Dungeonbuster

@dungeonbuster

Seeking adventures from the archives of the past, one story at a time. I love taking a look at the history of RPGs, the tales they spin, and in shining a light on these from time to time in my threads. Let's explore together!

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Bluesky

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Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jul 14

Shirō Usuba's character art illustrates this 1992 ad from Japan for Far the Earth no Jakotei: Neo Metal Fantasy, an RPG for the PC Engine CD by Human Entertainment The RPG was a traditional, turn-based quest with a magic system that relied on hoarding and using points found after defeating foes!

The guide features everything a guide should: dungeon maps, bestiary, item lists, and art provided by one of the game's character designers, Shirō Usuba.

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jul 13

Venus Senki was an unusual actioner on the Famicom that sought to make biking heroes out of players as they battled against the forces of an unrelenting empire. And thanks to fans of the Famicom, this adaptation lives on to give a new generation an 8-bit taste of Yasuhiko's sci-fi story.

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jul 13

If you succeed, the enemy group you fought is wiped out. If you fail, someone else can try to take care of what's left! As the battles move across the continent, new enemy units will also arrive for added challenge. With enough points, a biker can level up giving their bike more health.

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jul 13

Fortunately, the bikes have endless bullets but limited missiles (you can also 'tilt' your bike to shoot up and try and shoot air targets!). You also have a time limit to either destroy all of your targets or as many of them as possible, and death only knocked a biker out of the current battle!

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jul 13

Battles used a 3D effect similar to that seen in games like Sega's Buck Rogers - Planet of Zoom for the arcades in '82. Or Square's The 3-D Battles of Worldrunner from '87 on the Famicom/NES, replacing the 'runner with an armored bike armed with missiles and guns instead!

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jul 13

Gameplay blasted through one battle after another across Aphrodia. When battle begins, both forces are displayed on the battlefield with each side taking turns, moving and fighting. Each enemy icon represents a group of enemies that must be wiped out by whichever brave biker they encounter!

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jul 13

An English fan translation by J2e Translations for it came out in 1999 with an updated version by BlackPaladin arriving in 2022, opening this unusual Famicom action title up to a wider audience interested in taking back the capital city of Io from the nefarious forces of Ishtar.

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jul 13

The game is actually based on the anime film which was itself based on the manga series by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko that imagines a terraformed Venus following the impact of a massive ice comet in 2003. Two nations eventually rise on Venus: Ishtar and Aphrodia! And in 2089, Ishtar decides to take it all.

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jul 13

Venus Senki (1989) by Human Entertainment in Japan for the Nintendo Famicom was a strategy action game with light RPG elements. In 2083, Venus finds itself at war as the nation of Ishtar invades Aprhodia. But a band of combat bikers race to retake their homeland! (a comet visits Venus thread)

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jul 13

Based on Go Nagai's Susano Oh manga, the furious protagonist of Alfa Systems' RPG, Susano-o Densetsu, for the PC Engine tears across both pages of this 1989 ad from Japan His hairstyle manages to make room for Power Golf on the second page, a golf game by Hudson Soft also for the PC Engine!

Published by Hudson Soft, the ad promises amazing, animated battles and colorful graphics in a full-fledged RPG!

Power Golf promises a releaes by May 25th for the retail price of ¥5,800 featuring gameplay exclusive to the PC Engine boasting that every movement and detail will be controlled by the player.

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jul 4

While not a Destiny of an Emperor, Liberty or Death was still a bold effort by a PC oriented dev to bring something this exhaustive to console audiences challenging expectations. And Koei is still around, now merged with Tecmo, and still squeezes the odd strategy title in between its action epics!

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jul 4

EGM's critics in their May '94 issue were polarized over the Genesis version with fans of the genre appreciative of its efforts while those who weren't, weren't. In the same month, GamePro's Andromeda seemed to enjoy the SNES version as "a revolutionary change of pace" from the usual console fare.

Fans of the genre like Ed Semrad, while critical of certain aspects, praised the game writing "if this is your type of cart, you better plan to set a lot of time aside for it because once you start you won't stop!" while others wrote "I dread the time when I have to review these typs of games, because they are just no tthe kind I get into."

Andromeda finished her review for GamePro saying "Liberty or Death is still probably foreign fare for most gamers. The huge amount of detail makes these absorbing simulations an acquired taste. But don't dump this cart into the harbor; you might just find it a revolutionary change of pace."

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jul 4

Its 70+ page manual for the SNES version had plenty of history. There was also more than one way to lose. Politicians could lose confidence in you on either side. Or, playing as the Americans, you could try to hold out until 1820 for a default win when King George III dies according to history!

The Battle of Breed's Hill

On June 16, 1775, on Bunker Hill, the Americans talked of war with the British. At the insistence of Brigadier General Pumam, they chose Breed's Hill as the site for the coming battle, and began building their redoubt. The very next day a British scout aboard the ship "Lively" spotted the Americans working on Breed's Hill and a warning shot was fired. Boston awoke to the resounding blast and the British held a council of war; Generals Gage, Howe, Clinton and Burgoyne were in attendance.

