Arkista's Ring
Encyclopedia
Arkista's Ring is a video game developed and published by American Sammy for the Nintendo Entertainment System
in 1990. A prime example of the action-adventure
genre, the game is set in a fantasy
world, and you play as a female elf
named Christine, in her quest
to find the Elven ring of Arkista.
Christine, equipped with only a bow
, can travel throughout the Kingdom, and retrieve the ring.
fashion, as the player will progress through a total of 125 stages. Each stage starts with the player in control of the hero Christine, and you must progress by killing a certain number of enemies to gain access to a hidden key. Once the key for the stage is obtained the player must travel through the stage in search of the exit. There are 32 different stages, after which, the game loops over, each time progressing in difficulty and enemy speed. It is not an endless loop, as the game is completed after the player successfully finishes the 125th stage, or, the 4th loop.
At random enemies will leave behind item pouches when they are killed. The items obtained through these pouches are also random. Players can collect several upgrades to their bow and arrow
s, which increase shot distance, and damaging strength respectively. Players may also find other beneficial items such as armor, ninja stunners and health potions.
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
in 1990. A prime example of the action-adventure
Action-adventure game
An action-adventure game is a video game that combines elements of the adventure game genre with various action game elements. It is perhaps the broadest and most diverse genre in gaming, and can include many games which might better be categorized under narrow genres...
genre, the game is set in a fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
world, and you play as a female elf
Elf
An elf is a being of Germanic mythology. The elves were originally thought of as a race of divine beings endowed with magical powers, which they use both for the benefit and the injury of mankind...
named Christine, in her quest
Quest
In mythology and literature, a quest, a journey towards a goal, serves as a plot device and as a symbol. Quests appear in the folklore of every nation and also figure prominently in non-national cultures. In literature, the objects of quests require great exertion on the part of the hero, and...
to find the Elven ring of Arkista.
Story
The Elven ring of Arkista has been stolen by the villainous Shogun, which has cast the entire Elven Kingdom into darkness. The only hope for the Elves is that the strong warriorWarrior
A warrior is a person skilled in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based society that recognizes a separate warrior class.-Warrior classes in tribal culture:...
Christine, equipped with only a bow
Bow (weapon)
The bow and arrow is a projectile weapon system that predates recorded history and is common to most cultures.-Description:A bow is a flexible arc that shoots aerodynamic projectiles by means of elastic energy. Essentially, the bow is a form of spring powered by a string or cord...
, can travel throughout the Kingdom, and retrieve the ring.
Gameplay
Much like The Legend of Zelda, the game is played from a top-down perspective pitting the player against a multitude of various enemies. Different, however, is that the game is played out in a very linearLinear
In mathematics, a linear map or function f is a function which satisfies the following two properties:* Additivity : f = f + f...
fashion, as the player will progress through a total of 125 stages. Each stage starts with the player in control of the hero Christine, and you must progress by killing a certain number of enemies to gain access to a hidden key. Once the key for the stage is obtained the player must travel through the stage in search of the exit. There are 32 different stages, after which, the game loops over, each time progressing in difficulty and enemy speed. It is not an endless loop, as the game is completed after the player successfully finishes the 125th stage, or, the 4th loop.
At random enemies will leave behind item pouches when they are killed. The items obtained through these pouches are also random. Players can collect several upgrades to their bow and arrow
Arrow
An arrow is a shafted projectile that is shot with a bow. It predates recorded history and is common to most cultures.An arrow usually consists of a shaft with an arrowhead attached to the front end, with fletchings and a nock at the other.- History:...
s, which increase shot distance, and damaging strength respectively. Players may also find other beneficial items such as armor, ninja stunners and health potions.