Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Burai: Gekan – Kanketsu-hen retains the core mechanics that defined its predecessor, offering familiar top-down exploration across towns, dungeons, and wild areas. Players will navigate a richly designed overworld teeming with hidden treasures, secret paths, and occasional environmental puzzles. Random enemy encounters remain a staple, keeping each journey between checkpoints tense and unpredictable.

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Combat shifts away from the first-person view of Burai: Jōkan to a fully integrated, overhead turn-based system. This change brings battles into the same perspective as exploration, providing a more seamless experience. Each hero has a distinct set of skills and spells, encouraging strategic party composition. Positioning during encounters—frontline versus support slots—becomes crucial as enemy formations grow more varied.

One of the most engaging aspects is the choice of protagonist at the outset. Although eight heroes are available overall, narrative pairings forged in the previous game limit the number of unique starting chapters to five. This structure balances replayability with a tighter story flow. Whether you favor Lilian’s healing prowess or Alec’s brute strength, your chosen hero shapes early-game pacing and introduces different party dynamics.

Graphics

For a late-period Famicom release, Burai: Gekan showcases surprisingly detailed 8-bit artistry. Character sprites are well-defined and animated with a surprising level of fluidity, lending personality to each hero and adversary. Town and dungeon tilesets are richly textured, using vibrant palettes that avoid the monotony often seen in contemporaneous titles.

Battle scenes benefit from the overhead perspective, allowing you to admire enemy designs and spell effects without the awkward transitions common in its predecessor. Animations for special attacks and magic are small but satisfying flourishes—sparkling runes for healing spells, flickering flames for offensive incantations—that heighten the sense of impact when abilities are unleashed.

Environmental details also stand out. From the murky swamps surrounding the demon realm to the sun-drenched plazas of the coastal towns, each locale feels distinct. The title even sprinkles in parallax-like effects during certain sequences, giving the illusion of depth and movement as clouds drift or flags wave in the wind.

Story

As a direct sequel to Burai: Jōkan, Gekan picks up seamlessly where its predecessor left off. The eight heroes, each chosen by the mystical pearls, set out to thwart Bido’s plan to resurrect the dark god Daar. This continuity rewards returning players, as character motivations and relationships carry meaningful weight, though new players can still follow the broader narrative with minimal confusion.

The most compelling drama arises from the introduction of Jakimaru, the young demon warrior seeking vengeance against Hayate. His alliance with Bido injects fresh tension into the group dynamic, forcing heroes to confront moral ambiguities. As chapters progress, alliances shift, and loyalties are tested, culminating in confrontations that feel earned rather than contrived.

The chapter-based structure also enhances storytelling by focusing on individual heroes before eventually merging their paths. Early segments highlight personal backstories—Alec and Kuuku’s bond, Lilian’s quest for redemption, and so on—creating emotional stakes that pay off in later group encounters. While the narrative occasionally leans on familiar fantasy tropes, strong writing and well-timed revelations keep it engaging throughout.

Overall Experience

Burai: Gekan – Kanketsu-hen strikes a balance between nostalgia and refinement. Fans of the original will appreciate the preserved exploration mechanics and expanded party interactions, while newcomers benefit from a more cohesive battle system and streamlined storytelling. The limited number of starting chapters doesn’t hinder replay value; instead, it encourages players to experiment with different heroes and party setups to uncover all narrative threads.

Difficulty is well-calibrated, offering a gradual learning curve that ramps up as you acquire new skills and face more complex enemy formations. Random encounters, while prolific, never feel punitive thanks to frequent save points and accessible healing items. Boss battles, in particular, require careful resource management and tactical finesse, delivering satisfying high-stakes moments without becoming unfair.

Graphically, the game stands out among its contemporaries for detailed sprites and atmospheric environments, and its musical score complements each setting with memorable melodies. Though some may critique the repetitive nature of random battles, the variety of spells, weapons, and special attacks keeps combat fresh. In totality, Burai: Gekan – Kanketsu-hen is a worthy continuation of the saga, marrying solid gameplay mechanics with a compelling narrative to create an experience that resonates long after the final credits roll.

Retro Replay Score

null/10