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Legend of Hero Tonma

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A little caped hero called Tommy must fight his way to the boss' castle through a cute world to rescue a princess, but stopping him from his rescue mission will be several enemies, which he has to deal with by launching little fireballs at them. Tommy may also jump on their heads to stun them for...

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Developer
Irem

Released on
1989

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Arcade

Requirements
Arcade

Downloads
Adventure

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

A little caped hero called Tommy must fight his way to the boss’ castle through a cute world to rescue a princess, but stopping him from his rescue mission will be several enemies, which he has to deal with by launching little fireballs at them. Tommy may also jump on their heads to stun them for a moment.

Getting power-ups will make the fireball soon increase to a bouncing fireball, which will deal more damage to enemies. Treasure chests can be busted open, allowing Tommy to collect coins. Tommy’s journey will have him explore ruins, cliffs, statues, dungeons, and finally the castle. At the end of each level, there is a boss that must be defeated in order to proceed to the next stage.

Legend of Hero Tonma

Overview & History

Released by Irem in 1989 for arcade systems, Legend of Hero Tonma is a whimsical yet surprisingly punishing side-scrolling platformer. Standing in the shadow of Irem's grittier masterpieces like R-Type, this colorful fantasy adventure drops players into a vibrant fairy-tale kingdom threatened by an evil wizard who has kidnapped the realm's princess. Tonma, a plucky, spear-toting hero clad in bright armor, embarks on a quest across seven diverse stages ranging from enchanted forests and dark caves to floating castles. While its cheerful aesthetic suggests a lighthearted romp, the game is infamous for its demanding difficulty, requiring precise platforming and swift reflexes reminiscent of classic 80s arcade design.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Tonma's primary offense relies on hurling magical projectiles from his trusty spear. Unlike many platformers of the era, players can collect various power-ups that alter the trajectory and elemental nature of these blasts, offering homing shots or explosive spreads essential for crowd control against whimsical enemies like bouncing mushrooms, flying goblins, and screen-filling bosses. Tonma also possesses a dedicated jump button, allowing for agile mid-air maneuverability to clear bottomless pits and hazardous obstacles. Scattered throughout each level are hidden fairies and power icons that upgrade firepower, grant temporary invincibility, or boost scoring potential. The game utilizes a checkpoint system upon death, but running out of lives means a swift game-over unless you feed more credits into the cabinet.