Naughty Arcades - BlameTheControlPad.com

Naughty Arcades

Contents:
Page 1	Block Gal - Sega Super Pinball Action - Tecmo
Page 2	Pocket Gal - Data East Pocket Gal Deluxe - Data East
Page 3	Peek-A-Boo! - Jaleco Lady Killer - Yanyaka Party Time - Mitchell
Page 4	Puzznic - Taito Playgirls - Hot-B
Page 5	Playgirls 2 - Hot-B Dancing Eyes - Namco
Page 6	Pipi & Bibis - Toaplan Billiard Academy - Nakanihon
Page 7	Gals Panic! - Kaneko

Page 2

Pocket Gal

2 Players	Arcade NES* GameBoy* *Released as "Side Pocket"
Data East 1987

You probably haven't been able to recognize any of these adult titles yet, but I'm sure yo have come across Data East's "Pocket Gal" in one form or another in the past.
As THE video pool arcade, Pocket Gal was released in 1989 and could be found in almost every arcade parlor from early to mid 90's, directly influencing one of the company's greatest series into becoming their hottest property on home consoles, computers, and even cellphones. That is of course, Data East's original "Side Pocket" series.

Side Pocket - Arcade

Original "Side Pocket" by Data East.

The first Side Pocket title was released to the arcades in 1986. It was a good attempt, but didn't get much attention.
Three years later Data East decided to improve its physics, revamp the audiovisual department, and even add some cute stripping anime girls to get our attention. The new product was renamed "Pocket Gal", which together with its sequel "Pocket Gal DX" would become the most distributed video pool arcade cabinets.

As a very straight forward pool title, simplicity and addictiveness are its strong points.
The only available game mode is a "pocket" game, in which you play by yourself or against a friend trying to pocket 6 balls. Players start with only 4 cues (scratching or failing to pocket a ball substracts from your total cues, reaching 0 means game over), and different ball effects are available by pressing the second button and selecting it with the joystick.

Each of the 4 stages is hosted by a corresponding girl, who's only function (not that I'm complaining) is to strip when the level is cleared. Additional points and shots can be gained by pocketing balls in order, in computer-predetermined pockets, clearing special bonus tricks between stages, etc.

Japanese arcade flyer

Simplicity aside, Data East did a great job for its time in the technical department. Video pool technical requirements are not exactly demanding, but still there's a certain cuteness and charm in Pocket Gal's graphics and sound that shows the love it was put into it. Very catchy tunes that are never annoying, a few sweet but low-tech digitized voices, and its characteristic graphic design stand out the most.

It would seem logical to consider Pocket Gal a spin-off of the main series that remained in the arcades because of its x-rated material. But it's actually not. The truth of the matter is that Data East decided to hold on to the success the Pocket Gal series brought them at the arcades, do away with the adult content, switch a couple of things around, and sell it to the home market under the "Side Pocket" label.
Because of this, figuring out the original chronology, correlations, or any sense of order in both series can be quite confusing. Adding "Pocket Gal 2" (not a sequel but an English version of the original) and "Super Pool III" (a censored version of the original) to the formula, surely doesn't help things either.

Pocket Gal 2 - Arcade

English-translated version of the original "Pocket Gal", renamed "Pocket Gal 2" and released in 1989.

Data East didn't waste a minute and ported Pocket Gal to the NES the same year the original was released, tweaking it, making it family-friendly, and renaming it "Side Pocket". A good convertion with more game modes but different, not-so-good background music.
One could say it's a port of the original Side Pocket arcade, but the screenshots clearly show it's not.
In 1990 Nintendo's newly released GameBoy also received a port, this time entitled "Side Pocket Vs.". It's very low tech and the aiming is terrible, but is has "pocket" and "9-ball" modes and better music than its NES brother.
Both these releases mark the beginning of the series' expansion.

The ladies:

Four anime-ish girls are the hostesses of each stage, the fifth one is revealed only when winning 2-player mode. Cute for the time, but not very erotic.

Should you care?

Pocket Gal (or Side Pocket) just like puzzle games, is one of those titles you pick up for a fun quick play, therefore being into the video pool genre is not a requirement.
Its cute graphics, charming music, and above all addictive nature made it almost as common as "Tetris", "Arkanoid" and "Wonderboy" arcade cabinets.

Pocket Gal - Arcade

Pocket Gal - Arcade

Pocket Gal - Arcade

Pocket Gal - Arcade

Pockets marked with a star are worth more.

Pocket Gal - Arcade

Pocket Gal - Arcade

Pocket Gal - Arcade

In the "zone" you can get extra points and cue balls
depending on the pocket the ball enters.

Pocket Gal - Arcade

Clear bonus stages for points and extra cue balls.

Pocket Gal - Arcade

Pocket Gal - Arcade

Pocket Gal - Arcade

Pocket Gal ports released as Side Pocket:
NES

GameBoy

Pocket Gal Deluxe

2 Players	Arcade SNES* Genesis* Game Gear* WonderSwan* *Released as "Side Pocket"
Data East 1992

Five years after the original Pocket Gal Data East comes back with Pocket Gal Deluxe.
Despite the different play modes Side Pocket console ports offer, unexplicably none of them are present here.
Four new ladies can be chosen as partners, this time around progressively stripping after each round and now represented in a more detailed, realistic design. The art is a step up except for the faces, which somehow seems to be a frequent issue with these type of games.
The soundtrack disappoints not in its quality, but in its repetitive nature. There's only one jazz track playing throughout the entire game, and it becomes a little annoying after a while.

Arcade flyer

Minor drawbacks aside, Pocket Gal Deluxe succeeds in every other way by keeping the same addictive, easy-to-pick gameplay while upgrading to beautifully bright graphics.
It also features a very characteristic air of class and sophistication, outlined by details like hard wood floors, elegantly dressed ladies, colorful scenery between stages (including a gorgeous nightlife title screen), and some soothing jazz for a soundtrack. A very particular atmosphere that gives the game its classy touch.

Side Pocket 2 - Saturn	Side Pocket 3 - Saturn

Side Pocket's true sequels eventually appeared on 32-bit home systems. The second installment features "trick" and "story" modes in updated 2-D graphics; while the third and last edition of these series boasts a lot more playing modes, custom tricks, a semi-rpg story mode set in a hotel, and full 3-D graphics.

Being released in 1992 and looking exactly like a 16-bit game helped Pocket Gal Deluxe in its seamless transition to home consoles again under the "Side Pocket" label. Data East chose to leave the "2" off the title ("Side Pocket 2" and "Side Pocket 3" would eventually be released on 32-bit platforms), and after making it family-friendly it made its way to the SNES, Genesis and Game Gear.
All of these ports include previous "Pocket" and "9-Ball" modes seen in previous Side Pocket ports, as well as a new "Trick" mode. They are very much alike except for the missing sound-test (set up against a true evolving sunrise) in Sega's portable.
You might also come across a much different version for the Wonderswan released in 1999. It features 4 playable characters, great art, and a story mode against the CPU; but the music is totally absent during play.

The ladies:


This time around the art is more realistic and has a touch of sophistication. Average, but lacks the charm of the first game's girls.

Should you care?

As its title implies (and except for the new game mode) Deluxe takes everything Pocket Gal was and gives it a 5 year update. Not a bad thing at all, but neither a true sequel either.
More game modes and tunes would have been nice, but it's still an excellent upgrade.

Pocket Gal Deluxe - Arcade