Hi no Tori: Houou-hen

About

Hi no Tori: Houou-hen is a side-scrolling shooter that leans into myth and psychological turmoil. You play as Gao, a man haunted by his violent past and a broken marriage, now navigating labyrinths that mirror his fractured mind. The game blends rapid-fire action with environmental storytelling, as Gao battles monstrous versions of his own regrets and rage. Combat is straightforward but tense, with simple controls focused on dodging and shooting through shifting, surreal stages. The MSX2 visuals are minimal but expressive, using color and shape to hint at Gao’s inner chaos. The game stands out for its surprisingly heavy themes wrapped in arcade gameplay. While most shooters of 1987 prioritized reflexes, Hi no Tori weaves a tragic narrative about redemption and self-destruction. Konami’s take on the Phoenix legend adds a layer of poetic doom, Gao’s quest for spiritual clarity feels earned through pixelated struggle. Retro fans appreciate its niche status, and the emotional core gives it staying power beyond its era. It’s a brief but memorable trip into a mind undone, framed by fire and shadows.

Storyline

It is said that there is a miraculous bird, which keeps on burning its eternal life, even exceeding distant time. That bird shines in paradise and bursts into flames in hell. It resembles some beautiful flames, like a bewitching illusion. People call this legendary bird "Firebird", which has continued to watch over all living things since the moment the universe was created……… Now the look of the "Firebird" has fallen upon a sinful and lonely man called Gao. He was born blind in one eye and he lost an arm because of a villager but he went on anyway. Gao grew up and as a result of even murdering people without hesitation and carrying on with his life accordingly, he was expelled from the village. Before long Gao became the leader of a band of thieves and he happened to encounter the beautiful girl Hayame who looked like a fairy. He forced her to become his wife and the beauty of Hayame withered away. He went on a rampage exhausting the limits of what he could plunder. But Hayame only stared sadly at Gao. The seasons passed and, around when the cold winter wind blows, a strange disease had taken hold of Gao. He mistook Hayame mixing up a medicine for a poison. Gao gave in to his anger and killed Hayame. The body of Hayame took a final breath and it changed into a small ladybug. He began to understand that Hayame was the incarnation of an insect he once rescued himself, and he was overwhelmed by grief. Now Gao is trying to fight the evil inside his own mind. He received a revelation of the "Firebird" and he left on a journey full of ordeals in order to obtain a righteous spirit. So the various evil spirits inside Gao's mind have become the objects he is going to attack relentlessly. Further on the terrains become more complicated as it reflects the state of Gao's mind. Will Gao really master the labyrinth and overthrow the personified anger demon? Do you think he'll be able to obtain a righteous spirit? Would it be possible to meet the "Firebird"? The time has come to test Gao's courage. The journey of ordeals has already started.