Sky Kid
Encyclopedia
is a horizontal scrolling shooter arcade game
that was released by Namco
in 1985. It runs on Namco Pac-Land
hardware but with a video system like that used in Dragon Buster
. It is also the first game from Namco to allow 2 players to play simultaneously. The game was later released on the Famicom
(brought to the American NES
by Sunsoft), and both this version and the original arcade version were later released on Nintendo
's Virtual Console
service.
A sequel named Sky Kid Deluxe
was released in 1986. It introduced several new enemies and missions.
, the famous World War I
flying ace, and the prestigious order
Pour le Mérite
, informally known as Blue Max. The Sky Kids fly around in biplanes and are assigned specific targets during the missions. These missions involve bombing specific targets. The "A" button is used to control the plane's machine gun and the "B" button is used to perform a loop.
A number of obstacles face the player in each level. First, their biplane is not equipped with a bomb to complete their mission, and must be picked up en route to the target. Second, there are both ground and air units that attempt to keep the Sky Kids from accomplishing their mission. Last, the Sky Kids may have to navigate through some very inhospitable terrain or navigate around cities in order to get to the target. The targets that the Sky Kids must bomb will either be a fortress complex or a ship. As the player moves farther up in the 9 missions, multiple targets will begin to appear in the course of one mission. Players receive points for destroying air and ground targets, receiving additional points for how many of these types of targets are destroyed. In addition, players get points based on how much of the target is destroyed.
Sometimes blowing up enemy units will reveal a hidden Namco icon or character, including Pac-Man
, Inky, the Special Flag from Rally-X
(which has appeared in many other Namco games) or Pooka from Dig Dug
.
If the player does a loop in front of girls, the girls send out hearts representing kisses. If the player shoots them, they turn into waving dogs.
and Atari
, they started to release games in the United States. Releases such as Grobda
(1984) and Dig Dug II
(1985) were some of the games that Namco released. Since the Video Game Crash of 1983
had claimed quite a few arcade companies, Namco managed to fill the gap. Sky Kid was a game that didn't enjoy great success in the United States. The game, however, did show that Namco was on the right track as far as games they released. Featuring cartoon-like graphics and different types of missions, Sky Kid would form the basis of several other Namco games based on the same type of gameplay.
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
that was released by Namco
Namco
is a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
in 1985. It runs on Namco Pac-Land
Namco Pac-Land
The Namco 8-bit Pac-Land arcade system board was first used in 1984.-Namco Pac-Land specifications:*Main CPU : M6809*Sound/Controls CPU : HD63701*Sound Chip : Custom 8 channel programmable 4-bit WSG*Video resolution : 288x224...
hardware but with a video system like that used in Dragon Buster
Dragon Buster
is a dungeon crawl action role-playing platform arcade game that was released by Namco in 1984. It runs on Namco Pac-Land hardware, modified to support vertical scrolling. In Japan, the game was ported to the MSX and Famicom; the latter version was later released for the Virtual Console in the same...
. It is also the first game from Namco to allow 2 players to play simultaneously. The game was later released on the Famicom
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
(brought to the American NES
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
by Sunsoft), and both this version and the original arcade version were later released on Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
's Virtual Console
Virtual console
A virtual console – also known as a virtual terminal – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some operating systems such as UnixWare, Linux, and BSD, in which the system console of the computer can be used to switch between...
service.
A sequel named Sky Kid Deluxe
Sky Kid Deluxe
Sky Kid Deluxe is a horizontal scrolling shooter arcade game that was released by Namco in 1986. It runs on Namco System 86 hardware and as the name suggests, it is the sequel to Sky Kid, released in the previous year. The gameplay is more difficult than the original, and it also introduces several...
was released in 1986. It introduced several new enemies and missions.
Gameplay
Sky Kid is a two-dimensional, scrolling shooter game. The players play as the Sky Kids "Red Baron" and "Blue Max", which are references to Manfred von RichthofenManfred von Richthofen
Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen , also widely known as the Red Baron, was a German fighter pilot with the Imperial German Army Air Service during World War I...
, the famous World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
flying ace, and the prestigious order
Order (decoration)
An order or order of merit is a visible honour, awarded by a government, dynastic house or international organization to an individual, usually in recognition of distinguished service to a nation or to humanity. The distinction between orders and decorations is somewhat vague, except that most...
Pour le Mérite
Pour le Mérite
The Pour le Mérite, known informally as the Blue Max , was the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order for German soldiers until the end of World War I....
, informally known as Blue Max. The Sky Kids fly around in biplanes and are assigned specific targets during the missions. These missions involve bombing specific targets. The "A" button is used to control the plane's machine gun and the "B" button is used to perform a loop.
