Blackthorne (Blackhawk in some European countries) is a cinematic platformer video game developed by Blizzard Entertainment. It was released for the SNES and DOS in 1994, and with enhanced graphics and a higher color palette for the Sega 32X in 1995 and for Mac OS in 1996. The cover art for the SNES version was drawn by Jim Lee. A port to the Game Boy Advance was released in 2003, also with a brighter palette than original versions. Because of GBA's fewer number of buttons, some actions were set to combinations of buttons. In 2013 the game was added to Battle.net as free download emulated through DOSBox.
Blackthorne is set on the planet Tuul, which has existed for centuries without human knowledge. All of this time, Tuul's people have been ruled over by a single shaman who "was blessed with all knowledge". Years before the game begins, Thoros, the latest ruler, finds it near impossible to choose between his two sons as the next ruler. Believing it will solve the dilemma, he leads them to the deserts and kills himself. His body becomes two stones, light and dark, and he gives one to each boy to rule their own kingdoms respectively. The people of the lightstone form the kingdom of Androth, and the people of the darkstone form Ka'dra'suul. But while Androth respects their stone, Ka'dra'suul reject theirs, and are eventually transformed into monsters by it. In this time, a ka'dra named Sarlac seizes power. He forms an army and leads them against Androth. Knowing of his people's doom, the ruler of Androth, King Vlaros, with the aid of the Androthi magician Galadril, sends his son Kyle to Earth to save his life. Vlaros also gives Kyle the lightstone for safe keeping.
Blackthorne (disambiguation) may refer to:
Blackthorne was an American hard rock project, that involved Bob Kulick on guitar, Graham Bonnett on vocals, Frankie Banali on drums, Jimmy Waldo on keyboards, and Chuck Wright on bass. The group released the album Afterlife through CMC International (US) and Music For Nations (Europe) in 1993.
Kulick and Bonnett have performed as an acoustic duo on several TV shows in Europe and Japan to promote the album.
Produced by Bob Kulick.
From frozen edifice unheeded my calls
Dream silent among grey basalt halls
Neither here, nor ever did I belong
The haunted, the hunted still stands alone
And ice enshrined this fragile kingdom
Awoke desires of forgotten bliss
Rise to the sun they fall in anguish
Tenebrous sorrow this day would bring
Etherial watchers with eloquence spoke
Such myriad lands now forsook
Dusk scorched orchid her sweet perfume
In carven mausolea starborn consume
Tread softly for now, kin of the night
A winter moon guides her palace of light
Granted paths to higher realm sought
On ebon wings together take flight
Rekindle tempests, enslaved by frost
Her gentle caress, a graven kiss
Such towering vision of mortality refrain