Black Tiger, Green Laffy Taffy

Growing up in Bakersfield, California, I played computer and video games every chance I got – mostly at home on my NES (or on the ol’ Vic 20), but sometimes I’d head to Howard’s Mini Mart and play whatever cabinet game they happened to have.  I remember playing a lot of Airwolf, but the game that really sticks out in my memory is Black Tiger.

I first saw this game in 1989, while trying to decide between a box of grapeheads and some laffy taffy.  Needless to say, Ferrara Pan would have to wait that day…

Thanks to my PSP, I’ve been playing it again, and it is simply amazing how I can still smell the gentle aroma of fizzy fountain drinks and tangy nerds candy whenever I fire that game up.  I’m sure that my reverence for the game comes mainly from the simpler era in which I played it, but the design had several elements that put it ahead of its time:

Exploration: This game had a great way of encouraging exploration – arrows.  There were brown arrows and red arrows.  If you followed the red ones you got through the level as quickly as possible, but if you wanted to stop and smell the roses you followed the brown ones (ironic, no?).  Coupled with mini-levels and hidden bonuses and you’ve got one seriously quarter-eating, totally replayable game.

Variety: With the exception of the first two levels, each level has a distinct look and feel to it.  And just when you think you’ve seen all the enemies… Ninjas show up!

Upgrades: I know this is tame by today’s standards, but the ability to buy upgrades to your weapons and armor was pretty advanced for its day.  I think I learned more about the value of a dollar (or a zenny) from Black Tiger than from any of my first jobs!

So while Black Tiger may not be the best game in history, it certainly shaped a lot of my early game design philosophy.  I learned a lot about replayability and what makes a game fun – what games come to mind when you think of your early gaming days, and why?

Comments

[ethan]

I remember this game as well, having first played in 1988. I remember pouring tons of quraters into it and still not able to beat it, mainly time constraints and the over activeness of an 8-year-old. I've always loved this game and downloaded it as a MAME file to my Mac. I fianlly beat it a few weeks ago and I still play it! It's just that good. I'm glad someone else remembers this game from my own childhood and appreciates it's complexity cloaked in simplicity.

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I've beaten it so many times, but I still find myself playing it...and every time I can practically taste the now&laters candies :P

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