Cliff Hanger

About

Cliff Hanger is a 1983 arcade game that plays like a choose-your-own-adventure with movie clips. You control a character named Cliff (Lupin III in the source material) as he navigates a story split between two animated films. The screen shows pre-recorded footage with occasional prompts, press a button or nudge the joystick at the right moment to keep the action moving. Timing is key but not punishingly strict, making it a relaxed way to interact with on-screen drama. The game uses scenes from The Castle of Cagliostro and The Mystery of Mamo, two Japanese animated films that fans still praise for their charm and pacing. Cliff Hanger’s gimmick of interrupting scenes with simple commands feels odd by modern standards but reflects early experiments in interactive storytelling. Though rare and a relic of a niche format, it’s a curiosity for those interested in how arcade games once tried to blend movies and player input.

Storyline

Players take the role of Lupin III (dubbed Cliff in the game) as he follows the plotline of The Castle of Cagliostro with a level based on The Mystery of Mamo. Rather similar to most FMV Laserdisc games, arrows and prompts display on the screen and the player has to press the correct sequence of buttons in time to advance through the level.