Danan: The Jungle Fighter
| Danan: The Jungle Fighter | |
|---|---|
| Publisher(s) | Sega |
| Platform(s) | Sega Master System |
| Release date(s) | 1990 |
| Genre(s) | Action, platform |
Danan: The Jungle Fighter is an action/platform-adventure game for the Sega Master System Video Game Console. It was published by Sega in both Brazil and Japan in 1990. The name features a fictional character, Danan, set in an unknown wooded civilization. It features
Gameplay
Danan: The Jungle Fighter borrows elements from different game genres, such as hack 'n slash action, vertical and horizontal platforming; non-linear level designs; an elaborate plot mostly unraveled by talking to NPCs; item collection, summons (animal aid); levelling up; – it's often described by game journalists and game bloggers as a cross between Hack 'n Slash action in the vein of Rastan,[1][2][3][4] Golden Axe[1] and The Legendary Axe,[5] and action-adventures games like Lord of the Sword[4] and Faxanadu.[5]
Although it contains some action-adventure- and lite-RPG mechanics, the emphasis in Danan falls more heavily on action and platforming. The player can walk, jump, duck, climb stairs, enter doors and thrust his knife into enemies. The game is divided into four relatively nonlinear "rounds". Danan must sometimes enter houses, through ladders inside he can enter the doors on the top floor, which is required to reach the higher plateaus and to advance further in particular areas. Though exploration (underground caverns, sideways, ...) rewards the player with extra power-ups, most of these are non-essential (upgraded knives being the exception). In contrast to games like Metroid, there aren't any previously inaccessible areas to backtrack to after powering up. Especially in the third maze-like round, the timer - which at the beginning of each round is set to 100 seconds, though 30 seconds can be added through picking up a clock symbol - regularly encourages the player to take the fastest road to an end level boss.
Danan obtains power-ups through little treasure chests, whose content is revealed upon touching them. There are little and large stars who increase the player's "experience" or maximum health: two types of meat ("beef" and "chicken") who replenish the player's actual "strength" or health; and the aforementioned upgraded knives (required to beat certain bosses) and clocks.
Danan can also collect animal icons, which enables him to summon three animal friends. The armadillo helps you fight enemies, the eagle transports you to high places and the gorilla restores 3/4 of one's strength. Though strictly not needed to finish the game, animal aid is a unique feature of this game and especially the gorilla will come in handy.
Reception
- Computer and Video Games:[6]
- Mean Machines (2 authors contributed to this review, each emphasizing their own distinct viewpoints):[7]
- Hollywood Romanticisation of Nazi plunder and archealogy[8]
References
- 1 2 "Test Danan The Jungle Fighter - Master System". Sega-mag.com. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
- ↑ "Jungle Fighter - Sega Master System - Mean Machines review". Meanmachinesmag.co.uk. 2009-02-19. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
- ↑ "1UP ! Danan The Jungle Fighter (SMS)". 1up-games.com. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
- 1 2 "Sega8bit.com - Review: Danan: The Jungle Fighter". Smstributes.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
- 1 2 "Danan the Jungle Fighter Review for Master System (1991)". Defunct Games. 2006-01-08. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
- ↑ "Computer and Video Games Magazine Issue 112". Archive.org. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
- ↑ "Jungle Fighter - Sega Master System - Mean Machines review". Meanmachinesmag.co.uk. 2009-02-19. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
- ↑ "1UP ! Danan The Jungle Fighter (SMS)". 1up-games.com. Retrieved 2016-01-21.
External links
- Danan: The Jungle Fighter can be played for free in the browser at the Internet Archive