| Merlin | |
|---|---|
 Cover art | |
| Developer(s) | RFX Interactive |
| Publisher(s) | Light & Shadow Production Electronic Arts |
| Platform(s) | Game Boy Color |
| Release | December 2000 [1] |
| Genre(s) | Action |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Merlin is a 2000 action game for the Game Boy Color developed by French company RFX Interactive, published in Europe by Light & Shadow Production and Electronic Arts. The game is a platformer that takes place in a fantasy setting inspired by the mythical figure Merlin.
Merlin is an action game and platformer in which the player must navigate levels whilst defeating enemies. The game features five worlds each comprising three levels, [2] based on the elements of Earth, Water, Fire and Air, and the human world. [3] Worlds alternate between action-based and platforming-based levels, with a miniboss featured in each level and final boss at the end of each world. [3] Merlin's life system is measured by a 'magic meter', which increases when defeating enemies, and decreases when being hit. When the meter is full, or when Merlin picks up a power-up, he is able to cast different spells. [3]
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Computer and Video Games |   [4] |
| Game Boy Xtreme | 70% [5] |
| Total Game Boy | 54% [6] |
| 64 Magazine | 71% [7] |
Merlin received mixed to negative reviews, with most criticism expressing frustration with the control system and difficulty of the game. In a positive review, Computer and Video Games stated that "Merlin is a joy to play", citing the "variation in challenges, neat little touches and awesome boss battles", although conceding that being unable to move in the air while falling was an "annoying quirk" of the controls. [4] 64 Magazine critiqued the controls as "the worst thing about this game", stating "the responsiveness, or lack of it, means that tapping jump more often than not results in a mistimed leap". [7] Total Game Boy dismissed Merlin as a "below-average platformer with almost nothing to offer", particularly critiquing the "clumsy" controls. [6] Game Boy Xtreme found that the game was "visually appealing", but "too short and samey". [5]
Bubble Bobble is a 1986 platform game developed and published by Taito for arcades. It was distributed in the United States by Romstar, and in Europe by Electrocoin. Players control Bub and Bob, two dragons that set out to save their girlfriends from a world known as the Cave of Monsters. In each level, Bub and Bob must defeat each enemy present by trapping them in bubbles and popping, who turn into bonus items when they hit the ground. There are 100 levels total, each becoming progressively more difficult.
Wonder Boy in Monster Land, known by its original arcade release as Wonder Boy: Monster Land, is a platform video game developed by Westone Bit Entertainment and released by Sega in Japanese arcades in 1987 and for the Master System in 1988, with a number of other home computer and console ports following. The game is the sequel to the 1986 game Wonder Boy and takes place eleven years after the events in the previous game. After enjoying over a decade of peace on Wonder Land following the defeat of the evil King by Tom-Tom, later bestowed the title "Wonder Boy", a fire-breathing dragon called the MEKA dragon appeared; he and his minions conquered Wonder Land, turning it into "Monster Land". The people, helpless due to their lack of fighting skill, call for Wonder Boy, now a teenager, to destroy the monsters and defeat the MEKA dragon. Players control Wonder Boy through twelve linear levels as he makes his way through Monster Land to find and defeat the MEKA dragon. Players earn gold by defeating enemies and buy weapons, armor, footwear, magic, and other items to help along the way.
Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun, released as Renegade in the West, is a beat 'em up video game developed by Technōs Japan and distributed by Taito for the arcades in 1986. In the original Japanese version Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun, the game revolves around a high-school delinquent named Kunio-kun who must stand up against a series of rival gangs frequently targeting his classmate Hiroshi. In the Western version Renegade, the player controls a street brawler who must face four different gangs in order to rescue his girlfriend being held captive by a mob boss.
Spyro the Dragon is a 1998 platform game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. The first game in the Spyro series, it stars the title character, a young purple dragon named Spyro, and his dragonfly friend, Sparx, who must journey across the Dragon Kingdom to defeat Gnasty Gnorc, who has overtaken the 5 dragon Homeworlds by trapping the other dragons in crystal and turning their hoard of gems into an army of minions. Spyro the Dragon is an open-ended 3D platformer, featuring large, sprawling levels in which the player must locate collectable items, among which are gemstones, crystallized dragons, and stolen dragon eggs. Spyro's abilities as a dragon include fire breath, a head-on charging attack, and a mid-air glide which he can use to scale large distances, all of which must be used strategically to find items and defeat enemies.
Wizards & Warriors, titled Densetsu no Kishi Elrond in Japan, is an action platform video game developed by Rare and published by Acclaim Entertainment and Jaleco for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was released in North America in December 1987, and in Europe on January 7, 1990. The player controls Kuros, "Knight Warrior of the Books of Excalibur", as he sets out in the Kingdom of Elrond to defeat the evil wizard Malkil. Malkil holds the princess of Elrond captive in Castle IronSpire, deep within the forests of Elrond. The player fights through forests, tunnels, and caves, while collecting keys, treasure, weapons, and magic items.
