As I’ve mentioned before, when I was a kid, there wasn’t much in the way of anime readily available. On TV there were only two anime programs: Sci-Fi channel’s Saturday anime, and Sailor Moon. So needless to say, I watched me a lot of Sailor Moon.
Yet even at that time, I didn’t pick up a Sailor Moon game that I can remember — perhaps I never ran across one or, if I did, never had the urge to get it. But the moment I saw my first screenshot of the fan-made Sailor Moon game Code Name: Sailor V last week, I knew I had to play it.
Code Name: Sailor V is the third game in the Sailor Moon: Destiny Revival game series. Like both previous titles, it is an arcade-style brawler built on the Beats of Rage game engine, and it uses many of the sprites from other games — like Streets of Rage and Street Fighter, for example.
The story follows the precursor to the Sailor Moon manga, a manga called — as you may have guessed — Codename: Sailor V. The game has static story cut scenes taken directly from the manga and a voice cast that perfectly fits with the old school Sailor Moon dub (for both better and worse).
As for the gameplay, it’s classic brawler fair — if generally difficult brawler fair. While you have dodge rolls, charge attacks, and even a ranged shot, many enemies are able to counter you mid combo. In fact, you will constantly be ganged up on a juggled into nothing, even on the easiest setting. Luckily the game features local two-player coop if you need a helping hand.
To see how the game looks in action, check out the video above.
Code Name: Sailor V was released on January 9, 2009. It’s downloadable for free at the game’s homepage (along with the other games in the Sailor Moon: Destiny Revival series). There are versions available for PC, Wii, Xbox, DS, PSP and Dreamcast.
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