With an army of 2,150 troops and 12 cannon, General Howe was sent to rout the American rebels. The American Colonel John Stark waited until the British were within 50 feet of the redoubt, then gave orders to fire. In the first round of fire, three companies of 'Redcoats' were felled. Howe quickly ordered his troops to retaliate, and was driven back by heavy gunfire a second time. Morale soared high for the American troops, but they were running out of ammunition quickly.

After witnessing the British failures, General Clinton realized the British needed help. He sent over 400 fresh troops and moved onto the battlefield himself, Under the shower of gunfire, the British renewed a third assault on the American redoubt. Suddenly the American side fell silent, giving clue that the Americans had run out of gun powder.

George Washington

George Washington led a career which rocketed him from simplicity to greatness, Trustworthy and persistent, he emerged as the ideal leader for the cause of the American Revolution.

As a volunteer in the Seven Year's War, his tour of duty brought his name to the attention of King George II. The King appointed him to the position of Commander of the Colonies' Frontier Defenses. The difficulties arising from this assignment, as well as his experience as a member of the provincial legislature, prepared him to assume a crucial role in the War of Independence.

When Britain imposed its imperial policies on the colonies in 1765, Washington advocated vigorous resistance in the Continental Congress. He was thereafter appointed as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army.

During the early years of his command, Washington's troops were generally poorly supplied, yet they stood up to Britain's attacks. His troops fought well and inflicted heavy casualties on the English troops. Washington scored his first victories at Trenton and Princeton in the win- ter of 1776-1777. The victories boosted spirits during a time when colonial morale was at its lowest. Alter weathering a long winter at Valley Forge, Washington emerged with a larger army exhibiting professional fighting techniques that led to future victories.

In 1789, George Washington became the first President of the United
States. He served two terms in office, then retired to his estate in Virginia, Mount Vernon.

Leaders of the British Forces

Thomas Gage

Thomas Gage was born the second son of a noble house
in England. After eight years at Westminster School, he found that the army was one of the few promising paths open to younger sons of nobility. Thus, he opted for a career in the military.

In his first fifteen years of service, Gage's career was not unusual in any way. He rose in rank through the purchase of vacant commissions, became a Captain at twenty-three, and was a Lieutenant Colonel in his early thirties.

In 1755, Gage embarked for Alexandria, Virginia, under the command of Major General Edward Braddock. By 1759, he had raised a regiment of light infantry and obtained a permanent position as Brigadier General. Although Gage rose through the ranks in a consistent manner, his skill seemed to be in making his men look like soldiers rather than training them for battle.

Gage turned down the chance to campaign in the West Indies, and in 1760, chose to serve as Military Governor of Montreal. In this position combat experience was less important than qualities such as intelligence, patience, and tact. Under peacetime conditions, Gage was an asset.

By the eve of the Revolution, Gage was promoted as Commander-in- Chief of the British Army in North America. However, Gage's troops sul- fered heavy casualties in the battles of Lexington and Concord and in the Battle of Bunker Hill. His army was eventually blockaded in Boston and Gage was recalled from his position.

A bibliography for the history that Koei researched in creating the game.

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jul 4

Liberty or Death gave players plenty of statistics and micromanagement options to feel like an all-knowing general (and quartermaster). And if you just wanted to see armies go at it without doing a thing, you could opt to let the AI play itself (and watch it make some wild decisions!).

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jul 4

Koei did their best to translate the famous faces and their history from across the colonial theater of war from its PC iteration and into something that could work on consoles, giving players plenty of menus and minutiae to sink countless hours into as they wrote (or rewrote) history!

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jul 4

Koei made its name in the early 80s and 90s with historical strategy titles for PCs in Japan which also came to North America. They explored China's Three Kingdoms period, Genghis Khan's empire, and Japan's Sengoku period, introducing each region and their major players through detailed gameplay.

Go back through time into mysterious, distant lands, alive with conflict, intrigue and passion. Koei products transport you to real countries with a real past. Your survival and conquest will take valor and discretion, battlefield guts and financial finesse, heavy handed rule and
gentle diplomacy.

Huge databases, gorgeous graphics and a friendly user interface make Koei historical simulations a joy to play.

Realistic, complex scenarios and intelligent computer opponents make Koei simulations a challenge to win. Each game offers hundreds of hours of non-repetitious playing time.

Bandit Kings of Ancient China

The newly appointed Minister of War has seized all imperial authority, and rules the Empire with malicious glee. Those who oppose him are branded and exiled. The Emperor, reduced to a shadow in his own palace, has one last chance to restore order and justice...you.
But Gao Qiu, the evil Minister of War, will use his considerable power to destroy you unless you get to him first. And if things weren't bad enough, the northern border is swarming with barbarians, bent on taking the Empire's riches for their own.

