Look: 8/10 Wow, this is amazing, how did I miss this. I really like the "Page" sequence graphics, though most the game is essentially just functional (for an Arabian themed game). The level designs remind me a lot of the Mario era that is coming so soon (ahhh, so excited), and the character sprites are well-done enough. Especially for its year, this is a standout for sure, tho I usually don't care for "Arabian" themed media like this. As per usual with arcade games emulated on MAME, I could only get a screenshot while paused, because it's so fast-paced. So, this is darker/grayer than it's supposed to look for the Page screen heh

Sound: 8/10 Cute, catchy jingles, even if some are overused "Arabian" tropes. I particularly like the jingle that plays during the "Page" sequence. It's also impressive, though I suppose this owes more to being an arcade machine than a console/microcomputer game, how many different jingles there are. I didn't include this in the final score, since I did the same for many even later games so Sound should only benefit these super early games (even when an arcade game).

Play: 9/10 An early arcade platformer with top-notch controls. I mean, gosh, most the '83 and '84 games didn't have all this--changing directions mid-air, super tight response, consistent mechanics, collision masks that make sense, and an ability to kick back at enemies in a challenging, yet reasonable way. Wow. The jump and the duck/crawl aspects are so well-done for '83, I just can't believe this. Did I skip out on a bunch of early arcade platformers, accidentally only backlogging the trash that is the Donkey Kong series??? The gameplay of collecting the letters is great, too. Even tho the mechanics were clearer and better than the microcomputer ones I've been playing, which already made me a happy camper, it also still had the drive to learn the precise quirks of the controls, like I did with Manic Miner (tho that was borne more from frustrating mechanics that I nonetheless wanted to learn). In this case, it was very clear-cut, well-done mechanics, that I nonetheless felt driven to learn the precise quirks. Like, you really can start crossing horizontally on to the hanging vines sooner than I originally thought (I was climbing the vine higher than needed), etc. Always a sign of a quality screen-based/early platformer that I am driven to learn such silly quirks, which reminds me of the specifics I can immediately/muscle-memory react to in Super Mario World and Crash 3/Warped. Wow, things really escalate in difficulty etc in Section 2 heh, which I was hoping would be the magic carpet-riding shoot em up segments, till I realized that I was thinking of the game-that-led-me-to-this-game (Tales of the Arabian Nights for Commodore 64). Several commenters said that it's a clone of this game, which it definitely isn't because there's no magic carpet riding segment in this heh. I did, for sure, read that this game is endless/arcade-style just for points at a point--so like usual I wanted to at least beat all the unique screens (bringing me back to the heyday of arcade games! I miss that era... I hope I didn't skip too many arcade games in '83 and on... cuz this is great). But then, I realized I was just so into the gameplay that I didn't realize I had already recycled the unique screens heh: section 2 is just a repeat of the Pages/Levels simply with higher difficulty, indeed (which explains why I simply felt an increase in difficulty heh). Four screens is kinda weak, but it made for a relatively quick and amazing game.

Feel: 9/10 To think I was going to finally devote a night to OldSchool RuneScape instead of my backlog heh, glad I went with backlog! I was almost instantly hooked. I truly enjoyed getting through the first "Page" (level). Even though I usually am not as into the platform 'n' ladders type early platformers, like Donkey Kong, this one does it just so well. Plus, the jump is just so well-done.... and the kick... Well, it all is just very impressive gameplay. The letters you collect reminded me of CTR, etc., and is a great touch, harkening to the upcoming platformers with lots of collectibles (god I love collectibles in games). I love both the kick mechanic and the way the enemy sprite flies off the screen lol. I don't know how to explain this but just as much as Mario, this feels a vital influence on modern platformers, especially the likes of Crash Bandicoot where you can hit your enemies (aka, platformers important to my childhood gaming). Oh lol, and again like Crash where you spin while hanging, you can kick while hanging from the vines. Wow, really a lot of Mario vibes, you're literally rescuing a princess who's displayed this way heh

(That's me crawling there in the upper right ha.)

Attachment: 8/10 I wonder how much my love for this is that the mechanics are so solid and that it's forgiving in ways many microcomputer platformers weren't (e.g., you can fall from whatever height and continue on). And didn't have the frustration I often have with arcade games--time limits to levels. I just took my time and savored it heh. Even tho I had lives left, once I realized Section 2 was merely a repeat of the Section 1 unique screens, I did stop playing. Nevertheless, I truly think this is a game I will show my brothers, use as a pick-up-and-play at get-togethers, and could even see myself as a to-the-point, high-quality early platformers. Tho right now I am disappointed in how few of unique screens it has (tho I have to recognize it being '83), I think that might actually be a positive for replays since it can be a quick (or long, if going for hi score) replay.

Completion: Section 2 Page 2, Score 41,500 Playtime: ~45 mins