Bonze Adventure

Released as an arcade title by Taito in 1988, this game is a unique side-scrolling action platformer based on the world of Buddhism. To restore order to a hellish realm thrown into chaos by a deranged King Enma, the high priest Kakurenbo sets out wielding the “Maha Jewel,” a sacred relic bestowed upon him by the Buddha. Beyond the exhilarating action of throwing the jewel at enemies, success hinges on the strategic mastery of calculating its trajectory as it bounces off surfaces. Evoking a distinctly Japanese atmosphere and featuring a musical score perfectly harmonized with the gameplay, this名作 (masterpiece) exemplifies the polished presentation typical of Taito during that era.

When Enma the Great, ruler of hell, suddenly lost his sanity, the underworld lost its order and fell into chaos. Deeming the situation critical, the Buddha ordered Kakurenbo, a high priest from the human world, to pacify hell and defeat Enma. Armed with the "Mahaju" beads he was bestowed, Kakurenbo rushes through a hell teeming with demons and the dead.