Nintendo is Great is a Substack devoted to playing and exploring every game ever released for a Nintendo console/handheld in chronological order.
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Trojan
PUBLISHER/DEVELOPER: Capcom
RELEASE DATE: Dec. 24th, 1986 (JP), Feb. 1987 (US), Mar. 23rd, 1989 (EU)
ALSO AVAILABLE ON: Arcade, MS-DOS, Wii U Virtual Console (JP-only)
Trojan is a hack-and-slash/beat-em-up hybrid thing that has no personality outside of its aggressive difficulty.
You play as the Trojan warrior, a fellow whose murky motives have apparently made him lots of enemies. Heavily armored baddies pop out from every corner just to take a chunk of Trojan’s flesh. One might think Trojan’s sword is sharp enough to swiftly dispatch all his enemies, while his shield readily protects him from all threats. Hah! Enemies wield maces and clubs, throw axes and dynamite, and drop explosives on him from on high. Trojan’s sword is formidable and his shield effective, but they can only do so much against the onslaught.
Trojan’s most effective weapon is his willingness to endure pain and learn from his mistakes. The trial-and-error of memorizing enemy movements and attacks, then exploiting them is what will propel him forward into the next area. Special items like extra health and the ability to double jump are welcome, but to prevail against the heartier enemies, he’ll need a power-up to give him extra strength. Two of these power-ups exist in the game and can be stacked for triple the attack power. The only problem? They disappear once he’s killed, and killing Trojan isn’t the most difficult of tasks.
Should you grow weary of dying in single-player, Trojan does provide a VS mode where you and a friend can battle against each other as Trojan warriors. The fighting is clunky and limited, but it’s a welcome diversion from the main game.
Trojan might pack a wallop, but it offers little in return. The music, stage design, and characters are all generic and forgettable, and the brawler gameplay would be refined and honed in later works of the genre. Those who like a challenge will appreciate Trojan, but once you’ve beaten it, there’s no reason to play it again.
C
Straight From the Arcade
*images from eBay, Museum of the Game, the Arcade Flyer Archive, and MobyGames
Trojan on DOS!
EGA (Enhanced Graphics Adapter)
CGA (Color Graphics Adapter)
*images from MobyGames
Pro Wrestling
PUBLISHER/DEVELOPER: Nintendo
RELEASE DATE: Mar. 1987 (US), Sept. 15th, 1987 (EU)
ALSO AVAILABLE ON: Famicom Disk System, Arcade (via PlayChoice-10), Nintendo Switch Online
Pro Wrestling is the first NES game to look and feel like a proper over-the-top wrestling experience. The crazy cast of characters feel beamed out of mid-80s wrestling, both Western and Eastern expressions. A camera man films you and your opponent’s every move. The crowd cheers when they like what they see. And most importantly, it all feels staged.
Choose your rumbler. Will it be Kin Corn Karn, the Korean dynamo? Or perhaps StarMan, the mysterious luchador infatuated with David Bowie? There are six in total, all of whom have their own unique signature moves. Standard wrestling moves, like body slams, clotheslines, and piledrivers, are also used by every wrestler.
Each match is five minutes long and is essentially a game of attrition. Whittle down your opponent’s strength by hitting them as much as possible. Pin them, win, and climb up the ranks of the Video Wrestling Association. After a few fights, you’ll face off against King Slender (or Giant Panther if you chose King Slender as your wrestler). Win the VWA title, then it’s up to you to defend your honor through ten straight matches. Survive this frenzy, and you’re able to fight Great Puma, the Video Wrestling Federation Champion. No one’s ever seen Great Puma, though, so take all the luck you’re given. You’re gonna need it.
Pro Wrestling is as difficult as you want it to be. Want to become the VWF Champ in a hurry? Spam the techniques that get you the most results and don’t let up. You’ll hold that belt soon enough. Unfortunately, this method gets boring fast. Learning the nuances of each wrestler’s move list is more rewarding, but also much more challenging. Two-player mode is a good way to practice and/or settle disputes between your siblings/friends. Just remember to spar responsibly.
B-
Straight From the Arcade (Sort of!)
*images from eBay, Rent My Arcade, and The Video Games Museum
Alternate Cover Art
FAMICOM DISK SYSTEM - JAPAN
NES - Europe
*images from GameFAQs
Good stuff -- I was thinking you had said you weren't doing any more reviews in this format? But I continue to enjoy them in any case.
Pro Wrestling is probably a game I would have enjoyed a lot growing up, but I don't remember ever playing it back then. It seems to make a lot of "hidden gem" lists, though it's the kind of retro game I don't see much point in playing nowadays. But if it's in competition with Urban Champion or Tag Team Wrestling, Pro Wrestling would be pure gold.
Trojan seems to be kind of a forgotten Capcom property. Most of the Capcom games for the NES were revisited in some form or fashion but not Trojan.
And while other sports themed games on the NES got better as time went on, I don’t think wrestling titles evolved much further than Nintendo’s Pro Wrestling.