Magic Sword: Heroic Fantasy

Last updated
Magic Sword: Heroic Fantasy
Magic Sword sales flyer.jpg
Developer(s) Capcom
Publisher(s) Capcom
Designer(s) Yoshimi Ohnishi
Tomoshi Sadamoto
Yoshiki Okamoto
Artist(s) Tomoshi Sadamoto
Kazunori Tazaki
Akemi Iwasaki
Composer(s) Manami Matsumae
Platform(s) Arcade, Super NES
Release1990
Genre(s) Hack and slash
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade system CP System

Magic Sword: Heroic Fantasy [1] is a 1990 hack-and-slash arcade game by Capcom. The game casts the player as a hero who must fight his way through a mystical tower in order to save the world. The player can use a sword, axe or magic, and can also rescue and recruit potential allies of various character classes, each of which has its own special abilities.

Contents

Plot

Magic Sword takes place in an unnamed world, which is being threatened by the dark lord Drokmar (Dracmar in the original Japanese [2] ), who has control over an evil crystal known as the "Black Orb", which would allow him to rule over the world. In order to prevent this from happening, the hero, known as the Brave One (Alan in the original Japanese [3] ), must scale to the top of the 50-floor tower in which Drokmar resides, known as Dragon Keep. [4] At the game's end, when Drokmar is defeated, the player has the option of two endings: destroy the Black Orb, or to take control of it, becoming the new dark lord.

Gameplay

Arcade version screenshot ARC Magic Sword - Heroic Fantasy.png
Arcade version screenshot

Magic Sword shares many gameplay elements with Black Tiger . The game has side-scrolling fighting, with some platforming elements. The player controls only the main character. The accompanying ally, controlled by the computer, follows the player diligently and only attacks and jumps when the player does. Assistant characters consist of Amazon (archer), Big Man (wields an axe), Knight, Lizardman, Ninja, Priest, Thief and Wizard. The player is allowed to carry one item, which can assist the player or the current ally.

The player has a magic meter. It fills up while the player is not attacking, but it empties completely each time the player attacks. If the player attacks when the meter is empty or is blue, the player can only perform a melee attack when the standard attack button is used. Magical allies like the priest and the wizard will not attack in this situation. If it is red but not full, the player and any magical ally teamed up with him will perform a weak ranged magical attack alongside the melee attack. If it is full, the player and any magical ally teamed up with him will perform a strong ranged magical attack alongside the melee attack. Non-magical allies will attack when the player attacks regardless of the status of the magic meter.

The player's health is displayed as a set of five HP bars and a number next to the HP bars that counts the number of sets of five full HP bars beyond the ones that are shown on screen in case the player has more than five full HP bars. The ally has a separate HP meter that maxes out at four HP bars.

Full screen attacks can be performed either instantly when a magical book is collected or on demand at the cost of one full HP bar.

The game has about 50 levels, [5] [6] and multiple endings with two alternate outcomes. [6] [7] There are 51 floors to fight through in the game. Eight of these floors have boss characters at the end, including Drokmar himself at the end of the 50th floor. Additionally, there are seven "Secret Doors" which allows the player to bypass levels when specific maneuvers are performed.

Development

During development, Capcom was going to program the gameplay so the player could have up to two allies (four in total in a two-player game). The hardest part of the game was the placement of enemies in each stage. One of the last features implemented in the game was the secret doors. [8] The game was being location-tested in Japan by April 1990. [5]

The Super Nintendo version was announced at the 1992 Winter CES. [9]

Ports

A single player-only port was released for the Super NES in 1992 and for mobile phones in 2008. [10] A version for the Capcom Power System Changer was planned and previewed but never released. [11] The full arcade version is included in Capcom Classics Collection Remixed for PlayStation Portable, Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 2 for PlayStation 2 and Xbox, and Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows.

