Arabian (video game)

Not to be confused with Arabian Fight.
Arabian
Japanese arcade flyer
Developer(s)Sun Electronics
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)Arcade, Famicom, PlayStation, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Evercade
ReleaseArcade
Famicom
  • JP: July 25, 1985
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)1-2 players alternating

Arabian[a] is a 1983 arcade platform game developed and published by Sun Electronics (Sunsoft) in Japan, and Atari, Inc. in North America. A Famicom version was developed and released by Sunsoft only in Japan as Super Arabian[b]. A distinct port for home computers developed by Interceptor Software was released as Tales of the Arabian Nights.

Gameplay

Gameplay

Arabian is a platform game where the player assumes the role of an adventurous Arabian prince whose goal is to rescue the princess from her palace. During his quest, the prince will sail seas, crawl through caves, and fly magic carpets. On the way, the player must also find and take the letters 'A'-'R'-'A'-'B'-'I'-'A'-'N'.[2] Although the player character is described as an Arabian boy, the game is set to take place in Persia.[3]

The game plays out in the form of chapters of a book.[4]

Release

In magazine advertisements, Arabian was promoted by Eric Ginner, the world record holder for Millipede and Liberator at the time.[5] Ginner later co-created the PlayStation game Gubble.

Tales of the Arabian Nights by Interceptor Software was a port of Arabian published in 1984/5 for the Acorn Electron, Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum.

Re-releases

Super Arabian was re-released in a two-in-one Sony PlayStation game in 2001, Memorial Series Sunsoft Vol.1, which also included Ikki.[6] Arabian was later also re-released for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 by Hamster Corporation as part of the Arcade Archives series in October 2020.[7][3] The Famicom version of the game was also re-released as part the Sunsoft Collection 1 compilation cartridge for the Evercade in September 2023.[8]

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Arabian on their July 15, 1983 issue as being the fifth most-successful new table arcade unit of the month.[9] In the United States, it had sold at least 1,950 arcade cabinets by July 1983.[10]

Notes

  1. ^ Japanese: アラビアン
  2. ^ Japanese: スーパーアラビアン

References

  1. ^ "アーケードTvゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971-2005)". 2005.
  2. ^ Arcade Game Manual: Arabian By Atari. 1983.
  3. ^ a b "『アケアカ アラビアン』Switch、PS4向けに10月8日に配信決定。古代ペルシャを舞台に囚われの王女を救うアクションゲーム". Famitsu (in Japanese). October 7, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  4. ^ Mallo (2020-03-07). "Arabian, Arcade". The King of Grabs. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
  5. ^ "Arabian". Pixelated Arcade.
  6. ^ "MEMORIAL STAR SERIES SUNSOFT VOL. 1 - IKKI & SUPER ARABIAN - (NTSC-J)". psxdatacenter.com. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
  7. ^ Arcade Archives ARABIAN nintendo.com
  8. ^ Extension, Time (2023-12-04). "Review: Sunsoft Collection 1 (Evercade) - It's Always Sunny With Blaster Master". Time Extension. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
  9. ^ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型新製品 (New Videos-Table Type)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 216. Amusement Press, Inc. 15 July 1983. p. 37.
  10. ^ Fujihara, Mary (July 25, 1983). "Inter Office Memo: Coin-Op Product Sales" (PDF). Atari, Inc. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021.