Hoi Hoi (ホイホイ) is one of the earliest non-historical games made by Koei, produced by Kou Shibusawa. The game's namesake is a brand of glue traps used to trap cockroaches in Japan, not the definition found in contemporary slang regarding fascination with a particular object, subject, or person.
A remake of the title was made for the Game Boy, which diverges from the presentation of the original game. The player's goal in either version is to protect confectioneries from various cockroaches. The Game Boy version was localized as Stop That Roach! in North America.
According to Koei's company timeline, the first version of Hoi Hoi won first prize in Obunsha Publishing Co.'s October 1983 Personal Computer Rankings.
Gameplay[]
FM7 Version[]
The game is a turn-based tower defense game where players choose between being a business man, a housewife, or a student. They navigate a hexagon grid with blue areas for movement and red areas for restricted areas. Players can strategically place hoi hoi to stifle cockroaches, or use slippers and spray cans to beat them back. The game has a percentage limit for each weapon, and cockroaches grow in numbers as the player progresses. The game has a cartoony and light-hearted touch, making it a fun and balanced game.
Game Boy Version[]
The game consists of 100 stages, with a password given to continue. Players choose two characters, Ken and Lilly, with sprite animations. They have five actions per stage, including moving blocks, shouting, jumping, using a weapon, or choosing to do nothing. They can only attack in their line of vision. Hoi hoi (glue traps) appear after the first ten stages, trapping multiple cockroaches. The game abandons simulation aspects to be more like a miniature brain teaser. Cockroaches react to the player's actions and will automatically win if defeated within five turns. Each stage tests critical thinking skills, with the option to pause and view an automated answer.