The arcade version was also released alongside Final Fight in a two-in-one bundle titled Final Fight: Double Impact for Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network in April 2010. [12]

Reception

In Japan, the game had successful location tests by April 1990. [5] Game Machine listed Magic Sword on their September 1, 1990 issue as being Japan's second most-successful table arcade unit of the month, outperforming titles such as Raiden and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles . [20] In North America, it had a successful launch, with early orders of several thousand arcade units upon release, [6] while performing well at test locations. [21] It was a hit at American arcades upon release. [22] In November and December 1990, weekly coin drop earnings averaged $263.75 per arcade unit. [23] It was the top-grossing software conversion kit on the RePlay arcade charts in November 1990. [24]

The arcade game received positive reviews from critics. Julian Rignall of Computer and Video Games called it a "slick, colourful and well executed" game and said that it will appeal to any fan of slash 'em up games. [14] Your Sinclair called it "an unoriginal", but "hugely" playable coin-op game. [17]

The SNES version received mixed reviews from critics. Nintendo Power called it the great action game, but with extra game options and a stage select for the lower levels compared to the original arcade version. [15] Super Play criticized the animation for being awful, the sound effects as negligible, and the game slowing down at the slightest provocation. [16]

Related Research Articles

<i>Ghouls n Ghosts</i> 1988 video game

Ghouls 'n Ghosts, known as Dai Makaimura in Japan, is a side-scrolling platform game developed by Capcom, released as an arcade video game in 1988 and ported to home platforms. It is the sequel to Ghosts 'n Goblins and the second game in the Ghosts 'n Goblins series.

<i>Columns</i> (video game) 1989 video game

Columns is a match-three puzzle video game released by Jay Geertsen in 1989. Designed for the 68000-based HP 9000 running HP-UX, it was ported to Mac and DOS before being released commercially by Sega who ported it to arcades and then to several Sega consoles. The game was subsequently ported to other home computer platforms, including the Atari ST.

<i>Street Fighter II</i> 1991 arcade video game

Street Fighter II: The World Warrior is a 2D fighting game developed by Capcom and originally released for arcades in 1991. It is the second installment in the Street Fighter series and the sequel to 1987's Street Fighter. It is Capcom's fourteenth game to use the CP System arcade system board. Street Fighter II vastly improved many of the concepts introduced in the first game, including the use of special command-based moves, a combo system, a six-button configuration, and a wider selection of playable characters, each with a unique fighting style.

<i>Final Fight</i> (video game) 1989 video game

Final Fight is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up video game produced by Capcom. Originally released as an arcade game in 1989, it was the seventh title released for the CP System hardware. Set in the fictional Metro City, the game lets the player control one of three street fighters: former pro wrestler and city mayor Mike Haggar, expert brawler Cody Travers, and modern-day ninja Guy. The trio set out to rescue Jessica when she is kidnapped by the Mad Gear Gang.

<i>Super Street Fighter II</i> 1993 video game

Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers is a competitive fighting game produced by Capcom and originally released as an arcade game in 1993. It is the fourth game in the Street Fighter II sub-series of Street Fighter games, following Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting. It refines and balances the existing character roster from the previous versions, and introduces four new characters. It is the first game on Capcom's CP System II hardware, with more sophisticated graphics and audio over the original CP System hardware used in previous versions of Street Fighter II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CP System</span> Arcade system board developed by Capcom

The CP System is an arcade system board developed by Capcom that ran game software stored on removable daughterboards. More than two dozen arcade titles were released for CPS-1, before Capcom shifted game development over to its successor, the CP System II.

<i>U.N. Squadron</i> 1989 video game

U.N. Squadron is a 1989 side-scrolling shooting game released by Capcom for the CPS arcade hardware and for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The game was released in Japan as Area 88, and is based on the manga series of the same name, featuring the same main characters. Their mission is to stop a terrorist group known as Project 4. It was followed by a spiritual successor Carrier Air Wing.

