Spiral Wave: Getting genres in a twist

At a glance this 1991 PC Engine exclusive may appear to be some sort of unspectacular Galaxy Force style into-the-screen shooter, but a brief read of the back of the game’s box soon sets things straight. In its own words Spiral Wave is a “New RPG”, the text emphasising the setting (er, space, in the future) and the multiple solar systems waiting to be explored over promises of power ups and high-speed shooting. The slender manual continues in a similar vein, again eager to emphasise the game’s role playing focus and highlight various technical points of interest on the brilliantly named mothership, Holy Barrel, that much of the game takes place in. So when I finally get stuck in and find myself wading through dialogue between lead character Tadasuke and the ship’s hot android lady, Belfry, I’m not impatiently wondering how long it’s going to be before I get to make something explode, because it’s so obviously not that kind of game. Spiral Wave’s closer to Falcom’s Star Trader (in…