Wardner

Released in September 1987, *Wardner* is a side-scrolling action game developed by Toaplan and published by Taito, featuring a cast of comical characters. The story follows a classic fantasy narrative in which a young boy sets out on an adventure armed with magic flames to rescue a teenage girl who has been transformed into a crystal ball by Wardner, the ruler of the forest. While the gameplay system consists of an orthodox setup—using an eight-way lever for movement, alongside attack and jump buttons—the key to success lies in visiting shops to upgrade equipment using gold collected along the way. Since each weapon has its own strengths and weaknesses, the strategic element of selecting the optimal item for any given situation is a major appeal of this title.

One day, a boy and a girl wander into a mysterious world where they encounter Wardner, the ruler of the forest. Wardner turns the girl into a crystal ball and carries her off deep into the woods. To rescue her, the boy sets out on an adventure, armed with magical fire.