Black Tiger (arcade game)

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Black Tiger
Sales flyer of Black Tiger
Developer(s)	Capcom
Publisher(s)	Capcom
Designer(s)	Imo (Akapa) (programmer)
Platform(s)	Arcade / Various
Release date	August 1987
Genre(s)	Hack and slash, Platform game
Mode(s)	Single player, Multiplayer (alternating turns)
Input methods	8-way Joystick, 2 Buttons
Cabinet	Horizontal
CPU	Z80
Sound	Sound CPU: Z80 Sound Chips: YM2203
Display	Raster graphics, 256×224 pixels, 1024 colors

Black Tiger, released in Japan as Black Dragon (ブラックドラゴン, Burakku Doragon^?) is a 1987 action game released for the arcades by Capcom.

[edit] Description

Gameplay of Black Tiger.

A barbarian hero jumps and fights his way through a variety of colourful, enemy-packed levels in this spiritual successor to the Capcom classic Ghosts 'n Goblins. The sprawling, eight-way scrolling levels are packed with hidden bonuses to encourage and reward exploration. Most of these bonuses are in the form of 'Zenny coins'; currency that allows the player to buy such items as an upgrade to their weapons and armour, keys for treasure chests, and anti-poisoning potions. Special items that reveal coins, upgraded armour, or simply bonus points may be found by attacking certain walls.

The Japanese version has a few changes that makes it more challenging than its American counterpart. Several of the "falling rock" obstacles were added in this version. Additionally, the prices of many of the items are higher. But perhaps the biggest difference is related to fighting the later bosses (the 3 dragons and the dual sword wielding foes at the end of stages 5 and 7). In the American version, it is possible to duck and avoid taking damage when the bosses touches the player's character as long as one of their projectiles doesn't hit him. In the Japanese version, the player is not able to do this.

[edit] Ports

Europe-based U.S. Gold released versions of Black Tiger for Amstrad CPC, Commodore Amiga), Atari ST and (ZX Spectrum) in 1989. A version for the Commodore 64 was released in 1990, developed by Softworx.