Dynamite Headdy
Template:Short description Template:Good article Template:Main other{{#invoke:infobox|infoboxTemplate | child = | subbox = | bodyclass = ib-video-game hproduct {{#ifeq:|yes|collapsible {{#if:|{{{state}}}|autocollapse}}}} | templatestyles = Infobox video game/styles.css | aboveclass = fn | italic title =
| above = Dynamite Headdy
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| caption = {{#if:Dynamite Headdy Coverart.png|North American cover art of the Sega Genesis cartridge|North American cover art of the Sega Genesis cartridge}}
| label2 = Developer(s) | data2 = TreasureTemplate:Efn
| label3 = Publisher(s) | data3 = Sega
| label4 = Director(s) | data4 = Hiroshi Aso
| label5 = Producer(s) | data5 = Koichi Kimura
| label6 = Designer(s) | data6 = Template:If first display both
| label7 = Programmer(s) | data7 = Masato Maegawa
| label8 = Artist(s)
| data8 = Koichi Kimura
Makoto Ogino
Kaname Shindoh
| label9 = Writer(s) | data9 = Template:If first display both
| label10 = Composer(s)
| data10 = Katsuhiko Suzuki
Yasuko
Koji Yamada
Aki Hata
Norio Hanzawa
| label11 = Series | data11 = Template:If first display both
| label12 = Engine | data12 = Template:If first display both
| label13 = Platform(s) | data13 = Sega Genesis, Game Gear, Master System
| label14 = Release | data14 = Template:Collapsible list
| label15 = Genre(s) | data15 = Platforming
| label16 = Mode(s) | data16 = Single-player
| label17 = Arcade system | data17 = Template:If first display both
| data30 =
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Dynamite HeaddyTemplate:Efn is a platform video game developed by Treasure and published by Sega for the Sega Genesis in 1994. The game follows a puppet named Headdy in his efforts to stop an evil puppet king from taking over his world. Headdy can throw his head at enemies to defeat them and use it to pull himself to various areas and move objects. The player can find a wide variety of "heads" which act as power-ups that provide different effects and alter gameplay.
Critical reception to Dynamite Headdy was positive. Critics highlighted the game's originality and creativity in distinguishing it among other games in the platform genre. They also commended Treasure for demonstrating their technical expertise with impressive graphical effects and building on the success of their earlier game Gunstar Heroes (1993). In reviews from the time and in retrospect, Dynamite Headdy is cited as one of the best games on the Genesis, and has since been included in multiple compilations of classic Genesis games. An 8-bit port was released for Game Gear, which itself served as the basis for a Master System port released in Brazil.
GameplayEdit
Dynamite Headdy is a platform game in which the player controls Headdy, a puppet with a detachable head.<ref name="IGN">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The story follows Headdy in his adventures to save his world from the evil puppet King Dark Demon, who is transforming all the puppets of the world into his evil minions. To succeed, Headdy must overcome the King's army, which features the likes of Trouble BruinTemplate:Efn and the key masters which serve as stage bosses.<ref name="segamain">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Headdy can jump and throw his head in any direction to attack enemies. His head can also be used to grab hooks and pull himself up to other platforms.<ref name=manual>Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp Headdy's health is represented by a spotlight in the corner of the screen which changes colors. If the player does not pick up restorative items to heal themselves after suffering damage from enemies, they will lose a life.<ref name=manual/>Template:Rp
During his adventure, Headdy will find power-ups which change the design and function of his head. These 17 power-ups range from increasing damage, such as spinning fireballs around his head, to providing invincibility, restoring health, increasing speed, etc.<ref name="segaheads">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Some of these power-ups last for only a short time. Other than heads, the player can also find health restoratives, extra points, and extra lives throughout the levels. By finding the Liberty Head, players can enter a Bonus Stage in which the player must shoot basketballs into the correct hoops.<ref name=manual/>Template:Rp Unlike other platform games where falling into a bottomless pit results instant death, if Headdy falls off, he will bounce back up which allows the player to put him back on a platform, though Headdy will still sustain some damage.
