The Best 80s Arcade Game You've Never Heard Of

The game is called "Willow" and was based on the George Lucas movie of the same title which was released in 1988. The game was made by Capcom and released in 1989 to various arcades around the country. Even if you have not seen the movie, the game is very enjoyable, however it is that much better if the plot is known in detail.

Since the game was made for the arcade, the story is a little vague however, the unique style of the game more than makes up for the deficit. Perhaps a description that best fits the game is a platform RPG (think Mario meets Final Fantasy). It is truly a mix that makes for a special kind of gaming experience.

The opening scenes setup the adventure about to take place. A brief overview of the story and introduction to characters occurs here. Following the opening scenes, a map view of the world is brought up:

There are six main levels to the game, each of which become increasingly more difficult. Each level is fresh with whole new environments, changes of characters, and exciting challanges. The first stage has Willow leaving his home town, and beginning his adventure.

The platform type action in Willow is analagous to Mario except more exciting. Coins are collected so that items can be purchased. This is where the RPG-esque gameplay comes in and really transforms the game. There are various checkpoints throughout the game where health, weapons and other items can be purchased and equipped.

There are various minibosses scattered throughout each stage, and a final boss that must be defeated at the end of the stage. In the later levels, these bosses present quite the challange. Below is the boss of the first stage:

The game is challenging and will keep most anyone busy for a few hours. Completing the game really is a satisfying and fun experience. In a time where there are so many games, it is nice to visit the past, and find one that stands out as something special. It's not a game that everyone has heard of, it is however a game that people should know about and experience. So, get to it and jump into the adventure, that is "Willow."