Blackthorne
| Blackthorne | |
|---|---|
 SNES box art | |
| Developer(s) | Blizzard Entertainment Paradox Development (32X) Mass Media Inc. (GBA) |
| Publisher(s) | Interplay MacPlay (Mac OS) Blizzard (GBA) |
| Producer(s) | Ronald Millar Sr. Matthew Findley |
| Designer(s) | Ronald Millar Sr. |
| Programmer(s) | Frank Pearce Jr. Patrick Wyatt |
| Artist(s) | Roman Kenney Stuart Rose Jason Magness Ronald Millar Sr. Sam Didier |
| Writer(s) | Micky Neilson Ronald Millar Sr. Frank Pearce Jr. |
| Composer(s) | Glenn Stafford |
| Platform(s) | SNES, DOS, Sega 32X, Classic Mac OS, GBA, Windows |
| Release | 1994 (SNES and MS-DOS) 1995 (Sega 32X) 1996 (Mac) 2003 (GBA) 2013 (Windows) (Battle.net) |
| Genre(s) | Cinematic platformer |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Blackthorne (released as Blackhawk in some European countries) is a cinematic platformer video game developed by Blizzard Entertainment. It was released for the SNES and DOS in 1994.[1] The cover art for the SNES version was drawn by Jim Lee.[2] In 2013 the game was added to Battle.net as free download emulated through DOSBox.[3]
Plot
Blackthorne is set on the planet Tuul, which has existed for centuries without human knowledge. All of this time, Tuul's people have been ruled over by a single shaman who "was blessed with all knowledge". Years before the game begins, Thoros, the latest ruler, finds it near impossible to choose between his two sons as the next ruler. Believing it will solve the dilemma, he leads them to the deserts and kills himself. His body becomes two stones, light and dark, and he gives one to each boy to rule their own kingdoms respectively. The people of the lightstone form the kingdom of Androth, and the people of the darkstone form Ka'dra'suul. But while Androth respects their stone, Ka'dra'suul reject theirs, and are eventually transformed into monsters by it. In this time, a ka'dra named Sarlac seizes power. He forms an army and leads them against Androth. Knowing of his people's doom, the ruler of Androth, King Vlaros, with the aid of the Androthi magician Galadril, sends his son Kyle to Earth to save his life. Vlaros also gives Kyle the lightstone for safe keeping.
20 years later, Kyle has become a renowned military captain and mercenary. After breaking out of prison facing court martial, Kyle begins having strange dreams, and is eventually confronted by Galadril. He is told that it is time to return to Tuul and save his people. The game begins here with Kyle setting out to kill Sarlac and reclaim his throne.
Gameplay
The game focuses around protagonist Kyle Vlaros who is known as the Blackthorne, out for revenge on Sarlac and his minions. The gameplay involves large platforming sequences, in which Kyle can run and climb around the environment, find keys and items and progress to the end of each maze like level. Combat in Blackthorne takes the form of gunfights. Both Blackthorne and his enemies can press against walls to avoid incoming bullets. Blackthorne can also fire blindly behind himself. During the game, Kyle uses a pump action shotgun as his primary weapon. As the game progresses, Androthi allies will help him upgrade the weapon, increasing its speed and power.
The game has seventeen levels within four areas - the mines of Androth, the Karrellian forests/swamps, the Wasteland desert, and Shadow keep. The Sega 32X version includes a fifth area, the snowy mountains, which is not found in the other versions of the game. As the game progresses through these areas, Kyle becomes stronger and better armed, but so do the enemies.
Ports
Blackthorne was released with modified graphics, higher color palette and four new levels, which take place on a snowy mountain, for the Sega 32X in 1995. The game had a soundtrack similar to the SNES version, as opposed to the DOS version that used MIDI. This version was also released for Classic Mac OS, running in double resolution, in 1996.[4] A port to the Game Boy Advance was released in 2003, with reduced graphics compared with the original.
Reception
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| GameRankings | 81.50%[5] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 8/10 (SNES)[7] |
| Next Generation |   (DOS)[8] |
Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the SNES version their "Game of the Month" award, praising its dark tone, amazingly smooth animation, complex and intelligent gameplay, and the ability to kill prisoners after getting information from them.[7] GamePro gave the SNES version a positive review, calling it "Flashback with an attitude." They particularly praised its detailed graphics and stronger emphasis on action over puzzle-solving as compared to similar games.[9] They gave the 32X version a positive review as well, remarking that "With a solid graphical overhaul, Blackthorne delivers where many of the 16-bit conversions flounder in the 32X library."[10]
A reviewer for Next Generation called Blackthorne "one of the best arcade-style games the [PC] has ever seen", citing the accessible and intelligent gameplay, smooth animation, and the "dark feel of the game".[8]
References
- ^ http://www.gamespot.com/mac/action/blackthorne/
- ^ "At the Deadline". GamePro (72). IDG: 162. September 1994.
- ^ Sykes, Tom (3 November 2013). "Blizzard's 16-bit platformer Blackthorne is now available as free download". PC Gamer UK. Future plc. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ Hardcoregaming101, Blackthorne / Blackhawk
- ^ "Blackthorne for SNES". GameRankings.
- ^ Charles Ardai (January 1995). "Interplay's Swashbuckling BLACKTHORNE Challenges PRINCE OF PERSIA'S Rule" (PDF). Computer Gaming World (126): 168–170. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
- ^ a b "Review Crew: Blackthorne". Electronic Gaming Monthly (62). Ziff Davis: 28. September 1994.
- ^ a b "Blackthorne". Next Generation (4). Imagine Media: 90–91. April 1995.
- ^ "ProReview: Blackthorne". GamePro (72). IDG: 72. September 1994.
- ^ "ProReview: Blackthorne". GamePro (85). IDG: 54. October 1995.