Archon (NES)

Archon

Platform: Nintendo Entertainment System Year: 1989 Developer: Bullet-Proof Software Buy: Amazon

Archon is a board-game-type simulation game. The game was originally developed by Free Fall Associates and published by Electronic Arts across multiple computer platforms, and adapted to the NES by Bullet-Proof Software. Consider Archon a Chess clone, with added features. The player uses different kinds of characters, instead of pawns, rooks, etc. the player can be knights, djiinis, golemns, and the dark side also has its unique characters as well. When a piece lands over another, you don't capture the piece right away, you instead get placed into a small room for combat. Whoever wins the battle gets the opponent's piece taken away.

The NES version was slated for a release in its native Japan, but was cancelled for unknown reasons.

Screenshots

The title screen. The board. In combat with an Earth Elemental.

This page needs more screenshots.

Music

The music is not all that great. It's not awful but it sounds like there wasn't much effort put into the music. Hiroshi Suzuki, main audio composer at BPS is responsible for the soundtrack. Along with his name is his alias, Goblin Sound. He would also go on to compose a few more soundtracks on the NES. Unfortunately, there are only 4 songs in the game. This game could have used an extra tune or two. The 'You Lose' theme is just the ending part of the title theme, and the other three songs are pretty repetitive and not long, so it will get to the player. The title theme was originally composed by Tommy Dunbar and converted from the slightly out-of-tune Atari 8-bit version.

Recording

#	Title	Composer	Arranger	Length	Listen	Download
01	Title	Tommy Dunbar	Hiroshi Suzuki	0:32		Download
02	Board	Hiroshi Suzuki	Hiroshi Suzuki	1:03		Download
03	Combat	Hiroshi Suzuki	Hiroshi Suzuki	1:01		Download
04	You Lose	Tommy Dunbar	Hiroshi Suzuki	0:03		Download

Credits

• Ripper: Unknown
• Recorder: Doommaster1994
• Game Credits:
  • Music: Hiroshi Suzuki
  • Music: Goblin Sound
  • Sound Effect: Hiroshi Suzuki
  • Uncredited Sound Driver: Kazuya Takahashi
  • Uncredited Title Music: Tommy Dunbar

(Source)

The game's credits can be seen upon completion of the game. Since Goblin Sound is credited, it is possible other sound composers were involved; most likely Hisashi Yotsumoto and Hiroshi Taguchi. The Japanese manuals for most BPS games (which share the same sound driver) credit its music driver to Kazuya Takahashi. Tommy Dunbar is only credited in the Apple II version for the title music, but has confirmed in an interview that he composed the Archon Theme.

Game Rip

Format	Download
	Download (Info)

Ripping NES music is a very arduous process that is beyond the scope of this site.

Releases

USA Title: Archon Platform: NES Released: 1989-12-?? Publisher: Activision

Links

• mobygames.com/game/nes/archon-the-light-and-the-dark - MobyGames.
• gamefaqs.gamespot.com/nes/587093-archon - GameFAQs.

View Archon
Archon	•  •  •  •  •  •
Archon II: Adept	•  •  •
Notable Songs	Title - Archon
Notable Personnel	Tommy Dunbar
Notable Companies	Electronic Arts