Honkaku Shougi - Shougi Ou (Japan) (GBC)

Honkaku Shougi - Shougi Ou is an authentic Japanese chess (Shogi) game released for the Game Boy Color system. The game focuses on simulating the traditional Shogi playing experience, allowing players to compete against artificial intelligence (AI) at various difficulty levels.

The gameplay of Honkaku Shougi - Shougi Ou strictly adheres to the rules of Shogi. The primary objective is to checkmate the opponent's king. Players will move pieces on a 9x9 grid board. Each piece has its unique movement and attack capabilities. Common pieces include the King (Ōshō/Gyokushō), Rook (Hisha), Bishop (Kaku), Gold General (Kin), Silver General (Gin), Knight (Keima), Lance (Kyōsha), and Pawn (Fu).

A distinctive and deeply strategic aspect of Shogi is the ability to "drop" captured pieces onto any empty square on the board as your own. This introduces incredible complexity and potential for comebacks in every game. Players must carefully consider where to drop pieces to create threats or defend positions.

The interface on the Game Boy Color is designed to be simple yet effective, clearly displaying the board and pieces. Players will use the directional buttons to select pieces and move them. The game may offer features such as move suggestions (for beginners) or game saving. With no direct multiplayer mode on the same GBC device, the main focus is on the AI mode, where players can hone their skills and strategies to truly become the "Shogi King."