Cliff Hanger (video game)

Last updated
Cliff Hanger
CliffHanger arcadeflyer.png
Arcade flyer
Developer(s)
Publisher(s) Stern Electronics
Designer(s)
  • Paul M. Rubenstein
  • Bob Kowalski
  • Jon Michael Hogan
  • Edward J. March Jr.
Programmer(s)
  • Paul M. Rubenstein
  • Bob Kowalski
  • Jon Michael Hogan
  • Edward J. March Jr.
Artist(s)
Series Lupin III
Platform(s) Arcade
Release
Genre(s) Interactive movie
Mode(s)1-2 players alternating

Cliff Hanger is a laserdisc video game that was released by Stern Electronics in 1983. It is an interactive movie, using animation from two Lupin III films, and requires the player to respond to quick time events to progress the storyline. Most of the game's footage is from The Castle of Cagliostro (1979), with additional footage from The Mystery of Mamo (1978).

Contents

Plot

The game's plot is based loosely on The Castle of Cagliostro and follows the eponymous Cliff Hanger as he attempts to rescue Clarissa from the evil Count Draco (in some materials called "Dreyco" [2] and in the instruction manual "Dragoe"), who wants to marry her. Cliff is aided in his quest by Jeff (Dan Dunn) and Samurai.

Development

The game was originally edited at Associated Audio Visual, Inc., in Evanston, Illinois. Jack Bornoff, was the editor, Paul Rubenstein, was editorial supervisor.[ citation needed ] The segments from The Mystery of Mamo use the original Toho / Frontier Enterprises English dub, while the segments from The Castle of Cagliostro use an English dub created for the game.

Cliff Hanger uses a feedback loop to read frame details from the game laserdisc. This prevents the laserdisc and gameplay from ever going out of sync (a common occurrence in other laserdisc games as the disc players aged).[ citation needed ]

The original version of Cliff Hanger shows footage from The Mystery of Mamo of Cliff being hanged if the player fails a quick time event. According to the instruction manual, a setting on the game cabinet's logic board would allow the individual owners/operators the option of not playing the sequence if they so chose.[ citation needed ]

Legacy

The game was considered for inclusion on the American Blu-ray release of The Castle of Cagliostro by Discotek Media; however, when it became apparent that the original contracts for the game were lost, it was left off the release. [3]

The television show Starcade featured a special episode where rather than playing the usual three games, the contestants played three rounds of Cliff Hanger. The winner of the show, Mark Walsh, won a Cliff Hanger cabinet. [4]

In the film The Goonies (1985), Chunk is playing Cliff Hanger when he sees the Fratelli Brothers driving past while being chased by the police. [5]

Cliff Hanger helped expose many Americans in the 1980s to Lupin III , Hayao Miyazaki, and Japanese anime in general, as it was released in the United States before any Lupin III or Miyazaki anime productions had officially been released theatrically or on home video. [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Castle of Cagliostro</i> 1979 Japanese animated film by Hayao Miyazaki

Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro is a 1979 Japanese animated action adventure comedy film co-written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It is the second animated feature film based on the 1967–69 manga series Lupin III by Monkey Punch. The film was Miyazaki's feature directorial debut after having previously worked as an animator for Toei Animation and Telecom Animation Film, and directing several animated television series, including Lupin III Part I.

<i>Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind</i> (film) 1984 film by Hayao Miyazaki

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is a 1984 Japanese animated post-apocalyptic fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, based on his 1982–94 manga series of the same name. It was produced by Topcraft and distributed by Toei. Joe Hisaishi, in his first collaboration with Miyazaki, composed the score. The film stars the voices of Sumi Shimamoto, Gorō Naya, Yōji Matsuda, Yoshiko Sakakibara and Iemasa Kayumi. Set in a post-nuclear futuristic world, it tells the story of Nausicaä (Shimamoto), the teenage princess of the Valley of the Wind who becomes embroiled in a struggle with Tolmekia, a kingdom that tries to use an ancient weapon to eradicate a jungle full of giant mutant insects.

The history of anime in the United States began in 1961, when Magic Boy and The White Snake Enchantress, both produced by Toei Animation, became the first and second anime films to receive documented releases in the country. Anime has since found success with a growing audience in the region, with Astro Boy often being noted as the first anime to receive widespread syndication, especially in the United States. Additionally, anime's growth in popularity in the US during the 1990s, commonly referred to as the "anime boom," is credited with much of anime's enduring relevance to popular culture outside Japan.

Lupin III, also written as Lupin the Third, Lupin the 3rd, or Lupin the IIIrd, is a Japanese media franchise created by Monkey Punch. The series follows the endeavors of master thief Lupin III, grandson of gentleman thief Arsène Lupin, joined by his criminal gang. The original Lupin III manga began in Weekly Manga Action on August 10, 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Streamline Pictures</span> Defunct American media company

Streamline Pictures was an American media company. Founded by screenwriter Carl Macek and animation historian Jerry Beck, it was one of the earliest distributors of English-dubbed Japanese animation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl Macek</span> American screenwriter

Carl Frank Macek was an American screenwriter and producer. Noted for his work on English-language adaptations of anime during the 1980s and 1990s, he was the creator of the Robotech franchise and the co-founder of Streamline Pictures. His work is considered to have been instrumental in creating mainstream awareness of Japanese animation in the United States.

