Chubby Cherub is a video game software by Bandai

Bandai

is a Japanese toy making and video game company, as well as the producer of a large number of plastic model kits. It is the world's third-largest producer of toys . Some ex-Bandai group companies produce anime and tokusatsu programs...

 for the Nintendo Family Computer

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...

. The original Japanese version of the game, Obake no Q-tarō: WanWan Panic, was heavily modified for its United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 release and retitled Chubby Cherub since Americans had no knowledge of Obake no Q-taro. Chubby Cherub is about a flying cupid-like character who eats food and attacks enemies with limited supplies of hearts. The Japanese game is about a ghost named Q-tarō, a character from a Fujiko Fujio

Fujiko Fujio

was a nom de plume of a manga writing duo formed by two Japanese manga artists. Their real names are and . They formed their partnership in 1951, and used the Fujiko Fujio name from 1954 until dissolution of the partnership in 1987....

 manga

Manga

Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...

 series titled Obake no Q-tarō

Obake no Q-taro

, by Fujiko Fujio, is a Japanese manga about an obake, Qtarō who lives with the Ōhara family. Qtarō, also known as Q-chan or Oba-Q, is a mischief-maker who likes to fly around scaring people and stealing food, though he is deathly afraid of dogs.The story is formulaic, usually focussed on the...

.

Plot

Q-tarō's friends are kidnapped by several burglars. Q-tarō has to save them, however many dogs are in the way—Q-tarō's one fear as a ghost. Q-tarō the Ghost (Chubby Cherub in the English version) has to cross 12 levels, at the end of each, the protagonist will find his friends. Eating food maintains Chubby Cherub's flight. If the flying meter goes all the way down, the character will have to stay on ground. The character will bark at the dogs before they bark at the character; if a bark hits the character, the character may die.

Chubby Cherub/Q-tarō the Ghost

Q-tarō the Ghost is the character of the game, and Chubby Cherub is the main character of the English version. They can both fly through the air or walk on the ground. Flying triggers a simple flying meter, which if drops low, the player will have to walk on foot. Lollipops give Chubby Cherub/Q-tarō the ability to fire four shots at the dogs. Other food replenishes the meter. Chubby Cherub is drawn by Fujiko Fujio

Fujiko Fujio

was a nom de plume of a manga writing duo formed by two Japanese manga artists. Their real names are and . They formed their partnership in 1951, and used the Fujiko Fujio name from 1954 until dissolution of the partnership in 1987....

 on the English cover.

Beagles

Beagles are one of the main enemies in the game. Beagles can jump around onto ledges and fences, some are assigned to one place and just jump in two spots. Other dogs can bark at the player releasing an icon that must be avoided. It is noted that the barks move with the screen. If coming from the back, they are very dangerous.

Bulldogs

Bulldogs are much bigger than regular dogs. They do not move so fast, and are bark much more. Bulldogs are perched much higher of the ground. Bulldogs are just as dangerous when they bark from behind the player's character.

Cats

Cats are less of a threat than the other enemies, although they are impossible to get rid of. All Cats are immune to the player's attacks and come in a shade of brown and pink.

Reception

Sean Reiley

Seanbaby

Sean Patrick Reiley , better known as Seanbaby, is an American writer best known for his comedy website and frequent contributions to video game media outlets Electronic Gaming Monthly and 1UP.com. He is also a regular contributor to the humor website Cracked.com...

reviewed Chubby Cherub and stated that, in his opinion, it was the fifteenth worst NES game of all time. Sean Reiley described Chubby Cherub's graphics as ugly and also said that, "The cartridge is a waste of plastic, and could be used in many other things."