Lionheart (EU) (Action Platform) (LHA) (Amiga)

1993 · action · Amiga · The Data Archivist V0.01

Source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionheart_(video_game) Lionheart is a platform game for the Amiga developed and self-published by German video game developer Thalion Software in 1993. [1] Using a fantasy motif, the game takes place in the land of the Cat People, a race of feline humanoids , who are threatened by the evil Norka. The player assumes control of Valdyn, an outlaw swordsman who is also known as "Lionheart". Players have to fight their way through 14 levels filled with monsters and environmental hazards. Most of the gameplay is melee combat and precision platforming. Gameplay The first level Lionheart is a 2D action-platformer. Players move from left to right fighting their way through levels filled with monsters and environmental hazards like water, chasms, lava and fireballs. Valdyn can run, jump, crouch, swing and climb bits of the scenery. [2] When running downhill, Valdyn gains speed which enables him to jump much further than normally. There are also ropes and slopes to slide down, but then he cannot get back up the way he came, so they should be approached with care. [3] Combat is an important part of the game. Valdyn is armed with a sword and is able to perform several attack moves, including a high strike, a middle strike, a low kick, a reverse strike (which enables him to swirl around and attack enemies behind him), a jump strike and a downward strike (where Valdyn jumps in the air and then slams down into the ground using his sword). [2] [3] [4] The game is divided into 14 levels, some of which feature end-of-level boss fights . [5] At first, the player has four health points , three lives and two continue options. Health points are lost whenever Valdyn is hit, and a life is lost whenever health reaches zero, or Valdyn suffers a fatality as in when falling into a chasm. [4] There are a number of power-ups (usually in hidden sections of each level) like "Energy Drinks" that replenish health, and "Life Spheres" which grant more lives. Each level has several "Energy Crystals" which the player can collect. Every 100th crystal "unlocks" one life point out of four more available; optimal performance means that the player can have a maximum of eight life points before the end of the game, making survival easier. The player can also find more powerful swords; the more powerful a sword, the less hits are required to kill a stronger opponent. [4] [3] There are three difficulty levels . The harder levels feature harder opponents, but also differently designed environments, offering an additional gameplay experience. [4] [2] [6] Moreover, many of the stages are significantly expanded, resulting in an even longer game than before. [3] Plot One day, Valdyn was gambling in his favorite inn when a group of royal guards arrived and arrested him. After an unpleasant time in the palace's dungeon, he is summoned by the King and is assigned a quest : the Lionheart, the holiest relic of the Cat People and center of their religion, has been stolen by thieves sent by the evil Norka. If the King is not able to demonstrate his divine right to rule by publicly displaying the holy relic in the upcoming Showing Festival, he will be forced to abdicate and be replaced by his arch- chancellor Nargle. [5] [7] Furthermore, the night the Lionheart was stolen, Valdyn's beloved Ilene was praying in the Temple's entrance chamber and the thieves turned her to stone using a very rare poison which can only be found in Norka's country. If there is a cure, Norka's domain would be the place to look. Based on his nickname, the priests declare that Valdyn is destined to reclaim the jewel and escort him to the temple to prepare him for his quest. [4] In the introduction, Valdyn is given a flying dragon but on his way to Norka's country, he is abducted by a flying ship. Valdyn escapes and is forced to travel on foot. [8] The first few levels feature an environment of swamps and caves before Valdyn reaches a city in Norka's domain. A "volcano level" follows, which includes a hidden level where the player can gain several power-ups and an amulet. [9] In the following level Valdyn finds a dinosaur -like steed running after Norka's flying ship. Valdyn frees his dragon, and rides it towards Norka's flying fortress in a level that resembles a horizontally scrolling shooter . The final levels feature Valdyn climbing to the top of the fortress and his final confrontation with Norka. The game epilogue has Valdyn return the Lionheart in the Temple, still grieving for Ilene. However, in the optimal ending, if the player has found the amulet in the earlier hidden level, Valdyn is able to heal Ilene. [9] Lionheart Cover art by Dieter Rottermund Developer(s) Thalion Software Publisher(s) Thalion Software Designer(s) Erik Simon Programmer(s) Erwin Kloibhofer Michael Bittner Artist(s) Henk Nieborg Writer(s) Jurie Horneman Composer(s) Matthias Steinwachs Platform(s) Amiga Release 1993 Genre(s) Platform Mode(s) Single-player