Blackthorne (known as Blackhawk in some countries of Europe) is a cinematic platformer created by American video game developers Blizzard Entertainment. It came out in 1994 for both the Super Nintendo/Super Famicom and PC.
The SNES game library is full of side-scrolling games, many of which do not offer anything new in gameplay. Blackthorne, however, stands out because it lets you use cover during gameplay, which was quite a rare feature in games at the time.
The Story
After spending many years on Earth waiting for his moment, Kyle Blackthorne returns home to face the galaxy's most fearsome mutant creatures and goblin/orc armies. Armed with great strength, smarts, and a trusty shotgun, he’s on a mission to reclaim his home Planet Tuul. Surrounded by enemies and ever-present danger, Blackthorne must rely on his military training and survival skills to make it through the enemy territory. Get ready and battle your way through.
The Graphics and Sound
The game visuals are well done. The atmosphere is kind of dark and gloomy, just like it is supposed to be. The featured npc slaves are dressed in worn-out, tattered clothes, which nicely fits the setting. The animations are also smooth, though the intro video can be a bit choppy at times. My only complaint is that the items and weapons could have used a bit more detail.
The sound is not the strong part of the game. The music is decent but does not have much much variety, so it can get repetitive after a while. Some sound effects are well done and add to the gaming experience, but there are only a few of them. Unfortunately, many of the sound effects can be damn annoying as you progress through the game.
The Gameplay
This is where the game really shines. It is kind of similar in gameplay to Prince of Persia on the SNES with its jumping and climbing, but the combat is somehow different. In this game, you mostly use your trusty shotgun. When you meet the enemy, it results in a gunfight. The enemy will shoot at you, and then you just shoot back. To stay safe, you need to use some cover. You do this by pressing the "up" button, which makes your hero character press against the wall to avoid being hit. The enemy can also use cover too, so you have to wait for the right moment to fire back.
Along the way, you will also find useful items like bombs, which are useful for blasting doors or killing tougher enemies.
Throughout the game, you will meet the human slaves. Some will give you items. You can spare or kill them, and it will not affect the story either way. You still get any items from them dead or alive. This could be one of the first games to let you do that.
As for replay value, nothing changes once you beat it. So it’s not that good. But it is so much fun that you’ll want to play it again in the future later.
My Verdict
Blackthorne is simply a great game. It pulls you with its atmosphere and keeps you playing for hours. It is fun, rewarding enough, and highly recommended SNES game.
Play it on the unmissable Super Nintendo/Super Famicom or play it on a beloved emulator.
Let's keep on gaming in the free world!
