is an arcade game

Arcade game

An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...

 released by Taito

Taito Corporation

The is a Japanese publisher of video game software and arcade hardware wholly owned by publisher Square Enix. Taito has their headquarters in the Shinjuku Bunka Quint Building in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo, sharing the facility with its parent company....

 in 1983, considered to be an ancestor of Bubble Bobble

Bubble Bobble

is an arcade game by Taito, first released in 1986 and later ported to numerous home computers and game consoles. The game, starring the twin Bubble Dragons and , is an action-platform game in which players travel through one hundred different stages, blowing and bursting bubbles, avoiding...

 due to the appearance of many similar enemies and Bubble Bobble's duplication of a Chack'n Pop level. The arcade rom set also contains unused graphics for the mechanical wind-up "Zen-Chan" that later appeared in Bubble Bobble. Although now considered obscure, home conversions of the game exist for SG-1000

SG-1000

The SC-3000 was the computer equivalent of the SG-1000.The SC-3000 sold for ¥29,800 in 1983 and was marketed as a computer for beginners...

, MSX

MSX

MSX was the name of a standardized home computer architecture in the 1980s conceived by Kazuhiko Nishi, then Vice-president at Microsoft Japan and Director at ASCII Corporation...

, Famicom

Nintendo Entertainment System

The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...

, PC-6001

NEC PC-6001

The NEC PC-6001 was the first of the NEC Corporation personal computer line. There were several versions of the PC-6001, including the PC-6001 MK2, the PC-6001 MK2 SR, and the PC-6801. There was also an American version, called the NEC TREK, or NEC PC-6001A...

 and PC-8801

NEC PC-8801

The NEC PC-8801 was an early Zilog Z80-based computer exclusively released in Japan, where it became very popular, by NEC Corporation in 1981. It was informally called the "PC-88"....

 , and the arcade emulation is included in Taito Legends Power-Up

Taito Legends Power-Up

Taito Legends Power-Up is a compilation of classic Taito video games released for the PlayStation Portable system. Patterned after the Taito Legends series for video game consoles, Power-Up marks the first release of the franchise on a portable gaming system.-Games:Taito Legends Power-Up features...

 for the PlayStation Portable

PlayStation Portable

The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...

 and Taito Legends 2

Taito Legends 2

Taito Legends 2 is the sequel to Taito Legends and is a follow-up collection of 39 Taito arcade games for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC....

 for the Xbox

Xbox

The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...

, PlayStation 2

PlayStation 2

The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...

, and PC

Personal computer

A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...

.

Gameplay

The SG version is notable for featuring extended introduction and ending sequences and a small additional training stage before the first.

Chack'n, a small yellow creature (later recolored green) with extendable legs must traverse a series of single-screen mazes. He is capable of walking on floors or ceilings but not walls. He can climb steps and traverse high walls by extending his legs until he is tall enough to pass onto the next step. He is capable of throwing hand grenades to his left or right which, after a short period, explode into a cloud of smoke. Separate fire buttons control rolling to the left or right. Chack'n is killed if caught by the explosion cloud.

Each screen is played against a time limit, marked by a Mighta pushing a boulder along the top of the screen. The Mighta reappears in Bubble Bobble as a recurring enemy.

Chack'n's aim is to reach the top of the screen before the time limit expires. He is delayed in this process by a series of solid walls. In order to get past the walls, he must free hearts from cages using his hand grenades.

A further obstruction comes in the form of Monstas (same creatures to appear in Bubble Bobble) hatching from eggs. Hand grenades can also be used to destroy the creatures or the eggs producing them (however, the player will get bonus points after completing the level for not destroying any enemies). Later levels include moving platforms and, reminiscent of Bubble Bobble, water bottles that when blown up flood the level with water. The water does not destroy anything or in any way inhibit the movement of the enemies, but it allows Chack'n to swim to otherwise unreachable platforms.

Once all the levels are completed, Chack'n is able to marry his girlfriend, Miss Chack'n.

Cameo appearances in other games

Although Chack'n Pop was not a great success, several other Taito games have featured cameo appearances by Chack'n or other content from Chack'n Pop.

Bubble Bobble

In addition to inheriting the Monsta and Mighta enemies, Bubble Bobble level 29 is a duplication of an early Chack'n Pop level, and level 43 is based on the appearance of the character himself. Chack'n also appears in the centre of the heart power-up that makes Bub and Bob invincible for a short period. At the end of level 93, all bubbles on the screen will turn into Chack'n sprites.

Fairyland Story

The design of level 37 in Fairyland Story

Fairyland Story

The Fairyland Story is a classical arcade platform video game released by Taito in 1985 in its arcade form. The game has two known conversions, to the MSX and X68000 computer families....

 is based on the appearance of Chack'n.

Parasol Stars

World 10 pays homage to Chack'n Pop, as not only are there Monstas and Mightas in every stage, but there are also evil Chack'n enemies, and the first round of that world is a recreation of Chack'n Pops first stage. Chack'n also briefly appears in the 'good ending' of the game.

Puzzle Bobble

In Puzzle Bobble

Puzzle Bobble

, also known as Bust-a-Move, is a 1994 arcade puzzle game created by Taito Corporation, based on Taito's popular 1986 arcade game Bubble Bobble, featuring characters and themes from the original...

 and Puzzle Bobble 2

Puzzle Bobble 2

Puzzle Bobble 2 is the first sequel to "Puzzle Bobble" , It was entitled in Europe and North America as Bust-A-Move Again on the arcarde and Bust-A-Move 2 on the home consoles. Released into the arcades in 1995, PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Nintendo 64 and PC conversions followed...

, Chack'n appears in the centre of the screen in 2-player modes, observing the game and becoming excited whenever great shifts of bubbles occur.

Bubble Symphony

Chack'n is one of the classic Taito characters that sometimes appears to help the main characters upon collection of a book power-up.

Bubble Memories

Chack'n appears as an enemy, attempting to kill the player with his grenades. Miss Chack'n also appears as the design of round 35.