Hanii in the Sky

Hanii in the Sky (はにいいんざすかい), known internationally to collectors as Hany in the Sky or Honey in the Sky, for the NEC PC Engine. Developed and published by Face, it arrived on retail toy shelves in Japan on March 1, 1989.

Face delivers a wonderfully eccentric, mythological action voyage that completely subverts traditional sci-fi shooter tropes in Hanii in the Sky. Instead of piloting a high-tech starfighter, players take absolute flight control of an adorable, sentient Haniwa terracota clay doll named Hanii, sent on a dangerous divine quest by the Shinto deity Izanagi to rescue his captive wife, Izanami, from a hellish demonic curse.

Players soar across ancient mythological clouds and cosmic grids, systematically purifying armies of folklore phantoms, aggressive floating spirits, and towering deity bosses. By pairing its distinct, claymation-inspired art style with a highly customizable weapon alignment shop and an incredibly catchy, upbeat chiptune soundtrack, this fascinating Japan-exclusive import classic stands as a highly memorable, conversation-starting cornerstone for retro handheld and console archivists.