescue Doc, stop Ryo from taking over the world, and avoid being killed by Jeeta and Mue.[2]

Gameplay

A New Menace plays very differently from the previous title. Swordplay has been eliminated and is replaced by a ranged weapon much like Mega Man's Mega Buster. The world map, upgrades, and hostages have also been removed from the game. There are also now two side-scrolling shooter stages. Additionally, jump control has been altered.[2]

Release

The game was released in Japan on April 27, 1991.[1] It was re-released on the Wii Virtual Console worldwide throughout 2007.[3][4][5] It was released in the 2010s for the Wii U Virtual Console.[6][7][5]

It received a release for the iPhone in 2011, through an app called "PC Engine Gamebox", which included several other PC Engine titles.[8]

Ratalaika Games re-released the game on September 22, 2023 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

Reception

Cyber Citizen Shockman 2: A New Menace received average reviews from critics.[17][18][19][20][21] Japanese publication Micom BASIC Magazine ranked the game third in popularity in its July 1991 issue, and it received a score of 22.63 out of 30 in a 1993 readers' poll conducted by PC Engine Fan, ranking among PC Engine titles at the number 113 spot.[22][23]

References

  1. ^ a b Matsuyama, Benī (May 1991). "Super Soft Hot Information: PC Engine 新作ソフト Data Base". Micom BASIC Magazine [ja] (in Japanese). No. 107. The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation [ja]. p. 261.
  2. ^ a b DeRienzo, David. "Hardcore Gaming 101: Schbibinman". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on March 13, 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
  3. ^ "Wii | Virtual Console バーチャルコンソール". Archived from the original on 2018-03-06. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
  4. ^ "Shockman for Wii - Nintendo Game Details". Archived from the original on 2018-10-02. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
  5. ^ a b "Shockman".
  6. ^ "改造町人シュビビンマン | Wii U | 任天堂". Archived from the original on 2018-10-02. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
  7. ^ "My Nintendo Store – Nintendo Official Site". Archived from the original on 2018-10-02. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
  8. ^ "iPhoneアプリ『PC Engine GameBox』に『モトローダー』など5タイトルが追加 - ファミ通App". www.famitsu.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-26. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
  9. ^ Whitehead, Dan (May 4, 2007). "Wii Virtual Console Roundup Review : This week's line-up rated for your retro pleasures". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 2012-10-25. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
  10. ^ "新作ゲームクロスレビュー: 改造町人シュビビンマン2 ~新たなる敵~". Famitsu (in Japanese). No. 130. ASCII Corporation. May 2, 1991. (Transcription by Famitsu.com. Archived 2015-10-23 at the Wayback Machine).
  11. ^ "発売直前 REVIEW: 改造町人シュビビンマン2". Gekkan PC Engine [ja] (in Japanese). Vol. 3, no. 6. Shogakukan. June 1991. p. 120.
  12. ^ Querleux, Philippe (June 1991). "Console: Shibibiman 2". Génération 4 [fr] (in French). No. 34. Pressimage. p. 108.
  13. ^ Demoly, Jean-Marc (June 1991). "Consoles News: Shubibin Man II". Joystick (in French). No. 17. Sipress. p. 136.
  14. ^ "新作ソフトお毒味チャート: 改造町人シュビビンマン2". Marukatsu PC Engine [ja] (in Japanese). Vol. 3, no. 5. Kadokawa Shoten. May 1991. p. 146.
  15. ^ McFerran, Damien (April 30, 2007). "Shockman (Virtual Console / TurboGrafx-16) Review". Nintendo Life. Nlife Ltd. Archived from the original on 2013-10-31. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
  16. ^ Reischmann, Robert (April 1993). "Turbo Duo: Shockman". Play Time [de] (in German). No. 22. Computec. p. 116.
  17. ^ Ireland, Victor (January 1992). "Games Around the World (Extended Version)". TurboPlay. No. 10. Larry Flynt Publications. pp. 18–25.
  18. ^ Harris, Steve; Semrad, Ed; Alessi, Martin; Williams, Ken (January 1993). "Review Crew: Shock Man (Turbo Duo - TTI)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 42. Sendai Publishing. p. 32.
  19. ^ Otter Matic (February 1993). "TurboChip ProReview: Shockman". GamePro. No. 43. IDG. p. 130.
  20. ^ DiRienzo, David (February 20, 2009). "Shockman". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on 2018-05-10. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
  21. ^ "PCエンジンソフト完全カタログ 1991年". PC Engine Complete Guide 1987-1999. Nostalgic Game Console Encyclopedia (in Japanese). Vol. 1. Standards. June 15, 2018. p. 102. ISBN 9784866362670.
  22. ^ Matsuyama, Benī (July 1991). "Super Soft Hot Information - PC Engine: 今月の人気ソフト・ランキング". Micom BASIC Magazine [ja] (in Japanese). No. 109. The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation [ja]. p. 260.
  23. ^ "PC Engine All Catalog '93 10月号特別付録". PC Engine Fan (in Japanese). Vol. 6, no. 10. Tokuma Shoten. October 1, 1993. p. 9.