Rygar (arcade game)

Infobox VG
title = Rygar


developer = Tecmo
publisher = Tecmo
designer =
release = Arcade version
1986
X68000 version
^JPN 1986
C64 version
1987
NES version
^JPN April 14, 1987
^NA July, 1987
^EUR March 30, 1990
SMS version
^JPN 1988
Lynx version
^NA 1990
genre = Platform
modes = 2 players, separate turns
platforms = Arcade, Sharp X68000, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, NES, Sega Master System, Atari Lynx, Mobile Phone
ports = Atari Lynx, Commodore 64, Sega Master System, Sharp X68000, Spectrum 48K, Nintendo Entertainment System, Mobile Phone
cabinet = Upright
arcade system = CPU: 2 × Zilog Z80 (@ 4.00 MHz)
Sound: Yamaha YM3812 FM (@ 4.0 MHz), [http://www.okisemi.com/ Oki] MSM5205 (@ 384 kHz)
display = Raster resolution: 256×224 (Horizontal)
Palette Colors: 1024
input = Joystick; 2 buttons

"Rygar" is an arcade game created by Tecmo in 1986 and originally released in Japan as nihongo|"Argus no Senshi"|アルゴスの戦士|Arugosu no Senshi|lit. "Warrior of Argus". It is a scrolling platform game where the player assumes the role as the "Legendary Warrior", battling through a hostile landscape. It included a rich set of attack and movement capabilities. Only with these mastered would the player stand a chance of progressing through later stages.

The main feature of gameplay is using a weapon called the "Diskarmor", a shield with a long chain attached to it.

Ports

The game was ported to the Sharp X68000, Commodore 64, Famicom, Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Master System (Japan only; as "Argos No Jūjiken"), Spectrum 48K, Amstrad 6128 and the Atari Lynx. It was also included in a compilation of game called "Tecmo Classic Arcade" for the Xbox.

Atari Lynx Version

The Atari Lynx version closely followed the arcade version. However, the layout of some rounds was different, and there were only 23 rounds.

NES Version

The NES adaptation of the game was very loose, and the similarities are few. The title character, the weapon, and much of the enemies remain the same, but the gameplay was radically overhauled. While the arcade version was more of a standard side scrolling action title, ala "Ghosts 'n Goblins" or "Super Mario Bros.", the NES "Rygar" was an open ended action adventure game that played very similar to "Metroid", which was also released at the time. At the beginning of the game, you have much access to some of the worlds, but as the game progresses, new areas open up as the result of finding items such as the Grappling hook, Crossbow, and Wind Pulley, which let you cross previously impassable obstacles. A serious downside to this version is that it didn't allow for game saves. The complexity and difficulty of the game, along with the puzzles to solve and special objects needed to progress, require a great deal of time and unlike other complex adventure games of the time (The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Castlevania 2, etc.) the cartridge did not contain a battery (Zelda) and was not programmed to use save codes (Metroid, Castlevania 2). As a result, most players were forced to pause the game and leave their NES on overnight (sometimes going on for days or even weeks) when it became obvious they wouldn't finish that evening.

Plot

The arcade game begins with the following introduction:

"4.5 billion years have passed since Earth's creation. Many dominators have ruled in all their glory, but time was their greatest enemy and it defeated their reign. And now a new dominator's reign begins..."

Information gleaned from console manuals reveals that the evil being Ligar has taken over the land of Argool, and Rygar, a dead warrior who has risen from his grave, must use his Diskarmor, along with a variety of other weapons, to stop him. In console versions clues and limited dialogue are given in the form of large, sage like men encountered in stone green temples throughout the game.

In the Japanese original, references to "Ligar" and "Rygar" are one and the same, due to the fact that the Roman syllables "Li" and "Ry" come from the same Japanese character. In this version, the hero is only referred to as "The Legendary Warrior", while both "Rygar" and "Ligar" refer to the main villain.

PlayStation 2 game

"Rygar" was updated and released for the PlayStation 2 in November of 2002. It features a transition to 3-D graphics and portions of the environment are destructible. It was released to generally positive reviews.

Wii game

On May 11, 2007, a new "Rygar" title for the Wii was announced at Tecmo's "Nite Out 07" event. [http://ps3.ign.com/articles/787/787604p1.html]

ee also

*List of Famicom Games

External links

* [http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/rygar/rygar.htm Hardcore Gaming 101 Article on the Rygar series]
*moby game|id=/rygar|name="Rygar"
* [http://www.rygar.info/ "Rygar" Info Site]
*KLOV game|id=9386|name=Rygar
*WoS game|id=0004284|name=Rygar
* [http://www.nesmaps.com/maps/Rygar/Rygar.html Maps of the levels for the Nintendo (NES) version of "Rygar"] at "NESMaps"