Pocky & Rocky

Pocky & Rocky
North American box art
Developer(s)	Natsume
Publisher(s)	Natsume
Distributor(s)	Taito Corporation
Producer(s)	Yoshihino Hattori
Designer(s)	Yoshihino Hattori Shunichi Taniguchi
Composer(s)	Hiroyuki Iwatsuki
Platform(s)	Super NES
Release	JP: December 1992 NA: June 1993 EU: August 1993
Genre(s)	Scrolling shooter
Mode(s)	Single-player 2-player cooperative

Single-player

Pocky & Rocky is a 1992 multidirectional scrolling shooter video game developed by Natsume for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the sequel to the 1986 arcade game KiKi KaiKai developed by Taito. Pocky & Rocky follows the adventures of a young Shinto shrine maiden named Pocky and her new companion, Rocky the Tanuki as they attempt to save a group of creatures known as the Nopino Goblins. Gameplay takes place from a top-down perspective and features both single-player and cooperative modes. The game was generally well received by critics, and was followed by a sequel in 1994, Pocky & Rocky 2.

Pocky & Rocky is a scrolling shooter video game that takes place from a top-down perspective. The screen can move either horizontally or vertically and the player-controlled characters can move in eight directions. The game features six levels and allows its players to continue indefinitely. In single-player mode, the player can choose to play as either Pocky or Rocky. In two-player cooperative mode, both characters are on the screen at the same time.

Pocky can use her ofudas to hit enemies from afar or swing her gohei to damage enemies close up. Likewise, Rocky can throw leaves across the screen or quickly turn his backside and swing his tail. Both characters can slide across the ground to cover area quickly. If a player bumps into the other while sliding in a two-player game, it will cause the other player to spin out of control across the screen, damaging any enemies they come in contact with. A limited-use special bomb attack can be used to hit several or all the enemies present on the screen. There are some differences between both characters. Pocky moves and slides slightly faster than Rocky does. However, Rocky's slide attack goes a longer distance. Pocky's bomb attack is more powerful than Rocky's, although Rocky's bombs cover a wider area. Pocky can also perform a spinning attack whereas Rocky is able to transform into an invulnerable and immobile statue for a short time.