Senko no Ronde was Game Revolution's first attempt at merging two different genres - shmups and fighters - into one game. For the most part, the developer did a pretty good job, but sadly, the fact that the final product strays far from what most shmup and fighting game fans were expecting and/or were used to may have turned a lot of them off, making SnR a series that is mostly only appreciated by those with the patience to learn the ins and outs of its gameplay mechanics. Fortunately, there was enough interest in the game for G.Rev to release a sequel three years later.

As with most fighting games, Senko no Ronde and its sequel features one-on-one matches between two fighters. The main difference is that the fighters in SnR take the form of ships called rounders instead of people. These ships are free to move anywhere on the screen and are always facing each other unless an attack or special action is being performed. This follows the fighting game standard in which the characters always face each other and will automatically turn around when necessary.

In general, melee attacks are useable when both characters are in close proximity to each other while projectiles are always used when attacking from a distance. All of the characters have their own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to melee and projectile attacks as well as movement. As a result, there is enough variety for there to be at least one character that accommodates one's playstyle. One of the more unique aspects of the series is the special BOSS mode in which one's rounder transforms into an end-of-level-like boss that subjects its opponent to a few seconds of bullet hell. These transformations can change the tide of battle, especially since it can restore some vitality, so knowing when to activate it becomes important in the later stages of a match.

Oddly enough, rounders do not maneuver as smoothly as one would expect in a shmup. To compensate, G.Rev gave players two options that can help them to avoid enemy fire - a barrier that reduces damage and a dash that can be used to quickly get out of the way. Since both the barrier and the dash affect the rounder's ability to move as well as the way its weapons work, it is a good idea to learn how they affect each other in order to be more effective in battle.

Senko no Ronde Duo offers many of the improvements one would expect from a sequel, including better ships, additional characters, and updated moves. The biggest change is the new partner system in which players select a second character that can be used once per round as an assist. The selected partner also provides stat enhancements and determines the main character's bomb type.

We were fortunate enough to get the first Senko no Ronde back in 2007 courtesy of Ubisoft but, as expected, it didn't really do very well upon release thanks to its low review scores and full price tag. Consequently, it's unlikely that we'll see the sequel brought over any time soon, if ever.

The first entry in this series was an otome game in which the player became a member of a secret organization called Lucian Bee's. This group was tasked with making several guys appealing to the opposite sex by giving them a makeover. Each of the targets has some sort of personality issue that needs to be addressed, and it is up to the main character to both get to know them and push them in the right direction without blowing her cover. The job is made more difficult by a rival group that wishes to do the opposite. Luckily, other Lucian Bee's members are ready to help at various points throughout the game.

Europe gets the game this week. We get it next week.