Development and releaseEdit
After developing Gunstar Heroes, Treasure was divided into four teams to work on four separate projects: Alien Soldier, Light Crusader, Yū Yū Hakusho Makyō Tōitsusen, and Dynamite Headdy.<ref name="gunstartint4">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Development of Dynamite Headdy started in August 1993.<ref name="mmpreview">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Inspiration for the game came from Koichi Kimura, who wanted to work on an original project. Up to this point in his five-year career, Kimura had only worked on projects using the pre-existing works of others.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite magazine (Translation by Shmuplations. Template:Webarchive).</ref> Kimura lead development,<ref name=":0" /> and president of Treasure, Masato Maegawa, served as head programmer.<ref name="gunstarint1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Kimura designed Dynamite Headdy to be commercially viable.<ref name=":0" /> He wanted the main character to attack with a part of its body, so he felt a puppet that could throw its head would be appealing. Not wanting Headdy to be a stereotypical lone hero, Kimura added support characters that appear in every stage.<ref name=":0" /> The game's visual design was inspired by Western animation and the work of film director Terry Gilliam.<ref name=":0" /> After deciding to publish a localized version for overseas markets, Maegawa was told by Sega of America to make the game more difficult. This was because Sega did not want customers completing the game too easily on rental. Maegawa happily obliged, and the North American release was made about twice as difficult.<ref name="gunstartint4" /> In addition to changes in difficulty, most of the dialogue in the game was removed, and several of the character and boss sprites were changed.<ref name="hg101" />
Dynamite Headdy was originally released in Japan on 5 August 1994 for the Sega Genesis, with North American and European releases following in September and October respectively.<ref name="segamain" /><ref name="egm61">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="cvg"/> A port was released for the Game Gear, and a Master System port based on the Game Gear version was released exclusively in Brazil.<ref name="hg101">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="SegaAges">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A 32X conversion was planned but canceled.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The game was included along with Gunstar Heroes and Alien Soldier in Sega Ages 2500: Gunstar Heroes Treasure Box, a compilation released for the PlayStation 2 in 2006 in Japan. The compilation includes all versions of Dynamite Headdy released on all three Sega platforms across all regions.<ref name="hg101"/><ref name="SegaAges"/><ref name="gspot2500">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The game saw a digital re-release on the Wii via the Virtual Console in July 2007.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was also included in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and was released on Steam on 2 May 2012.<ref name="hg101"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2018, it was included in the multi-platform compilation Sega Genesis Classics.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2021, Dynamite Headdy was added to the Nintendo Classics service.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
ReceptionEdit
Dynamite Headdy received critical acclaim,<ref name="hg101"/> with some believing it to be one of the best games on the Genesis.<ref name="EGM_GEN">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="mmsega">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name=Smag/> Journalists repeatedly highlighted the game's creativity as a strong point.<ref name="cvg">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name=EGM_GEN/><ref name=mmsega/><ref name="ngen">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Rik Skews of Computer and Video Games said it "breathes new life" into the platform genre and stood up to the likes of the Sonic series.<ref name=cvg/> The staff at Mean Machines Sega found the game innovative and liked how each stage introduced new concepts to keep gameplay fresh.<ref name=mmsega/> Tim Tucker at GamesMaster believed that Treasure was doing more innovation in the genre than any of its rivals.<ref name="gmaster">Template:Cite magazine</ref> In addition to the game's originality, critics praised Treasure's programming expertise and Dynamite Headdy's technical prowess.<ref name=EGM_GEN/><ref name=gmaster/><ref name=mmsega/> The staff of Electronic Gaming Monthly complimented the game's visual effects and colorful stages.<ref name=EGM_GEN/> Tucker said "Dynamite Headdy is full of classic Treasure overstatement" and cited the impressive colors, big explosions, large sprites, and rapidly changing backgrounds—which all together were perhaps a little too overwhelming.<ref name=gmaster/> The Mean Machines staff believed that Dynamite Headdy followed in the footsteps of Treasure's previous games and therefore confirmed the studio's technical expertise.<ref name=mmsega/> The gameplay drew some criticism, with Tucker finding it somewhat disjointed and "patchy" and Mean Machines stating that it takes a few stages to truly find its footing.<ref name=gmaster/><ref name=mmsega/>
Critics found the Game Gear port to be well done given the system's less powerful technology.<ref name=Smag/><ref name="GPro">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="EGM_GG">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Electronic Gaming Monthly staff called it one of the best portable action games.<ref name=EGM_GG/> Richard Leadbetter of Sega Magazine believed that since much of the Genesis version's playability came from the system's technical capabilities, the Game Gear version suffers in that sense, but still believed Treasure was able to create a fun 8-bit port.<ref name="Smag">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
In retrospective reviews of the Genesis version, Dynamite Headdy has continued to receive considerable praise. Critics agreed that the game is excellent despite not receiving the same legendary status as some of Treasure's other works such as Gunstar Heroes, Ikaruga, and Radiant Silvergun.<ref name=IGN/><ref name="Gspot">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="nlife">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Lucas M. Thomas of IGN said the game is overload on the eyes, but it makes sense with respect to Treasure's chaotic design.<ref name=IGN/> Frank Provo of GameSpot noted the game's impressive graphical effects, large bosses, and bizarre premise providing the same level of excitement as Gunstar Heroes.<ref name=Gspot/> Damien McFarren of Nintendo Life called it one of the best Treasure games of the Genesis era and one of the best platformers on the system.<ref name=nlife/>