Gnome Candy Gnome

For this week’s Arcade Archives entry, writer Hamster is returning to the seemingly limitless catalog of coin-op kings Taito — Now obtainable on PS4 and Nintendo Change, it’s one of many studio’s many, many cutesy co-op platformers: Don Doko Don!

Launched to the arcade market in 1989, earlier than finally being ported to the Famicom and PC Engine platforms, Don Doko Don is a co-op single-screen platformer, in line with Taito’s comparable releases Bubble Bobble, Tumble Pop!, and The Fairyland Story. One or two gamers don (no pun supposed) the sharp hats of hard-working gnomes Bob & Jim, who’ve taken it upon themselves to rescue the kidnapped king and princess of Merry Land. And so, with mallet in hand, the non-plumbing bros. got down to face a military of notably angry-looking mushrooms. They’re actually not enjoyable guys…

…THEY’RE CERTAINLY NOT FUN GI s

…THEY’RE CERTAINLY NOT

As they make their means by the dominion, Jim & Bob use their mallets to stun the opposition, earlier than tossing the confuddled baddies into one another to knock them out, the place they are going to be changed with point-boosting fruits. If this all sounds acquainted… Properly, numerous these Taito platformers had been extremely comparable, albeit with their very own lovely sense of fashion, punctuated by enjoyable pixel artwork and jolly soundtracks. Oh, and — after all — when you dawdle too lengthy on a stage, an unkillable villain seems. Although clearly not as scary because the infamous Baron von Blubba.

Don Doko Don was adopted by a single participant side-scrolling sequel in 1992, titled Don Doko Don 2, naturally. This title wouldn’t see the neon of arcade facilities outdoors of Japan, and was additionally not featured within the glorious Taito Legends retro compilations, rendering it one thing of a rarity in the present day.

Don Doko Don is accessible to obtain now on PS4 and Nintendo Change, priced at $8.