SkyBlazer
     

   Simple, but incredibly fun. Skyblazer's cliché backstory has the teenaged warrior, Sky, avenging his father and rescuing some hot sorceress by killing the demon Ashura. There really anything more to say about the game itself...it's just generally very well-made and enjoyable for the basic platformer that it is. One thing I must say I appreciated, however, was that virtually every enemy strikes a comical death pose when hit and/or defeated, and it's amazing what a difference this makes. It somehow adds a lot to the adventurous feel.

 

 

   In addition to punching and kicking, Sky will accumulate a variety of damaging spells (and one healing spell) as he defeats bosses. His ultimate spell, sadly coming in very late to the game, transforms him into a phoenix. There are also a few stages where he flies via artificial wings, and his punches in this form turn into energy bursts. He will automatically cling to most walls on contact, and can scurry along them pretty fast.

 

 

   An old man named "Old Man" can be visited throughout the game for passwords, and will also appear to tell the storyline.

 

The Enemies

(Info on mouse-over)

 

Archers with small chariots in place of legs.  Archers with small chariots in place of legs.  Archers with small chariots in place of legs.  Archers with small chariots in place of legs.  Biting spheres that travel along cables!  Biting spheres that travel along cables!  Biting spheres that travel along cables!  Odd floating bombs that drift towards you.  Stationary cannon-turtles! They fire cannonballs in varying arcs.  Stationary cannon-turtles! They fire cannonballs in varying arcs.  Stationary cannon-turtles! They fire cannonballs in varying arcs.  Stationary cannon-turtles! They fire cannonballs in varying arcs.  These flying-elephant-riders do nothing but float in a straight line.  These flying-elephant-riders do nothing but float in a straight line.

 

ADORABLE spawn of the eyeball-pods.  ADORABLE spawn of the eyeball-pods.  ADORABLE spawn of the eyeball-pods.  ADORABLE spawn of the eyeball-pods.  ADORABLE spawn of the eyeball-pods.  The eyeball pods themselves just sit in place while hordes of little'uns jump from the topmost eye.  The eyeball pods themselves just sit in place while hordes of little'uns jump from the topmost eye.  The eyeball pods themselves just sit in place while hordes of little'uns jump from the topmost eye.  The eyeball pods themselves just sit in place while hordes of little'uns jump from the topmost eye.  Living flames that pace back and forth, rising periodically.  Living flames that pace back and forth, rising periodically.  These eyeball-flowers scuttle through the treetops, normally always hidden behind the leaves.  These eyeball-flowers scuttle through the treetops, normally always hidden behind the leaves.  These eyeball-flowers scuttle through the treetops, normally always hidden behind the leaves.  These other mini fire-demons just spring up and down from pits of flame.  These other mini fire-demons just spring up and down from pits of flame.  These other mini fire-demons just spring up and down from pits of flame.  Demon wheels that travel along walls.  Demon wheels that travel along walls.

 

The first and most basic enemies you encounter.  The first and most basic enemies you encounter.  The first and most basic enemies you encounter.  The first and most basic enemies you encounter.  Great-looking plants that spit thorny pods.  Great-looking plants that spit thorny pods.  Great-looking plants that spit thorny pods.  Great-looking plants that spit thorny pods.  Great-looking plants that spit thorny pods.  Little hairy demons from the ice stages.  Little hairy demons from the ice stages.  Little hairy demons from the ice stages.  These fish will approach from off-screen, four at a time, when you fall in the water during one stage.  These fish will approach from off-screen, four at a time, when you fall in the water during one stage.  These fish will approach from off-screen, four at a time, when you fall in the water during one stage.  Neat flying eyeball-frog-things.  Neat flying eyeball-frog-things.  Neat flying eyeball-frog-things.

