Is Cho Aniki the Most Insane Manly Game Ever?
In this episode, Retro Nick Relics dives back to the genesis of the Cho Aniki series with the original 1992 PC-Engine Super CD-ROM classic! With the Cho Aniki Collection flexing on Nintendo Switch in 2025 (out now for $44.99!), it's the perfect time to revisit this bizarre, muscle-packed shooter. Think Parodius meets oiled-up absurdity-a true baka-ge that birthed the "Dude-em-Up" genre.
Control Idaten (caped muscleman) or Benten (blue-haired flyer) alongside support stars like Samson and Adon-future legends of the Cho Aniki universe. Weird? Yes. Fun? Absolutely.
Let's get into it!
If you like what you've seen, please tune in again to see what relics I dig up next! Also feel free to follow me on X, at https://www.x.com/retron8, where I spew more opinions, share memes, and interact with other Retronauts out there.
You can watch every episode of Retro Nick Relics right here: • Retro Nick Relics
Thanks to the Retro Game Squad podcast, who came up with the term "Dude-em-Up," and often have me on to talk about more obscure Japanese games! Listen at http://www.retrogamesquad.com, and you'll hear me wax nostalgic about the Turbografx-16, Sega Saturn and other awesome stuff.
And thanks to Vito Gesualdi who took the time to offer some helpful critique with my background graphics. Listen to his podcast "The Biggest Problem in the Universe," and vote on all the problems at http://wwww.biggestproblem.show
Thank you so much for watching! I'm Retro Nick, and you'd be too if you were me!
*Timestamps:*
0:00 - Show Intro
0:57 - The wild world of Cho Aniki
02:09 - Protein supplement power ups
02:27 - Boteibiru's beefy ambitions (the story)
03:15 - Introducing Idaten & Benten
03:27 - First appearance of Samson and Adon
03:49 - Super attacks
04:14 - nani?!
04:16 - The Cho Aniki multitap anomaly
05:03 - Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb
05:38 - Performance
05:55 - Performance issues
06:02 - Ai Cho Aniki comparisons
06:16 - Where is all the cool gay stuff?
07:13 - Boss fights
08:19 - Cho Aniki OST
08:54 - Playing Cho Aniki today
09:43 - The final grade
10:20 - Mail bag
11:53 - Plugs
12:18 - The wrap up
Sources.
Cho Aniki gameplay captured from original software on original hardware through an Elgato HD60 S connected to a RetroTink 2X and recorded using OBS Studio at 60 frames per second. Cho Aniki is owned by Masaya and all footage is presented here under fair use.
RNR Theme:
Powerup!
Jeremy Blake
Red Means Recording - YouTube
RNR Interlude:
Itty Bitty 8 Bit by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: http://incompetech.com/
Gameplay segments from other games and media included in the video are listed with their respective owners below.
Fantasy Zone: Sega
Under a Killing Moon: Big Finish Games
Darius Gaiden: Taito
Air Zonk: Red
Bravoman The Animated Series: Namco Bandai Games & Shifty Look
Bravoman: Namco
AI Cho Aniki: Masaya
Cho Aniki Bakuretsu Ranto-hen: Masaya
Cho Aniki Kyuukyoku Muteki Ginga Saikrou Otoko: Masaya
The Simpsons: 20th Century Fox, The Walt Disney Company
Family Guy: 20th Century Fox
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: New Line Cinema
Billy Madison: Universal Pictures
Star Wars Episode I Review: Red Letter Media: • Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Review (Part...
Star Wars Episode III Review: Red Letter Media: • Mr. Plinkett's Star Wars Episode III: Reve...
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Netflix
Southpark: Comedy Central
Zuiikin' English - I have a bad case of diarrhea - Fuji Television
Fantasy Zone: Sega
R-Type: Irem
Gradius: Konami
Star Wars Episode III: Lucas Film
Beavis & Butthead: MTV
If I could Turn Back Time: Cher - Geffen
Star Trek the Next Generation: Paramount Television
Django Unchained: The Weinstein Company
American Dad: 20th Century Fox
Various images: Adobe Stock
PC Engine Core Grafx II + Super CD-ROM2 (take two)
Author: Bryan Ochalla: PC Engine Core Grafx II + Super CD-ROM2 (take two) | Flickr
PC Engine Duo-R:
Author: English: This photo was taken by Evan-Amos as a part of Vanamo Media, which creates public domain works for educational purposes. Please visit my other galleries and projects for other free media.
File:PC-Engine-Duo-R.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
PC-Engine-Duo-Console-Set
Author: English: This photo was taken by Evan-Amos as a part of Vanamo Media, which creates public domain works for educational purposes. Please visit my other galleries and projects for other free media.
File:PC-Engine-Duo-Console-Set.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
Pioneer LaserActive CLD-A100
Author: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Us...
PC Engine Duo-RX
Author: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Lance Boyle Footage: Cryo
#ChoAniki #NintendoSwitch #retrogaming