Working Designs has developed an unmistakable trademark in their packaging, so much so that customers know they are buying Working Designs games after browsing through, not just the game title but also the cover art and manual. Their Sega CD collection consists of well-known games like Popful Mail, which includes even more graphics to explore with the fun story. Working Designs cares for not only how their games are played but also how they are presented to customers, making them a rarity in the gaming industry.
Popful Mail originally debuted on the Japanese PC-8801 computer, but it quickly changed for North American players. Working Designs recreated the game with large colorful portraits of characters and voicing the game’s dialogue lines to give an intimate feeling.
While Nintendo was harping on Super Metroid, which was cool, Sega CD gamers were enjoying a similar game that went in the opposite direction graphically. You bounce around woods and other natural scenery attempting to take down the big bounty, Nuts Cracker. Nuts Cracker has a knack for escaping after Mail beats him, maybe she forgets to secure the restraints or something? Similar to how Dr. Robotnik, or Bowser for Mario, continually find ways to escape after defeat and return.
Popful Mail is a retro classic and has been prbly the hardest to find. It was available in a limited run just because there we’re not that many Sega CD consoles inthe market at inthe time, but demand has outweigh supply and its rarity makes it an even bigger collector’s item!
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