KS1 video gameplay

The KiShin announcement persisted, transitioning to the animated backdrop of Super Mario's pipe-filled world. Mario skillfully leapt across the pipes, making his way to a modest wooden house belonging to Celeste.

Inside, Shinro Suzuki occupied a chair, and the camera honed in on him. "Good Afternoon, Gamers," he greeted, addressing the audience directly.

The camera then shifted to capture Shinro Suzuki holding a controller, with the KS1 visibly connected to the television. Excitement filled the viewers as they observed this setup. Meanwhile, Mario, having entered the wooden house, took a seat beside Shinro Suzuki.

Unfazed by Mario's presence, Shinro Suzuki continued his speech, addressing the anticipation surrounding the KiShin announcement. "I understand some of you may have been concerned about whether it was just an April Fool's joke or a genuine unveiling of something groundbreaking in the industry."

Rising from his seat, Shinro Suzuki inserted the CD featuring images of cars into the KS1. With a smile, he turned towards the camera, reassuring, "Rest assured, this isn't an April Fool's joke from KiShin." Closing the CD-ROM lid of the KS1, he initiated the boot-up process, and on the connected television, the KS1 logo appeared. As viewers tuned in, the video game came to life, showcasing a thrilling introduction featuring cars.

Maintaining his smile, Shinro Suzuki addressed the audience, "Allow me to present to you: KiShin-Play Station 1!" The announcement elicited excitement from the viewers.

Following the game's introduction, the title screen displayed "THE NEED FOR SPEED," sparking anticipation among the audience as they sensed it to be a racing video game.

The viewers witnessed Shinro Suzuki initiating the video game, eagerly watching as he selected a specific car model. As "THE NEED FOR SPEED" commenced, the excitement among the audience intensified.

Viewers at home marveled at the graphics of the racing game, recognizing a departure from the conventional 2D pixelated aesthetics of the Famicom and Super Famicom. Despite remaining a 2D game, the graphics exhibited a remarkable leap into a 3D-like realm. The outstanding performance of the KS1 became evident through the seamless fusion of gameplay and cutting-edge graphics.

Some viewers, familiar with the game "Doom," drew parallels between its graphics and those of "THE NEED FOR SPEED" on the KS1. The graphics, reminiscent of the revolutionary visuals in "Doom" on Apple computers, marked a sudden shift in an industry dominated by 2D pixelated and side-scrolling games inspired by Super Mario Bros. While the new game retained a mostly 2D pixelated style, it introduced a groundbreaking half-3D element.

As Shinro Suzuki continued to play the racing game in a forest setting, viewers couldn't contain their excitement. Shinro Suzuki then demonstrated a unique feature, stating, "The view can even be changed to the inside of the car, look." Subsequently, the scene shifted to the interior of the car, showcasing the windshield, steering wheel, and even a speedometer. Viewers were captivated as Shinro Suzuki skillfully maneuvered the car, and the steering wheel in the game responded to his controls. This immersive experience made viewers feel like they were behind the wheel themselves.

The gameplay proved truly fascinating, captivating even those who hadn't initially been interested in video games. Friends watching together found themselves drawn into the experience, sparking newfound interest in the world of gaming.

Car racing had gained popularity among salarymen who typically favored televised sports and beers. Whether it was cars or horses, the thrill of racing had always piqued their interest. Now, with the introduction of a video game centered around car racing, their curiosity was genuinely sparked.

Despite the variety of racing games available in the market, none could rival the graphics and gameplay demonstrated by Shinro Suzuki, the founder of KiShin, in the showcased game "THE NEED FOR SPEED."

The camera then shifted to Shinro Suzuki, still comfortably holding a controller equipped with two joysticks. The design of the controller evoked thoughts of Celeste's special controller among avid video game fans watching the presentation.

Shinro Suzuki grinned as he faced the camera, admitting with a scratch of his head, "Oops, seems I forgot that all you dear gamers were watching me play on this remarkable and revolutionary video game console." His words carried an apologetic tone, yet there was a hint of mischief that stirred jealousy among the viewers.

