Chubby Cherub

Released in North America in 1986, Chubby Cherub is an unusual action game developed by TOSE and published by Bandai for the Nintendo Entertainment System. You control a small, flying angel whose simple mission to help others quickly turns into a strange and challenging adventure filled with hungry dogs, aggressive birds, and plenty of obstacles. Its colorful appearance may seem friendly, but getting through the stages takes patience and careful movement.

The game follows Chubby Cherub as he travels through scrolling levels to rescue his kidnapped friends. Along the way, you must collect food such as fruit, candy, and other treats. These items are more than just points: eating keeps your flight energy supplied, allowing you to stay airborne and move past dangerous areas. If your energy runs low, flying becomes impossible, making food collection an important part of surviving each stage.

Dogs are among your most persistent enemies, while birds and other hazards can interrupt your progress. Chubby Cherub can defend himself with heart-shaped projectiles from his special Gau-Gau cannon, but obtaining the power needed to use this attack requires finding the right items. Deciding when to avoid an enemy and when to fight back adds a small strategic element to the otherwise straightforward gameplay.

The North American release was adapted from a Japanese Famicom game called Obake no Q-tarō: WanWan Panic, which starred Q-tarō, a popular manga and anime character. The Western version replaced that character with a cherub, giving the game a completely different identity while retaining much of its original structure.

With its unusual premise, food-based flight mechanic, and demanding stages, Chubby Cherub stands out as one of the more eccentric early NES releases. It may take some getting used to, but its distinctive concept makes it an interesting discovery for fans of obscure 8-bit games.