Difference between revisions of "Trojan (video game)"

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[[Image:Trojan - ARC - USA.png|thumb|256x256px|North American arcade cabinet.]]
 
[[Image:Trojan - ARC - USA.png|thumb|256x256px|North American arcade cabinet.]]
  
'''''Trojan''''' is a beat-em-up developed and published by [[Capcom]] in April 1986, initially for the [[arcade]], then ported later that same year to the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] and [[MS-DOS]]. Unlike most of the early Capcom games, ''Trojan'' was not ported to a multitude of platforms, although a [[ZX Spectrum]] port was made but never officially released.
+
'''''Trojan''''' is a [[beat 'em up|hack-and-slash]] developed and published by [[Capcom]] in April 1986, initially for the [[arcade]], then ported later that same year to the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] and [[MS-DOS]]. Unlike most of the early Capcom games, ''Trojan'' was not ported to a multitude of platforms, although a [[ZX Spectrum]] port was made but never officially released.
  
My bother borrowed this game from a friend in the late 1980s, and I remember thinking it looked cool, until I tried playing it and realized how hard it was. I even tried playing it again later as an adult, and was still never able to reach the third stage.
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==Personal==
 +
My bother borrowed the NES port of this game from a friend in the late 1980s, and I remember thinking it looked cool, but, when I tried playing it, I realized how hard it was due to bad controls. I even tried playing it again later as an adult, and was still never able to reach the third stage. This is one of those games that I always thought could have been a great game, but just had too many problems to be memorable.
 +
 
 +
==Status==
 +
I do not own this game, and I have not beaten it.
  
 
==Review==
 
==Review==
 +
{{Video Game Review|3|2|4|4|3|NES}}
 +
 +
{{Spoilers}}
 +
 
===Good===
 
===Good===
 
* The post-apocalyptic setting was a good choice.
 
* The post-apocalyptic setting was a good choice.
 
* The graphics are great for the time, and the scenery looks really good with broken buildings and old signs, and I like the title logo.
 
* The graphics are great for the time, and the scenery looks really good with broken buildings and old signs, and I like the title logo.
* The sword and shield mechanic looks good, the ability to lose them is also cool.
+
* The sword and shield mechanic looks good, the ability to lose them is also interesting.
 
* Falling into the sewers in the NES port was really cool.
 
* Falling into the sewers in the NES port was really cool.
* The added versus mode of the NES port is a nice bonus, even if it isn't very good.
+
* The NES port added a decent amount of additional content including new power-ups, hidden rooms, and a versus mode.
  
 
===Bad===
 
===Bad===
 
* Typical of Capcom games of the era, the bosses move too quickly and erratically. The best strategy for most of them is to rush up and mash the attack button before they can get off an attack. It would be better if their design encouraged learning an attack pattern and finding an optimal defense.
 
* Typical of Capcom games of the era, the bosses move too quickly and erratically. The best strategy for most of them is to rush up and mash the attack button before they can get off an attack. It would be better if their design encouraged learning an attack pattern and finding an optimal defense.
 
* The engrish is pretty bad.
 
* The engrish is pretty bad.
* The timbre of [[Ayako Mori]]'s music is fitting, but it's a bit uninspired and forgettable. I didn't find any of the tracks memorable.
+
* The timbre of [[Ayako Mori]]'s music is fitting, but it's a bit uninspired and forgettable. I don't find any of the tracks memorable.
* The flashing "Jump" markers and "Open" signs don't fit the theme and hurt immersion.However, the NES port replaces these with a shoe power-up and a key which are more fitting.
+
* The flashing "Jump" markers and "Open" signs don't fit the theme and hurt immersion. However, the NES port replaces these with a shoe power-up and a key which are more appropriate.
 
* The dynamite thrown by enemies should also hurt other enemies.
 
* The dynamite thrown by enemies should also hurt other enemies.
 
* Having to replay the entire game in [[unlockable difficulty levels|hard mode]] just to see a slightly different ending message is obnoxious.
 
* Having to replay the entire game in [[unlockable difficulty levels|hard mode]] just to see a slightly different ending message is obnoxious.
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===Ugly===
 
===Ugly===
* Too much of the game is the same. The same enemies are used throughout the game, the same bosses are reused several times, areas 3 and 5 share a lot of common elements.
+
* Too much of the game is the same. The same enemies are used throughout the game, the same bosses are reused several times, areas 3 and 5 are nearly identical, etc.
* The game is far too hard, mostly because of poor player controls which do not feel comfortable or reactive to your input.
+
* The game is far too hard, mostly due to poor player controls which do not feel comfortable or responsive to your input.
* The MS-DOS and ZX Spectrum ports is especially bad. It eliminates scrolling, has even worse controls, and is terrible graphics and sound.
+
* The MS-DOS and ZX Spectrum ports are especially bad. They eliminates scrolling, have even worse controls, and use vastly inferior graphics and sound.
  
 
==Media==
 
==Media==
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Trojan - ARC - USA - Marquee.png|US arcade marquee. Just awful.
 
Trojan - ARC - USA - Marquee.png|US arcade marquee. Just awful.
 
