Japanese Console RPGs

[NeoZeedeater]

Console RPGs have been hugely popular in Japan for some time now. Like most video game genres, RPGs were invented in the West. The birth of the video RPG genre happened in 1979 with Richard Garriott's Akalabeth for the Apple II computer. This game is the direct descendant of the Ultima series. RPGs have had a long and prosperous life on PCs ever since.



Western consoles were also home to RPGs in the early '80's. American-made console RPGs such as Mattel's Dungeons & Dragons series on the Intellivision were very similar to the ones of home computers.

As is well documented in David Sheff's Nintendo history book Game Over, Henk Rogers(founder of Bullet-Proof Software) introduced the Japanese to the turn-based RPG genre with his 1983 game Black Onyx. Black Onyx was released on several Japanese computer formats.



It wasn't long before the Japanese were making their own RPGs. A few companies like Namco, Falcom, and ASCII were dabbling in Action/RPGs in 1984. ASCII made a step into turn-based RPGs with their 1986 PC-88 game Haja no Fuuin. Haja no Fuuin was ported to the MSX, Famicom and Master System. Sega's Master System version was the only one to see release in English when it came out domestically as Miracle Warriors: Seal of the Dark Lord. One thing I'm confused about is that I see Naza no Fuuin listed as an ASCII Famicom game. Is it a misprint or a different game? Anyways, here's a screen from the SMS version.



Also in 1986, Hummingbird Soft/DOG released Deep Dungeon for the Famicom Disk System (DOG stands for Disk Original Group and was Square's label for FDS games). Deep Dungeon went on to have three sequels.

http://www.vgmuseum.com/images/fds/01/40.htm

Enix, a computer game company known for action and adventure games, struck gold in 1986 with their MSX/Famicom RPG Dragon Quest. Dragon Quest's tremendous success on the Famicom is why RPGs are so popular in Japan.



1987 was a very significant year for console RPGs in Japan.(Aside from the three December games mentioned, these 1987 games are not in chronological order as I have no clue what months most of them came out in)

Namco published the first game in Atlus' Megami Tensei series for the Famicom.



One game that I see listed on some sites as a 1987 RPG is Square's Kariin no Ken for the Famicom Disk System. I can't seem to find any much info on this game but it might be a Strategy/RPG anyway. Is anyone familiar with it?

Taito released a Famicom game called Minelvaton Saga(Minervatown Saga). I believe this is a regular RPG but I'm not 100% sure. It could be an Action/RPG. Anyone know?

Nihon Bussan's Artelius and Toshiba's Zoids for the Famicom borderline fit the traditional RPG category. The battles are shooting action but otherwise the games are RPGs. Unlike Zelda-ish Action/RPGs, these games go into a separate battle-mode and thus I think they more closely resemble traditional RPGs. Here's an Artelius screen.



Data East generally wasn't known for RPGs throughout their lifespan but they did have a Famicom RPG series that started in 1987 called Hercules no Eikou that later went on to the Game Boy and Super Famicom.

Hot-B made their contribution to the growing Famicom RPG line-up with Hoshi o Miru Hito. As far as I can tell, this game is a typical fantasy RPG that didn't break any new ground.

December was a busy month for RPGs. Nintendo released Ginga no Sannin, a sci-fi RPG developed by their R&D1 team. It's a shame this game never saw a domestic release.



A few days later Square released Final Fantasy for the Famicom and it was a huge success for the company.



Just a couple days after Final Fantasy's debut, Sega released Phantasy Star for the Mark III. Despite being the most impressive RPG of its time, it did not reach more than cult status, probably due to being released on a non-Nintendo system.



And so, 1987 ended with many of the longest running Japanese RPG series already having been born.

1987 also ended without any Japanese RPGs released in North America. Of the 1986/1987 Japanese RPGs, Phantasy Star was the first game to be localized in 1988(for only $100 CDN!). Dragon Warrior came out in 1989 and Final Fantasy finally arrived in 1990. There were a handful of 1988/89 Famicom RPGs that got localized quickly during these years as well, making the chronology even more confusing.

So what are your thoughts on early Japanese RPGs? Is there anything important that I missed?

[Freeter]

TNL seriously needs to archive your threads and turn them into weekly columns or something.

I think Mother/Earthbound should get a mention.

[NeoZeedeater]

The only reason I left out Mother is because I was only going as far as 1987 releases.

[Captain Vegetable]

The diversity and depth of your knowledge is amazing.

[NeoZeedeater]

Thanks for the compliment.

I just love games.

Actually, there are very few 8-bit RPGs I would play through again today. The genre doesn't age well but the old games still fascinate me to talk about.

[piku]

As always, your threads are a joy to read. Keep them coming.

[xS]

. The birth of the video RPG genre happened in 1979 with Richard Garriott's Akalabeth for the Apple II computer.

Was this released before Monster Stomper?

[NeoZeedeater]

I have never heard of Monster Stomper.

Do you mean Dragon Stomper?

[xS]

It's a 2600 game. Gamespot claims it's the first game in the genre.

here's another interesting one...
Chaos World is an RPG for the NES/Famicom which was -way- ahead of its time. Fourteen playable characters, an Adventurers' Guild which Final Fantasy Tactics ripped off for its tavern jobs, twenty hours of gameplay, create your own character, a night/day cycle, an involving storyline... I could go on forever about the game. It seriously deserves your play time, so go play instead of wasting your time reading this

[Melf]

Damn Neo, you are the man!

Good to see Miracle Warriors mentioned there. I have a copy, complete with map and everything. I was playing through it a few months ago and it's pretty darn hard.