Magic Sword
Encyclopedia
, fully titled as Magic Sword - Heroic Fantasy, is a side-scrolling fantasy
arcade game
released by Capcom
in 1990
. The game casts the player as a hero who must fight his way through a mystical tower
in order to save the world. The player can use a sword, axe, or magic
, and can also rescue and recruit potential allies of various character class
es, each of which has his or her own special abilities.
At the game’s end, when Drokmar is defeated, the player has the option of two endings, either to destroy the Black Orb, or to take control of it, becoming the new dark lord.
, who follow the player diligently and only attack when the player does. AI assisting characters can be switched to fit the situation or player preference.
There are 51 floors to fight through in the game. Eight of these floors has a boss character at the end, including Drokmar himself at the end of the 50th floor. Additionally, there are seven "Secret Doors" which allows the player to bypass levels when he performs specific maneuvers.
was released for the Super NES
in 1992, and for mobile phones
in 2008. The full arcade version is included in Capcom Classics Collection
Remixed for PlayStation Portable
and Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 2 for PlayStation 2
and Xbox
.
The arcade version was also released alongside Final Fight
in a two-in-one bundle titled Final Fight: Double Impact for Xbox Live Arcade
and PlayStation Network. It was released on April 14, 2010 for Xbox Live Arcade for 800 Microsoft points and April 15, 2010 for PlayStation Network for $9.99.
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...
arcade game
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
released by Capcom
Capcom
is a Japanese developer and publisher of video games, known for creating multi-million-selling franchises such as Devil May Cry, Chaos Legion, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Resident Evil. Capcom developed and published Bionic Commando, Lost Planet and Dark Void too, but they are less known. Its...
in 1990
1990 in video gaming
-Notable releases:*Bonk's Adventure is released for NEC's TurboGrafx-16 and is the first US appearance of Bonk, the mascot of the TurboGrafx-16.*February 12 — Nintendo releases the NES game Super Mario Bros. 3 in North America...
. The game casts the player as a hero who must fight his way through a mystical tower
Tower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
in order to save the world. The player can use a sword, axe, or magic
Magic (gaming)
Some role-playing games or game systems can include a set of rules that are used to portray magic in the paranormal sense. These rules simulate the effects that magic would have within the game context, according to how the game designer intended the magic to be portrayed...
, and can also rescue and recruit potential allies of various character class
Character class
In role-playing games, a common method of arbitrating the capabilities of different game characters is to assign each one to a character class. A character class aggregates several abilities and aptitudes, and may also sometimes detail aspects of background and social standing or impose behaviour...
es, each of which has his or her own special abilities.
Story
Magic Sword takes place in an unnamed world, which is being threatened by the dark lord Drokmar, who has control over an evil crystal known as the “Black Orb”, which would allow him to rule over the world. In order to prevent this from happening, the hero, known as the Brave One, must scale to the top of the 50-floor tower in which Drokmar resides, known as Dragon Keep.At the game’s end, when Drokmar is defeated, the player has the option of two endings, either to destroy the Black Orb, or to take control of it, becoming the new dark lord.
Characters
Aside from Drokmar, none of the characters in Magic Sword have specified names, being referred to instead by a description. The protagonist is simply a barbarian referred to in the manual as “The Brave One”. In the arcade version, there is the option for a second player. While the Brave One wielded a sword and shield, the secondary player would carry an axe. This secondary character was also nameless, and is not presented in the game’s official advertisements.Allies
There are eight potential allies in Magic Sword. They are hidden throughout the tower, and need to be saved before they can assist the Brave One. While the player is able to switch allies at any time, he may only have one assisting him at any moment, and is not able to control the ally (except that the ally will only attack when the player does). Allies increase in power when they spend time with the Brave One, specifically collecting a Red Heart item or rescuing and selecting the same ally.Gameplay
The main core of the gameplay is side-scrolling fighting, with some platforming elements. The player controls only the main character; all of the allies are controlled by the computerGame artificial intelligence
Game artificial intelligence refers to techniques used in computer and video games to produce the illusion of intelligence in the behavior of non-player characters . The techniques used typically draw upon existing methods from the field of artificial intelligence...
, who follow the player diligently and only attack when the player does. AI assisting characters can be switched to fit the situation or player preference.
There are 51 floors to fight through in the game. Eight of these floors has a boss character at the end, including Drokmar himself at the end of the 50th floor. Additionally, there are seven "Secret Doors" which allows the player to bypass levels when he performs specific maneuvers.
Ports
A single player-only portPorting
In computer science, porting is the process of adapting software so that an executable program can be created for a computing environment that is different from the one for which it was originally designed...
was released for the Super NES
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
in 1992, and for mobile phones
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
in 2008. The full arcade version is included in Capcom Classics Collection
Capcom Classics Collection
Capcom Classics Collection is a compilation of arcade games released by Capcom for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox on September 27, 2005. It was developed by Digital Eclipse Software . A second volume, Capcom Classics Collection Vol...
Remixed for PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
and Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 2 for PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
and Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
.
The arcade version was also released alongside Final Fight
Final Fight
is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up game originally released by Capcom as a coin-operated video game in . It was the seventh game released by Capcom for their CP System arcade game hardware...
in a two-in-one bundle titled Final Fight: Double Impact for Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade is a type of video game download distribution available primarily in a section of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Microsoft's digital distribution network for the Xbox 360, that focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers...
and PlayStation Network. It was released on April 14, 2010 for Xbox Live Arcade for 800 Microsoft points and April 15, 2010 for PlayStation Network for $9.99.