Nichibutsu Arcade Classics 2: Heiankyo Alien

Nichibutsu Arcade Classics 2: Heiankyo Alien

Introduction

In the mid-1990s, the Super Famicom became a sanctuary for arcade veterans seeking to relive the golden age of the 1970s and 80s. Nichibutsu, a veteran developer known for its prolific arcade output, catered to this nostalgia with its "Arcade Classics" series. Nichibutsu Arcade Classics 2: Heiankyo Alien is a standout entry in this lineage, serving as both a historical archive and a modern reimagining of one of the most influential titles in gaming history. Originally developed by the Theoretical Science Group at the University of Tokyo, Heiankyo Alien is often cited as the progenitor of the "trap 'em up" genre. This Super Famicom release offers players the best of both worlds: a pixel-perfect rendition of the 1979 original and an entirely overhauled 16-bit version designed to showcase the power of Nintendo's console.

Story & Setting

Unlike many arcade games of the late 70s that were set in deep space, Nichibutsu Arcade Classics 2: Heiankyo Alien takes place in a stylized version of historical Japan. The setting is Heian-kyo, the ancient capital that would eventually become modern-day Kyoto. During the Heian period, the city is suddenly besieged by a strange and terrifying force: extraterrestrial invaders.

Players take on the role of a Keban-ishi, a traditional Japanese police officer or city guard. Armed with nothing but a shovel and your wits, you are tasked with defending the grid-like streets of the capital from these otherworldly intruders. The "New" mode included in this collection expands on this narrative with more vibrant environments and distinct stage themes, though the core premise remains a whimsical and unique clash between feudal Japanese aesthetics and sci-fi invasion tropes.

Gameplay

At its heart, Nichibutsu Arcade Classics 2: Heiankyo Alien is a game of patience, timing, and strategy. The core loop involves a unique "dig and bury" mechanic. Unlike Pac-Man, where the player is often fleeing, here you must actively set traps. You navigate a maze-like grid, digging holes in the ground. When an alien falls into a hole, you must quickly move back to it and fill it in before the creature can escape. If you successfully bury the alien, it is defeated; if you take too long, the alien crawls out and becomes even faster.

This collection includes two distinct ways to play:

  • Original Mode: A faithful recreation of the 1979 arcade hit. It features the classic monochromatic visuals and the slow, methodical pace that defined early strategic action games. It is a pure test of survival where every movement must be calculated.
  • New Mode: A complete 16-bit remake. This version features colorful sprites, scrolling levels, and boss encounters. The gameplay is significantly faster, introducing power-ups and varied alien types that require different strategies to defeat. The addition of a two-player cooperative mode makes the experience even more chaotic and engaging.

Platforms

This game was released as a specialized retro collection for the Japanese market on the Super Famicom.

Legacy

Heiankyo Alien holds a prestigious spot in the history of game design. It is widely considered the first game to feature a "trap" mechanic, directly influencing later classics like Lode Runner, Space Panic, and even the Bomberman series. By bringing this title to the Super Famicom, Nichibutsu helped preserve a piece of software that might have otherwise faded into obscurity as arcade hardware aged out.

While the original arcade game was a massive hit in Japan, this specific collection is often remembered by collectors as a high-quality "tribute" package. It demonstrated how retro games could be modernized without losing their soul, a philosophy that continues to drive modern retro compilations today.

Fun Facts

  • The original Heiankyo Alien was created by university students at the University of Tokyo, making it one of the earliest examples of an "indie" or student-developed game reaching commercial success.
  • The "New" mode in the Super Famicom version includes music and sound effects that are heavily inspired by traditional Japanese instrumentation, further leaning into the Heian-period theme.
  • Despite its importance, the original arcade version was largely unknown in the West until much later, as its initial release was primarily focused on the Japanese market.
  • The game is sometimes compared to Dig Dug, but because Heiankyo Alien predates Namco's classic by three years, it is actually the senior title in the digging genre.

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