/vr/ - Retro Games

Battle Konchuuden is a Jaleco-developed monster-raising RPG which revolves around capturing and training nearly 60 different species of common bugs, which is a very popular pastime among Japanese children. Indeed, you play as a Japanese boy in an overhead 2D sprite world reminiscent of Pokémon, and you start out with a single bug which you can then pit in battles against other critters. Once you defeat a bug, you can add it to your collection.

The battles in this game look a lot better than the overworld, with fully 3D models for the bugs which look quite detailed, as do the stages where they fight, such as patches of grass or dirt which are brought to life in an uncanny way. Battles are turn-based where bugs move along a grid on the floor like in an SRPG, but this is more about positioning than strategy, and once the bugs clash you can coordinate button presses or mash Square to defend yourself and emerge victorious.

Japanese knowledge is required to play. In many ways Battle Konchuuden seems basic compared to other similar games of its time, but it can be very addictive for bug enthusiasts or people who would like to reminisce about a childhood of digging around in the dirt.