is a side-scrolling

hack-and-slash Hack and slash, also known as hack and slay (H&S or HnS) or slash 'em up, refers to a type of gameplay that emphasizes combat with melee-based weapons (such as swords or blades). They may also feature projectile-based weapons as well (such as ...

arcade video game An arcade video game takes player input from its controls, processes it through electrical or computerized components, and displays output to an electronic monitor or similar display. Most arcade video games are coin-operated, housed in an ar ...

developed by

Taito is a Japanese company that specializes in video games, toys, arcade cabinets and game centers, based in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The company was founded by Michael Kogan in 1953 as the importing vodka, vending machines and jukeboxes into Japan. It ...

and released in 1992. It was included in ''

Taito Legends 2 ''Taito Legends 2'' is the sequel to '' Taito Legends'' and is a follow-up collection of 39 (or 43, see below) Taito arcade games for Xbox, PlayStation 2 and Microsoft Windows. As the former collection, it has been derived from the Japan exclus ...

'' for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, and

Xbox Xbox is a video gaming brand created and owned by Microsoft. The brand consists of five video game consoles, as well as applications (games), streaming services, an online service by the name of Xbox network, and the development arm by th ...

Gameplay

''Arabian Magic'' has seven different stages, each with one of the powerful

guardians Guardian usually refers to: * Legal guardian, a person with the authority and duty to care for the interests of another * ''The Guardian'', a British daily newspaper (The) Guardian(s) may also refer to: Places * Guardian, West Virginia, Unit ...

awaiting the player at the end of each level. Each guardian, once defeated, will drop a jewel which forms a part of the Jewel of Seven Colors. Guardians, once defeated, will join the player and become a spirit you can summon using the same button as the genie. Each level is littered with vases and wooden chests which, when broken, reveal treasure items and

power-up In video games, a power-up is an object that adds temporary benefits or extra abilities to the player character as a game mechanic. This is in contrast to an item, which may or may not have a permanent benefit that can be used at any time chos ...

s. The game has slight RPG elements in that stats, such as life, can be raised. The four player characters have the ability to summon a huge

genie Jinn ( ar, , ') – also romanized as djinn or anglicized as genies (with the broader meaning of spirit or demon, depending on sources) – are invisible creatures in early pre-Islamic Arabian religious systems and later in Islamic m ...

. The genie only stays on screen for a moment, but can be indirectly controlled to attack enemies with powerful blows.

Plot

The game is set in the mythical world of

The Arabian Nights ''One Thousand and One Nights'' ( ar, أَلْفُ لَيْلَةٍ وَلَيْلَةٌ, italic=yes, ) is a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales compiled in Arabic during the Islamic Golden Age The Islamic Golden Age was a period of cu ...

. Some time ago, the Evil One plagued the peaceful kingdom of Shahariyard. In order to save the King - who, by sorcery, had been transformed into a monkey - a group of heroes must find the Jewel of Seven Colors and release the evil hex. However, formidable monsters are lurking along their path. Prince Rassid, Princess Lisa, Sinbad and Afshaal, each armed with their own special magic and powers, set out on the quest for the Jewel of Seven Colors. Suspenseful battle scenes, skillful sword fights and a "magic lamp," which fells all enemies in a single blow, await the players. Their adventure to restore peace to the kingdom now begins. The game ends when the player has recovered the Jewel of Seven Colors, saved the King (making him human, in the process) and restored peace to Shahariyard.

Characters

Each player can select from four distinctive characters: * Prince Rassid - the sword-wielding hero, is a well-rounded character who has excellent speed and fast attacks. * Princess Lisa - she has excellent reach with her magical scarf, magic-based attacks and also has a special spinning move, performed by tapping forward twice. She is a fast character but suffers defensively. * Sinbad - is a powerful character with a very useful flaming sword attack, done by holding the attack button and then releasing. * Afshaal - much like Lisa, Afshaal has excellent reach with his mace and also has a similar spinning attack done in the same manner. He has high defense but suffers in speed.

Reception

In Japan, ''Game Machine'' listed ''Arabian Magic'' on their November 1, 1992 issue as being the eighteenth most-successful table arcade unit of the month. Kurt Kalata of ''Hardcore Gaming 101'' compared the game to Sega's beat 'em up '' Arabian Fight'' (1992), noting both had a similar ''

Arabian Nights ''One Thousand and One Nights'' ( ar, أَلْفُ لَيْلَةٍ وَلَيْلَةٌ, italic=yes, ) is a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales compiled in Arabic during the Islamic Golden Age. It is often known in English as the ''Arabian ...

'' theme and four-player co-op. He said ''Arabian Fight'' had more impressive graphics, but ''Arabian Magic'' was "the better game" in terms of gameplay.

Notes

References

External links

''Arabian Magic''
at Arcade History * {{KLOV game, id=6901 1992 video games Arcade video games Taito beat 'em ups Fantasy video games Video games based on Arabian mythology Video games featuring female protagonists Side-scrolling beat 'em ups Cooperative video games Taito arcade games Taito F3 System games Video games developed in Japan