Blackthorne
π 7.4/10
(Super Famicom - JP, Action & Adventure)
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Complete
$237.69
Loose $54.99
Developed by:
Activision
Published by:
Interplay
Released On:
01 Jan 1994
Also available on:
The planet Tuul was a peaceful place, until the evil warrior Sarlac used the power of the Darkstone to take control. Kyle Blackthorne's father, the good King Vlaros, sent him to Earth just as his kingdom crumbled around him. Now, twenty years later, Kyle is grown and must return to Tuul to free it from the clutches of Sarlac.
Blackthorne is a platform action game played from a side-view with non-scrolling backgrounds. It has certain similarities to Prince of Persia, being set in maze-like environments and focusing on exploration and occasional puzzle-solving. Kyle Blackthorne fights enemies by shooting at them. His default weapon, a pump action shotgun, can be upgraded throughout the course of the game. Various types of bombs can be used to damage enemies, blow open doors, or destroy generators. Keys must be found to gain access to new areas.
EAN-13:
4906571529680 (Japan)
Nintendo Media PN:
SHVC-6Z-JPN (Japan)
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Save Game Methods:
Password
Number of Players Supported:
1 Player
Prices as of 30 Jul 2026
Typical $237.69β$237.69 (last 90 days)
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Manual
Game Guide
Extracted from the original game manual
*Blackthorne* is a cinematic platformer and action game where players control Kyle Blackthorne, a disgraced military mercenary who discovers he is the rightful heir to the throne of the alien world of Tuul. Transported back to his home planet, the player must navigate dangerous environments, including treacherous mines, deserts, and swamps, to free his enslaved people from the tyrannical rule of the evil Lord Sarlac. Armed with a shotgun and athletic prowess, players must run, jump, climb, and shoot their way through hostile forces to reclaim the throne and restore peace to Tuul.
Story
The History of Tuul
Centuries ago, Tuul was a peaceful world inhabited by a single race of people. Their ruler was a great priest/shaman blessed with all knowledge, a position passed down from father to eldest son through hundreds of unbroken generations.
The succession became dubious when twin boys were born to Thoros, the ninety-ninth priest in the line. Exhaustive tests of intellect revealed neither boy was superior. To determine the next ruler, the father and his two sons ventured into the desert now known as the Sands of Sorrow.
Three days later, the sons returned alone bearing two large gems, one light and one dark. They announced their father was dead, his body transformed into the two gems containing his wisdom and knowledge. Each son chose one gem, forever altering the fate of Tuul.
The Divided Populations
Following the event in the desert, Tuul split into two distinct populations:
β’
Androth: Settled north of the desert by those who followed the holder of the Lightstone. The kingdom flourished, keeping the revered Lightstone in a central courtyard surrounded by gardens of exotic flora that thrived under the stone's vibrant energy.
β’
Ka'dra'suul: Settled south of the desert by those who followed the guardian of the Darkstone. They buried their stone deep in the catacombs beneath the central keep of their great castle.
The Rise of Sarlac
Neglected by its people, the Darkstone responded by molding the Ka'dra'suul into a cruel, mutated race. Separated by the great desert, the two populations had little contact until the Ka'dra'suul's supply of Xandraliteβthe soft, energy-radiating metal used by both races for heat and lightβwas nearly exhausted by the vampiric Darkstone.
A young warrior named Sarlac arose, preaching against the Androthi and claiming they enjoyed an unfair share of Tuul's resources. Sarlac swept into power, ruling from his Shadow Keep. He led his hordes north, quickly overrunning and enslaving the unprepared Androthi. The conquered people were forced to work their own Xandralite mines to feed the Darkstone in the south.
The Legend of Kyle Blackthorne
On Earth, Kyle Blackthorne was a well-known military legend. A former U.S. Marine officer, he became a mercenary after receiving a medical discharge, fighting in a dozen military actions worldwide. Cold, shrewd, and calculating, he was charged with war crimes and scheduled for court-martial.
The court-martial was part of a peace agreement with the Warlord Moswali, a cutthroat controlling large territories in a war-torn East African country. Moswali held a personal grudge against Blackthorne and demanded his trial as a concession for U.N. peace negotiations.
The Escape
Held in a concrete and steel bunker, Blackthorne was guarded under maximum restraint. During a routine cell check, Blackthorne took advantage of a distracted sergeant, knocking him unconscious with an elbow to the throat.
Threatening the remaining corporal, Blackthorne secured the keys, broke out of the bunker, and sprinted across the compound. He fought his way onto a waiting helicopter, forced the pilot out, and took the controls.
Blackthorne flew west toward the border, evading surface-to-air missiles fired from the compound. He aimed to reach old allies across the border who could provide him with a new passport and safe passage out of Africa in exchange for the helicopter and its cargo.
