Popful Mail for Sega CD

Image: MobyGames

Popful Mail

The best version of Chibi Red Sonya

Genre: adventure - platform

Publisher: Working Designs

Year: 1994

System: Sega CD

Gameplay Score: 4

Gameplay Notes:

By far the best version of this game. Controls are a little floaty but combat is reliable. Enemies are stunned and can't attack you while taking damage like they can in the SFC version. Your sword is also longer and you have a shield to block projectiles. Most enemies die in one or two hits and aren't very aggressive. Enemies hit like a truck which makes this harder than it ought to be. As is true of all versions, the game's biggest sin is the very short draw distance. It's not as bad as the SFC version but it's only about 30% of the screen in front of you. It's just enough that it isn't a deal breaker but it would be so much better with more.

Level Design Score: 3

Level Design Notes:

The stages are entirely different than the other two versions but I have the same critiques. I never felt lost in the levels, but there's a lot of branching paths that go nowhere and seemingly endless pits that just circle back to an area you've already been. So I don't think the areas are poorly designed, but they're not exceptional in any way. Not great, but the best of the ports.

Theme Score: 4

Theme Notes:

This is the only English version of this game. It's got a ton of voice acting to go along with a cheesy story and setting. There's a bit of fan service in the main character but it's not over the top. The setting is a mix of fantasy and steampunk with some enemies being robotic. You play as a red-haired sword lady. I assume it's a chibi Red Sonya to be honest.

Art Style Score: 5

Art Style Notes:

Easily the best looking version of this game. The sprites and artwork look a lot like Shining Force. The backgrounds feature parallax scrolling and tons of details and shading. This is up there with Goemon 2 as one of the most animated and lovely fantasy settings of the generation.

Audio Score: 3

Audio Notes:

There's exactly one song. It's great but it's the only song after an hour of playing. I just wish there was more of this soundtrack. Certainly the best version of the song, but still too repetitive to be noteworthy.

Overall Score: 75

Review ID: 12089