Kokuga

Kokuga puts you in the driver's seat of a futuristic mobile tank called Kokuga, suspended on four legs and equipped with a single turret that can rotate 360 degrees using the shoulder buttons. Your mission is to destroy enemy mechanical units while navigating through increasingly challenging stages, culminating in massive boss battles.

One of the unique features of Kokuga lies in its card system. You start with 20 cards, each with a specific ability, such as laser blasts or shield restoration. However, you can't cycle through them freely - you need to use at least one current card to draw new ones. This strategic element adds depth to the gameplay, making you think carefully about when to use your power-ups.

The game's level structure is also noteworthy. The stages are divided into a grid, with each stage labeled with letters A~L. You can start at any stage, but continuing through the game requires you to select an adjacent stage from the one you completed first. This design allows for a high degree of replayability, as you can play for as long or short a time as you want.

The story behind Kokuga is a bleak and melodramatic tale of ethnic rivalries and human conflict, with a dark and militaristic tone. The game's director, Hiroshi Iuchi, also brought his expertise to the title Ikaruga, which likely influenced the game's narrative style.

The stages themselves are filled with enemy mechanical units, each with its own unique characteristics. Your goal is to destroy them all before reaching the gate, which will reward you with bonus shield repairs if destroyed before the enemies are eliminated. Destroying the gate without completing the section results in a wipeout for all enemies within.