Trojan - NES - Japan.jpg|The Famicom box uses a fairly simple cartoon painting of the player's character fighting one of the bosses with other enemies crowding in the distance. The style makes it look like the game is going to be more kiddish than it really is.
 
Trojan - NES - Japan.jpg|The Famicom box uses a fairly simple cartoon painting of the player's character fighting one of the bosses with other enemies crowding in the distance. The style makes it look like the game is going to be more kiddish than it really is.
Trojan - NES - USA.jpg|The North American box uses art from the arcade flyer. The anatomy is a bit, shall we say, jacked-up.
+
Trojan - NES - USA.jpg|The North American box uses art from the arcade flyer. The anatomy is a bit, shall we say, jacked-up. The DOS port used the same art with essentially the same layout.
 
Trojan - NES - UK.jpg|The European and South Korean boxes use the same art, but with a more basic layout.
 
Trojan - NES - UK.jpg|The European and South Korean boxes use the same art, but with a more basic layout.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
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<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
Trojan - ARC - USA - Manual.pdf|US arcade manual.
 
Trojan - ARC - USA - Manual.pdf|US arcade manual.
 +
Trojan - NES - Japan - Manual.pdf|Japanese Famicom manual.
 
Trojan - NES - Manual.pdf|US NES manual.
 
Trojan - NES - Manual.pdf|US NES manual.
 
Trojan - ARC - Japan - Flyer - Front.jpg|Japanese flyer, front.
 
Trojan - ARC - Japan - Flyer - Front.jpg|Japanese flyer, front.
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Trojan - ARC - USA - Ad.jpg|American flyer.
 
Trojan - ARC - USA - Ad.jpg|American flyer.
 
Trojan - Perfect Hisshoubon Series Famicom TJ651.jpg|Japanese hint book cover.
 
Trojan - Perfect Hisshoubon Series Famicom TJ651.jpg|Japanese hint book cover.
 +
Official Nintendo Player's Guide - 142.jpg|''[[The Official Nintendo Player's Guide]]'', blurb.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 +
===Documentation===
 +
<gallery>
 +
Trojan - ARC - Map - Stage 1.png|Arcade, stage 1.
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Trojan - ARC - Map - Stage 2.png|Arcade, stage 2.
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Trojan - ARC - Map - Stage 3.png|Arcade, stage 3.
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Trojan - ARC - Map - Stage 4.png|Arcade, stage 4.
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Trojan - ARC - Map - Stage 5.png|Arcade, stage 5.
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Trojan - ARC - Map - Stage 6.png|Arcade, stage 6.
 +
Trojan - NES - Map - Stage 1-1.png|NES, stage 1-1.
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Trojan - NES - Map - Stage 1-2.png|NES, stage 1-2.
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Trojan - NES - Map - Stage 2-1.png|NES, stage 2-1.
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Trojan - NES - Map - Stage 2-2.png|NES, stage 2-2.
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Trojan - NES - Map - Stage 3-1.png|NES, stage 3-1.
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Trojan - NES - Map - Stage 3-2.png|NES, stage 3-2.
 +
Trojan - NES - Map - Stage 4-1.png|NES, stage 4-1.
 +
Trojan - NES - Map - Stage 4-2.png|NES, stage 4-2.
 +
Trojan - NES - Map - Stage 5-1.png|NES, stage 5-1.
 +
Trojan - NES - Map - Stage 6-1.png|NES, stage 6-1.
 +
Trojan - NES - Map - Stage 6-2.png|NES, stage 6-2.
 +
Trojan - NES - Map - Stage 6-3.png|NES, stage 6-3.
 +
Trojan - NES - Map - Vs Stage.png|NES, vs stage.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 +
===Graphics===
 +
<gallery>
 +
Trojan - Logo.png|Trojan logo.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
 
===Videos===
 
===Videos===
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1FVWdlQNG8 youtube.com/watch?v=L1FVWdlQNG8] - Longplay, arcade.
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{{#ev:youtube|7Y3JkdcTSOw|256|inline|Review - NES Works.|frame}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4QPTkRgBfc youtube.com/watch?v=F4QPTkRgBfc] - Longplay, NES.
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{{#ev:youtube|L1FVWdlQNG8|256|inline|Longplay - Arcade.|frame}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9L0qWeyn1Go youtube.com/watch?v=9L0qWeyn1Go] - Game play - MS-DOS.
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{{#ev:youtube|F4QPTkRgBfc|256|inline|Longplay - NES.|frame}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9M7_0IHFAk youtube.com/watch?v=k9M7_0IHFAk] - Longplay, ZX Spectrum.
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{{#ev:youtube|k9M7_0IHFAk|256|inline|Longplay - ZX Spectrum.|frame}}
 +
{{#ev:youtube|9L0qWeyn1Go|256|inline|Game play - DOS.|frame}}
  
 
==Titles==
 
==Titles==
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{{Link|MobyGames|https://www.mobygames.com/game/trojan}}
 
{{Link|MobyGames|https://www.mobygames.com/game/trojan}}
 
{{Link|Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trojan_(video_game)}}
 
