Introduction Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars was developed by Square and published by Nintendo, released for the SNES in Japan in March 1996 as the first role-playing game to star Mario, born from a collaboration between the two companies shortly before their business relationship temporarily soured over Square’s move to Sony’s PlayStation….
Introduction Shining Force II was developed by Camelot Software Planning and published by Sega, released for the Genesis in Japan in 1993 as the direct sequel to 1992’s Shining Force. The game expanded significantly on the original’s tactical battle formula with a larger roster of recruitable characters, more elaborate grid-based battle maps, and a promotion…
Introduction Shining Force was developed by Sonic Software Planning, the studio that would later become known as Camelot Software Planning, and published by Sega, released for the Genesis in Japan in March 1992 as a tactical role-playing game built around grid-based battles fought between exploration and story segments. Players command a growing party of Shining…
Introduction Secret of Mana was developed and published by Square, released on the SNES in Japan in August 1993 as an action role-playing game that broke from the turn-based combat common to most Japanese RPGs of the era in favor of real-time, direct-control action battles. Up to three players could join simultaneously, controlling the hero…
Introduction Chrono Trigger was developed and published by Square, released on the SNES in Japan in March 1995, created by a self-described “Dream Team” bringing together Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii, and character designer Akira Toriyama of Dragon Ball fame. The game follows a group of adventurers who discover time…
Introduction Zelda II: The Adventure of Link was developed and published by Nintendo, released on the NES in Japan in January 1987 and reaching North America later that year as the direct sequel to 1986’s The Legend of Zelda. The game took the series in a markedly different direction from its predecessor’s top-down overworld exploration,…
Introduction The King of Dragons was developed and published by Capcom, released in arcades in 1991 as one of the studio’s earliest attempts to blend traditional beat ’em up combat with genuine role-playing mechanics. Up to three players choose from character classes including Fighter, Cleric, Wizard, Dwarf, and Elf, each with distinct weapons and, for…
Introduction Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow over Mystara was developed and published by Capcom, released in arcades in 1996 as the sequel to 1994’s Tower of Doom. The game expanded on its predecessor’s D&D-based class system, adding a Magic-User and a Thief to the returning Fighter, Cleric, Dwarf, and Elf, giving up to four cooperating players…
Introduction Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom was developed and published by Capcom, released in arcades in 1994 as the studio’s first game built directly on the Dungeons & Dragons tabletop ruleset. Up to four players choose from character classes drawn straight from the D&D rulebook, including Fighter, Cleric, Dwarf, and Elf, each with distinct…
Introduction Dragon Warrior IV, known in Japan as Dragon Quest IV, was developed by Chunsoft and published by Enix, originally releasing for the Famicom in February 1990 before Enix’s American subsidiary brought it to the NES in October 1992, making it the last Dragon Quest title that subsidiary would localize before it closed a few…
Introduction Dragon Warrior III, known in Japan as Dragon Quest III, was developed by Chunsoft and published by Enix, releasing for the Famicom in Japan in February 1988 and reaching the NES in North America in March 1992. It became a genuine cultural phenomenon in Japan, reportedly selling 1.1 million copies in a single day…
Introduction Dragon Warrior II, known in Japan as Dragon Quest II, was developed by Chunsoft and published by Enix, again written and designed by series creator Yuji Horii with Koichi Nakamura directing, character art from Akira Toriyama, and music by Koichi Sugiyama. It released for the Famicom in Japan in January 1987 and reached the…