They knew exactly what they were making — and had the courage to make it anyway.
In 1992, most shoot 'em ups offered sleek spacecraft, heroic pilots, technical prowess. Cho Aniki offered muscular bodybuilders in speedos flying through space. It wasn't a mistake — it was deliberate parody, built entirely around absurdist humor that Japanese players recognized as baka-ge: games that embrace intentional ridiculousness and know exactly what they are. Masaya Games had released serious shooters before. They chose this. Composer Kōji Hayama created a soundtrack so memorable that, according to his own homepage, at one point the music was outselling the game. That's what happens when you commit fully to an idea — even one most people would call ridiculous. The courage wasn't in making a good game. It was in making this game, and meaning it.
— inspired by Kōji Hayama and the Masaya Games team
About this game
Released in December 1992 for the PC Engine Super CD-ROM², Cho Aniki is a side-scrolling shooter built entirely around absurdist humor. Where most shooters offered sleek spaceships or heroic pilots, this game put muscular bodybuilders front and center — not as power fantasy, but as deliberate parody. It became the founding entry in what Japanese players call baka-ge: intentionally ridiculous games that know exactly what they are.
Gallery
The Story Behind
Cho Aniki was developed by Masaya Games and published by NCS (the two names refer to the same entity — NCS released games under the Masaya brand). Released on December 25, 1992, it helped establish the baka-ge subgenre in Japan: games that embrace intentional absurdity and parody rather than traditional heroism or technical prowess. Masaya had released Wings of Wor (Gynoug) the previous year, which shared a similar design sensibility and fondness for surreal enemy designs.
Tricks & Tales
As a Super CD-ROM² title, Cho Aniki took advantage of the format's enhanced capabilities: higher-resolution graphics, CD-quality audio, and full-motion video sequences. The game's use of exaggerated muscular male imagery and homoerotic elements was deliberate parody — described by players as cheeky and self-aware rather than earnest. Like Konami's Parodius series, it built its identity not on shooting mechanics alone, but on humor that subverted genre expectations.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
The PC Engine (Japan) and TurboGrafx-16 (North America) share the same physical HuCard slot shape but are not compatible with each other's software. NEC deliberately reversed the data bus wiring between the two regions: data pin D0 on the PC Engine corresponds to D7 on the TurboGrafx-16, and so on through all eight lines. Beyond the hardware wiring difference, most North American HuCards contain region-checking code that detects a Japanese console and immediately crashes. Converters that electrically flip the data bus do exist and allow cross-region play. CD-ROM² discs themselves carry no region protection and play freely on both systems—however, the System Cards required to boot CD software are region-locked in the same way as HuCards, so a Japanese System Card cannot be used in a TurboGrafx-16 and vice versa.
Maintenance Tips
HuCard contacts are the most common maintenance point on the PC Engine and TurboGrafx-16. The card's edge connector oxidizes over decades of storage, causing failure-to-read and graphical glitches. Cleaning with 90%+ isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab—gently wiping the gold contacts on the card itself—resolves most contact issues; stubborn oxidation responds to dedicated contact cleaners such as DeoxIT. Never blow into the card slot with your mouth, as moisture accelerates the very corrosion you are trying to remove. On systems equipped with the CD-ROM² or Super CD-ROM² add-on, the optical drive is subject to the same age-related laser and sled degradation seen in any CD system of that era; the laser assembly uses a KSS-220a-type unit on the Super CD-ROM² and replacement parts remain available.
Going deeper
Explore the machine this game ran on, and what to check before you buy or care for one:
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Cho Aniki copies regularly.
Does Cho Aniki need a special card to run on my PC Engine?
Yes — Cho Aniki was released on Super CD-ROM² format, which means it requires a Super System Card 3.0 to play on compatible PC Engine or TurboGrafx-16 CD systems. Without this card, the game won't boot. The good news: PC Engine CD-ROMs are region-free, so a Japanese copy of Cho Aniki will run on any compatible system worldwide, as long as you have the correct System Card.
Will my saved game on a PC Engine CD be lost when I turn off the system?
The PC Engine CD-ROM² unit stores saves in 2KB of built-in memory, but this memory is kept alive by a supercapacitor, not a battery. That capacitor can hold its charge for a couple of weeks if the system isn't powered on — after that, all save data will be erased. If you're going to leave your PC Engine unplugged for an extended period, write down any passwords or progress notes first.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy Cho Aniki
A short checklist for buying used PC Engine software wisely — useful with any seller, anywhere.
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Choose a seller who tests it before shipping
A copy that has actually been powered on and checked is a known quantity. An untested one is a gamble you only settle after it arrives.
Look for a seller who states it was function-tested and says what they confirmed. A serious seller can tell you exactly what was checked.
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Make sure it fits your console
Japanese PC Engine HuCards and CDs are not compatible with the North American TurboGrafx-16 — the formats differ. Use a Japanese PC Engine system.
Play it on a matching Japanese console or a region-free system, and confirm the listing states the region.
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HuCard or CD-ROM² — know which you're buying
PC Engine games come on HuCard chips or on CD-ROM². CD titles also require the right CD system and a working System Card.
Confirm the format in the listing, and for CDs check the disc surface and that saves are supported.
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Check that the contacts are clean
Dirty edge contacts are the most common cause of startup and sound trouble in cartridges of this age.
Choose a seller who cleans the contacts before shipping. A note that it was tested and cleaned means the basics were handled.
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Read the seller's reviews and return policy
A 100% positive record across thousands of sales is close to a guarantee — packing, communication and problem-solving all work for everyone. A return policy protects you if something is off.
Read the feedback and confirm a clear return window before you buy.
The last step before buying anywhere is knowing what it's worth.
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