Nakayoshi to Issho (often translated as "Together with Nakayoshi") is a fascinating relic of the Famicom's final years, serving as a massive crossover event for the famous shoujo manga magazine. Released in late 1993, long after the Super Famicom had established dominance, the game features a star-studded cast including characters from *Goldfish Warning!*, *The Cherry Project*, and most notably, the first-ever video game appearance of *Sailor Moon*. The fan translation is vital for Western players, as the game is incredibly text-heavy, requiring players to navigate a dream world where various manga storylines are being corrupted by an evil force known as the Nightmare Queen.
Gameplay is an idiosyncratic mix of traditional top-down RPG exploration and board game-style progression. Players select one of two female protagonists and travel through various "manga worlds" to recover Dream Fragments and restore the happy endings of each series. While the combat is turn-based and relatively straightforward to cater to a younger demographic, the charm lies in the interactions with iconic characters and the faithful recreation of the source material's whimsical art style. It lacks the mechanical depth of a *Dragon Quest* or *Final Fantasy*, but its unique structure and late-era polish make it stand out among the Famicom’s massive library of licensed titles.
Visually, the game pushes the aging Famicom hardware to its limits with vibrant, detailed sprites and large character portraits that capture the 90s "shoujo" aesthetic perfectly. The music is equally bright and energetic, providing a bouncy backdrop to the whimsical adventure. While the repetitive nature of the board-game segments might deter hardcore RPG fans, the novelty of seeing early 90s manga icons sharing the screen is a genuine joy. The translation project finally allows English-speaking audiences to appreciate the humor and heart of this cult classic, which remained a hidden gem for decades due to the significant language barrier.
