''Cloud Master'' is a horizontally

scrolling shooter In computer displays, filmmaking, television production, and other kinetic displays, scrolling is sliding text, images or video across a monitor or display, vertically or horizontally. "Scrolling," as such, does not change the layout of the text ...

released as an

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 ...

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 ...

in 1988. Home versions were released for the

Master System The is an 8-bit History of video game consoles (third generation), third-generation home video game console manufactured by Sega. It was originally a remodeled export version of the Sega Mark III, the third iteration of the SG-1000 series of ...

PC Engine The TurboGrafx-16, known as the outside North America, is a home video game console designed by Hudson Soft and sold by NEC Home Electronics. It was the first console marketed in the fourth generation, commonly known as the 16-bit era, thoug ...

, and

Famicom The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is an 8-bit third-generation home video game console produced by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan in 1983 as the commonly known as the The NES, a redesigned version, was released in American ...

, with all save the Master System version released only in Japan. The PC Engine version of the game is titled . The Famicom version is titled ''Chuuka Taisen''.

Gameplay

The player controls Mike Chen floating on a cloud, maneuvering around the screen and shooting balls of energy at flying enemies. Powerups can be collected for stronger and faster firepower. Some parts of the game stage have doors that give the player the opportunity to buy special bomb types with collectible credits. Each stage has its own mini-boss and big boss. The player restarts at certain checkpoints after losing a life.

Reception

In Japan, ''Game Machine'' listed ''Cloud Master'' on their August 15, 1988 issue as being the sixteenth most-successful table arcade unit of the month.

Legacy

In 2008, Starfish SD, a company founded by former Hot-B employees, bought the rights from Taito and developed a

remake A remake is a film, television series, video game, song or similar form of entertainment that is based upon and retells the story of an earlier production in the same medium—e.g., a "new version of an existing film". A remake tells the sa ...

for the

Nintendo Wii The Wii ( ) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Nintendo. It was released on November 19, 2006, in North America and in December 2006 for most other Regional lockout, regions of the world. It is Nintendo's fifth major ho ...

. It was released under the title ''The Monkey King: The Legend Begins'', dubbed ''Shin Chuuka Taisen: Michael to Meimei no Bouken'' in Japan. A Nintendo Switch port, titled ''Chuka Taisen'', was released on September 6, 2018.

References

External links

* * 1988 video games Arcade video games Horizontally scrolling shooters Hot B games Master System games MSX2 games Multiplayer and single-player video games Multiplayer hotseat games Nintendo Entertainment System games TurboGrafx-16 games Video games about primates Video games based on Chinese mythology Video games developed in Japan X68000 games {{scroll-shooter-videogame-stub