/vr/ - Retro Games

Umihara Kawase Shun is the second game in the Umihara Kawase cult series of platformers, where a schoolgirl has to navigate surreal platform worlds by a using a fishing rod to grapple onto higher ground or swing across chasms. She will also have to negotiate fish-like enemies wandering around the stage, and the whole game has an odd but endearing fish theme.

The series is best known for its tether-based gameplay and grappling physics, which are very original for the genre and fun to master, though they also provide a high level of challenge. Stages have multiple exits and there is a variety of paths to uncover. Compared to the first game, the amount of enemies is lower to allow the player to engage more with the platforming aspects, and the graphics have only been mildly improved, but retain their oddball charm.

Upon its original release this game was sponsored by the Mitchell fish company and features commercials in between levels. The latter Second Edition, also for the PSX, adds a handful of new stages and removes all Mitchell branding from the game, so it may be preferable.