In the world of import gaming, the Famicom Disk System is an especially undiscovered area of Japanese gaming. Bulky, unreliable, and prone to disk failures, the Famicom Disk System is not for the faint of heart. However, for those willing to explore it, it offers a number of hidden gems that never made it outside of Japan. Arumana No Kiseki is certainly one of those games.
Released in 1987, Arumana has never been officially released in the West. You play as an Indiana Jones-like hero with a whip on a quest for a mystical red jewel that has gone missing. The fact that this game was never released as an Indiana Jones game in the West is truly surprising, as it could have certainly be rebranded as one. It bears many similarities to the Indian Jones plots of the 1980s movies.
In any case, gameplay involves using your while to reach higher platforms. This mechanic takes getting used to, and is quite different from other NES "platformers". I prefer platformers which use jumping mechanics instead, but this mechanic certainly makes the game unique.
Like other 1980's Konami releases, Arumana will test your patience. Despite a variety of six different weapons, you will face an endless stream of baddies. Often, you will reach the next platform, only to be attacked by a wave of flying bats. You will die in this game. However, I did not find it quite as punishing as Castlevania or other NES/Famicom classics such as Ghosts and Goblins (Makaimura). The game can likely be completed in a couple of hours.
Fans of Castlevania/Dracula looking for a connection will find one in the music. The lead composer on the game was Kinuyo Yamashita. She is responsible for many of Konami's 1980's soundtracks, including the first Castlevania/Dracula game. The tunes are classic NES/Famicom, and they outshine much of the gameplay elements.
Arumana No Kiseki is a lost Famicom "near-classic". While nowhere near as stellar as Castlevania, Contra, Rockman/Megaman, the game is quite enjoyable, despite the learning curve of the whip mechanic. Good graphics and a great soundtrack make the game one to play.
+Great soundtrack by Kinuyo Yamashita
+Very nice-looking visual presentation
+Six different weapons to choose
-Needs Famicom Disk System to play original
-Fairly short
-Whip mechanic can be off-putting
RATING-7.8/10
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