Blandia (prototype)
Blandia (prototype): arcade Fighting
Blandia is a weapon-based fighting arcade game from 1992, developed by Allumer and published by Taito. It originally hit Japanese arcades in October 1992, then Europe later that same year. This particular version is a prototype - an early build that may differ from the final release. It's a direct sequel to Allumer's earlier title Gladiator and belongs to that first wave of weapon-focused fighters that followed Street Fighter II, a subgenre later defined by SNK's Samurai Shodown.
Players select a character and engage in one-on-one battles using bladed weapons. The core loop is similar to other early 90s fighters: each round starts on a 2D plane, and you must deplete your opponent's health bar using a mix of basic strikes, special moves, and blocks. The weapon-based combat means spacing and timing matter more than in pure hand-to-hand games, and getting hit can knock the weapon out of your hands. Rounds continue until one fighter loses two falls.
Blandia is worth trying today mainly as a historical footnote in the fighting genre's evolution. It's not as polished or iconic as Samurai Shodown, but it shows how developers experimented with weapon mechanics before that series set the standard. The prototype status adds a bit of curiosity for collectors - seeing what changed between this build and the final version. If you're into obscure arcade fighters, it's a neat piece of early weapon-based combat.
How to Play Blandia (prototype) Online
Getting Started
When you first boot the prototype, you'll likely see a title screen that may be entirely in Japanese. Press Enter to get past it, then you'll probably be asked to insert a coin (or hit the Select button to simulate that). The character select screen shows a row of fighters - one player picks a character by moving the D-Pad and pressing X to confirm.
The core loop is standard for a fighting game: each match consists of several rounds. Your goal is to hit the opponent until their health bar empties, while avoiding their attacks. The weapon adds risk - if you get hit hard enough, you'll drop your blade, leaving you with only weak punches until you pick it back up. Use the A button (X key) to jump, the B button (S key) for basic attacks, and try special moves (the exact inputs aren't widely documented for this prototype, but typical quarter-circle or charge motions might work).
Since this is a prototype, expect some bugs or unfinished animations. The menus are in Japanese, so you may have to guess which option begins a single-player or versus match. If you're patient, you can enjoy a rough but historically interesting slice of early weapon-based fighting.
Blandia (prototype) Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: Joystick / Movement
- X: Button 1
- S: Button 2
- Z: Button 3
- A: Button 4
- Q: Button 5
- E: Button 6
- Enter: Start / 1P
- V: Coin / Insert
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