Cloud Master

Cloud Master is a horizontally scrolling shooter released as an arcade video game by Taito in 1988.^[3] Home versions were released for the Master System, PC Engine, and Famicom and, excluding the Master System version, were released only in Japan. The PC Engine version of the game is titled Gokuraku! Chuuka Taisen (極楽!中華大仙). The Famicom version is titled Chuuka Taisen.

Cloud Master
Developer(s)	Hot-B (Arcade) Opera House (Master System, MSX2) Disco (FC) SPS Co (X68000)
Publisher(s)	Taito (Arcade, FC, PCE) Sega (Master System) Sharp (X68000) Hot-B (MSX2)
Designer(s)	Yukio Abe Fujiwara Eihiro
Programmer(s)	Funky George (Famicom)
Artist(s)	Nekoto Jr (Famicom)
Composer(s)	Planet2, Soul Duke (Famicom)
Platform(s)	Arcade, MSX2, PC Engine, Famicom, Master System, X68000
Release	July 1988 Arcade JP: July 1988 MSX2 JP: December 1, 1988 Master System NA: August 1989[1] PAL: 1989 Famicom JP: September 22, 1989[2] X68000 JP: January 25, 1991 PC Engine JP: March 13, 1992
Genre(s)	Scrolling shooter
Mode(s)	1-2 players alternating term

Gameplay

Arcade version screenshot

The player controls Mike Chen floating on a cloud, maneuvering around the screen and shooting balls of energy at flying enemies. Powerups can be collected for stronger and faster firepower. Some parts of the stages have doors that give the player the opportunity to buy special bomb types with collectible credits. Each stage has its own mini-boss and main boss. The player restarts at certain checkpoints after losing a life.

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Cloud Master on their August 15, 1988 issue as being the sixteenth most-successful table arcade unit of the month.^[4]

Legacy

In 2008, Starfish SD, a company founded by former Hot-B employees, bought the rights from Taito and developed a remake for the Nintendo Wii. It was released under the title The Monkey King: The Legend Begins, dubbed Shin Chuuka Taisen: Michael to Meimei no Bouken in Japan.^[3] A Nintendo Switch port, titled Chuka Taisen, was released on September 6, 2018.^[5]