Syvalion Longplay (Arcade) [QHD]

Game Info
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Developer: Taito
Publisher: Taito
Year of Release: 1988

Game Review & Impressions
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As another of Taito's more obscure coin-op releases, Syvalion is also one of the more interesting. You control a fire-breathing wyrm through a series of hazard-filled mazes in a race against time, which might seem simple enough until you factor in the trackball controller. The control scheme makes perfect sense when you think about it: you require both speed AND precision to beat most of the games levels, and with a trackball you're less likely to achieve both without plenty of practice.

As for the levels, there are various spike traps, lava pits and patrolling enemies to watch out for. Some of these can be destroyed with a liberal application of your dragon's flame, although this has but a limited amount of charge, and must be regenerated between uses. Additional weapon power-ups and other bonuses can be found nestled in hard-to-reach alcoves within the levels, but you risk losing precious time finagling the rotation of the dragon in order to reach these. Bagging them certainly makes the end-of-level bosses easier, mainly because you'll be spending most of the time getting out the way of their charge attacks, or dodging the plethora of projectiles coming your way.

Despite being relatively short, Syvalion is actually a really cool game. Beating the levels and managing to snake your way through the constantly twisting and turning tunnels of each level is both stressful and rewarding, and the visual aesthetic is extremely cool. The control scheme and more niche game design means it never received any kind of home conversion to my knowledge, so it's worth taking the time to play it, should the opportunity arise.

Chapters
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00:00 Attract mode
00:50 Instructions
01:00 Stage 1
02:00 Stage 2
03:24 Stage 3
04:55 Stage 4
06:48 Stage 5
09:00 Ending