Hao-kun no Fushigi na Tabi

Famicom Disk System

Famicom Disk System

Once there lived a sorcerer's apprentice named Hao who, day after day, did every thankless task the Great Wizard asked him to do. Although he did them without so much as a complaint, he longed for the day where he finally would get an opportunity to prove himself. Now, that day has finally come. ...

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Developer
Carry Lab

Released on
1987

Size
1 Player

Version
Famicom Disk System

Requirements
Nintendo Famicom Disk System

Downloads
Platform

Publisher
Disk Original Group

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

Once there lived a sorcerer’s apprentice named Hao who, day after day, did every thankless task the Great Wizard asked him to do. Although he did them without so much as a complaint, he longed for the day where he finally would get an opportunity to prove himself. Now, that day has finally come. The Great Wizard has given Hao a task – recover six tailsmen located in six separate castles, and then he’ll consider him a wizard. Is Hao up to the task?

Hao-kun no Fushigi na Tabi pits a single player controlling Hao against 6 worlds of perilous obstacles, malicious enemies, and devious mazes. Within those 6 worlds, Hao must find the six tailsmen (once per world) while negotiating the dangers of the outside world, castles, or even underground dungeons. Along the way Hao can give himself more of an advantage by grabbing various items that can either help Hao uncover new passages or give him magical powers. But the items are placed in seemingly unreachable places, so Hao had better keep his eyes peeled.

Hao-kun no Fushigi na Tabi

Overview & History

Released exclusively in Japan in 1987 by Jaleco for the Famicom Disk System, Hao-kun no Fushigi na Tabi (translated as "Hao's Mysterious Journey") is a whimsical, mythological side-scrolling platformer deeply rooted in ancient Chinese folklore. Drawing thematic heavy inspiration from the classic literary epic Journey to the West, players step into the miniature magical shoes of Hao-kun. Capitalizing on the rewritable magnetic media of the Famicom Disk System, Jaleco delivered a surprisingly expansive adventure complete with vibrant sprite work, catchy chiptune melodies, and a password-free save state system made possible by the disk format, setting it apart as a cult-classic hidden gem of the late 80s library.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

The core gameplay revolves around traversing multi-directional, vertically and horizontally scrolling stages filled with mythological beasts, floating platforms, and hidden items. Hao-kun is equipped with a magical projectile attack that can be upgraded by collecting mystical scrolls scattered throughout each level. Unlike standard platformers of the era, traversal heavily emphasizes momentum-based jumping and utilizing bouncing clouds to reach high-altitude platforms. Players must carefully manage a health meter while dodging relentless waves of yokai, spirits, and celestial bosses at the end of every zone. Exploration is rewarded with hidden potion shops and magical relics that permanently enhance Hao-kun's offensive range and jump height, adding a rewarding layer of progression to the mythic quest.