 

These ghouls are encountered only in the palace of winds (which has no actual palace), floating from side to side.  These ghouls are encountered only in the palace of winds (which has no actual palace), floating from side to side.  These ghouls are encountered only in the palace of winds (which has no actual palace), floating from side to side.  Hovering goblins who only pace back and forth until destroyed. Then their heads come to life and do the same thing!  Hovering goblins who only pace back and forth until destroyed. Then their heads come to life and do the same thing!  Hovering goblins who only pace back and forth until destroyed. Then their heads come to life and do the same thing!  Hovering goblins who only pace back and forth until destroyed. Then their heads come to life and do the same thing! Hovering goblins who only pace back and forth until destroyed. Then their heads come to life and do the same thing! Hovering goblins who only pace back and forth until destroyed. Then their heads come to life and do the same thing! Hovering goblins who only pace back and forth until destroyed. Then their heads come to life and do the same thing!  Big, firebreathing crocodile-dragon guys. Big, firebreathing crocodile-dragon guys. Big, firebreathing crocodile-dragon guys. Big, firebreathing crocodile-dragon guys.  Big, firebreathing crocodile-dragon guys.

 

Little bat-winged heads encountered in a few of the flying stages.  Little bat-winged heads encountered in a few of the flying stages.  Little bat-winged heads encountered in a few of the flying stages.  Little bat-winged heads encountered in a few of the flying stages.  These warriors move and attack exclusively by dashing.  These warriors move and attack exclusively by dashing.  These warriors move and attack exclusively by dashing.  These warriors move and attack exclusively by dashing.  Very nifty lava-monsters. They rise up and spit at you.  Very nifty lava-monsters. They rise up and spit at you.  Very nifty lava-monsters. They rise up and spit at you.  One of my favorite death-poses for some reason.  These little sand or mud hands just creep along the ground and cannot be destroyed.  These little sand or mud hands just creep along the ground and cannot be destroyed.  These little sand or mud hands just creep along the ground and cannot be destroyed.

 

Blobs simply creep back and forth, shooting droplets straight upwards.  Tiny, firebreathing metal skull things. Only a few exist, and only in one stage.  Tiny, firebreathing metal skull things. Only a few exist, and only in one stage.  These giant demons can summon deadly lightning bolts.  These giant demons can summon deadly lightning bolts.  These giant demons can summon deadly lightning bolts.  These sabertoothed cat things move and attack only by charging.  These sabertoothed cat things move and attack only by charging.  These sabertoothed cat things move and attack only by charging.  Aquatic serpents that follow you.  Aquatic serpents that follow you.

 

Purple gargoyle-dragon guys. Another firebreathing enemy, but able to fly.  Purple gargoyle-dragon guys. Another firebreathing enemy, but able to fly.  Purple gargoyle-dragon guys. Another firebreathing enemy, but able to fly.  Purple gargoyle-dragon guys. Another firebreathing enemy, but able to fly.  Purple gargoyle-dragon guys. Another firebreathing enemy, but able to fly.  Purple gargoyle-dragon guys. Another firebreathing enemy, but able to fly.  Spiny fish that swim up and down.  Spiny fish that swim up and down.  Spiny fish that swim up and down.  Cool demon-squid that swim back and forth.  Cool demon-squid that swim back and forth.  Cool demon-squid that swim back and forth.  Cool demon-squid that swim back and forth.

 

Hovering, teleporting wizards that shoot electrical orbs from their hands.  Hovering, teleporting wizards that shoot electrical orbs from their hands.  Hovering, teleporting wizards that shoot electrical orbs from their hands.  Hovering, teleporting wizards that shoot electrical orbs from their hands.  Hovering, teleporting wizards that shoot electrical orbs from their hands.  Hovering, teleporting wizards that shoot electrical orbs from their hands.  Awesome sludge guys with a very pleasing color scheme. Encountered only during the final stage in halls where the ceiling lowers to crush you.  Awesome sludge guys with a very pleasing color scheme. Encountered only during the final stage in halls where the ceiling lowers to crush you.  Awesome sludge guys with a very pleasing color scheme. Encountered only during the final stage in halls where the ceiling lowers to crush you.  Awesome sludge guys with a very pleasing color scheme. Encountered only during the final stage in halls where the ceiling lowers to crush you.  Awesome sludge guys with a very pleasing color scheme. Encountered only during the final stage in halls where the ceiling lowers to crush you.  Awesome sludge guys with a very pleasing color scheme. Encountered only during the final stage in halls where the ceiling lowers to crush you.  Awesome sludge guys with a very pleasing color scheme. Encountered only during the final stage in halls where the ceiling lowers to crush you.  Awesome sludge guys with a very pleasing color scheme. Encountered only during the final stage in halls where the ceiling lowers to crush you.

