Kyle Blackthorne
The exiled human king and protagonist. He returns to Tuul armed with a shotgun to oppose the evil forces controlling the world.
Documented for this version
Arrow LeftArrow Right | Move left or right |
|---|---|
Arrow Up | Climb ladders or enter an upward route when available |
Arrow Down | Crouch or descend when the environment permits |
Alt | Jump |
Ctrl | Fire the shotgun |
These are the standard DOS keyboard actions; exact remapping may differ between releases.
How it plays
The game uses a side-view perspective and divides Tuul into interconnected stages filled with rooms, platforms, ladders, traps, enemies, and locked passages. The main objective is to advance through each area, rescue imprisoned townspeople, collect items, and defeat or avoid opponents.
Kyle can run, jump, climb, crouch, draw and fire his shotgun, and interact with parts of the environment. Enemies require careful positioning because Kyle’s weapon is powerful but encounters can be dangerous. Progression comes from locating keys, bombs, shields, and other items that open routes or make later sections survivable.
Plan your run
Learn enemy attack patterns before committing to a fight. Use cover and corners whenever possible, and avoid wasting shotgun ammunition on enemies that can be bypassed.
Search every room for keys, prisoners, and useful items. Keep track of locked doors and unusual walls, because exploration and backtracking are essential to reaching later sections.
Meet the cast
The exiled human king and protagonist. He returns to Tuul armed with a shotgun to oppose the evil forces controlling the world.
The tyrannical ruler of Tuul and the central antagonist.
Before you begin
Use the environment as cover while timing shotgun attacks.
Explore side rooms before leaving an area; rescued prisoners and items are easy to miss.
Save progress frequently when the version or setup provides a save option.
Blackthorne is a cinematic action-platformer developed by Blizzard Entertainment and published by Interplay Productions for DOS in 1994. It follows Kyle Blackthorne, a heavily armed human king who returns to the alien world of Tuul after years in exile. The game combines side-scrolling exploration, precise jumping, ladder climbing, gunplay, and environmental puzzles. Its dark fantasy setting, rotoscoped animation, and relatively mature tone helped distinguish it from many platform games of the period. Progress depends on rescuing prisoners, finding keys and weapons, and surviving hostile creatures and armed guards. Blackthorne received generally positive attention for its atmosphere and animation, although its difficulty and sometimes unforgiving level design were frequent criticisms.
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