Description
Based on the movie. Willow consists of various action sequences which recreate different scenes from the movie including an escape from the dungeons, lost in the ice caves, escaping from guards in the woods, and others. The player can go through all the sequences in order, or read the story in the form of a scrolling manuscript and click on keywords to jump to a particular action sequence.

The main interface is a scrolling scroll narrating the scenario of the Willow film. Several of the words are hyperlinks triggering the mini-games that can be played at any order. (In the DOS version, the Crossroads mini-game is not highlighted like the others, but is still hyperlinked to its mini-game.) The setting of each level, and the way to solve it is randomized on each playthrough and therefore different each time the player starts the game. The DOS version is an exception to this. Beyond the end of the scroll is a second scroll with the Mindscape logo; clicking on this, the user is presented with the option to reset the Willow universe, or cancel the reset.

The levels of the game are:

The Dungeons: Ethna attempting to escape from Bavmorda's dungeons, through a randomly generated maze.
Woods: Willow passing through the woods to the Daikini Crossroads avoiding Bavmorda's soldiers and Death Dogs. He is armed with the 3 magical acorns from the movie.
Daikini Crossroads: Willow must choose which of the two cages to open (random) in order to free Madmartigan.
Ice Caves: Sleigh through a randomly generated maze.
Battle: Madmartigan fights General Kael.

Cutscenes with narration and images from the film are shown between the levels. Crossroads, Caves and Battle are followed by a Spellcasting mini-game (not available from the scroll screen) where the player must discover a random spell to heal Fin Raziel. The 3 spell sequences discovered are used at the very end in order to defeat Bavmorda.

Alternate Titles
"Willow: The Computer Game" -- Tag-lined title

c64 | pc | amiga | atari st

NES version

Description
Willow is an action RPG based on the movie with the same name. The player assumes the role of Willow, the chosen one who must restore human form to the benevolent sorceress Fin Raziel and destroy the evil sorceress, Bavmorda. While the game follows the movie's plot somewhat most of the time, it also expands on it and introduces characters, races and enemies not found in the movie.

Gameplay is similar to other action RPGs and The Legend of Zelda. Willow is seen from a top down perspective and all enemies are visible on screen. Slaying enemies will give Willow experience points, which will eventually lead to him increasing his stats automatically. New weapons, shields and magic items are found in various treasure chests scattered across the land or given to Willow as part of the plot. Aside from battling minor enemies Willow will also face off against several boss monsters as well as characters from the movie.

Alternate Titles
"ウィロー" -- Japanese spelling

nes

Arcade version

Description
Willow is an arcade game based loosely on the 1988 movie. You play as Willow (and later Madmartigan) who has been tasked to rescue and protect the holy baby Elora from the evil Witch Queen Bavmorda. You have to traverse over six levels with each level seeing you playing as either Willow or Madmartigan. Each character has a weapon which can be used to kill the various baddies scattered over the levels. If you get hit you lose part of your vital bar. When it's empty you lose a life. When a baddie dies he leaves behind gold which then can be spent on upgrades found in shops on each level. At the end of each level is a end of level boss which takes various amounts of shots to kill.

Willow is a platform game which scrolls when you move from the left to right. Some parts of the levels will see you moving upwards or downwards as well.

Development
Capcom director Yoshiki Okamoto commented that the game was part of a broader strategy of Capcom at the time to appeal to a wider audience by using established characters from other media, as their original characters could be too niche.

In addition to Willow, he cited games based on Area 88 and Destiny of an Emperor as part of this strategy. Capcom developed two games based on Willow in 1989. The arcade game plays similar to Capcom's previous fantasy action platformer Ghouls n' Ghosts. The Willow game developed for the for the NES is a role playing game.