Challenger (video game)

Challenger is a 1985 side-scrolling action game developed and published by Hudson Soft for the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom). In North America, it was published by Hudson Soft for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1987.

The game follows a young adventurer who must rescue Princess Prin-Prin from the clutches of the evil Don Waldera. Gameplay consists of platforming, combat against various enemies, and collecting items to progress. The protagonist starts with limited abilities and must acquire power-ups to increase his attack range, jumping height, and defense.

The game is divided into multiple stages, each with a distinct environment and set of challenges. At the end of each stage, the player faces a boss character that must be defeated to advance. Challenger is known for its relatively high difficulty and unique gameplay mechanics, such as the use of a grappling hook for traversal. It is considered a relatively obscure title in the NES library but has garnered a cult following over the years.