Unreleased Neo Geo Game Writeup: Mahou Juku / Magic Master

Digmac

Leona's Therapist
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Mahou Juku / Magic Master - NGH ??? - Saurus/Takumi Corporation, 1997

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Mahou Juku, also known as Magic Master was a unique puzzle game being developed by Saurus and Takumi Corporation in 1997. Takumi's involvement in Mahou Juku is quite interesting given the bias the company would have towards shmups. The game had a location test at Ikebukuro GiGO in January of 1997, and was then shown to a wider audience at the 1997 AOU show on the 19th and 20th of February. Even though there are emulated screenshots of this game floating around, this appears to be an extremely obscure prototype for the Neo Geo, with very little published information available about the game. The only article on the game, sadly, is quite short. It was published in a booklet on the 1997 AOU show included with Gamest Vol. 190. The included article was written by a Gamest staff member reporting on the show. Even though there isn't a lot here, some information is better than no information. Also, the "super-very ultra-heavy" line is a direct translation, haha. Whoever wrote the article really put that in there. In any case, enjoy this information directly from Gamest:

Comments from Saurus/Takumi at the AOU show

Here at the 1997 AOU show we will be exhibiting a brand-new puzzle game, “Mahou Juku”. This isn’t just another so-called “falling block” puzzle game. It’s something that doesn’t require complex gameplay mechanics, so even beginners can play and enjoy chaining. Please play it at the show!

Story of Mahou Juku

Once, there was a magic school, “Mahou Juku”. This school has super-very-ultra-heavy difficulty to enter and to graduate, so it was known to be an elite academy. Now, four young wizards are attempting to take the Mahou Juku entrance exam to earn the title of “Magic Master”, proof of being a great wizard. Can they defeat the headmaster of the school with your help? This is how “Mahou Juku” begins, an action puzzle game where you match up colors by replacing blocks.

Gameplay of Mahou Juku

The screen is divided into two parts, your own playing field and your opponent’s playing field. You can erase four blocks of the same color by lining them up vertically or horizontally. You start with one block at the bottom of the screen. By moving your cursor and pressing the A button, you can swap it for a block on your playing field. Organize your blocks by replacing, moving, and repeating the process. If you erase the blocks in succession, you can attack your opponent. You win when you’ve hit your opponent with a certain number of attacks.

Writer’s comments

Really, it’s a game that you can’t say much about unless you know how to chain, but there’s a helpful beginner’s mode called “Yobikou” mode that’s been included. First off, you should start warming up with Yobikou mode. Once you learn the basics, you can take on the main “Mahou Juku” mode. The default difficulty setting is challenging, so the game won’t be cleared easily. There are unique character animations which appear during chaining and are worth a look. It adds to the excitement of making a chain. Also, it seems that each character is voiced by a famous voice actor, so listen closely while playing. You should try it while waiting for the strategy in Gamest!

Screenshots

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Fygee

Bewbs! Z'OMG, Teh BEWBS!,
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Shame. Looks like a fun little puzzle game. Hopefully it'll see the light of day in MAME.
 

sylvie

NG.COM TEMPTRESS
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Was gonna say, looks like some costume homage to Faye Valentine in there, but this seems to precede Cowboy Bebop's JP airing by a year
 
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