Tag Archives: shops

Chunsoft, Enix, NES/Famicom

Dragon Warrior, NES

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Developed by Chunsoft and released for the Famicom by Enix in 1986, Dragon Quest was a landmark moment in video game history.

Dragon Warrior is the American NES release of Dragon Quest, translated into English and tweaked here and there (I say “tweaked here and there” but the US version had battery back-up saves and the Japanese version used password saves, so there was a big difference there), and released by Nintendo in 1989. These grabs are from the later North American English language release.

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CD Projekt Red, gog.com, iOS, Linux, PC, Steam, Windows, XBox 360

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, PC

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The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings was first released in 2011 by Polish developer CD Projekt Red.

It is the predecessor to the smash hit The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and also follows the exploits of Geralt of Rivia – a Witcher, or monster-hunter – on a series of open-world adventures.

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Game Boy Color, Nintendo, Pax Softnica

Hamtaro: Ham-Hams Unite!, Game Boy Color

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Hamtaro is a series of video games based on a successful anime series for kids.

Ham-Hams Unite! is the first game in the series to receive an official English translation.

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Neverland, Super Nintendo, Taito

Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals, Super Nintendo

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I was going to add a Final Fantasy game to our Super Nintendo special this week, but – you know what? – Final Fantasy on the SNES is messy, because of all the US and Japanese title discrepancies, so… Instead I’m going to pick this: probably my favourite turn-based level-grinder on the Super Nintendo – Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals.

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Climax Entertainment, Megadrive/Genesis, Sega

Shining In The Darkness, Megadrive/Genesis

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When I first played Shining In The Darkness – a 1991 party-based Role-Playing Game for the Sega Megadrive/Genesis, developed by Climax Entertainment and published by Sega – I was ready to dismiss it, because of the unattractive, ‘cartoony’ graphics, the clunky interface, and the generic script. But after some determined play – admittedly: in an emulator, and using quicksaves – it became apparent that this was no ‘throwaway’ level-grinder. It was in fact something quite special…

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Atlus, Nintendo DS

Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City, Nintendo DS [Part 2]

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I want to post some more grabs from Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City on the Nintendo DS. Because it really is one of the best RPGs of all time, and because I can’t recommend you play it highly enough.

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Capcom, Super Nintendo

Demon’s Crest, Super Nintendo

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What is interesting about Demon’s Crest – a 1994 Super Nintendo release from Capcom – is that it is a spin-off from the Ghosts ‘N Goblins series.

Eagle-eyed gamers will recognise the red-skinned, demonic lead character – called Firebrand – as an enemy from the original Ghosts ‘N Goblins arcade game. In fact: Demon’s Crest is actually the third game featuring Firebrand, after Gargoyle’s Quest (Game Boy), and Gargoyle’s Quest II (NES).

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Megadrive/Genesis, Sega

Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium, Megadrive/Genesis

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For my money: THE best game on the Sega Megadrive/Genesis.

Sega‘s very own level-grinding RPG franchise comes to full fruition in this fourth instalment of the Phantasy Star series, first released in 1993.

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Game Arts, PlayStation

Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete, PlayStation

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Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete is a superb party-based, level-grinding RPG, first released on the Sega Saturn in 1996 (as Lunar: The Silver Star), and brilliantly remade for the Sony PlayStation in 1998.

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Sega, Sega Master System

Phantasy Star, Sega Master System

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For me: THE stand-out title on the Sega Master System.

Phantasy Star is a solid – if rather basic – level-grinding RPG/adventure, and it went on to spawn a whole series of other games afterwards.

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