 

THE BOSSES

 
Ashura

   Considered a boss battle, but really more of a cutscene. Ashura will defeat you automatically at the end of the first stage and fly off with the princess/sorceress.

 

 

 

 

             

Boss 2

   This giant genie, constantly warping and shimmering, is impervious to damage until he retreats into his lamp and crawls to a new position.

 

 

 
     

Boss 3

   This great armored ball-monster rolls endlessly along the inside walls of his small chamber, growing larger with each lap. It can only be damaged in the eye, which it will open only briefly to spit tiny fireballs whenever it rolls to the floor. Eventually it grows too large to move, and can only spin in place while you hide in the corner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boss 4

   A demon face embedded in a wall of ice, this boss attempts to crush you against the edge of the chamber by rotating (which doesn't make ANY sort of sense, but you don't really notice these things, do you?), with a small opening to duck through at either the top, middle or bottom.

 

 

 

               

Boss 5

   Found at the end of an irritating underwater maze, this boss consists of four mildly suggestive giant clams able to give birth to nasty prehistoric-looking fish. These fish start out tiny, but grow within seconds and follow you until destroyed. The clams themselves are attached to the inside of a small square chamber (with openings on each side) in the middle of a larger room where the current perpetually drags you and the fish in circles. There are never more than four fish at a time, but a new one is created whenever one is killed.

 

 

 
   

Boss 6

   A well-executed blending of turtle, elephant and dragon, this boss alternately stomps, leaps and flies around its large arena, occasionally stopping to spit apples with little evil faces from its trunk/snake-turtle-head. These inexplicable demon apples are just ordinary projectiles, but they sure are weird.

 

 

 

       

Boss 7

   This floating fox-spirit can split into three clones of itself, and attacks with miniature tornadoes. It rules the "palace of wind", an interesting stage consisting only of wind currents that you can walk on.

 

 

 

     

Boss 8

   This chinese dragon repeatedly floats up from below and breathes fire as you hop around and around the outer wall of a rotating tower...which certainly doesn't sound like the easiest fight in the game, but that's exactly what this is. The dragon only ever faces left, and gives you ample time to hit his orb before you hop around back to dodge the flames.

 

 

       

Boss 9

   Your true fight with Ashura takes place in the game's largest boss room, which is filled with platforms. He starts out with a shield, but your phoenix spell can easily destroy it. He attacks with fireballs and other magic while summoning purple gargoyles (see enemies).

 

 
             
   When Ashura is initially defeated, his head falls to the floor and the sorceress drifts down from above. Even Old Man swings by to congratulate you, but as you might have guessed, your fight isn't over at all. When Ashura's head springs to life, you learn that he has already fulfilled his true plan of using the sorceress' powers to awaken his master, Raglan.

 

 

Final Boss (Raglan)

   The king of all demons is roughly two and a half screens tall, and rises higher out of his magma pit each time you damage him. Luckily, you can run across his arm (always sliding in and out to punch the opposite wall) to attack his face...provided you can dodge the sweeping laser generated by his green crystal.

 

   When Raglan is destroyed, you transform into phoenix mode and fly off into the night sky.

 

 
   
 
 

 

AIM / Yahoo: Scythemantis

Email / MSN: bogleech@hotmail.com

 
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