Anyone a fan of kaiju movies? Well, for most of us in North America, that is probably better described as are you a “Godzilla fan” or not. Me, I am a big fan of giant monsters, giant robots, etc. It is all magical fun to me, entertainment I can turn my brain off and just enjoy for the action on screen. Now, as a gamer, that enjoyment has been fairly reeled in as this genre is not well represented in North America. We can add one more interesting title to the few that we have received though, Dai Kaijuu Deburas is a strategy game for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) featuring giant monsters, pitting you in the role of the people in a generic kaiju film. Can you survive?
Kaiju and Godzilla it is all fun
While this is not a Godzilla game, the tropes are all here. Giant monster, mystery, destruction, humans reacting and defending their country. That about covers the basics of Dai Kaijuu Deburas.
Now for what sets this game apart from, say, Godzilla on NES Godzilla 2 War of the Monsters which, according to Hypernia, was released in 1991.
Dai Kaijuu Deburas draws on some similarities with that Godzilla game but brings in some Famicom/Advance Wars fun to the action.
Here, you oversee Japanese forces tasked with defending not only Tokyo but a mysterious giant egg that fell from the sky. Debura wants that egg and will stop at nothing to get it.
Setting apart from the competition, as little as it has
It is sad that there really is not a whole lot of entertainment in the kaiju style in North America. This is so true in gaming which means Dai Kaijuu Debura has even less competition to worry about.
Honestly, the competition here is other strategy games that are more serious. Debura is just the overpowered antagonist you must face, like overwhelming enemy forces in any other game. To me, Debura is what helps set this game apart, it looks like it could have been a game based on several different kaiju movies and given a domestic release back in the 90’s and probably would have done horrible in sales (even Godzilla is a niche character in the USA).
Moving units around the map requires strategy as trucks cannot cross water, while planes can go anywhere another air unit is not already occupying. Just like Advance Wars and other strategy games. The simplicity of the action is what makes Dai Kaijuu Debura easy to get into and just enjoy.
What is your favorite giant something comes to destroy the world movie, or game, is your favorite? Will you be checking out Dai Kaijuu Debura? Let me know in the comments below.
Source – ROMHacking.net and Gamefaqs