1989 · Port · Shooter · Arcade

Cloud Master

Port

1988 video game

Released: 1 August 1989
Platforms: MSX Master System NES Sega Master System/Mark III TurboGrafx-16 Wii
Genres: Shooter Arcade
Developers: —
Publishers: Sega of America Sega Enterprises, Inc.
Modes: Multiplayer Single-player
Themes: Action Fantasy
Languages: English

About

Cloud Master (中華大仙, Chūka Taisen) is a horizontally scrolling shooter released as an arcade video game by Taito in 1988. Home versions were released for the Master System, PC Engine, and Famicom and, excluding the Master System version, were released only in Japan. The PC Engine version of the game is titled Gokuraku! Chūka Taisen (極楽!中華大仙). The Famicom version is titled Chūka Taisen.

Keywords

shoot 'em up
journey to the west
chinese mythology

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

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 stages have doors that give the player the opportunity to buy special bomb types with collectible credits. Each stage has its own mini-boss and main boss. 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 sixteenth most-successful table arcade unit of the month.

Legacy

In 2008, Starfish SD, a company founded by former Hot-B employees, bought the rights from Taito and developed a remake for the Nintendo Wii. It was released under the title The Monkey King: The Legend Begins (Shin Chūka Taisen: Michael to Meimei no Bōken in Japan). A Nintendo Switch port, titled Chuka Taisen, was released on September 6, 2018.