is a

side-scrolling A side-scrolling video game (alternatively side-scroller) is a video game viewed from a side-view camera angle where the screen follows the player as they move left or right. The jump from single-screen or flip-screen graphics to scrolling grap ...

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 is an arcade game that takes player input from its controls, processes it through electrical or computerized components, and displays output to an electronic monitor or similar display. All arcade video games are coin-oper ...

developed by

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

and released in 1992. It was included in ''

Taito Legends 2 ''Taito Legends 2'' a compilation of Taito arcade video games and the follow-up to ''Taito Legends''. It was published for Xbox (console), Xbox, PlayStation 2, and Microsoft Windows. As with the former collection, it is derived from the Japan exc ...

'' for

Microsoft Windows Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...

PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October, in Europe on 24 Novembe ...

, and

Xbox Xbox is a video gaming brand that consists of four main home video game console lines, as well as application software, applications (games), the streaming media, streaming service Xbox Cloud Gaming, and online services such as the Xbox networ ...

Gameplay

''Arabian Magic'' has seven different stages, each with one of the powerful guardians 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 mechanics, game mechanic. This is in contrast to an Item (game), item, which may or may not have a permanent benefit that ca ...

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 GEnie (General Electric Network for Information Exchange) was an online service provider, online service created by a General Electric business, GEIS (now GXS Inc., GXS), that ran from 1985 through the end of 1999. In 1994, GEnie claimed around ...

. 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'' (, ), is a collection of Middle Eastern folktales compiled in the Arabic language during the Islamic Golden Age. It is often known in English as ''The Arabian Nights'', from the first English-language edition () ...

. 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, but 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 in order to restore a peace to the kingdom. 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 is the sword-wielding hero, and a well-rounded character who has excellent speed and fast attacks. * Princess Lisa 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 useful flaming sword attack, done by holding the attack button and then releasing. * 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 is a Japanese video game company and subsidiary of Sega Sammy Holdings headquartered in Tokyo. It produces several List of best-selling video game franchises, multi-million-selling game franchises for arcade game, arcades and video game cons ...

's beat 'em up '' Arabian Fight'' (1992), noting both had a similar ''

Arabian Nights ''One Thousand and One Nights'' (, ), is a collection of Middle Eastern folktales compiled in the Arabic language during the Islamic Golden Age. It is often known in English as ''The Arabian Nights'', from the first English-language edition () ...

'' 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 Multiplayer and single-player video games