Yokai Dochuki

Last updated
Yokai Dochuki
Yokai douchuuki arcadeflyer.png
Promotional flyer
Developer(s) Namco
Publisher(s) Namco
Designer(s) Kazumi Mizuno
Composer(s) Hiroyuki Kawada
SeriesYokai Dochuki
Platform(s) Arcade, Family Computer, PC Engine, mobile phone, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
Release
  • JP: April 1987
Genre(s) Platform
Mode(s) Single-player

Yokai Dochuki [lower-alpha 1] 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.

Contents

Gameplay

Tarosuke jumping onto a cloud to avoid the enemies below. Yokai Dochuki screenshot.png
Tarosuke jumping onto a cloud to avoid the enemies below.

In Yokai Dochuki, the player controls Tarosuke, a boy who was banished to "jigoku" for causing mischief in the world of the living. [1] Tarosuke must venture through the monster-infested world of jigoku to reach Yama, the Buddhist deity that judges the dead, who determines his final fate. [2] [3] The game is divided into five levels, each taking place in specific regions of jigoku, such as "Jigoku Iriguchi" (The Gateway to Hell) and "Yuukai" (The Ghost Sea). [2] Tarosuke must reach the end of these levels while defeating enemies and jumping onto platforms. [1] He can defeat enemies by shooting small "ki" bullets; these can be charged to increase their power by holding down on the joystick or directional pad. [3] [4] Enemies drop bags of money when killed which is used to purchase useful items at stores. [2] [1] Tarosuke has a life bar that depletes when he is inflicted with damage; the game ends when the meter is empty. [2]

The first four stages conclude in a boss fight with an oni that guards the entrance to the next stage. [2] At the beginning of these, Tarosuke kneels at a shrine and summons a spirit named Monmotaro to defeat the oni. [2] The player controls Monmotaro in these fights, being able to fly around and shoot powerful energy pellets. [2] [3] The game increases in difficulty as Tarosuke progresses, with some levels requiring him to find three secret items in order to unlock the way to the next area and search for hidden pathways. [3] The amount of money collected and enemies killed in the final level determines which of five endings the player receives, with the best showing Tarosuke traveling to heaven, and the worst ending showing Tarosuke sent back to Hell. [2] [3] The Family Computer version of the game adds a "pious" meter, which is filled when Tarosuke performs good deeds such as complete specific objectives in some levels. [2] The pious meter also helps to determine the ending received at the end of the game. [3]

Release

The game was later ported to the PC Engine, and Family Computer consoles with several additions and different level design; the PC Engine version and the arcade version were both later re-released for the Japanese Virtual Console. The game was also followed by a Japan-only spin-off in 1990 named Kyūkai Dōchūki , which is a "yakyū" (baseball) video game that plays similar to the entirety of Namco's own World Stadium series.

Tarosuke also appears as a playable character in the Japan-only role-playing PlayStation 2 game Namco X Capcom , where he is teamed up with Taira no Kagekiyo from Genpei Tōma Den. He also makes a cameo appearance in Project X Zone 2 for the Nintendo 3DS.

Reception

Game Machine reported that Yokai Dokuchi was the most-popular arcade game in the month of April 1987. [8] It went on to be the fifth highest-grossing table arcade game of 1987 in Japan. [9]

Notes

  1. Japanese: 妖怪道中記, Hepburn: Yōkai Dōchūki, Phantom Travel Journal

Related Research Articles

<i>Dig Dug</i> 1982 video game

Dig Dug is a maze arcade video game released by Namco in 1982. It was distributed in North America by Atari, Inc. The player digs underground tunnels to attack enemies in each level, by either inflating them to bursting or crushing them underneath rocks.

1988 saw many sequels and prequels in video games, such as Dragon Quest III, Super Contra, Super Mario Bros. 2, Mega Man 2, Double Dragon II: The Revenge, and Super Mario Bros. 3, along with new titles such as Assault, Altered Beast, Capcom Bowling, Ninja Gaiden, RoboCop, Winning Run and Chase H.Q.

1987 saw many sequels and prequels in video games, such as Castlevania II: Simon's Quest, Dragon Quest II, Final Lap, and Zelda II, along with new titles such as After Burner, Contra, Double Dragon, Final Fantasy, Mega Man, Metal Gear, Operation Wolf, Phantasy Star, Shinobi, Street Fighter and The Last Ninja. The Legend of Zelda was also introduced outside of Japan.

<i>Bosconian</i> 1981 video game

Bosconian is a scrolling multidirectional shooter arcade video game developed and released by Namco in Japan in 1981. In North America, it was manufactured and distributed by Midway Games. The goal is to earn as many points as possible by destroying enemy missiles and bases using a ship which shoots simultaneously both the front and back.

