The fourth game in the Ultima series features an improved game engine, with color graphics and enhanced character interaction: the player can have conversations with non-playable characters by typing names of various topics. However, the main difference between Ultima IV and its predecessors in the series (as well as other role-playing games) lies in the game's objectives and the ways to fulfill them.
A Japanese RPG loosely adapted from the 1985 Activision PC game Hacker. The player character uses a robotic fighter to hunt for clues behind a global conspiracy.
Magma Project Hacker is a sci-fi themed RPG and an adaptation of the 1985 PC/Amiga/Atari ST strategy game Hacker. As with the Famicom Disk System adaptation of Monty on the Run, a considerable number of liberties were taken with the game's themes practically transforming it into a completely different game. Ironically, the story more closely resembles another western PC game, Captive, with its plot.
The player character witnesses a murder and is told to seek information on a shadowy organization known as the Magma Project by the dying victim. In order to effectively hunt for clues, the player character uses a device to activate a robot on the other side of the planet and employs the robot's various combat and exploration functions to track down the Magma Project.
The original Japanese version of EarthBound Beginnings, released only in Japan for the Famicom, had some gameplay, story and level layout differences from the later Western port. This original version was never released outside of Japan.
The player controls a female character throughout most of the game. A male character is played towards the end of the game. The game uses "Levels", HP, items, and upgrades. Three game saving slots are used, rather than passwords. Overhead view action oriented battles. Randomly generated battles while traversing the overworld.
The lovely princess was abducted by a mysterious giant black bird. The bird carried the prisoner to a tower on the lake shore. Who would be brave enough to venture into the tower and to rescue the princess? Only the courageous knight Landis, aided by the Goddess herself!
Dragoon Armor for Adult is a very basic first-person dungeon crawler, with vector graphics (like in early Wizardry games), but without party members; Landis explores the similarly-looking mazes (no auto-map feature) all by himself, fighting randomly appearing enemies in simple turn-based combat. It is possible to buy weapons, armor, and items outside, but there are no other locations to access beside the tower. Event cut-scenes may feature nudity, but no "hardcore" sexual situations.
Centuries ago, Dragons and Demons roamed the country and brought terror into the lives of all people. However, a local legend states that the Sword of Thruth can restore peace to the land. It turns out that the almighty weapon is kept by the most ferocious dragon who ever lived but this doesn't stop the young Carl from willing to take on the challenge. He is small but the best archer the land has ever seen!
A PC Engine Action-RPG based on the famous Japanese novel series Nansou Satomi Hakkenden. The gameplay is at least partly inspired by Falcom's Ys series.
Makai Hakkenden Shada is an action-RPG from Data East that was released on the PC Engine (the Japanese TurboGrafx-16) in 1989. The game bears more than a close resemblance to Falcom's Ys: specifically the first game in the series, The Vanished Omens, which was a huge success for the PC Engine a few months prior as well as being a generally well-regarded computer RPG before then. As well as having a similar nude female figure in the opening intro, the game also borrows Ys's combat system: fighting occurs by walking into enemies at a slight angle, causing them to collide with the player character's weapon (which hurts them) rather than the player character himself (which hurts the player character). The various gauges for health and experience are also similar.
Makai Hakkenden Shada is based on a centuries-old Japanese novel series called Nansou Satomi Hakkenden,
Shiryou Sensen: War of the Dead is a PC Engine remake of the MSX2 post apocalyptic RPG of the same name.
Due to a series of mysterious events, the town of Chany's Hill has been cut off from the rest of the world. People have suddenly gone missing and cannibalistic monsters now roam the land, killing all who cross their path. The protagonist of the game is Laila Arufon, the youngest female member of the S-SWAT (Supernatural and Special Weapon Attack Team). She was born in the small town and has developped strange psychic abilities. Her Psychic Seal ("PS") and Mind Force ("MF") powers allow her to increase any weapon destruction power but also to increase her defense capability greatly. Her mission is twofold - she must investigate the mysterious and supernatural incident in Chaneys Hill and to rescue all the remaining survivors she can find and lead them to the town's church.
Laila comes equipped with a combat knife and a Hand Gun (SIG/SAUER P226) - additional weapons appear later in the game including the Assault
Save the kingdom of Hamnlin from the Mad Mage Inshanis, by setting out to recover Artifacts hidden throughout the vast lands of Kairn. Recruit new adventurers from a variety of professions and level them up as you gain experience, slay monsters and explore the dungeons.
The Mad Mage is in possession of all the Artifacts save three. These you must recover, then journey to the Mad Mage’s island and use them to defeat him. The shareware version only includes the first dungeon; a registered copy adds the other 3.
"JaJaMaru Ninpouchou" is a ninja themed role-playing game. Play as Jajamaru and Princess Sakura as you explore around a world map visiting towns and dungeons. Fight against random encounters using the separate turn-based combat screen.
Gameplay is similar to the original Phantasy Star, the first game in the series. Its battle system is turn-based, allowing the player to choose commands for their party of up to four characters. Each of the eight characters has a different set of preferred weapons and armor, as well as techniques, suited to the character's job. The player must defeat enemies in the overworld and in dungeons to advance in the game.
The game abandoned the first-person view that the first game used for dungeons and battles. Phantasy Star II instead uses a top-down perspective for exploration and a third-person view in battles.
Square's Tom Sawyer is a role-playing game based on Mark Twain's novel, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. It lets players assume control of Tom Sawyer and his companions as they search for Injun Joe's treasure.
A Famicom RPG based on a famous Japanese novel series of the same name. It was developed by Alpha Denshi and published by SNK.
Satomi Hakkenden (usually translated as "The Eight Dog Chronicles") was a long-running 19th century novel series about eight samurais from the Sengoku period and their various adventures. It was in some ways partly inspired by the ancient Chinese epic The Water Margin, which has itself seen video game adaptations in the form of the Suikoden games. Receiving numerous TV and film adaptations, including the 1983 film known in the west as Legend of the Eight Samurai, Satomi Hakkenden would be its first video game adaptation. Makai Hakkenden Shada for the Turbografx-16, also released in 1989, would be a later adaptation.
The game itself plays much like Dragon Quest; a common source of inspiration for 8-bit RPGs. The player can walk around towns conversing with NPCs, equipping themselves with weapons and armor and receiving quests and directions to new areas before leaving the safety of the tow
Experience the world of Record of Lodoss War up close and personal in an epic 3D Action/RPG. Take control of a mysterious warrior from the past, resurrected to save the future, on a colossal quest filled with pulse-pounding action and high adventure. Join forces with popular characters from the Lodoss universe and combat hundreds of vicious enemies with dozens of spectacular spells.
The MSX version was never released out of Japan.
Xak: The Art of Visual Stage is the first game in the fantasy role-playing video game series Xak. It was originally released for the NEC PC-8801 computer system, with subsequent versions being developed for the NEC PC-9801, Sharp X68000, MSX2, PC-Engine, Super Famicom, and mobile phones.
Long ago, humans and other creatures lived peacefully in a magical paradise. However, one day a new star appeared nearby. A meteorite fell onto the Earth, turning it into a realm of perpetual darkness and misery. Humans managed to restore the land to its original state. But orcs, trolls, and other hostile races refused to give up their territory. Thus, the second age of peace quickly turned into an age of a new battle...