Koei is Japan's leading producer of entertainment and educational software The simulations you see on these pages are some of the best, and longest selling titles ever seen in Japan. A few moments with any Koei product will make it clear why.

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jul 4

Liberty or Death (1993) was a tactical, turn-based strategy game with RPG elements by Koei for PCs and consoles such as the SNES. Set during the American Revolution, players can choose to either crush the colonies as the British or fight for American independence! (a revolutionary thread)

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jul 3

A fierce dragon seal borne by this Japanese ad from early 2000 heralds Wizardry: Dimguil, an RPG for the Sony PlayStation by ASCII The fifth entry of ASCII's long running "Wizardry Gaiden" series delivered 11 races and 14 professions to craft a party with and face roughly 300 types of monsters!

Wizardry: Dimguil's was another Japan-only entry in ASCII's long running "Wizardry Gaiden" series that began in 1990 with Wizardry: Suffering of the Queen for the Game Boy.

The ad promotes the game with a number of screenshots along the bottom and captions that hype up its features such as:

* eleven races
* fourteen professions
* 300 types of monsters (approximately)
* a training ground to test your characters
* enhanced graphics
* release date of March 2000

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jul 2

Me: Spending time with a cozy adventure, maybe a few demos, and- *LATEST NEWS FROM SONY AND MICROSOFT THIS WEEK*

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jul 2

Show me a cool physical game

Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game

Assembled by Interplay
By Gamers. For Gamers.

Mature M Ages 17+
Content Rated by ESRB

$59.99

Designed for Microsoft Windows 95

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jun 30

Drakkhen's gridless, 3D open world, gave it a unique identity at the time among other CRPGs alongside the freedom it gave wandering players before remorselessly checking them with deadly encounters. A neat, and unusual, sandbox of unexpected surprises, thrilling exploration, and draconic tears!

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jun 30

Infogrames' adventure also made it to the SNES in '91 with a streamlined sandbox courtesy of Kemco while taking advantage of Nintendo's 16-bit hardware. The story, like the English version, was altered as its world was adjusted to fit onto the SNES, but that didn't keep it from making fans.

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jun 30

Drakkhen was generally well received though not without criticism. In Scorpia's CRPG Survey in CGW's October '91 issue, she called it a game "only for the patient". Dragon's August '90 issue praised it noting it was "probably one of the toughest fantasy adventure games for a novice" to survive.

Drakkhen
Infogrames

Japanese import with an interesting idea but poor implementation. Take sides in a war among dragonkind that also has profound implications for the human race. Odd combat style allows for little in the way of tactics or even control during fights. Character movement is occasionally awkward with people getting stuck at times behind obstacles, or the party not following the leader through doorways. Sparse documentation does not provide enough information. Terrible character generation system re- quires creating the party together; one poor set of stats and you may well have to start it all over again. This one is only for the patient.

Dragon magazine's lengthy review of Drakkhen heaped praise on the game while noting its difficulty.

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jun 30

There was no set path to find the clues linking together the chain of actions you had to follow to succeed: you were free to go wherever (and save often!) which could quickly introduce you to the land's ruthless, and nightmare fueled, nature that didn't hesitate to stomp on your party.

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jun 30

Combat was mostly automated. After setting up a character's weapon or preferred spell gearing them up like a doll, they were ready to face the fights ahead (mostly). Clicking on the sword icon set them loose on whatever random encounter dared cross their path in a dangerously unforgiving world.

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jun 30

The manual included suggestions on how to survive its open world warning that the "renegade warrior will not be successful in his mission" as you carefully navigate between enemies, allies, and explore mysterious castles with their own dangers. Then there was that copy protection guy!

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jun 30

Drakkhen's 3D setting stood out at the time as an early RPG with a bold presentation. Though combat and interactions with certain scenes were handled in 3rd person as party members stepped into view, roaming the dangerous land and exploring its castles were like first-person trips into the unknown.

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jun 30

Character creation included choosing a class (Fighter, Scout, Magician, or Priest with female equivalents like Amazon) and a neat attribute roll system. Randomly rolling a set of scores, players dragged and dropped them into what attributes they felt were best!

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jun 30

A 70+ page novella (in French) set the stage written by RPG creator, Francois Marcela Froideval, who also previously worked with Gary Gygax at TSR. Illustrations were by Olivier Ledroit with Philippe Cazaumayou's famous dragon on the cover. Condensed versions in French, English, and German followed!

Illustration from the French novella for Drakkhen

Artist: Olivier Ledroit

Dungeonbuster@dungeonbuster· Jun 30

Drakkhen (1989) is an RPG by Infogrames that debuted on PCs and ported later to the SNES. The death of the last dragon has triggered an apocalyptic reckoning that you and your party, on a strange island filled with deadly mysteries, must quest to prevent! (a deadly land thread)