We're getting another Arcade Archives release on Switch tomorrow, as the Japan-only platformer Yokai Dochuki is the next game to launch in the series, but with a slightly different name in the West, however — Shadowland.
Originally released in arcades in 1987, the game sees you platforming through jigoku (essentially, hell or purgatory) to reach Yama, the Buddhist deity who will determine your final fate. There are five levels to play through, and all of them are based on different regions within jigoku. You can fire spirit energy bullets — ki — at your enemies and run and jump your way through each level. Shadowland truly embraces its mythology and Buddhist inspirations.
One interesting thing about the game is that there are five different endings. Which ending you get depends on how much money you collect and how many enemies you've killed. Later versions of the game allow you to track your "good deeds" with a bar that you can use to see what ending you might get at the end. However, this is unlikely to make it into this release, as this will be based on the original arcade game.
Arcade Archives Shadowland drops on the eShop tomorrow, 28th April, and as with the rest of the series, it will cost $7.99 / €6.99 / £6.29. Take a look at the gameplay below, and let us know whether you'll be grabbing this for the digital collection in the comments!
[source nintendoeverything.com]
Comments 28
I quite like the look of this. It looks like it would be fun for Caravan mode too.
Will Tekken have a chance to release through Arcade Archives, I wonder?
@AlexanderDaniels probably not. Arcade Archives seems to be for pre-2000s 3D arcade games (with the exception of some Neo Geo games, but that was old hardware by 2004).
I have never heard of this game before today, but the music in it is great!
Cute. Just 1 music loop?
never heard or seen this but it looks and sounds cool!!
Wow! This is a cool surprise and awesome pick. Anyone interested in yokai and Japan’s take on Hell (the game has you escaping Hell) should check it out. Brutally hard game though.
These Namco Arcade Archives games are really going on another level. We’re really getting some that don’t even show up on any of the many Namco Museums they’ve put out. Admittedly, its also a bit trippy to put a game in front of the music that at this point, I’m only familiar with, because of Smash Bros.
So many no name hidden gems but when will Arcade Archives started giving us games we actually care about?
Hey, that kid is one of the characters in the Namco X Capcom/Project X Zone series.
I have and played the Famicom version, and it was quite a fun and unique game. Might look into this version as well.
I recognise that artwork; think this one got a PC Engine port.
@BrazillianCara my recurrent reaction to these Namco Archives announcements lately.😄 And since I'm yet to reach PXZ games, it's good news to me that Tarosuke is among the ones who returned after their NxC gig. The likes of Momo or Sabine sadly don't seem to.
I like it! This looks like a fun addition, like a yokai platformer that is Gegege Kitaro in everything but name.
I love these Japanese arcade obscurities that Hamster keeps rolling out. But my trip to the Funspot arcade last week really made me wish someone was revitalizing the old WESTERN arcade games, too. It was so nostalgic to walk around and play Venture, Ladybug, Carnival, Food Fight, TRON, Berserk, Sinistar, Defender, Tapper, and so many Western arcade games that are probably beyond Hamster's reach.
Not that I'm complaining! I played some gems like Zoo Keeper and Chase HQ that Hamster/Taito may get on the Switch someday.
Years of playing the Famicom port, and I never could beat even the first boss. I could always make it to it, with just a little bit of health left.
The game might be a platformer, but those boss fights are something else. The guy can't even fight bosses, he has to pray for an angel to come help him, and then playing as the angel it turns into like a shmup boss fight.
@AlanaHagues I have no idea of the origins of the data (if it was previously officially released anywhere), but at least MAME does have an English-language ROM set called Shadowland.
I'm guessing we're probably getting that.
@KingMike Probably! If we get any more official or concrete info I'll update.
I really want an Arcade Archives Super Dodgeball(neo geo version) release.
This game used to be known in the west as Tales of the Monster Path on the FC/PCE. It's worth a try.
He has Kitaro's hairstyle, but no Geta or spirit hair Chanchanko.
@Specter_of-the_OLED
Just because you don't care doesn't mean no one cares. Yokai Dochuki was very popular in Japan when it was released, and is fondly remembered. I hate these takes from Western people who act as though if they've never heard of a game, the rest of the world doesn't give a *****
Interesting. Don't think I've seen a game before where the map takes up so much real estate on screen. Kinda neat actually.
Oh man, this game! This is a really hard true ending called "The Saints Trial" where you must not pick up any money, don't kill any enemies and demons, and not cause the bathroom cutscene to happen! lol!
It's a brutal platformer!
Also I will say the artwork is a little creepy. Super cartoonish stylized face and body, yet realistically rendered hands, weird.
I wonder if that point around the 4:15 mark will have to be censored (had to rewind the video and pause to make sure I saw what I thought I did).
Not making a judgement call, just wondering.
I'm really enjoying this, along with Pyrus, the DLC game on the new Toplan Garage.
I have this game on PC-Engine and I'm thrilled it's getting new life in the west and on the Switch! It's a fun game!
Looks pretty cool actually 😎
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