Deadly Towers: Difference between revisions
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'''''Deadly Towers''''' is an [[Action role-playing game|action |
'''''Deadly Towers''''' is an [[Action role-playing game|action role-playing]] [[video game]] developed by [[Lenar]] and exclusively-licensed by [[Irem (company)|Irem]] as a software title for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] (NES). It was released in Japan on December 15, 1986, and in North America in September of the following year. One of the earliest published [[console role-playing game]]s for the NES in North America,<ref name="cgw_76">{{citation|first=Roe R.|last=Adams|work=[[Computer Gaming World]]|year=1990|month=November|issue=76|page=83|title=Video Gaming World|quote=While America has been concentrating on yet another ''Wizardry'', ''Ultima'', or ''Might & Magic'', each bigger and more complex than the one before it, the Japanese have slowly carved out a completely new niche in the realm of CRPG. The first CRPG entries were ''Rygar'' and ''Deadly Towers'' on the NES. These differed considerably from the "action adventure" games that had drawn quite a following on the machines beforehand. Action adventures were basically arcade games done in a fantasy setting such as ''Castlevania'', ''Trojan'', and ''Wizards & Warriors''. The new CRPGs had some of the trappings of regular CRPGs. The character could get stronger over time and gain extras which were not merely a result of a short-term "[[Power-up|Power-Up]]." There were specific items that could be acquired which boosted fighting or defense on a permanent basis. Primitive stores were introduced with the concept that a player could buy something to aid him on his journey.}}</ref> ''Deadly Towers'' was a best-selling title in 1987.<ref name="cgw_50">{{citation|author=Arnie Katz, Bill Kunkel, Joyce Worley|work=[[Computer Gaming World]]|year=1988|month=August|issue=50|page=44|title=Video Gaming World|quote=Designed by the same crew that produced the best-selling ''Deadly Towers''.}}</ref> |
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In Japan, ''Deadly Towers'' was titled '''''Mashō''''' (魔鐘), literally meaning "Evil Bell". It is a pun of the word ''mashō'' (魔性), meaning "devilishness", and in keeping with this theme, the Japanese cartridge contained a red [[Light-emitting diode|LED]] at the top which illuminated when turned on.<ref>{{cite web |
In Japan, ''Deadly Towers'' was titled '''''Mashō''''' (魔鐘), literally meaning "Evil Bell". It is a pun of the word ''mashō'' (魔性), meaning "devilishness", and in keeping with this theme, the Japanese cartridge contained a red [[Light-emitting diode|LED]] at the top which illuminated when turned on.<ref>{{cite web |
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Hidden throughout the game are invisible portals to a secret area called the Parallel Zone, where the player can find equipment that is superior to the equipment found in stores. |
Hidden throughout the game are invisible portals to a secret area called the Parallel Zone, where the player can find equipment that is superior to the equipment found in stores. |
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==Reception== |
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==Retrospective critiques== |
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When released in 1987, the game became a best-selling title in North America.<ref name="cgw_50"/> As one of the first Japanese action role-playing games to be published in North America (alongside ''[[Rygar (Nintendo Entertainment System)|Rygar]]''), ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' described it as a new kind of role-playing game that differed from both the console [[action-adventure game]]s (such as ''[[Castlevania]]'', ''[[Trojan (video game)|Trojan]]'', and ''[[Wizards & Warriors]]'') and American computer [[Role-playing video game|role-playing games]] (such as ''[[Wizardry]]'', ''[[Ultima (series)|Ultima]]'', and ''[[Might and Magic|Might & Magic]]'') that American gamers were previously more familiar with at the time.<ref name="cgw_76"/> |
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}}</ref> whereas [[Seanbaby|Sean Reiley]], writing in 2001 for his comedy website Seanbaby.com, dismissed it as the worst Nintendo game of all time.<ref name="seanbaby" |
}}</ref> whereas [[Seanbaby|Sean Reiley]], writing in 2001 for his comedy website Seanbaby.com, dismissed it as the worst Nintendo game of all time.<ref name="seanbaby"/> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 17:06, 20 May 2011
| Deadly Towers | |
|---|---|
 Front cover of Deadly Towers package. | |
| Developer(s) | Lenar |
| Platform(s) | NES |
| Genre(s) | Action role-playing game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Deadly Towers is an action role-playing video game developed by Lenar and exclusively-licensed by Irem as a software title for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). It was released in Japan on December 15, 1986, and in North America in September of the following year. One of the earliest published console role-playing games for the NES in North America,[1] Deadly Towers was a best-selling title in 1987.[2]
In Japan, Deadly Towers was titled Mashō (魔鐘), literally meaning "Evil Bell". It is a pun of the word mashō (魔性), meaning "devilishness", and in keeping with this theme, the Japanese cartridge contained a red LED at the top which illuminated when turned on.[3] Irem intended the game's English-language title to be Hell's Bells, but Nintendo of America refused to issue the game a Nintendo Seal of Quality unless Brøderbund changed the name.[4]
Plot
On the moonlit eve of his coronation ceremony, pensive Prince Myer sits at the lakeside to ponder the future of the kingdom. Suddenly, a shadowy kami called Khan rises from the lake and coalesces into the form of a man. Although he doesn't identify himself, the figure greets Prince Myer by name, and informs him that Rubas, the "Devil of Darkness", is preparing to overtake Willner Kingdom by using seven magic bells capable of summoning an army of monsters.
