Time Warped 1980 - King & Balloon

On 02/03/2018 at 06:11 PM by KnightDriver

Where I am questioned about arcade game King & Balloon by a Berg, bored with chasing me to get the Incal.

from arcadeicons.com

What is that you're hidding behind? A 1980 Namco arcade game. It's a bit like Galaxian but with a twist. You have a King below your cannon. If the enemies get to him, they attach a balloon and try and lift him away. You can shoot the balloon to return him to the ground. It doesn't seem to matter how many times your cannon gets destroyed. What ends the game is letting the King be taken away three times. The enemies move fast and shoot a lot. More, I would say, than Galaxian. So it seems harder at first until you realize all you have to do is keep the King safe. Then it's not so bad. Sometimes the balloons combine into a giant balloon that takes more hits to destroy.

iam

from arcade-museum.com

Ever play it? Not here. Never saw this cabinet before now.

nmva

Where'd you play it then? I played it on Namco Museum Virtual Arcade for Xbox 360. You can also play it on Namco Museum MegaMix for Wii or on Namco Museum Battle Collection for PSP. Play it for free in a browser here on my computer. Use "s" to shoot.

Neat! Now, about the Incal.

Matt Snee Staff Writer

02/03/2018 at 10:24 PM

never heard of this one. Looks like a twist between space invaders and galaga.

KnightDriver

02/05/2018 at 11:42 PM

I like that it doesn't matter if you get blown up. Just gotta save that King.

Cary Woodham

02/04/2018 at 12:33 AM

I had never heard about this game until I learned about it through the PSOne Namco Museum volumes. And I do believe the first time I played it was on the PSP Namco Museum Battle Collection. Although last year when I went to Free Play Arcade, they had a King & Balloon machine there. I think that's the only time I've seen one.

"Thank you!"

"Bai Bai!"

02/05/2018 at 11:31 PM

Those voices get quite annoying but I think it was a pretty new novelty to have voice in a video game in '80. I want to say it was Namco's first game with a voice in it. I think I read that somewhere.

I liked the game. I'd play it in the arcade for sure if I see one.

Super Step Contributing Writer

02/05/2018 at 03:01 PM

It doesn't appear to let me play the game.

What's this about an Incal?

Wait, is an incal the opposite of a decal? Like a decoration for your car that goes INSIDE the door?

My life is a lie.

02/05/2018 at 03:46 PM

Oh darn, it's not loading for me either.

The Incal is a comic by Moebius/Jodorowsky in 1980. I'm reading it now and it's pretty rad.

PixlBit