Cloud Master

The Good
I was quick to buy this when it came to Windows, because it has such a nice, Chinese mythological theme to it (I completed the Master System port in '92). Nice graphics and music(Japanese record label Clarice Disc, has released the game music online to buy/download). You could say it's a family friendly game, except for one obvious point....

The Bad
...which is that it's merciless right from the start. The phoenix is one of the toughest first stage bosses I've ever fought. One absolutely can't appreciate the cute, Chinese mythology, while playing like a slave to stay alive. Having lots of lives and infinite continues doesn't help much as you're always sent back to the beginning or mid-point of the stage, stripped of all your extra speed and firepower. If you play hard and long enough, you can learn ways through the stages, ways to beat the bosses, but it's painful and exhausting. I really think Hot-B took a nice thing and made it utterly nasty.

The Bottom Line
I couldn't really recommend this version of the game. It's almost sadistic the way it has such attractive sound and visuals, but they're locked behind such impenetrable defenses.