Do the Wild Fang

Draw your swords, decide up your spellbook, and take my axe, as this week’s entry to the Arcade Archives sees Hamster deal with us to Koei Tecmo’s high-fantasy brawler Tecmo Knight, now accessible on PS4 and Nintendo Swap.

Launched to arcades in 1989, sizzling on the heels of Tecmo success Ninja Gaiden, Tecmo Knight, (recognized in Japan as Wild Fang), sees the titular, muscle-bound hero battle their manner via the Kingdom of Valdik, on a quest to rescue the townspeople from the clutches of the terrifying Beast Demon Military, (Beasts? Demons? Nah, each). Tecmo Knight is ably assisted by his tiger pal, “Tiger”, who completely isn’t Cringer, and Smokeman, a deity who offers extra assaults and skills.
Moreover, Tecmo Knight can name upon the ability of a dragon, who can defeat any opponent with a single blast of fiery breath. Take a look at the motion within the video under, courtesy of YouTuber Punch Pedia.

Whereas Tecmo Knight at first look seems to be Tecmo’s tackle Sega’s personal hit, Golden Axe, (and in some ways it’s), Tecmo’s providing is a bit more finicky and exact in its controls, ala Ninja Gaiden, which makes it a trickier problem and thus stored it from turning into a really well-remembered basic.

Oh, and like Ninja Gaiden, it has an anxiety-inducing Proceed? display, which sees the Tecmo Knight being eaten by an enormous monster as he screams in ache. Failing so as to add a credit score in time sees a helmeted beast hack via the display, yelling “NO FUTURE!” like a 1978 British punk. A famously violent appeal to sequence was additionally finally censored earlier than launch, with additional bloodletting, (decapitations particularly), ensuing all through the sport.

Tecmo Knight is unquestionably price trying out, although it actually lacks the tempo and vitality of different brawlers of the day. It’s accessible to obtain now on PS4 and Nintendo Swap, priced at $8.