Matchlock
From Sega Retro
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Matchlock | |||||||||
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System(s): Electro-mechanical arcade | |||||||||
Publisher: Sega | |||||||||
Developer: Sega | |||||||||
Number of players: 1 | |||||||||
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Matchlock is an electro-mechanical arcade shooting gallery game developed and manufactured by Sega. Released exclusively in the United States in 1972, it is notable for its use of solid-state digitized sound samples, and for its inclusion of offensive Asian stereotypes.
Contents
Gameplay
On a feudal Japanese battlefield, players are tasked with shooting oncoming hordes of ashigaru (足軽) foot soldiers with a swivel-mounted replica of a tanegashima (種子島) matchlock rifle (the weapon is more commonly known as a hinawajū (火縄銃), the kanji for which appears on the cabinet itself.) Enemies approach the player's Japanese castle (城) in diagonal rows, and upon being shot, dramatically emit a digitized scream in an accent most-associated with offensive Asian stereotypes of the time it was made.
The replica matchlock rifle is notable for using built-in recoil to simulate firing an actual weapon.
Scoring
Each successful hit is worth 10 points, and a free game is awarded between 140 and 190 points.
Specifications
Dimensions