Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The immediate draw is simple: this is two connected first-person adventure games gathered into one FM Towns release. Starting with the first entry gives the package a natural point of entry, while having The 4th Unit 2 ready to go makes the experience feel more substantial than a single short curiosity.

Data West did not rework either game for this collection. The gameplay is unchanged from the Sharp X68000 originals, which is a firm editorial choice: you are getting the original design intact, not a softened or newly interpreted version. For fans of the earlier releases, that faithfulness is the point.

For a newcomer, the value depends on how much patience you have for an older first-person adventure format. There is no promise of a streamlined update here; the reward is a chance to meet the games on their own terms and continue directly into the sequel. The extra recap demo is useful context before committing to the pair, even though it is not interactive.

Graphics

The art and on-screen look match the Sharp X68000 versions exactly. Expect a first-person, anime/manga-flavored science-fiction adventure rather than a revised FM Towns visual overhaul; the Towns release preserves the same images and overall look of its source games.

Story

Story continuity is where this compilation earns its keep. It includes both installments, a demo that recounts the events of the two games, and the non-interactive short comic Prologue, which covers events before the first game begins.

That comic is a modest extra, but it is the right kind of extra for a paired adventure release. Rather than distracting you with an unrelated bonus, it gives you a starting piece for the larger sequence. Watching or reading the supplementary material first can make the package feel more like a connected sci-fi tale than two isolated titles.

The caveat is that the added narrative material is strictly passive. The demo recaps and the comic supplies background, but neither extends the playable portion. Their value comes from framing the two adventures, not from adding another game to the box.

Overall Experience

Linkage: The 4th Unit 1・2 Towns is a straightforward, worthwhile compilation for the gamer who wants these two Data West adventures together and unchanged. It respects the original releases enough not to tamper with either their gameplay or their visuals, then adds just enough supplementary story material to make the collection feel considered.

That same restraint limits its reach. If you want a remake, expanded edition, or a version built to smooth over an older adventure game’s edges, this is not that. If authenticity matters more to you, the unaltered ports are the payoff.

I would recommend it most readily to fans of Japanese computer-game history, first-person adventures, and anime-styled sci-fi. Begin with Prologue and the recap if you want the full narrative runway, then play the games in order. It is a focused preservation package, and its appeal rests squarely on that honesty.

Retro Replay Score

6.5/10