Blackthorne

Blackthorne is a 1994 cinematic platformer from Blizzard Entertainment, published by Interplay. It started on the SNES and was ported to DOS, the 32X, the Mac and later the Game Boy Advance. It came out shortly before Warcraft.

Gameplay

Kyle Vlaros, known as Blackthorne, was sent to Earth as a child when the usurper Sarlac seized the planet Tuul. Years later, he returns to free the enslaved Androthi people and avenge his father, King Vlaros.

It plays like Flashback or Prince of Persia, with careful, animation-driven movement, but with a gritty, violent attitude and a pump-action shotgun.

• Shotgun: Fire forward, or blast enemies behind you without turning around.
• Cover: Step into the shadows against a wall to dodge bullets.
• Hostages: Talk to Androthi prisoners for items and hints.
• Items: Bombs, potions and remote wasps.
• Levels: 17 levels in four areas, plus a fifth area on the 32X.

The rotoscoped animation is smooth and the dark fantasy world is detailed. Gunfights become a rhythm of ducking into cover and popping out to shoot, which is satisfying but can get repetitive. Like other cinematic platformers, it involves trial and error.

Critics liked it a lot: Electronic Gaming Monthly made it Game of the Month, and GamePro called it “Flashback with an attitude”.

Verdict

Blackthorne is a stylish, gritty cinematic platformer and an early sign of Blizzard’s talent. Its cover-based gunfights and great animation make it stand out, even if it can get repetitive.