Trojan (1986). Play Free Online

Summary

Trojan is one of those hidden‑gem arcade side‑scrollers I keep coming back to. The two‑button layout feels instantly satisfying – one button swings the sword while the other raises a shield that can be angled in any direction, and the joystick itself doubles as the jump control when you push it upward. When a magic ball strikes your shield you actually lose both weapons, forcing you to jab and kick bare‑handed until they reappear on screen, which creates a surprisingly tense shift in the rhythm.

The game stretches across six distinct stages, each packed with a parade of basic foes, a mid‑level sub‑boss and a full‑blown boss at the end, culminating in a showdown with Achilles. You can pick any stage as a starting point, but to uncover the true ending you must loop through the entire sequence again after the final fight, a nod to the infamous Ghosts ’n Goblins penalty.

Later, Trojan resurfaced in the Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 1 for PS2 and Xbox, and it even earned a modest shout‑out in contemporary magazines for its crisp graphics and tight gameplay, cementing its status as a worthy, if underrated, Capcom classic.

Storyline

The game is set in a post‑apocalyptic near‑future scarred by nuclear war and a demonic influence. Spirits of ancient warlords have returned, possessing the strongest survivors called the "chosen" and ruling over small tribes under a supreme leader named Achilles.

You play as a young warrior who rejects the evil spirits and adopts the battle name Hero Trojan. After witnessing Achilles slaughter innocents, he rebels and sets out to overthrow the tyrant.

Hero Trojan must infiltrate the enemy lands, battling pirates and gladiators while using his sword and shield to exorcise the demons from their mortal hosts. The journey takes him through a gothic‑industrial wasteland toward the final confrontation.

Edited by Maya Carter