Vandyke (1990)

 

Vandyke is an overhead, vertically scrolling arcade game released by Japanese studio UPL (Universal Play Land). You control the typical muscular barbarian-type hero as he slices through hordes of monstrous enemies. You start out swinging a sword but can power-up by picking up alternate weapons such as a very long flail, bombs, or boomerang-like throwing stars. The game is very accessible, with easy to pick up controls (attack and jump), appealing graphics and music, and a fast pace.

You start out fighting enemies like giant scorpions, toads, and cavemen. The first boss is a mutant elephant with a snake-like man for a trunk. Level 2 introduces the undead skeletons and giant bats, with a medusa-like boss. So far, so normal.

Level 3 is when things start getting a little offbeat. Immediately after starting, the player is beset by what appear to be sashaying, giggling leather daddies with clawed gauntlets on their right hands. Combined with other odd enemies like the men trapped inside rolling disks and the way the hero (it's not clear if his name is truly Vandyke or why the game is called Vandyke at all) strikes bodybuilder poses whenever he grabs a health power-up, it becomes apparent that the game is something of a send-up. It doesn't go into all-out parody, but it's clearly not taking itself very seriously, either.

Beyond that, there's not much to say about Vandyke. It's a fun play but gets quite challenging by the end, and the reward for completing it is a simple screen of the hero looking content, not much more than a simple "Thanks for playing!" message. UPL and the particular creators' output was eclectic, but they didn't do any similarly themed games before or after Vandyke.