Makai Prince Dorabocchan (Japan)
Inside Makai Prince Dorabocchan (Japan)
Makai Prince Dorabocchan is a side-scrolling platformer originally released for the NEC PC Engine (TurboGrafx-16) exclusively in Japan. Published by Naxat Soft in 1991, this title never saw an official Western release, making it a sought-after curiosity for import collectors and retro enthusiasts. The game's title translates roughly to "Demon World Prince Dorabocchan," hinting at a supernatural theme, though concrete details about its development team remain scarce as it was a minor release during the platform's later years.
Players control a small prince through a series of colorful, maze-like stages. The core objective involves navigating platforms, avoiding or dispatching enemies, and collecting items scattered throughout each level. The prince can fire projectiles - often depicted as hearts - to defeat foes, and certain power-ups grant temporary invincibility or enhanced attacks. The level design emphasizes careful jumping and timing, with pits and moving obstacles adding to the challenge. Each world culminates in a boss encounter that requires pattern recognition to overcome.
As a lesser-known Japanese exclusive, Makai Prince Dorabocchan offers a glimpse into the diverse library of the PC Engine, sitting alongside other modest platformers of its era. It is not a groundbreaking title but provides solid, straightforward gameplay that fans of early 90s action games will appreciate. Its obscurity and import status give it a certain charm, though it may feel simple compared to more polished contemporaries. For collectors, it represents a piece of console history that is rarely discussed but still playable today through emulation.
How to Play Makai Prince Dorabocchan (Japan) Online
Getting Started
When you first start Makai Prince Dorabocchan, you will be greeted by a title screen in Japanese. Press Enter to advance to the main menu, then use the D-Pad to select options. The game likely defaults to a single-player mode, so choose the first or most prominent option to begin. Once the stage loads, you take control of the prince and must move right to progress. The core loop involves clearing each stage by reaching a goal flag while defeating enemies and collecting hearts or other items along the way.
Pay attention to enemy patterns and projectile timing. The prince can shoot by pressing the attack button (S). Jumping (X) is essential for navigating gaps and reaching elevated platforms. Some enemies require multiple hits, while others can be stunned or avoided. If you take damage, you will lose a life; collecting extra lives is possible through pickups. The game saves progress via passwords or continues, so note any codes shown after a game over.
Because the menus and on-screen text are entirely in Japanese, memorizing the menu layout may help. The start button pauses gameplay and may bring up a status or settings screen. Experiment cautiously with the controls - if a button seems unresponsive, check that the EmulatorJS keyboard mapping is correct. For a smoother experience, play on an emulator that supports save states, as the original game had no save feature and relied on passwords for continued play.
Makai Prince Dorabocchan (Japan) Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
- X: I button
- S: II button
- Enter: Run / Start
- V: Select
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