Dota (1986)

In the near-future, a scientist experiments with creating life using a secret scroll found in Tibetan ruins. He accidentally revives an ancient bio-weapon that quickly captures him & his family, except their plucky son Dota. Explore multiple zones full of monsters, gadgets, & hazards to help Dota defeat bosses and save his family from this resurrected monstrosity. With various weapons & power-ups, you must increase your health & toolset in this dungeon crawling action-platformer. A Family Computer port was planned & advertised through 1987, but ultimately cancelled. The PC versions are officially available today via Project EGG.

Storyline

Dota & his biologist father happen upon an archaic scroll, found by an explorer at the ruins of a lost Tibetan city. At their lab, the father studies this text and uses its secrets to create new life. However, he unknowingly releases the curse of Toruda, a long-deceased ruler of the ancient world who imbued his powers into the scroll. Toruda's desires to revive himself through new life, and take over the world, bring about monsters in the lab & nearby lands. With his family captured by Toruda's bio-weapon and underlings, Dota manages to escape and begin his quest to rescue them. He must travel through 4 zones, each infested with evil creations, so he can become strong enough to defeat 4 boss monsters. Can he reach his family and stop Toruda before it's too late?