Summary
- Release Year: 1986
- Genres: Arcade, Shooter
- Platforms: Amstrad CPC, Arcade, Atari ST/STE, Commodore C64/128/MAX, ZX Spectrum
- Developers: Data East
- Publishers: U.S. Gold
Shackled (1986)
Shackled is a maze-like shoot-em-up arcade game developed and published by Namco in 1986. The player controls a spaceship that must navigate through a series of levels, shooting enemies and collecting keys and treasures. The game is notable for its unique gameplay, which combines elements of both maze games and shoot-em-ups.
Gameplay
The player controls a spaceship that can move in four directions: up, down, left, and right. The spaceship is equipped with a laser cannon that can fire in eight directions. The player must use the laser cannon to defeat enemies and collect keys and treasures.
The game is played on a single screen, and the player’s spaceship is constantly moving forward. The player must navigate through the maze-like levels, avoiding enemies and obstacles. The levels are filled with a variety of enemies, including ground-based enemies, flying enemies, and bosses.
The player must collect keys to unlock doors that lead to new areas of the maze. The player must also collect treasures to increase their score. The game ends when the player loses all of their lives.
Development
Shackled was developed by Namco’s arcade division, which was led by Toru Iwatani, the creator of Pac-Man. The game was designed by Shigeru Yokoyama, who also worked on Pac-Man.
Shackled was released in arcades in Japan in 1986. The game was later ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1988.
Reception
Shackled was a critical and commercial success. The game was praised for its unique gameplay, challenging difficulty, and catchy soundtrack. Shackled was one of the most popular arcade games of 1986, and it remained popular on the NES for many years.
Legacy
Shackled is considered to be one of the classic arcade games of the 1980s. The game’s unique gameplay has been imitated by many other games, including the popular mobile game Crossy Road. Shackled is still enjoyed by gamers today, and it remains a popular choice for retro gaming enthusiasts.
Additional Information
- Shackled was one of the first arcade games to use a trackball controller.
- The game’s soundtrack was composed by Junko Ozawa, who also composed the music for Pac-Man.
- Shackled was ported to a number of home computer systems, including the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, and Atari ST.
- The NES version of Shackled was released in North America as Maze Hunter 3-D.
Review
Shackled is a classic arcade game that still holds up today. The game’s unique gameplay, challenging difficulty, and catchy soundtrack make it a must-play for fans of the genre. If you’re looking for a retro game to play, Shackled is definitely worth checking out.
Score: 7.5 out of 10
Review Score
7.5/10
