King & Balloon

Infobox VG
title = King & Balloon


developer = Namco
publisher = Namco
designer =
release = 1980
genre = Fixed shooter
modes = Up to 2 players, alternating turns
cabinet = Upright, cabaret, and cocktail
arcade system = Namco Galaxian
ports = MSX
display = Vertical orientation, Raster
input = 2-way Joystick; 1 button
platforms = Arcade, MSX

"King & Balloon" is a fixed shooter arcade game that was released by Namco in 1980. It runs on Namco Galaxian hardware but with an extra Z80 processor to drive a DAC for speech.

Gameplay

The player controls two green men (likely soldiers in the king's army) with an orange cannon that fires at squads of descending balloons. You must protect the king and prevent him from being captured and carried away by one of the balloons. Unlike most shooter games, the player's cannon can be hit and destroyed any number of times; it is the king that must be protected. The game ends when the king is carried away three or four times, depending on if the player won a 1up.

Trivia

*In Namco Museum Battle Collection, after unlocking the "Manic Settings," the player is able to choose the voice of the king.
*The game only goes up to round 48. If the players completes round 48, the game will say the player is still on round 48. The level select in Namco Museum Battle Collection still goes higher than 48. If a higher level than 48 is selected, the player is brought back to the attract mode, but gameplay music is heard, and the START button is active,