Toki

Toki is a side-scrolling run-and-gun platform game developed by Japan's TAD Corporation and first released in Japanese arcades in 1989. The game combines conventional arcade action with an intentionally eccentric premise: the protagonist, a powerful tribesman named Toki, is transformed into a gorilla-like ape by the witch doctor Vookimedlo after the kidnapping of Princess Miho and the enslavement or transformation of the island's inhabitants. Toki retains his intelligence and gains the ability to fire energy projectiles from his mouth, making his unusual physical form the central mechanical and visual idea of the game. The objective is to cross a sequence of dangerous environments, defeat intermediate guardians and other creatures, reach Vookimedlo's golden palace, rescue Miho, and undo the spell. Stages include watery areas, canyons, icy mountains, volcanic terrain and other hostile landscapes. The game uses a timer for each stage and emphasizes careful movement, memorization, shooting, jumping and the collection of useful items. Power-ups can improve Toki's projectile attack, while other collectibles provide extra time, lives, agility, protection, bonus points or access to bonus areas. Toki is deliberately vulnerable: in many versions, a single enemy attack can kill him, which contributes to the game's demanding arcade character. TAD's original arcade release was published in North America by Fabtek. During the following period, the game was adapted for a range of home systems. Ocean Software handled versions for the Amiga, Atari ST and Commodore 64, while Taito published adaptations for the Nintendo Entertainment System and Atari Lynx. Sega produced a distinct Mega Drive and Genesis edition called Toki: Going Ape Spit, with different content, additional levels and more detailed graphics. Some versions changed character names and story details: Toki was called JuJu in Japan and certain ports, while Miho and Vookimedlo were sometimes renamed Wanda and Dr. Stark. In some adaptations, the kidnapping and final confrontation also involve the character Bashtar. The arcade game received generally favorable contemporary attention for its unusual premise, colorful presentation, variety of environments and entertaining action, although later home versions were not uniformly received. The NES and Genesis editions attracted criticism for difficulty, presentation or design differences, while the Lynx, Amiga and Atari ST versions were reviewed more positively. Toki also received the Best Coin-Op Conversion award at the 1991 Golden Joystick Awards, reinforcing its reputation as a notable arcade-to-home conversion. The property remained recognizable beyond its original release cycle. A related but unreleased Jaguar project passed through titles including Apeshit and Toki Goes Apespit. The original game was later ported to iOS in 2009 in the United States. Microids published a modern remake in 2018 for Nintendo Switch, followed by releases for Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Amazon Luna. As a result, Toki is best understood not as a corporate consumer brand but as a cult video-game property spanning arcade, home-console, computer, mobile and remake releases.

Toki was created as an arcade action game by TAD Corporation and released in Japan in 1989. Its central concept distinguished it from more conventional platform shooters: the player controls a human warrior transformed into an ape, and the character attacks by spitting energy projectiles. The narrative gives this comic-looking mechanic a clear purpose. The witch doctor Vookimedlo has kidnapped Princess Miho and transformed the people of the island into animals and monsters. Toki must cross the island, defeat the wizard and restore the original order. The arcade design combines horizontal platforming with run-and-gun combat. Toki is slow and highly vulnerable, but his mouth-launched attacks allow him to eliminate enemies and obstacles at range. Stages contain countdown timers, minibosses and environmental hazards. Items include projectile upgrades, clocks, fruit, keys, extra lives, magic coins or equivalent collectibles, a protective helmet and objects that improve agility or jumping. The game's mix of strict timing, memorization and one-hit danger made it recognizably arcade-oriented. Fabtek published the game in North America. Within roughly the next two years, Toki was converted for multiple home systems. Ocean Software released versions for Amiga, Atari ST and Commodore 64; advertised ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC versions did not materialize. Taito published versions for the Atari Lynx and Nintendo Entertainment System. The NES edition modified the design by adding a health bar, reducing the severity of the arcade game's one-hit structure. Sega's Mega Drive and Genesis version, Toki: Going Ape Spit, was an exclusive adaptation with additional levels and more elaborate graphics, while omitting some of the original non-projectile power-ups. Localization and platform differences affected the game's fiction. In Japan and some releases, Toki was known as JuJu. Miho could become Wanda, and Vookimedlo could become Dr. Stark. Some versions made Bashtar, a partly invisible giant and Vookimedlo's henchman, responsible for the kidnapping or the final battle. These changes illustrate how the game was adapted for different markets rather than being distributed as a single completely standardized edition. Reviews were generally positive for the arcade and several computer conversions. Critics highlighted the game's vivid settings, imaginative premise, playability and humor. The game was also visible in arcade popularity surveys around 1990 and received the Best Coin-Op Conversion award at the 1991 Golden Joystick Awards. Reception to the console versions was more mixed. The NES release was criticized in some Japanese and European commentary for its difficulty, visuals, sound or limited appeal, while the Genesis edition also received an uneven response. The Atari Lynx, Amiga and Atari ST versions were more favorably regarded overall. The character and concept continued to have a modest cult following. Ocean Software developed a related Jaguar project under the working title Apeshit, later also associated with the name Toki Goes Apespit, but the planned game was never released. Magic Team later brought the original game to iOS in the United States in 2009. Microids revived the property with a remake in 2018 for Nintendo Switch and later issued versions for Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Luna. Toki therefore evolved from a late-1980s arcade title into a multi-platform retro property, with its enduring identity rooted in its strange ape protagonist, humorous fantasy setting and demanding platform-shooter gameplay.

