King & Balloon (US)

Namco's King & Balloon arrived in North America during December of 1980, following its original Japanese release by two months. This cooperative shooter challenges players to rescue a king who has been carried away aloft by balloons. Two players work together, controlling characters who fire projectiles upwards at the floating balloons and any enemies that appear. Successfully popping the balloons releases the king, allowing him to descend. The gameplay focuses on precision aiming and coordination between players as they navigate a vertical scrolling environment. Different types of balloons present varying challenges – some are tougher than others, and hostile creatures periodically emerge to impede progress. A notable difference in the U.S. release was the altered vocal sample; when captured, the king cries out "Help!" instead of the more distinctly Japanese-sounding “Herupuu!” heard in the original version. King & Balloon has since seen ports to various platforms including Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii as part of Namco Museum collections, and also appeared on Sony PSP and MSX systems.