Sawa Arata, joined by his professional gamer buddies, muttered curses through gritted teeth. "Damn you, Shinro Suzuki... You're mocking our passion!"

Another friend nodded in agreement, adding, "Shinro! Just give us the release date!"

"Shinro, you bastard!" shouted another in frustration.

Amidst the discontent, Shinro Suzuki continued to smile, announcing, "But fear not, as this is not the only video game I intend to showcase today."

"The video game I've just started, as you can see, is titled 'THE NEED FOR SPEED.' It comes partnered with the KS1 when you make a purchase. However, this is not the game that will harness the full potential of our KS1," Shinro Suzuki explained, leaving the viewers in confusion.

Speculation buzzed among some viewers. "Is he going to show us another remarkable video game for the KS1?"

"Ohh..."

Their speculation was on point as Shinro Suzuki produced CD covers. The camera zoomed in on the cover designs, revealing images of KiShin video game characters like Mario, Sonic, Pikachu, Pac-Man, Samus Aran, Celeste, Ash, and even dinosaurs from 'Jurassic Park.' The title of the video game displayed on the cover was 'KiShin All-Stars Racing!'.

The viewers, based on the title alone, anticipated a racing video game featuring KiShin's famous IP characters.

Shinro Suzuki confirmed their expectations, stating, "That's right. The intro wasn't just an intro; it was also a teaser for this video game!" He paused before elaborating, "You can race with other KiShin famous characters and even attack their cars. However, your adversaries aren't just the other racers; there are also dinosaurs in the surroundings that might step onto the racing track at any time..." Shinro Suzuki continued his explanation, but some viewers began to grow impatient.

"Damn it! Just show us the video game!"

"Insert the disk already!"

Fans of Shinro Suzuki started to feel annoyed.

Sawa Arata clenched his fists, unable to contain his frustration, and resorted to biting on his clothes. "Just play it! I beg you!"

Meanwhile, Sazama, also engrossed in the spectacle, gripped the television tightly, ignoring Kumiko's reminder, "Dear, your eyes might get damaged from being so close to the television..."

Ignoring the caution, Sazama muttered, "Just play it, you stinky brat..."

In the Yakuza Yamauchi-Gumi, leader Obi Yuu and the other high-ranking Yakuza watched the television with anticipation.

As anticipation built among the viewers, Shinro Suzuki continued explaining 'KiShin All Stars Racing!'. However, their excitement turned to frustration when he paused and stated, "You can purchase this video game after the release of the KS1."

Groans and exclamations of "We know!!!" echoed from the disappointed viewers.

Their irritation grew as Shinro Suzuki, checking his expensive gold watch, remarked, "Oops. It seems we've exceeded the rented timeslot on TV Asahi. Unfortunately, I won't have time to showcase the gameplay of 'KiShin All-Stars Racing!'" He apologized, saying, "I'm sorry, guys. It seems you can only experience the gameplay of this video game after purchasing the KS1 along with it."

Upon hearing the news, viewers couldn't help but unleash a few curses at Shinro Suzuki. However, a sense of resignation settled in, realizing they had no choice but to purchase the KS1 and the accompanying video game to unveil its secrets.

Sawa Arata, amidst his buddies, exclaimed, "Argh!!! Shinro... You're just fooling with us, aren't you!?"

"He's playing games with us! Making us wait to see him showcase the 'KiShin All-Stars Racing!' video game gameplay, only to crush our expectations!"

Meanwhile, Sazama, also watching, couldn't help but mutter, "Damn brat..."

Then, as Shinro Suzuki continued, he announced, "The KS1 will be available in various stores and malls in Japan on May 1, 1994."

The anticipation of the viewers was dampened as they realized the KS1 and its games wouldn't be released for another month. What usually seemed like a short period now felt quite long.

Despite this, curiosity surrounding 'KiShin All-Stars Racing!' grew among viewers. Envisioning a mix of famous KiShin characters in a racing game, they speculated it might be similar to Mario Kart. This time, the inclusion of Sonic, Super Metroid, Pac-Man, and even the film-adapted-to-video-games 'Jurassic Park,' which also had a few games for SKES, heightened their interest.