Legend of Hero Tonma is one of only a few games which utilises the full resolution of the PC Engine. It features at least 33% more pixels on each line, so you are getting a super widescreen game for the price of a 3:4 one. I'd like someone to verify that (see botton).
Anyway, on the game itself, you get a particularly harsh platformer which punishes - fairly I will add - the player's carelessness. Now there's only so many bullets that any crusader can fire from his hand. And in Tonma, without any power ups, that's about three. I suppose it's no different to hack em ups when your moves are on the slow side. Wonderboy in monster land is a good example. How slow the sword. Anyway, with Tonma, it is extremely easy and common to get killed when you are between firing. Those brutes creep up on you from every angle too. You really need to move around alot to avoid them. As with G&G, monsters also come out of the ground and spawn in front of you, so learning spawning points is important.
Onto the design and look - wow, I have got to admit that Tonma delivers a solid, polished performance. Action animation and framerates are impressive. Bullets and other moving parts really do leap around without any judder. I have only got up to level 2 but the graphics and scenery appear very well thought through.
Music is nice, without being brilliant. But that's only my opinion. If I were to sum this game up (which I will as I have spent the whole night on you tube instead of playing any goddam games...!) I would say..."Jeepers, get this slick platform game and don't expect it easy, Montana."
BTW I am literally just uploading a review of HuE for the PSP onto my YT channel, which features this very game. And the reason why is that on HuE's native resolution (cpu mode) you can see how many more pixels you're getting for your buck. Should be up by 4pm pacific state time.
