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Destiny of an Emperor (1989)

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Willow[a] is a 1989 arcade game by Capcom. Capcom published two different games in 1989 based on the 1988 film of the same name. The arcade version is a platform game while the Nintendo Entertainment System version is an action-RPG.

Willow for arcades is loosely based on the heroic fantasy movie of the same name by George Lucas. Despite the film not doing well at the box office, the film generated several video games and tie in merchandise.[2][5] Capcom produced two video games based on the 1988 film, one being an arcade game and the other being an action role-playing game for the Nintendo Entertainment System.[6][3] The game was part of a broader strategy of Capcom at the time to appeal a wider audience by using established characters from other media, as director Yoshiki Okamoto stated that their original characters could be too niche, citing titles based on Area 88 and Destiny of an Emperor as part of this plan.

Willow was released by Capcom in Japan on June 1989 and North America on September of the same year as well as in Europe, using the CP System board.] A version for the Capcom Power System Changer was planned and previewed but never released. Video game journalists have noted that due to the licensing agreement, and the not thinking that games would be played years after release, it would be unlikely that Capcom would ever re-release the game. The title was not included in the Capcom Home Arcade plug and play game system.

In Japan, Game Machine listed it on their July 15, 1989 issue as being the second most-popular arcade game at the time. In North America, it was considered a successful title for the CPS board, with Capcom VP of Sales and Marketing Bill Cravens saying that "U.N. Squadron and Willow were major hits". Willow was well received by critics since its release in arcades, with multiple reviewers praising the game's graphics at the time.

Multiple reviewers noted it plays similar to Ghosts n' Goblins, also by Capcom. Retro Gamer noted it had similar level design, and deaths they described as "cheap" designed to make players spend coins in the arcade. Since the game was never ported to a home console, they suggested buying Ghouls n' Ghosts for the Sega Mega Drive as an alternative. The One's Gary Whitta praised the graphics for both the characters and backgrounds while noting the character sprites looked like their movie characters. However, Whitta believed that the gameplay was limited and would mostly appeal to fans of the movie for a short period of time.

Retrospective reviewers also praised the game. PlayStation Portable-focused magazine Go Play reviewed Willow alongside The Punisher and Cadillacs and Dinosaurs calling them "some of the best CPS1 games you're unlikely to ever play on a Capcom compilation". IGN Italia's Stefano Castelli praised the game in 2019 and said he wished the game had been ported to home consoles.

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