<i>Rally-X</i> 1980 video game

Rally-X is a maze chase arcade video game developed in Japan and Germany by Namco and released in 1980. In North America, it was distributed by Midway Manufacturing and in Europe by Karateco. Players drive a blue Formula One race car through a multidirectional scrolling maze to collect yellow flags. Boulders block some paths and must be avoided. Red enemy cars pursue the player in an attempt to collide with them. Red cars can be temporarily stunned by laying down smoke screens at the cost of fuel. Rally-X is one of the first games with bonus stages and continuously-playing background music.

<i>Bravoman</i> 1988 video game

Chōzetsurin Jin Bravoman is a 1988 beat'em up arcade video game developed and published in Japan by Namco. Described as a "comical action game", the player controls the titular character, a bionic superhero with telescopic limbs, as he must defeat the villainous Dr. Bomb before he takes over the world. Bravoman can use his arms, legs and head to defeat enemies, and can also crouch and jump over them. The game ran on the Namco System 1 arcade board.

<i>Dig Dug II</i> 1985 video game

Dig Dug II is an action arcade video game developed and published in Japan by Namco in 1985. It is a sequel to 1982's Dig Dug. Pookas and fire-breathing Fygars return as the enemies, but the side view tunneling of the original is replaced with an overhead view of an island maze.

<i>Galaga 88</i> 1987 video game

Galaga '88 is a 1987 fixed shooter arcade video game developed and published in Japan by Namco and in North America and Europe by Atari Games. It is the third sequel to Galaxian. It features significantly improved graphics over the previous games in the series, including detailed backgrounds, larger enemies and greater ship details. The game runs on Namco System 1 hardware.

<i>Assault</i> (1988 video game) 1988 video game

Assault is a 1988 multi-directional shooter arcade game developed and published by Namco. It was licensed to Atari Games for release in North America. Controlling a caterpillar-tread self-propelled gun, the player is tasked with completing each of the game's eleven stages while shooting enemies and avoiding projectiles. It uses a twin-stick control layout, similar to games such as Battlezone. The plot involves the human race searching for new planets after Earth reaches its maximum population - after discovering an exo-planet 35,000 light years away from the Milky Way, they enslave the planet's natives and take control, leading to the planet's native population vowing to abolish the humans and bring peace to their world. The protagonist who rides the aforementioned self-propelled gun which players control, is one such native.

<i>Dragon Spirit</i> 1987 video game

Dragon Spirit is a 1987 vertical-scrolling shooter arcade game developed and published by Namco. In North America, it was distributed by Atari Games. Controlling the dragon Amur, the player must complete each of the game's nine areas to rescue the princess Alicia from the demon Zawell. Similar to Namco's own Xevious, Amur has a projectile weapon for destroying air-based enemies and a bomb for destroying ground enemies. It ran on the Namco System 1 arcade board.

<i>Genpei Tōma Den</i> 1986 Video game

Genpei Tōma Den is a side-scrolling hack and slash video game produced by Namco that was released as a coin-operated video game in 1986 in Japan. It runs on Namco System 86 hardware. Over a decade later, the game was released in America and Europe in the video game compilation Namco Museum Vol. 4 under the title of The Genji and the Heike Clans for the PlayStation.

<i>Face Off</i> (video game) 1988 hockey arcade game

Face Off is an ice hockey arcade game developed and released by Namco for Japan only in 1988. Up to four players control players from one of eight hockey teams against each other, the objective being to score the most points before the timer ends. Similar to Namco's own Final Lap, multiple cabinets can be linked together to enable multiplayer play. It runs on the Namco System 1 arcade board. Face Off received a favorable critical reception for its visuals and gameplay. A digital re-release for the Wii Virtual Console was released in Japan in 2009.

<i>Cosmo Gang the Video</i> 1992 video game

Cosmo Gang the Video is a 1992 fixed shooter arcade game developed and published by Namco. A home conversion for the Super Famicom was released the same year. Controlling the Hyper Beat starship, the player is tasked with ridding the galaxy of the Cosmo Gang, a race of aliens that cause mischief across Earth. Gameplay involves shooting enemies and avoiding projectiles. Power-up items can be collected to grant the player additional abilities. It ran on the Namco System 2 arcade board.

<i>Märchen Maze</i> 1988 video game

Märchen Maze is a 1988 isometric platform arcade game developed by N.H. System and published by Namco. Controlling a young girl named Alice, the player must complete each of the game's nine stages while avoiding enemies and falling off ledges. Alice can blow powerful bubbles at enemies to knock them back, and can hit them enough times to send them off the platform. It is the first Japanese video game adaptation of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and runs on the Namco System 1 arcade board.