An interactive film is a video game or other interactive media that has characteristics of a cinematic film. In the video game industry, the term refers to a movie game, a video game that presents its gameplay in a cinematic, scripted manner, often through the use of full-motion video of either animated or live-action footage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fujiko Mine</span> Lupin III universe character

Fujiko Mine is a fictional character created by Monkey Punch for his manga series Lupin III, which debuted in Weekly Manga Action on August 10, 1967. She is a professional criminal and spy who regularly uses her attractiveness to fool her targets. Unlike the rest of the Lupin III cast, Fujiko's physical appearance changes for most installments in the franchise. She is the star of the fourth Lupin III anime television series, 2012's The Woman Called Fujiko Mine, making it the first to not star Arsène Lupin III as the protagonist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goemon Ishikawa XIII</span> Fictional character from manga series Lupin III

Goemon Ishikawa XIII is a fictional character created by Monkey Punch for his manga series Lupin III, which debuted in Weekly Manga Action on August 10, 1967. Goemon is a thirteenth generation descendant of the renegade samurai Ishikawa Goemon. He is famous for a reticent personality coupled by apparent unlimited skill in martial arts and swordsmanship with his sword Ryusei (流星), known in the anime as Zantetsuken (斬鉄剣). A partner with Arsène Lupin III and Daisuke Jigen, he tends to join their exploits only on a when-interested basis.

<i>Lupin the 3rd: The Mystery of Mamo</i> 1978 Japanese animated film by Sōji Yoshikawa

Lupin III: The Mystery of Mamo, also known as Lupin III: The Secret of Mamo, is a 1978 Japanese animated science fiction action adventure comedy film. It is the first animated feature film based on the 1967–69 manga series Lupin III by Monkey Punch. The film was originally released in Japan as Lupin III, but was later retitled to Lupin III: Lupin vs. the Clone. Directed by Sōji Yoshikawa, who co-wrote the screenplay with Atsushi Yamatoya, the film was produced by animation studio Tokyo Movie Shinsha and distributed by Toho. The film's plot follows master thief Lupin III, who attempts to foil Mamo ― a wealthy and powerful recluse seeking immortality ― while trying to win the affections of his rival and would-be lover, Fujiko Mine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daisuke Jigen</span> Fictional character from manga series Lupin III

Daisuke Jigen is a fictional character created by Monkey Punch for his manga series Lupin III, which debuted in Weekly Manga Action on August 10, 1967. Jigen is the marksman, aide-de-camp and best friend of Arsène Lupin III. Along with colleague Goemon Ishikawa XIII, he joins Lupin in pursuit of riches acquired typically by theft. Traveling across the globe, Jigen has garnered fame as a gunman with a wildly capable speed and accuracy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Bergen</span> American voice actor (born 1964)

Robert Bergen is an American voice actor. He voices Warner Bros. cartoon characters Porky Pig and Tweety and has voiced characters in the English dubs of various anime. He formerly hosted the children's game show Jep!, adapted from the game show Jeopardy!.

<i>The Fuma Conspiracy</i> 1987 Japanese animated film

Lupin III: The Fuma Conspiracy is a 1987 Japanese animated action adventure comedy film. It is the fourth animated feature film based on the 1967–69 manga series Lupin III by Monkey Punch. Although classified as an original video animation by Tokyo Movie Shinsha, it was first given a theatrical release on December 26, 1987, by Toho. Due to budgetary reasons, it utilized a different voice cast from previous animated entries, with Toshio Furukawa as Lupin III, Banjō Ginga as Daisuke Jigen, Mami Koyama as Fujiko Mine, Kaneto Shiozawa as Goemon Ishikawa XIII, and Seizō Katō as Inspector Koichi Zenigata. It was the first Lupin III animation since 1969's Pilot Film to not feature Yasuo Yamada as Lupin and the only one not to feature Kiyoshi Kobayashi as Jigen until the 2021's animated television series Lupin III Part 6.

Yuji Ohno is a Japanese jazz musician. Ohno is known for his musical scoring of Japanese anime television series, particularly Lupin III, and most famously the 1977 series Lupin III Part II and the feature film The Castle of Cagliostro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inspector Zenigata</span> Fictional human from Lupin III

Koichi Zenigata, usually called Inspector Zenigata and formerly Heiji Zenigata VII, is a fictional character created by Monkey Punch for his manga series Lupin III, which debuted in Weekly Manga Action on August 10, 1967. He is named after the famous fictional Japanese detective Zenigata Heiji, of whom he is a descendant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lupin III (character)</span> Fictional character created by Monkey Punch

Lupin III, referred to in some English adaptations as Arsène Lupin III, is a fictional character created by Kazuhiko Kato aka Monkey Punch as the protagonist for his manga series Lupin the Third, which debuted in Weekly Manga Action on August 10, 1967.

<i>Lupin the 3rd Part II</i> Japanese anime television series

Lupin the 3rd Part II is a Japanese anime television series produced by Tokyo Movie Shinsha. Part of the Lupin III franchise, it is the second anime television adaptation of the Lupin III manga series created by Monkey Punch. Although originally broadcast as simply Lupin III, the series is now often referred to as New Lupin III by Japanese fans. Among English-speaking fans, the series is commonly known as the "Red Jacket" series in reference to Lupin's outfit.

References

  1. "Manufacturers Equipment" (PDF). Cash Box . November 26, 1983. p. 34.
  2. Dragons-lair-project.com
  3. Bertschy, Zac (26 June 2015). "ANNCastle of Cagliostro". Anime News Network . Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  4. "Starcade". Starcade. Episode 103. WTBS.
  5. Thegoonies.org Archived 2012-09-18 at archive.today
  6. Surat, Daryl (9 March 2012). "The Castle of Cagliostro Hayao Miyazaki's First (And Most Enjoyable) Movie". Otaku USA Magazine. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2013.