Arabian | |
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Developer(s) | Sun Electronics |
Publisher(s) |
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Platform(s) | Arcade, Famicom, PlayStation, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Evercade |
Release | Arcade Famicom
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Genre(s) | Platform |
Mode(s) | 1-2 players alternating |
Arabian (アラビアン) is a 1983 arcade platform game developed and published by Sun Electronics (Sunsoft) in Japan, and Atari, Inc. in North America. A Famicom version was developed and released by Sunsoft only in Japan as Super Arabian (スーパーアラビアン). A distinct port for home computers developed by Interceptor Software was released as Tales of the Arabian Nights.
Arabian is a platform game where the player assumes the role of an adventurous Arabian prince whose goal is to rescue the princess from her palace. During his quest, the prince will sail seas, crawl through caves, and fly magic carpets. On the way, the player must also find and take the letters 'A'-'R'-'A'-'B'-'I'-'A'-'N'.[2] Although the player character is described as an Arabian boy, the game is set to take place in Persia.[3]
The game plays out in the form of chapters of a book.[4]
In magazine advertisements, Arabian was promoted by Eric Ginner, the world record holder for Millipede and Liberator at the time.[5] Ginner later co-created the PlayStation game Gubble.
Tales of the Arabian Nights by Interceptor Software was a port of Arabian published in 1984/5 for the Acorn Electron, Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum.
Super Arabian was re-released in a two-in-one Sony PlayStation game in 2001, Memorial Series Sunsoft Vol.1, which also included Ikki.[6] Arabian was later also re-released for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 by Hamster Corporation as part of the Arcade Archives series in October 2020.[7][3] The Famicom version of the game was also re-released as part the Sunsoft Collection 1 compilation cartridge for the Evercade in September 2023.[8]
In Japan, Game Machine listed Arabian on their July 15, 1983 issue as being the fifth most-successful new table arcade unit of the month.[9] In the United States, it had sold at least 1,950 arcade cabinets by July 1983.[10]