Kaizou Choujin Shubibinman III - Ikai no Princess

Kaizou Choujin Shubibinman III - Ikai no Princess is a side-scrolling action platformer that emphasizes fast-paced combat and traversal. Players control characters who navigate through levels filled with enemies and obstacles, using a combination of melee attacks and special moves to defeat foes. The gameplay loop centers on progressing through stages, managing health, and mastering the timing of attacks and jumps to overcome increasingly difficult challenges. It supports up to two players simultaneously, allowing cooperative play which was a popular feature in action games of its era.

Released in 1992 exclusively in Japan for the NEC PC Engine CD, Kaizou Choujin Shubibinman III was developed by Masaya, a company known for their work on PC Engine titles. The game leverages the CD format to include enhanced audio and animated cutscenes, typical for PC Engine CD releases at the time. It is part of the Shubibinman series, which had established a niche for fast action and stylized character designs. The game’s release during the early 90s places it in a period where CD-based consoles were experimenting with richer audiovisual presentation alongside traditional gameplay.

While the core mechanics of Kaizou Choujin Shubibinman III remain solid and enjoyable, some aspects feel rooted in the early 90s design philosophy. The gameplay can seem repetitive by modern standards, with a focus on pattern memorization and trial-and-error. However, fans of classic action platformers will appreciate the responsive controls and cooperative mode. The game’s use of CD audio and animated sequences adds a layer of polish that still stands out compared to cartridge-based contemporaries, making it a noteworthy example of the PC Engine CD library.