{{Link|Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trojan_(video_game)}}
 +
{{Link|StrategyWiki|https://strategywiki.org/wiki/Trojan}}
 
{{Link|VGMPF|2=http://www.vgmpf.com/Wiki/index.php?title=Trojan_(NES)}}
 
{{Link|VGMPF|2=http://www.vgmpf.com/Wiki/index.php?title=Trojan_(NES)}}
 
{{Link|NESHacker|2=http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Games/Hacking/Wiki/index.php?title=Trojan}}
 
{{Link|NESHacker|2=http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Games/Hacking/Wiki/index.php?title=Trojan}}
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[[Category: Games]]
 
[[Category: Games]]
 
[[Category: Video Games]]
 
[[Category: Video Games]]
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[[Category: 1986 Video Games]]
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[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Action, Adventure, Strategy]]
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[[Category: Video Game Genre - Beat 'Em Up]]
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[[Category: Game Mechanic - Boss Rush]]
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[[Category: Game Mechanic - Unlockable Difficulty Levels]]
 
[[Category: Arcade Games]]
 
[[Category: Arcade Games]]
 
[[Category: DOS Games]]
 
[[Category: DOS Games]]
 
[[Category: NES Games]]
 
[[Category: NES Games]]
 +
[[Category: VS. System Games]]
 
[[Category: ZX Spectrum Games]]
 
[[Category: ZX Spectrum Games]]
 
[[Category: Action]]
 
[[Category: Action]]
[[Category: Beat-Em-Up]]
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[[Category: Post-Apocalyptic]]
 
[[Category: Multi-Player]]
 
[[Category: Multi-Player]]
[[Category: Post-Apocalyptic]]
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[[Category: Multi-Player Versus]]
 
[[Category: 2-bit Color Graphics]]
 
[[Category: 2-bit Color Graphics]]
 
[[Category: 4-bit Color Graphics]]
 
[[Category: 4-bit Color Graphics]]
 +
[[Category: Video Games I Haven't Beaten]]

Revision as of 22:13, 15 August 2020

North American arcade cabinet.

Trojan is a hack-and-slash developed and published by Capcom in April 1986, initially for the arcade, then ported later that same year to the NES and MS-DOS. Unlike most of the early Capcom games, Trojan was not ported to a multitude of platforms, although a ZX Spectrum port was made but never officially released.

Personal

My bother borrowed the NES port of this game from a friend in the late 1980s, and I remember thinking it looked cool, but, when I tried playing it, I realized how hard it was due to bad controls. I even tried playing it again later as an adult, and was still never able to reach the third stage. This is one of those games that I always thought could have been a great game, but just had too many problems to be memorable.

Status

I do not own this game, and I have not beaten it.

Review

Video Game Review Icon - Enjoyment.png Video Game Review Icon - Control.png Video Game Review Icon - Appearance.png Video Game Review Icon - Sound.png Video Game Review Icon - Replayability.png
3 2 4 4 3

Best Version: NES

— This section contains spoilers! —

Good

  • The post-apocalyptic setting was a good choice.
  • The graphics are great for the time, and the scenery looks really good with broken buildings and old signs, and I like the title logo.
  • The sword and shield mechanic looks good, the ability to lose them is also interesting.
  • Falling into the sewers in the NES port was really cool.
  • The NES port added a decent amount of additional content including new power-ups, hidden rooms, and a versus mode.

Bad

  • Typical of Capcom games of the era, the bosses move too quickly and erratically. The best strategy for most of them is to rush up and mash the attack button before they can get off an attack. It would be better if their design encouraged learning an attack pattern and finding an optimal defense.
  • The engrish is pretty bad.
  • The timbre of Ayako Mori's music is fitting, but it's a bit uninspired and forgettable. I don't find any of the tracks memorable.
  • The flashing "Jump" markers and "Open" signs don't fit the theme and hurt immersion. However, the NES port replaces these with a shoe power-up and a key which are more appropriate.
  • The dynamite thrown by enemies should also hurt other enemies.
  • Having to replay the entire game in hard mode just to see a slightly different ending message is obnoxious.
  • The NES manual is pretty bad.

Ugly

  • Too much of the game is the same. The same enemies are used throughout the game, the same bosses are reused several times, areas 3 and 5 are nearly identical, etc.
  • The game is far too hard, mostly due to poor player controls which do not feel comfortable or responsive to your input.
  • The MS-DOS and ZX Spectrum ports are especially bad. They eliminates scrolling, have even worse controls, and use vastly inferior graphics and sound.

Media

Box Art

Documentation

Documentation

Graphics

Videos

Review - NES Works.
Longplay - Arcade.
Longplay - NES.
Longplay - ZX Spectrum.
Game play - DOS.

Titles

Language Native Transliteration Translation
English Trojan
Japanese 闘いの挽歌 Tatakai no Banka Requiem For Battle

Links

Link-MobyGames.png  Link-Wikipedia.png  Link-StrategyWiki.png  Link-VGMPF.png  64x64px  Link-TCRF.png