iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 4h

Legendary Space-Time Hero Debias (1987) is an action RPG by Namco for the Nintendo Famicom in Japan. The mysterious Aaron has chosen you to aid him in saving a world from evil! Navigate a dangerous maze, defeat three powerful monsters, then face their wicked master! (a deadly jumping thread)

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 11h

When monsters boil up from underground kidnapping the king's daughter, this 1986 ad from Japan asks if you have the courage to descend into their lair and rescue her in Deep Dungeon, a first-person, grid-based dungeon crawling RPG for the Famicom Disk System by HummingBirdSoft!

The ad tells the story of a peaceful town raided by terrible monsters who attack the king's castle and make off not only with its treasures, but with the princess, taking them all to their underground lair. Do you have the courage to face them and rescue her?

With a retail price of ¥3,400, it was a game for the Famicom Disk System. The ad has instructions on going to a disk kiosk and using that to write the game onto an existing disk you might own with a release date of on December 20th! You could buy a copy of the game, or use your disk instead and get it that way. Convenient!

DOG stood for Disk Original Group, a publishing collective headed by Square for games on the FDS.

The game also had a notoriously high encounter rate while offering a classic crawl experience through a multi-level dungeon (with a town hub for goodies and rest!) for FDS owners.

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

A spring 1993 ad for Earthdawn, a TTRPG by FASA Corporation, leading up to its release later that year. It was set in the distant past as civilization slowly returned to its feet, emerging from massive underground "kaers" that warded the lucky survivors for centuries from an otherworldly scourge.

Though the threat of otherworldly Horrors had passed, the world that survived outside the walls of the kaerns that protected those lucky enough to live in one wasn't completely free from danger. As those who survived once again moved to rebuild kingdoms and empires on the surface, old rivalries and curiosity would spark a new age of exploration and adventure.

FASA's new setting was celebrated with a large number of sourcebooks and material and had, at first, ties to another famous FASA product: Shadowrun. However, Earthdawn's IP has since moved on to other hands that have removed such references from later material.

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

Fushigo no Umi no Nadia (1991), or Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, by Namco for the Sega Mega Drive in Japan was an adventure that tells a compact version of the anime series it's based on as mysterious forces pursue Nadia and her friends for the secret she bears. (an adventurous adaptation thread)

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

If you see this, post a vampire that isn't dracula.

In The New York City of 2094, Giving Blood Isn't Voluntary.

Microprose

BloodNet
A Cyberpunk Gothic

City streets can drain the life out of you. Especially when you're Ransom Stark, a human vampire surfing the edges of the cybernet.

Robbed of your soul by the vampire lord Van Helsing, the only way to win yourself back is by derailing his evil plan. Which means clashing with savage street gangs. Locating an Icebreaker program deep within the bizarre virtual reality of cyberspace. And battling bloodsucking vampires and stake-wielding vampire-hunters.

All in a desperate struggle to slay the vampire lord himself.

Time is running out. You're getting thirsty. And there's no turning back in the violent BloodNet.

* Recruit cyberpunks, deckers, rage gangers, mercenaries, and hackers to invade the global data network...and save New York City!

* Experience a breakthrough in computer role-playing with astonishing 3-D Hallucinographic art!

* Scour the darkness of New York for the secrets that will keep you alive!

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Asuncia: Matsue no Jubaku (1997) | RPG | Sony PlayStation | E.O. Imagination Jun Suemi's illustrations breathe life into this RPG where you and your allies hopscotch across a tile-based world to crush monstrous hordes, save towns in trouble, all to prevent the return of Archfiend Kelos' evil!

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

A 1992 ad from Japan for the Super Famicom port of Capcom's RPG-flavored arcade adventure, Magic Sword Shining a spotlight on the eight allies that Alan, our hero on the right, may find, a special promo offers the chance to win a phone card (one of a set of three) illustrated with its characters!

This page describes the challenge ahead in scaling fifty floors of a wicked tower raised up by a demonic king to create a kingdom of darkness! Only Alan (our sword and board hero on the next page on the far right) leading the charge can stop him along with eight warriors that he can enlist along the way in this 8 megabit cartridge.

Scheduled for release in mid-May for ¥8,500

At the bottom of the page are the steps to participate in a special contest where 1,000 lucky winners will get a phone card illustrated with a character from the game.

Alan stands ready to fight with his sword and shield above!

On the bottom are illustrations of each of the heroes that Alan can find in the tower to aid him (along with their names) and will also be part of the illustrations for the set of phone card rewards.

