Cho Aniki (video game)
A side-scrolling shooter featuring musclebound heroes and alien invaders.
Cho Aniki is a 1992 side-scrolling shooter developed by Masaya Games and published by Nippon Computer Systems (NCS) for the PC Engine Super CD-ROM² System. It is the first game in the Cho Aniki series and was later released on the Wii Virtual Console and the PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 Mini, marking its first Western release. The game was also included in the Cho Aniki Collection for the Nintendo Switch in 2024 and 2025.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Masaya
- Genre
- Scrolling shooter
- Composer
- Koji Hayama
- Modes
- Single player
- Platforms
- PC Engine Super CD-ROM² System
Facts from the source article.
Did You Know?
- Lucas M. Thomas of IGN rated the Wii Virtual Console version 7.5, calling it the weirdest import to reach the Western Virtual Console.
- Scott Sharkey of 1up.com listed the sequel's box cover as one of the worst of all time.
- The game was released as part of Project EGG for Microsoft Windows only in Japan.
Plot
The plot follows heroes moving through space, urban environments, and elaborate ruins to fight alien invaders. Bo Emperor Bill, who won ten consecutive Great Galaxy Bodybuilding contests, faces a protein shortage and invades neighboring star systems to build protein factories. The heaven realm sends Idaten and Benten to stop Bill, beginning a battle between the muscle brothers and the Builders Army.
Gameplay
Players choose between Idaten, a young man in a cape, or Benten, a blue-haired woman. Power-ups grant one of three support options: Samson/Adon, musclebound men in Speedos who hover and fire from their heads; Angel; or Uminin. Collecting proteins increases firepower, and bombs can be replenished with pickups. Each character has ten build levels, and each option has five.
More in Hudson Soft Games of the 1990s
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