Blue's Journey, Raguy (1990)

Game: Blue's Journey, Raguy

Release Year: 1990

Time to complete: 1hr
Played on: Neo Geo AES

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Presentation: 7

Difficulty: 5

Fun: 8

Rating on a 1-10 scale

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Cast your mind your back, way back, to a day when cute side scrolling platformers ruled the ruled the world thanks to a certain Italian plumber. Well even the Neo Geo had to get in on the action, and Blue's Journey was their ante. Developed by ADK in 1990, Blue's Journey, or Raguy as it was know in Asia, is a super cute, 2D platform action game. The story is also of interest due to it's environmental slant. You are a hero attempting to save your happy healthy land from evil environmentally insensitive industrialists.  

Visually it’s a safe assumption that the nice folks over at ADK used every single color available in the neo geo's pallet for this one. The graphics are all super cute and somewhat “super deformed”. The musical score and sound effects are equally sticky sweet. Overall it makes for a very nice, consistent package. 

In regards to gameplay, I always though blue's was more of a Mario clone then it really is. Now don't get me wrong, at the end of each level, your character jumps on a poll and the higher you land, the more bonus points you get. But there are elements of lots of different platform games at play and it works well. The game is also a nice length. It took me and the Mrs. about an hour to complete it. Which reminds me of the best thing about Blue's, its one of the few Neo Geo titles that my wife has any interest to play with me and that sir, is priceless.