Ironsword: Wizards & Warriors II is a platforming action-adventure video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) developed by UK-based company Zippo Games, a subsidiary of Rare. The game was published by Acclaim and released in North America in December 1989 and in Europe on March 27, 1991. It is the sequel to Rare's 1987 title Wizards & Warriors. In Ironsword, the player controls the knight warrior Kuros as he ventures in the land of Sindarin. He must defeat the evil wizard Malkil, who has assumed the elemental forms of Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water. Kuros must collect the parts of and assemble the legendary "IronSword" in order to defeat Malkil, who resides at the top of IceFire Mountain.
Dick Tracy appeared in the following video game tie-ins for the motion picture:
A Bug's Life is a video game based on the Disney/Pixar 1998 film of the same name. It was released for various systems in 1998 and in 1999. The game's storyline is similar to that of the film, with a few changes. After completing levels the player can unlock clips from the film. The PlayStation version was released on the PlayStation Store for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable on July 27, 2010.
Double Dragon is a 1987 beat 'em up video game developed by Technōs Japan and distributed by Taito for arcades across Asia, North America and Europe. It is the first title in the Double Dragon franchise. The game's development was led by Yoshihisa Kishimoto, and it is a spiritual and technological successor to Technos' earlier beat 'em up, Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun (1986), released outside of Japan by Taito as Renegade; Kishimoto originally envisioned it as a direct sequel and part of the Kunio-kun series, before making it a new game with a different cast and setting.
Mega Man Xtreme is a 2000 video game developed by Capcom for the Game Boy Color handheld console. It is a spin-off title in the Mega Man X series of video games that originated on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Mega Man Xtreme takes place within the series timeline during the 22nd century, in which a group of "Maverick" androids called the "Shadow Hunters" hack into the world's "Mother Computer" system, destabilize all of the networks, and allow other Mavericks to cause rampant destruction all over the world. The heroic "Maverick Hunter" X is tasked with going into cyberspace to relive his past missions and put a stop to the group's plans.
Gradius is a series of shooter video games, introduced in 1985, developed and published by Konami for a variety of portable, console and arcade platforms. In many games in the series, the player controls a ship known as the Vic Viper.
Yokai Dochuki, also known as Shadowland, is a 1987 platform arcade game developed and released by Namco in Japan and other parts of Asia. The player controls a young boy named Tarosuke as he must make his way through Jigoku, the Japanese concept of Hell, to reach Buddha, who will determine his fate. Tarosuke can fire small "ki" bullets at enemies to defeat them; he can also charge them to increase their power. Enemies will drop money when defeated, which can be used to purchase weapons and other items in stores. Two versions of the arcade original were released: a Japanese version and an English version which was released in other Asian countries outside Japan. The Arcade Archives release includes both versions.
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, known as Batman of the Future: Return of the Joker in Europe, is a scrolling beat 'em up video game developed by Kemco and released by Ubi Soft for the Game Boy Color, PlayStation and Nintendo 64 in 2000 and 2001. The game is based on the film of the same name, which in turn was based on the TV series Batman Beyond. Players act as the new Batman Terry McGinnis, who takes over the position of the retired Bruce Wayne and fights against the Jokerz gang led by the recently revived Joker. Throughout the game, Batman fights the villain's cronies, who steal tech components from various laboratories and corporations in Gotham City. Joker uses them to take control of a missile-shooting satellite, which he plans to destroy the entire city with.
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys is a video game developed by Player 1 and published by Titus Interactive for the Nintendo 64 in 2000 and developed and published by Titus Interactive for the Game Boy Color in 2001. The game is licensed from the 1995 television series of the same name, and the Game Boy Color title was released by Titus Interactive alongside Xena: Warrior Princess in the same month, with both games having linked features using the Game Link Cable.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie is the title of four different video game adaptations of the film of the same name which were released for the Super NES, Genesis, Game Boy and Game Gear. While the games were ostensibly based on the film, they also featured characters and plot elements from the second season of the original TV series. Like the previous game versions of the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, none of the four versions of the movie game were ports of each other.
Xena: Warrior Princess is a hack and slash video game developed by Universal Studios Digital Arts and co-published by Electronic Arts and Universal Interactive Studios for the PlayStation in 1999. A Game Boy Color version was developed and published by Titus Interactive in 2001. Each version is based on the television series of the same name, which aired from 1995 to 2001.
Spirou: The Robot Invasion is a 2000 Game Boy Color game developed by Planet Interactive Development and produced by Ubisoft Entertainment Software. The game is based upon the eponymous character of the Belgian comic strip magazine Spirou, and is a follow-up to the 1996 Game Boy title of the same name.
Xtreme Wheels is a 2001 racing game developed by Spike and published by BAM! Entertainment for the Game Boy Color. Compared to Excitebike, the game is a BMX racing game in which the player competes with other riders to finish a motocross course.
Jim Henson's Muppets is a 2000 Game Boy Color platform game developed by Tarantula Studios and published by Take-Two Interactive, based upon the Muppets franchise of the same name.
Thunderbirds is a 2000 action game for the Game Boy Color developed by Pukka Games and published by SCi Games, licensed from the Thunderbirds franchise, released in 2001 for the Game Boy Advance as Thunderbirds: International Rescue. The game is not to be confused with the 2004 Game Boy Advance title of the same name.