<i>Solvalou</i> 1991 video game

Solvalou is a 1991 first-person rail shooter arcade game developed and published in Japan by Namco. The sixth entry in the Xevious series, the player takes control of the Solvalou starship from a first-person perspective as it must destroy the Xevious forces before they take control of Earth. The Solvalou has two weapon types: an air zapper to destroy air-based enemies, and a blaster bomb to destroy ground-stationed enemies. It runs on the Namco System 21 arcade board.

<i>Valkyrie no Densetsu</i> 1989 action-adventure arcade game

Valkyrie no Densetsu is a 1989 action-adventure role-playing arcade game developed and published in Japan by Namco. It is a follow-up to the Family Computer game Valkyrie no Bōken (1986). Players control the warrior maiden Valkyrie and her lizard-like companion Kurino Xandra as they set out to drop a mythical item called the Golden Seed into the Northern Fountain to replenish the dying crop fields of Xandra Land. Gameplay involves defeating enemies and collecting gold to purchase magical spells and weapons in shops.

<i>Kyūkai Dōchūki</i> 1990 video game

Kyūkai Dōchūki is a baseball arcade game that was released by Namco in 1990 in Japan; it runs on Namco System 2 hardware, and is a spin-off of Yokai Dochuki. The gameplay is similar to that for Namco's own World Stadium series, except that both players have a total of thirty-six different teams to choose from in the Japanese, Arabic, German, Humbaba, American, Russian, and Chinese leagues. The Japan League has five stadiums, and if the first player selects one team from it, it will randomly decide which one the match will take place in, but the other leagues only have one stadium. This game also features a cameo re-appearance, from Valkyrie, who appears to report the final outcome of a match once it has finished, and Namco's signature character Pac-Man can also be seen on two of the television screens in her studio wearing a purple bow tie.

<i>Steel Gunner</i> 1990 first-person shooter arcade game

Steel Gunner is a 1990 first-person shooter arcade game developed and published by Namco. Players take control of Garcia and Cliff, a duo of police officers that are part of the Neo Arc police force, as they must use their powerful Gargoyle mecha suits to destroy the STURM terrorist organization, who have taken captive scientists Dr. Ryan and Dr. Ellis to create a world-ending superweapon. Gameplay revolves around using a crosshair to shoot down enemies and avoid harming civilians. It runs on the Namco System 2 Plus arcade hardware.

<i>Cosmo Gang the Puzzle</i> 1992 video game

Cosmo Gang the Puzzle is a 1992 falling block puzzle arcade video game developed and published by Namco worldwide. The third game in its Cosmo Gang series, succeeding that year's Cosmo Gang the Video, players stack groups of blocks and aliens known as Jammers in a vertical-oriented well. The objective is to clear as many objects on the screen before they reach the top of the screen. Blocks are cleared by aligning them into complete horizontal rows, while Jammers are cleared by defeating them with blue-colored spheres.

<i>Pro Baseball: Family Stadium</i> 1986 baseball video game

Pro Baseball: Family Stadium, released as Pro Yakyū: Family Stadium in Japan and R.B.I. Baseball in North America, is a 1986 baseball video game developed and published by Namco for the Family Computer. In North America, it was published by Tengen as R.B.I. Baseball for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was also released in arcades through the Nintendo VS. System. It is the first game in the Family Stadium and R.B.I. Baseball franchises. The game was a critical and commercial success in Japan and North America.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 GAMEST MOOK Vol.112 ザ・ベストゲーム2 アーケードビデオゲーム26年の歴史 (in Japanese). Gamest. January 17, 1998. pp. 24–25. ISBN   9784881994290.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 懐かしファミコンパーフェクトガイド (in Japanese). Magazine Box. April 21, 2016. p. 55. ISBN   978-4906735891.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kalata, Kurt (November 26, 2019). Hardcore Gaming 101 Digest Vol. 6: Namco Arcade Classics. Hardcore Gaming 101. pp. 60–63. ISBN   978-1691254194.
  4. "Youkai Douchuuki - Videogame by Namco". Killer List of Videogames . International Arcade Museum. Archived from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  5. "妖怪道中記 (FC)". Famitsu (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. Archived from the original on March 26, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  6. "5月10日号特別付録 ファミコン ロムカセット オールカタログ" (in Japanese). Vol. 7, no. 9. Tokuma Shoten. Family Computer Magazine. May 10, 1991. p. 59.
  7. HF (September 1989). "Tale of a Monsterpath" (in German). Power Play. p. 54.
  8. "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 306. Amusement Press, Inc. 15 April 1987. p. 21.
  9. "87' ゲーメスト大賞 〜 ベストインカム" [87' Gamest Awards – Best Income]. Gamest (in Japanese). Vol. 17 (February 1988). December 28, 1987. pp. 25-38 (36-7). alternate url