Pooyan

A 1985 NES port of Konami's 1982 arcade shooter, published by Hudson Soft. Taking its cue from The Three Little Pigs, mother pig Pooyan rides a suspended gondola up and down a cliff face, firing arrows at a pack of wolves floating down from the sky on balloons. The first stage requires puncturing the balloons before the wolves land; the second demands hurling large chunks of meat to drive off the wolf king guarding the exit. With two distinct weapons — arrows and meat — precise timing is essential. Pooyan's delightful cartoon visuals and simple, addictive loop make it one of the most memorable fixed-screen shooters of the early arcade era.