<i>Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow over Mystara</i> 1996 arcade game

Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow over Mystara is an arcade game developed and published by Capcom in 1996 as a sequel to Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom. The game is set in the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting of Mystara.

<i>Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom</i> 1994 arcade game

Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom, published in 1994, is the first of two arcade games created by Capcom based on the Dungeons & Dragons tabletop role-playing game and set in the Mystara campaign setting. It is a side scrolling beat 'em up with some role-playing video game elements for one to four players. The game was also released on the Sega Saturn, packaged with its sequel, Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow over Mystara, under the title Dungeons & Dragons Collection, although the Saturn version limited the gameplay to only two players. In 2013, both games were re-released for modern platforms as Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara.

<i>Capcom Classics Collection</i> 2005 video game

Capcom Classics Collection is a compilation of arcade games released by Capcom for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox on September 27, 2005 in North America and in 2006 in Japan. It was developed by Digital Eclipse Software, Sensory Sweep, and its Japanese developer Klein Computer Entertainment. A second volume, Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 2, was released on November 24, 2006 in North America, for PlayStation 2 and Xbox. The second volume as well as the Xbox version of the first volume were not released in Japan.

<i>Willow</i> (arcade game) 1989 video game

Willow is a 1989 arcade game by Capcom. Capcom published two different games in 1989 based on the 1988 film of the same name. The arcade version is a platform game while the Nintendo Entertainment System version is an action role-playing game.

<i>Mercs</i> 1990 video game

Mercs, originally released as Senjō no Ōkami II in Japan, is a run and gun video game developed and published in arcades by Capcom in 1990. It is a sequel to the 1985 arcade video game Commando. While not as successful as its predecessor, Mercs was well received by critics and was a moderate commercial success. It was followed by Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 in 2008, a downloadable game.

<i>Knights of the Round</i> (video game) 1991 video game

Knights of the Round is an arcade game released by Capcom in 1991. A side-scrolling beat 'em up based loosely on the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, the game features an action role-playing video game-like level advancement system, with fighters automatically being upgraded to new weapons and armor as they advance through the game. In September 13, 2018, Capcom announced Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle with the arcade edition of Knights of the Round being one of seven titles and being released digitally for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows on September 18, 2018.

<i>Black Tiger</i> (video game) 1987 video game

Black Tiger, known in Japan as Black Dragon, is a hack-and-slash platform game released for arcades by Capcom in 1987.

<i>Battle Circuit</i> 1997 video game

Battle Circuit is an action beat 'em up game developed and published by Capcom for the CPS-2 arcade hardware for Japan and Europe in 1997. Taking place in an alternate future earth, the game revolves around a group of bounty hunters who must capture the mad scientist Dr. Saturn and secure a sophisticated computer disc carrying a program known as the "Shiva System". The game contains comic-like characters in a futuristic science fiction setting. Battle Circuit was Capcom's last beat 'em up game developed for the arcades. The game made its home console debut in Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle on September 18, 2018 digitally for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows.

<i>Street Fighter II Turbo</i> 1992 video game

Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting is a competitive fighting game released by Capcom for arcades in 1992. It is the third arcade version of Street Fighter II, part of the Street Fighter franchise, following Street Fighter II: Champion Edition, and was initially released as an enhancement kit for that game. Released less than a year after the previous installment, Turbo introduced a faster playing speed and new special moves for certain characters, as well as further refinement to the character balance.

<i>The King of Dragons</i> 1991 video game

The King of Dragons is a 1991 beat-'em-up video game by Capcom that follows players as they control characters through the kingdom of Malus to defeat monsters led by the dragon Gildiss. It features a level advancement system, allowing character attributes to be upgraded as players progress through the game. The game's music was composed by Yoko Shimomura.