To ensure peace, Khan says, Prince Myer must travel to the northern mountain to burn the Seven Bells in the sacred flame, burn down the seven bell towers in Rubas' magic palace, and, ultimately, defeat Rubas himself.
Gameplay
The game takes place from a 3-D side-scrolling view, where the player can walk in any direction. The player is equipped with a sword which is thrown to attack enemies. A new sword cannot be thrown until the first sword exits the screen or hits an enemy, unless the player has found an item called the double shot. This mechanic- coupled with the fact that most of the game's enemies take several hits to kill- is a significant grievance that players have with the game. Ironically, the game's instruction manual says "you have no confidence in this sword."
The player can find shops which cycle their inventory between various pieces of equipment that allow the player to sustain more damage and other such effects. The game's currency is called "ludder" and the player obtains ludder by picking it up from downed enemies. The game has a bug wherein if the player accumulates more than 250 ludder, the value resets and the player's collected currency drops to zero.
The bulk of the game takes place in labyrinthine dungeons where the player must navigate a long series of rooms with several branching paths to reach and defeat the seven main bosses, before the final battle against Rubas. One of the biggest complaints against the game is that the game's mazes are exceedingly difficult to navigate and it is easy to get lost without finding a map or etcetera walkthrough.
Hidden throughout the game are invisible portals to a secret area called the Parallel Zone, where the player can find equipment that is superior to the equipment found in stores.
Reception
When released in 1987, the game became a best-selling title in North America.[2] As one of the first Japanese action role-playing games to be published in North America (alongside Rygar), Computer Gaming World described it as a new kind of role-playing game that differed from both the console action-adventure games (such as Castlevania, Trojan, and Wizards & Warriors) and American computer role-playing games (such as Wizardry, Ultima, and Might & Magic) that American gamers were previously more familiar with at the time.[1]
Despite the game's commercial success in its time,[2] however, the game has received a more mixed reception from retrospective critiques. A writer for the Video Game Bible, 1985-2002 reports that he found the game's varied levels entertaining,[5] whereas Sean Reiley, writing in 2001 for his comedy website Seanbaby.com, dismissed it as the worst Nintendo game of all time.[4]
References
- ^ a b Adams, Roe R. (1990), "Video Gaming World", Computer Gaming World, no. 76, p. 83,
While America has been concentrating on yet another Wizardry, Ultima, or Might & Magic, each bigger and more complex than the one before it, the Japanese have slowly carved out a completely new niche in the realm of CRPG. The first CRPG entries were Rygar and Deadly Towers on the NES. These differed considerably from the "action adventure" games that had drawn quite a following on the machines beforehand. Action adventures were basically arcade games done in a fantasy setting such as Castlevania, Trojan, and Wizards & Warriors. The new CRPGs had some of the trappings of regular CRPGs. The character could get stronger over time and gain extras which were not merely a result of a short-term "Power-Up." There were specific items that could be acquired which boosted fighting or defense on a permanent basis. Primitive stores were introduced with the concept that a player could buy something to aid him on his journey.
{{citation}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ a b c Arnie Katz, Bill Kunkel, Joyce Worley (1988), "Video Gaming World", Computer Gaming World, no. 50, p. 44,
Designed by the same crew that produced the best-selling Deadly Towers.
{{citation}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Ciprian, Jason (4 September 2009). "Deadly Towers Famicom Flashback: Let There Be Light!". MTV Networks. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ a b Reiley, Sean (2001). "The Worst Nintendo Game #1 - Deadly Towers". Retrieved 7 March 2011.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|month=(help) - ^ Slaven, Andy, ed. (2002). "Nintendo Entertainment System". Video Game Bible, 1985-2002. Vol. 1. Victoria: Trafford Publishing. p. 95. ISBN 9781553697312. OCLC 50185883.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameters:|coauthors=,|nopp=,|trans_title=,|month=,|trans_chapter=,|chapterurl=,|editorn-link=, and|authormask=(help)
Sources
- Deadly Towers Instruction Manual. Brøderbund, 1986.