The Inside Scoop on Gaming

Bubble Gum Crisis is the first release to use R. Talsorian's FUZION game system, and marks a new direction for the company. While they've always had a presence in the mecha gaming market with Mekton, it appears they are now seeking out and licensing various anime series to produce as games. There are two ways this can go: either you produce shoddy games that rely on the name to sell, or you produce good products that live up to expectations.

Luckily, R. Talsorian has chosen to go the later route. Whether or not you like the FUZION system, there's enough here to form the basis of a campaign set in the world of the Knight Sabers. There's also a lot here for even a general fan of the OVAs. BGC uses canon sources to compile background on GENOM, Megatokyo, the AD Police, Boomers and the Knight Sabers, then presents it in a logical and effective manner. Presented in all their glory are the Hardsuits and the villains from the series even have write-ups detailing motivations and history.

The problems that do exist are minor. The Knight Sabers attributes are a bit high, and seem more suited for their performance in the Bubble Gum Crash series. The rules also don't include much information on developing new hardsuits or many hints on modifying the existing ones. Then there's the fact that the game is using the early version of the FUZION system, with all its problems.

Despite these minor problems, it has a lot to recommend it. The interior art comes from the videos and related source materials. The game avoids the wide-margins/large font cheats of most games, packing a lot of information into the book. The setting is a solid mix of cyberpunk, anime, and superheroics. Unlike most cyberpunk settings, things are a little less gray and a little less hopeless in Megatokyo. The players can make a difference with their efforts. The FUZION system is a simple system that seems well suited to the needs of a wild anime game. Bubble Gum Crisis works both as a game setting and a source book for the series; no small accomplishment.

Style: 3 (Average)
Substance: 4 (Meaty)

Bubble Gum Crisis
Author: Benjamin Wright & David Ackerman-Gray Category: game Company/Publisher: R. Talsorian Games, Inc. Page count: 168 ISBN: 0-937279-80-3 Capsule Review by Jason Langlois on 12/16/97. Genre tags: none	Bubble Gum Crisis is the first release to use R. Talsorian's FUZION game system, and marks a new direction for the company. While they've always had a presence in the mecha gaming market with Mekton, it appears they are now seeking out and licensing various anime series to produce as games. There are two ways this can go: either you produce shoddy games that rely on the name to sell, or you produce good products that live up to expectations. Luckily, R. Talsorian has chosen to go the later route. Whether or not you like the FUZION system, there's enough here to form the basis of a campaign set in the world of the Knight Sabers. There's also a lot here for even a general fan of the OVAs. BGC uses canon sources to compile background on GENOM, Megatokyo, the AD Police, Boomers and the Knight Sabers, then presents it in a logical and effective manner. Presented in all their glory are the Hardsuits and the villains from the series even have write-ups detailing motivations and history. The problems that do exist are minor. The Knight Sabers attributes are a bit high, and seem more suited for their performance in the Bubble Gum Crash series. The rules also don't include much information on developing new hardsuits or many hints on modifying the existing ones. Then there's the fact that the game is using the early version of the FUZION system, with all its problems. Despite these minor problems, it has a lot to recommend it. The interior art comes from the videos and related source materials. The game avoids the wide-margins/large font cheats of most games, packing a lot of information into the book. The setting is a solid mix of cyberpunk, anime, and superheroics. Unlike most cyberpunk settings, things are a little less gray and a little less hopeless in Megatokyo. The players can make a difference with their efforts. The FUZION system is a simple system that seems well suited to the needs of a wild anime game. Bubble Gum Crisis works both as a game setting and a source book for the series; no small accomplishment. Style: 3 (Average) Substance: 4 (Meaty)