A number of obstacles face the player in each level. First, their biplane is not equipped with a bomb to complete their mission, and must be picked up en route to the target. Second, there are both ground and air units that attempt to keep the Sky Kids from accomplishing their mission. Last, the Sky Kids may have to navigate through some very inhospitable terrain or navigate around cities in order to get to the target. The targets that the Sky Kids must bomb will either be a fortress complex or a ship. As the player moves farther up in the 9 missions, multiple targets will begin to appear in the course of one mission. Players receive points for destroying air and ground targets, receiving additional points for how many of these types of targets are destroyed. In addition, players get points based on how much of the target is destroyed.
Sometimes blowing up enemy units will reveal a hidden Namco icon or character, including Pac-Man
Pac-Man
is an arcade game developed by Namco and licensed for distribution in the United States by Midway, first released in Japan on May 22, 1980. Immensely popular from its original release to the present day, Pac-Man is considered one of the classics of the medium, virtually synonymous with video games,...
, Inky, the Special Flag from Rally-X
Rally-X
Rally-X is a maze driving arcade game that was released by Namco in 1980. It runs on Namco Pac-Man hardware, and was the first Namco game to feature "Special Flags", which would become a recurring object in later games .It was the first game to ever feature a "bonus round." The object is to...
(which has appeared in many other Namco games) or Pooka from Dig Dug
Dig Dug
is an arcade game developed and published by Namco in Japan in 1982 for Namco Galaga hardware. It was later published outside of Japan by Atari. A popular game based on a simple concept, it was also released as a video game on many consoles.-Objective:...
.
If the player does a loop in front of girls, the girls send out hearts representing kisses. If the player shoots them, they turn into waving dogs.
Development
After Namco ended its partnerships with both MidwayMidway Games
Midway Games, Inc. is an American company that was formerly a major video game publisher. Following a bankruptcy filing in 2009, it is no longer active and is in the process of liquidating all of its assets. Midway's titles included Mortal Kombat, Ms.Pac-Man, Spy Hunter, Tron, Rampage, the...
and Atari
Atari
Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by Atari Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French publisher Atari, SA . The original Atari, Inc. was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. It was a pioneer in...
, they started to release games in the United States. Releases such as Grobda
Grobda
is a multi-directional shooter arcade game that was released by Namco in 1984. It is a spin-off from Xevious, as the player's tank first appeared in that - as an enemy.-Gameplay:...
(1984) and Dig Dug II
Dig Dug II
Dig Dug II is the arcade sequel to Dig Dug, released by Namco in 1985. It runs on Namco Super Pac-Man hardware but with a video system like that used in Mappy. In 2005, it was ported to the PlayStation Portable in Namco Museum Battle Collection and is included in Namco Museum DS released for the...
(1985) were some of the games that Namco released. Since the Video Game Crash of 1983
Video game crash of 1983
The North American video game crash was a serious event that brought an abrupt end to what is considered the second generation of console video gaming in North America. Beginning in 1983, the crash almost destroyed the then-fledgling industry and led to the bankruptcy of several companies producing...
had claimed quite a few arcade companies, Namco managed to fill the gap. Sky Kid was a game that didn't enjoy great success in the United States. The game, however, did show that Namco was on the right track as far as games they released. Featuring cartoon-like graphics and different types of missions, Sky Kid would form the basis of several other Namco games based on the same type of gameplay.
Other appearances in media
- In Namco's Ace Combat 6: Fires of LiberationAce Combat 6: Fires of Liberationis the sixth installment developed by Project Aces and published by Namco Bandai Games exclusively for the Xbox 360 as part of the Ace Combat franchise...
, three allied pilots have the call signs "Sky Kid," "Red Baron," and "Blue Max." - In Ace Combat 5: The Unsung WarAce Combat 5: The Unsung War, released in the PAL region as Ace Combat: Squadron Leader, is a semi-realistic flight combat video game for the PlayStation 2. Like other titles in Namco's Ace Combat series, Ace Combat 5 features gameplay that is a mix between arcade flight and authentic flight simulation...
, "Sky Kid" is the name of a singer in a poster in the character Chopper's barracks. - In Ace Combat 04: Shattered SkiesAce Combat 04: Shattered Skies, released in PAL territories as Ace Combat: Distant Thunder, is a semi-realistic flight simulation developed by Namco for the PlayStation 2 video game console...
, "Sky Kid" is the name of the tavern where the narrator played harmonica as a child. - Ridge RacerRidge Racer (PSP)Ridge Racer for the PSP is an arcade racing video game developed by Namco. It is named after the eponymous Ridge Racer video game series to which it belongs. The game was released in Japan as...
and Ridge Racer 2 features a Sky Kid Fiera car. - The song "Taiko March" in the game Taiko Drum Master includes music from several Namco games, including Sky Kid.