Kikikaikai 2 is another one of those games that make a huge impact in Japan but never see the light of day in the UK. Which is a shame, because despite all the standard arguments about cultural differences - the Western preference for instantly gratifying shoot- and beat-'em-ups compared to the Japanese predilection for more long-term and strategic gaming experiences - you can't help feeling that the majority of gamers in this country are missing out on a large number of playable titles.

Kikikaikai 2 is traditional Japanese action-adventure fare. You play the eponymous Kikikaikai, who has to rescue his girlfriend from the clutches of the usual evil kidnapper. To reach your objective, you have to battle your way through nine bidirectionally scrolling levels, each one guarded by a boss - the bosses range from an icicle-spouting orange geezer to a surreal Egyptian cat complete with fluffy white kittens that chase after you.

Your main method of fighting is to throw 'cards' at your enemies, although you also get a stick for more effective close-range work. At various points in the game, other characters appear, which you can absorb and whose attributes and specialist fighting skills you can then make use of.

The first thing you notice about Kikikaikai 2 is the training mode, which takes you on a tour of every aspect of play, starting with movement, taking in the two weapons at your disposal, and progressing to the two-player control system. As most of the instructions are in Japanese, it's a very useful feature.

Kikikaikai 2's graphics, instantly recognisable as a product of the Manga school, are colourful and well-drawn, and the sound is humorous and appropriate, if lacking the finesse of the first game. The game also has lots of distinctive little touches. For example, Kiki's health level is represented by the number of items of clothing he is wearing - although decency demands that this metaphor is never taken to its logical conclusion. Another amusing aspect of the game is the fact that you can throw the other character around for extra firepower at crucial movements (often in the wrong direction), a capability which you soon find is vital to your success. If you miss, the other character lies on his back with stars swirling around his head (accompanied by cheeping sounds, of course). This attention to detail is instantly noticeable.

What makes the game really stand out is the second character. At the start of each level you can choose a friend to assist Kiki in his quest. By the end of the game you get a choice of seven, each of which has advantages and drawbacks in terms of speed, strength and firepower. This friend can either be amalgamated with Kiki to provide enhanced abilities or set free to serve as an extra firing platform. The extra character is available in both one- and two-player modes on most levels, and gives the gameplay added depth.

However, Kikikaikai 2's fatal flaw is that, unlike its fiendishly tough predecessor, it's over too soon. The gameplay provides a decent challenge, but the simultaneous two-player option and unlimited continues conspire to ensure that it doesn't take long to polish each level off - there's definitely not £80's worth of play here. Another criticism is the lack of parallax, which would have given the graphics a bit more oomph.

Overall, though, Kikikaikai 2 is an enjoyable experience. If you want good presentation plus bags of humour and playability, this will fit the bill. If you can find it, that is...