The Awakening and the Dreams
After landing safely in a brush-covered area across the border, Blackthorne was overcome by sudden weakness and blacked out. He awoke disoriented in the sand, plagued by recurring childhood dreams that were now growing more vivid and urgent:
β’
The Flight: A dream of running as a child through dark, vaulted stone halls, guided by a trusted, unseen voice.
β’
The Murder: A vision of a tall, gray-haired man in a splendid robeβhis father, King Vlarosβbeing struck down by a giant, shadowy figure with a sword.
β’
The Mines: A vision of enslaved, sweating workers chained to cave walls, whom he recognized as the Androthi.
β’
The Ka'dra'suul: A vision of a blue-skinned, tusked creature wielding an evil black whip.
The Prophetic Quests
As Blackthorne evaded the U.N. forces and a sniper sent by Warlord Moswali, his mind continued to slip into visions of his true destiny on Tuul:
β’
The Mines of Androth: He must return to the Xandralite mines, now a prison camp run by the Ka'dra'suul, to free his enslaved people.
β’
The Golatrix Complex: He must cross a vast desert to reach this abandoned, far-flung Androthi military outpost to retrieve an important item.
β’
The Karnellian Swamps: He must navigate a dark, creature-infested swamp to find the Seer Onehand, who holds the secret to defeating the great evil.
The Destiny Revealed
As a jeep of his Earth allies approached him on the highway, a powerful voice vibrated in Blackthorne's head, pulling him into the vastness of space. The voice belonged to Galadril, the advisor and sorcerer to Kyle's late father, King Vlaros.
Galadril revealed the truth: Kyle was the proper heir to the throne of Tuul. To protect him from the evil Lord Sarlac, his father and Galadril had sent him to Earth and locked away
How to Play
Starting the Game
After inserting the Blackthorne Super NES game pak, several introductory screens will appear. Press START until you reach the title screen, which will present you with several options.
Title Screen Options
β’
PRACTICE: Guides you through a tutorial to familiarize yourself with basic game controls, weapons, and items before you begin an actual game.
β’
NEW GAME: Immediately starts a game from the opening level.
β’
OPTIONS: Enables you to turn music and sound on or off.
β’
PASSWORD: Allows you to bypass levels that you have already completed.
Using Passwords
Select the PASSWORD option and use the control pad to enter the appropriate password. A new game will begin at the designated level.
Be sure to write down the passwords as you complete levels. You can use the password notebook in this manual to keep track.
Tips & Maps
Tutorial/Walk-through
A guide to help you through the first few minutes of game play and get used to some of the controls.
Controls
Left
moves Blackthorne in that direction
Right
moves Blackthorne in that direction
Up
"hides" Blackthorne in the shadows (when standing in the clear)
Down
Crouches (primarily used to pick up items)
Items & Weapons
The shotgun
Blackthorne's primary weapon, which can be upgraded in effectiveness over the course of the game with the help of Androthi allies.
HOVER BOMBS
After this bomb is thrown, it "rolls" toward its target and detonates.
FIRE BOMBS
This bomb features a "somersault" explosion that can damage multiple enemies at one time.
WASPS
When deployed, you can steer this bomb with the Control Pad and detonate it by pressing X.
HEALTH POTION
You will be able to improve your health by finding and drinking these potions.
Enemies & Characters
KING VLAROS
The old ruler of Tuul and Kyle's Father.
GALADRIL
Tuul's resident sorcerer and Vlaros' best friend.
THE SEER ONEHAND
A female forest druid who leads the Androthi in their struggle against the Ka'Dra'Suul in the forests.
THOROS
The originator of the Stones of light and dark. His shrine lies in the wastelands where it is foretold the stones came into being.
SARLAC
The ultimate bad guy-once a sorcerer like Galadril, the powers of the Darkstone have turned him and his minions into gruesome monsters. Sarlac wields the power of the Darkstone against the Androthi.
ANDROTHI
These are the good guys who will often provide you with useful information and items.
ANDROMEDOGS
Fearing that Sarlac would inevitably win, some of the the Androthi joined up with Sarlac to avoid destruction. These outcast traitors are hated by the Androthi.
GRAG'OHR ("GRAGGS")
Blackthorne's most common enemy (the goblin creatures), they appear throughout the game with varying degrees of difficulty.
WHAR'ORK
These ominous looking blue creatures lurk in the depths of the Xandralite mines, never hesitating to crack their whips at the enslaved Androthi.
ROCK BEASTS
The once tame desert dwellers are now bent by Sarlac's influence to destroy the Androthi with their unique "rock and roll" attack.
EEKERS
Tentacle-like plants that devour unsuspecting victims-they emit a shrill sound when in distress.
SPIDER MINES
These walking explosives are pesky creatures that test Blackthorne throughout his journey-Fire Bombs are particularly useful against them.
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