Cloud Master


Chuka Taisen is a Horizontal Scrolling Shooter released for the arcade by Taito in 1988. A version for the Sega Master System was later released as Cloud Master. The PC Engine version of the game was titled Gokuraku! Chuuka Taisen. The Famicom version is titled Chuuka Taisen and was not available in the US on Nintendo.

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. Throughout the stages, 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 sxiteenth most-successful table arcade unit of the year.

Legacy

In 2008, Starfish SD, a company founded by former Hot-B employees, bought the rights from Taito and developed a remake released on Nintendo Wii under the title The Monkey King: The Journey Begins, dubbed Shin Chuuka Taisen: Michael to Meimei no Bouken in Japan.