<i>Crossed Swords</i> (video game) 1991 video game

Crossed Swords is a hack & slash action RPG arcade game developed by Alpha Denshi and published by SNK. It was released for the Neo Geo arcade system in July 1991 and later on Neo Geo console in October of the same year. Its gameplay was similar to SNK's earlier 1990 first-person shooter and beat 'em up game, The Super Spy, but with role-playing game elements and hack & slash combat instead of shooting and fist-fighting.

<i>Mega Twins</i> 1990 video game

Mega Twins, known as Chiki Chiki Boys in Japan, is a side-scrolling platform game released for arcades by Capcom in 1990.

<i>Captain Commando</i> 1991 video game

Captain Commando is a 1991 futuristic side-scrolling beat 'em up originally developed and published by Capcom as an arcade video game, and later ported to several other platforms. It was the seventeenth game produced for the company's CP System hardware. The game stars the titular superhero who was originally conceived as a fictional spokesman used by Capcom USA in the company's console games during the late 1980s. On September 13, 2018, Capcom announced Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle with Captain Commando being one of seven titles and released digitally for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows on September 18, 2018.

References

  1. ↑ Japanese: マジックソード
  2. ↑ "『マジックソード』1992年／スーパーファミコン". 15 June 2023.
  3. ↑ "『マジックソード』1992年／スーパーファミコン". 15 June 2023.
  4. ↑ "Magic Sword - Coin-Op Arcade Game - Review". Archived from the original on 2009-05-16. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
  5. 1 2 3 "Cover Story: "This Is the Good Time" – Capcom's CPS system brings success to the firm... and offers direction for a troubled video market". RePlay. Vol. 15, no. 7. RePlay Publishing. April 1990. pp. 183–5.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Capcom Bows "Next Final Fight" With Magic Sword". RePlay. Vol. 15, no. 12. September 1990. p. 20.
  7. ↑ "Magic Sword". RePlay. Vol. 16, no. 1. October 1990. p. 19.
  8. ↑ Okamoto, Yoshiki. "Capcom and the CPS-1". Capcom. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Magic Sword (SNES) - Next Wave". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 33. Sendai Publishing. January 1992. p. 84.
  10. ↑ "Magic Sword review". Pocket Gamer. 5 June 2008. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
  11. ↑ "カプコン アーケードオリジナルボード CPSシリーズ+CPSチェンジャー 限定販売決定!!". Club Capcom (in Japanese). Vol. 2. Capcom. Spring 1994. pp. 90–91.
  12. ↑ "Joystiq - Capcom porting Final Fight and Magic Sword to Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network".
  13. ↑ "Magic Sword SNES Review Score". Archived from the original on 2019-05-05.
  14. 1 2 Rignall, Julian (16 October 1990). "Arcade Action". Computer and Video Games . No. 108 (November 1990). pp. 113, 115.
  15. 1 2 "Your Guide to the Latest Releases". Nintendo Power . Vol. 38. July 1992. pp. 78–85, 105.
  16. 1 2 Davies, Jonathan (May 1993). Magic Sword Review. United Kingdom: Future Publishing. p. 69.
  17. 1 2 Wilson, David (1 November 1990). "Slots of Fun". Your Sinclair . No. 60 (December 1990). United Kingdom: Future plc. pp. 70–1.
  18. ↑ Wilson, David (December 1990). "Dosh Eaters". Zero . No. 14. pp. 85–6.
  19. ↑ Cook, John (26 October 1990). "Magic Sword". CU Amiga . No. 9 (November 1990). p. 95.
  20. ↑ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 387. Amusement Press, Inc. 1 September 1990. p. 21.
  21. ↑ "New Products". RePlay. Vol. 16, no. 1. October 1990. pp. 164, 166.
  22. ↑ "Machines & Markets". RePlay. Vol. 16, no. 4. January 1991. pp. 44–55.
  23. ↑ "Editorial". RePlay. Vol. 16, no. 4. January 1991. p. 6.
  24. ↑ "RePlay: The Players' Choice". RePlay. Vol. 16, no. 2. November 1990. p. 4.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.