PrinceWatercress plays Pressure Gauge

After seeing this one in action, I just had to try it out for myself.

Longplay

Pressure Gauge is a game written back in 2000 as a college exercise by John K. Harvey, and was inspired by the Steamwood sections in Brave Fencer Musashi.

If you flip the Game Select switch, you'll get a small text crawl in the center of the screen as well as some rainbow colored bars. 

The only button you need to play the game is the fire button. When you start the game, you'll notice a small bar on the left followed by a gauge to the right that slowly fills up. When that gauge is anywhere near the range where the small bar on the left is, press the fire button. This will fill up a second gauge to the right. If you do this right, you'll fill the gauge to the right up; if you get it wrong, the gauge will go down. There is also a gauge in the center telling you how much time you have left. If that gauge goes all the way down, the game is over. To fill it up, you'll need to clear the current level and head on to the next, and you can see which level you're on by looking at the bottom of the screen.

As you go through the game, the game gets faster. From Levels 6-10, you'll go back to the beginning speed and work your way up again, but the lights will flicker, causing you to be unable to see your line and gauges for a short time at regular intervals. From Level 11 onwards, everything will be random, and the small line on the left may be in a different range on the gauge entirely.

Everything about this game may simple, and there may not be much to the graphics, but the gameplay is easy to figure out, and once you do, it definitely has an addicting nature to it. This one is all about the gameplay, and this game definitely keeps you on your toes while taking a small idea from a then-somewhat recent video game and running with it. This is definitely one game to try if you come across it, and don't be surprised if you find yourself spending plenty of time with it.

PrinceWatercress plays Die Hard (PC Engine) - Stage 10 of 10

It's time to take down the bad guys once and for all!

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Stage 10: RF

There's only one direction to go: north. Keep going in that direction, and be ready to shoot down enemies. If any enemies are standing still, you'll need to jump up to shoot them, as they will be on balconies and you will not be able to shoot them from ground level. Despite the fact that the area is dark and you won't be able to see a lot, this area isn't difficult to get through as long as you keep an eye on the enemy health gauge; if you can do that, you'll be ready to shoot down any enemies that are in the way.

Near the end of the first section is a guy with a first aid kit. Shoot him down to get it, then go right from where you got the first aid kit to fight the final boss: an attack helicopter.

You'll want to shoot at the helicopter while avoiding the bullets, which is easier to do if you stick to the ground. When the homing missiles start firing out of the helicopter, you'll want to keep on jumping in order to minimize the amount of damage you take. As you shoot at the helicopter, you'll keep getting guns and health, and unlike all the other pick-ups that you've received from enemies throughout the game, they stay on the screen until you need them instead of blinking and disappearing after a few seconds. When the helicopter is nearly dead, you'll get a first aid kit. Grab it as soon as possible to ensure victory, because you're gonna need it! You'll also get a flamethrower so you can destroy the final boss in style!

After the final boss, you'll see footage of John McClane leaping off the roof before sharing a romantic kiss with his estranged wife Holly. You just beat Die Hard for PC Engine!

PrinceWatercress plays Die Hard (PC Engine) - Stage 9 of 10

The game messes with you again, but at least this stage is easier.

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Stage 9: 36F

You have another maze, and if you can't figure out where to go, you're not meeting the final boss.

You want to go as low as you can whenever possible and stay low. You'll only want to go north whenever the level forces you to. With that in mind, you'll want to keep a look for enemies, as it is easy to get swarmed. The exit will be blocked two security guards who are dressed in all red standing next to each other. Take them out and go north to beat the stage.

PrinceWatercress plays Die Hard (PC Engine) - Stage 8 of 10

This is where the game really messes with you.

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Stage 8: 34F

This one is straightforward - you just keep moving north, shooting down all the bad guys in your way, and jumping over all the gaps so you don't fall into the water - but it's not easy. You only have two minutes to get through this level, and if you don't get to the goal in time, it's game over.

Watch the enemy health gauge closely, try not to take a lot of damage, and run away from any enemies that end up behind you. There is a flamethrower that you can get, but you're better off sticking to the machine gun, as you'll need to be able to move around quickly as you're jumping. Also, keep your health high. This is tough, but it's not impossible.

PrinceWatercress plays Die Hard (PC Engine) - Stage 7 of 10

This is where the game starts to get difficult. There's a trick to beating the boss here...if you can figure it out.

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Stage 7: 35F

This time, you're in the air ducts. Keep a look out for enemies and be ready to shoot them down when you see them, but watch your surroundings too, as pieces of the ducts will fall down as you move. If the floor changes as you move, jump forward.

If enemies fire at you when you approach them, they are about to come down from the top of the screen. Let them come down before firing.

There are some machine guns and a first-aid kit near the end of the level; be sure to get them.

You'll then face your second boss. Avoid his projectiles as the boss moves up and down, and when the boss moves back to fire a rocket, be ready to move to the bottom and jump away when the rocket comes down. As this battle rages on, you'll have less and less floor to work with, which can be rather nasty. The boss will alternate between a three-way shot and homing rockets, and while the former will be able to avoid at first, it will get hectic when you have less space to move around in. As for the homing rockets, you can always shoot those down.

If you and the boss die at the same time, you win. Thankfully, your health will be refilled on the next stage.

Interestingly, if you jump straight up at the very top, you can grab one of two machine guns in case you're low on ammo.

After beating this boss, you'll see a cutscene of John McClane going down an elevator shaft with a rope and a lighter.

PrinceWatercress plays Die Hard (PC Engine) - Stage 6 of 10

At this point, the game starts getting a little harder.

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Stage 6: 32F

Once again, you're in another maze, but at least this one is easier to get out of. You'll want to head your way northward in the first section. The exit will be blocked by a security guard wearing all red, so be careful for that, the rest of the enemies who may get some lucky shots on you due to their positions, as well as the many pits that you'll have to jump over. As you can see, this game is starting to get harder.

Thankfully, the second section is strictly horizontal. Once again, be careful where you are going so you don't grab a gun that you don't need, and advance slowly so you can take out the enemies with little trouble. If you need health, go into the lone door that you see on the way to the end. You'll find a first aid kit as well as two grenade launchers and two machine guns.

PrinceWatercress plays Die Hard (PC Engine) - Stage 5 of 10

Now that we've beaten our first boss, it's time to go through some more familiar territory

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Stage 5: 30F

You're now in the office space of Nakatomi Plaza, but the people here are anything but friendly. At least there are a few open doors where you can get some power-ups, including a first aid kit.

Don't walk on the broken glass; you'll take damage if you step into it.

There are some devices on the walls that will shoot out a red laser. Shoot the device down to get rid of that damaging laser.

The guard in all red has a five-way shot. Shoot him before he shoots you!

The second section has you going straight to the right. Move past the  doors that endlessly spawn bad guys, and if you see an open door, go into it for much needed beer for health. You'll eventually reach the door at the end, which takes you up two more floors.