Chuka Taisen (also known in the West as Cloud Master) is a vibrant horizontally scrolling “cute ’em up” developed by Hot-B and published by Taito in 1988 for the arcade. Inspired by the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, you control Mike Chen as he flies on a magical nimbus cloud. The game stands out for its whimsical aestheticโpitting you against mythical enemies like flying noodle bowls, pigs, and dragonsโand its unique shop system where you can purchase power-ups mid-flight.
How to Play
Your objective is to reach the end of each stage, defeating a mid-boss and a main boss along the way. Control your cloud to dodge enemy fire and shoot down foes to collect currency. Enter floating tea shops to spend your credits on power-ups like spread shots and speed boosts. For this browser-based arcade version, use the Arrow Keys to move, and typical arcade action keys (Z, X, or Spacebar) to shoot. Press Shift to insert a coin and Enter to start.
Tips for Chuka Taisen
- Visit the shops carefully: When a tea shop appears, make sure you have enough credits to buy a worthwhile upgrade before entering, as you can only visit once per shop.
- Protect your power-ups: The game is notoriously challenging if you lose a life, as you lose your acquired power-ups. Prioritize evasion over aggressive attacking, especially when fully upgraded.
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