• 2018

  Modern remake

  [1]Toki (video game)en.wikipedia.org

  Microids published a remake for Nintendo Switch, followed by versions for Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Luna.

• 2009

  iOS port

  [1]Toki (video game)en.wikipedia.org

  Magic Team released a port of the original game for iOS in the United States.

• 1991

  Best Coin-Op Conversion award

  [1]Toki (video game)en.wikipedia.org

  Toki received the Best Coin-Op Conversion award at the Golden Joystick Awards.

• 1990

  International arcade distribution

  [1]Toki (video game)en.wikipedia.org

  Fabtek published the game in North America, where it appeared in contemporary arcade popularity surveys.

• 1989

  Japanese arcade release

  [1]Toki (video game)en.wikipedia.org

  TAD Corporation released Toki in Japanese arcades as a run-and-gun platform game.

A distinctive, humorous and challenging arcade platform shooter built around an ape-transformed hero, colorful fantasy environments and unusual projectile-based gameplay.

• Arcade platform shooter · 1989

  Toki

  The original 1989 arcade game from TAD Corporation. Players guide the transformed warrior Toki through jungle, aquatic, mountainous and volcanic environments while firing projectiles from his mouth, collecting power-ups and defeating bosses before the stage timer expires.

• Mega Drive and Genesis platform game

  Toki: Going Ape Spit

  Sega's exclusive home-console adaptation adds levels and uses more detailed graphics than several other versions. It also changes the power-up system by removing the original non-spit power-ups and making other design adjustments.

• Console and computer ports

  Toki

  The property was converted for Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Nintendo Entertainment System and Atari Lynx. The NES version introduced a health bar, while names, story details, difficulty and presentation varied across releases.

• Remake · 2018

  Toki remake

  Microids' remake updates the classic platform shooter for modern systems while retaining its central premise, characters and side-scrolling action. It debuted on Nintendo Switch and was later released for Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Luna.

• 2018

  Decision to revive Toki as a remakeProduct launch

  Background

  After the original game's arcade and conversion era, the property remained associated with retro game culture and its distinctive protagonist.

  Action taken

  Microids released a remake first for Nintendo Switch and subsequently for several additional modern platforms.

  Aftermath

  The release reintroduced Toki to contemporary console and computer audiences.

  Source

• Multiple home-platform adaptationsGeneration change

  Background

  The arcade title was adapted for several home computers and consoles, requiring changes to controls, graphics, difficulty, health systems and story presentation.

  Action taken

  Publishers and platform holders produced distinct versions for Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, NES, Lynx and Mega Drive or Genesis.

  Aftermath

  The adaptations expanded Toki's audience, although critical reception varied substantially by platform.

  Source

• 2018

  Microids publishes a Toki remake[1]Toki (video game)en.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Product generation

  A remake of Toki was released for Nintendo Switch, extending the property to a new generation of platforms.

• 2009

  Toki reaches iOS[1]Toki (video game)en.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  A version of the original game, ported by Magic Team, was released for iOS in the United States.

• 1991

  Toki wins a Golden Joystick conversion award[1]Toki (video game)en.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The home-computer conversion of Toki received the Best Coin-Op Conversion award at the Golden Joystick Awards.

• 1989

  Toki debuts in Japanese arcades[1]Toki (video game)en.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  TAD Corporation released Toki as an arcade run-and-gun platform game in Japan. Fabtek subsequently published it in North America.

1. 1Toki (video game)en.wikipedia.org