Kiki Kaikai (Japan)
What is Kiki Kaikai (Japan)?
Kiki Kaikai is the TurboGrafx-16 port of Taito's 1988 arcade action game, released exclusively in Japan. You control Sayo-chan, a shrine maiden who sets out to rescue the gods of fortune from a horde of monsters. This version brings the colorful, top-down gameplay of the original to NEC's 16-bit console, complete with the same catchy music and frantic monster-blasting action that made the arcade cabinet a hit in Japanese game centers of the late 80s.
The core loop has you guiding Sayo-chan through multi-screen stages, tossing talismans at all sorts of yokai and demons. Each talisman flies in a straight line and can be aimed in eight directions, letting you pick off enemies from a distance or while moving. The monsters drop power-ups like speed boosts, wider attack range, and extra hit points when defeated. Your ultimate goal in each stage is to reach and free a captured god, then face a tougher boss before moving on. The game keeps a light, almost playful tone even as the screen fills with enemies, and the controls are snappy once you get used to the slightly floaty jump.
For retro fans, Kiki Kaikai is a charming snapshot of late-80s arcade design adapted to home hardware. It is not a deep or lengthy game - you can see the credits in under an hour - but the vibrant sprite work, memorable tunes, and simple "pick up and play" action make it worth revisiting. It sits alongside other Taito arcade ports on the PC Engine like Rastan and The Ninja Warriors as a solid conversion that respects the source material. If you enjoy top-down action games like The Legend of Kage or Wonder Boy, this one deserves a look.
How to Play Kiki Kaikai (Japan) Online
When the game boots, you will see a title screen in Japanese. Press Enter to start. The menu is mostly navigated with the D-Pad and the X button to confirm, though there is little you need to adjust - just start a new game. You control Sayo-chan as she moves through each stage. Press up or down to face different directions, then press S to throw talismans. You can also jump with X, which helps dodge ground-hugging enemies or reach small platforms. The goal of each stage is to find the trapped god (a large, stationary figure) and touch it to free it. After that, a boss appears - defeat it to clear the stage.
Monsters spawn in waves, and they drop various items when defeated. Pay attention to the icons: a red orb increases your speed, a blue orb widens your talisman spread, a heart restores health, and a star gives a temporary shield. Your health bar is at the top of the screen; you have a few hits before you lose a life. The game can get hectic as you progress, so keep moving and don't let enemies surround you. Since all menus and text are in Japanese, rely on trial and error to learn what each power-up does. The core gameplay is intuitive enough that you will get the hang of it within a few minutes.
Kiki Kaikai (Japan) Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
- X: I button
- S: II button
- Enter: Run / Start
- V: Select
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