Pooyan: Stern’s 1982 Piggy-Powered Shootout!

Pooyan, Stern’s 1982 arcade gem under Konami’s license, is a quirky shooter starring Mama Pig, defending her piglets from a pack of balloon-riding wolves! Perched in a moving basket, you use a joystick to aim and a button to fire arrows (or meat chunks!) to pop the wolves’ balloons before they snatch your babies. Designed by Hudson Soft, this single-screen battle unfolds in a whimsical forest setting.

Wolves descend from treetops or climb up on balloons, tossing rocks to knock you out. Time your shots to take out multiple foes, and grab power-ups like rapid-fire arrows. Every few rounds, a bonus stage lets you pelt wolves with meat for big points. The charming pixel art, with adorable pigs and snarling wolves, pairs with a catchy soundtrack, including a playful “Pop Goes the Weasel” riff.

Pooyan’s simple yet frantic gameplay made it a coin-op hit, with ports to the Atari 2600, NES, and more. Its unique premise and tight controls shine in retro collections.

Ready to save the piglets? Aim, shoot, and bacon those wolves in this delightful Konami classic!