Their names go:

* Thief Derek
* Priest Ario
* Ninja Gai
* Amazon Sara
* Knight Lothar
* Big Man Uuma
* Wizard Niura
* Lizardman Ryugo

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Faselei! (1999) | tactical RPG | Neo Geo Pocket Color | Sacnoth It's 2099 and in the wake of WW3, Istar's king has been assassinated. His two sons now fight for control as mercenaries like you take part in turn-based battles that let players 'program' their mechs' actions from walking to blasting!

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 04/03/2024

A 1983 ad for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Treasure of Tarmin, a dungeon crawling RPG for the Intellivision by APh Technological Consulting The text warned players that "These dungeons are going to give you the creeps. Getting rid of them is your problem."

Treasure of Tarmin was a dungeon crawler for the Intellivision, a console in the early 80s. It featured quite a few, relatively sophisticated features such as an inventory, randomly generated dungeons with multiple floors, and real-time combat.

The ad notes that "This new Intellivision video game has 4539 tunnels, 256 dungeons, 1 hidden treasure and no room for error."

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

A dapper Yuzo Koshiro highlights a late 1991 ad from Japan for CDs of his work heard in titles like Sega's beat 'em up classic, Bare Knuckle (Streets of Rage) and Enix's action RPG, ActRaiser! Also mentioned are CDs featuring his music from games like The Scheme, The Super Shinobi, and Misty Blue.

BARE KNUCKLE

Synphonic suite from ACTRAISER

Conductor & Orchestration: Kaoru Wada

9.21 ON SALE

Discography

* The Scheme
* The Super Shinobi
* ActRaiser
* Misty Blue

Yuzo Koshiro himself is featured as part of this 1991 promotion for two of his most "ambitious" albums seen on the previous page: Bare Knuckle and ActRaiser (both excellent games and soundtracks!).

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cybrid23 @cybrid23.eurosky.social · 26/09/2026

It's also made by literal neo-Nazis. Give it a wide berth. mu.social/profile/ther...

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 03/10/2024

Castlevania's second arcade stint included two very different flyers -- one for its 1988 debut in Japan as Akumajō Dracula using art from its NES outing (sharing the same title) and a few months earlier in 1987 as Haunted Castle in North America with enough costumed camp to sink your fangs into.

This dramatic piece shows off our hero with the looming presence of Dracula hovering above a ruined castle before them. It was used for both the Japanese and English release of Castlevania on the Famicom/NES and here, was used to promote the second arcade iteration of Castlevania.

Castlevania's second arcade outing was based on the 1986 console version but entirely rebuilt and developed to run on arcade hardware and features a number of differences from its home cousin.

(flyer source: https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/)

The flyer reads "Haunted Castle: Re-Vamp An Old Game With This New Kit!" the "kit" being an arcade board and associated hardware that can be used to reconfigure an existing cabinet. Back in those days, it wasn't as simple as swapping a cartridge in and out of arcade cab -- re-using one usually meant pulling all of the electronic guts to replace them with new ones.

Haunted Castle was based on the 1986 Castlevania title but enhanced and rebuilt entirely for arcade hardware with a number of differences (such as the incredibly brutal difficulty).

Konami also engaged in the unusual habit of using live models to pose for their ads for arcade operators in the United States for a time instead of relying on art covers the way most everyone else did.

(flyer source: https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/)

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

A 1987 arcade flyer for VS. Castlevania, a port of Konami's vampire busting adventure (minus the VS.) It came to North American arcades via Nintendo's VS. System which had also (quietly) introduced the Famicom to a new audience, testing the waters there since 1984 for an eventual NES rollout!

(arcade flyer sourced from The Arcade Flyer Archive: https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/videogames/show/2206)

-------------------------------------

ENTER ITS DARKNESS IF YOU DARE

Welcome to the shadows and hidden horrors of VS. Castlevania—the newest addition to Nintendo's VS. System. Its dark domain is home to some of the creepiest creatures you'll ever find among the living. . .or the dead.

You'd better check your courage, because you're paying more than just a courtesy call. You're out to destroy forever the forces of evil that dwell here. And that means doing battle with the Master of the House, the Evil Count himself!

But. first, you'll have to find him. And that won't be easy. You've got to getthrough 18 terrifying stages including six castle tloors before you reach the tower where he waits, thirsty for your blood.

Your Magic Whip and stolen weapons will help you is dodge and destroy the ghosts, ghouls and monsters that stand in your way. But when you reach the tower. get ready to go for the jugular before the Count goes for yours!

VS. Castlevania—a deadly game of adventure and mystery that will add new life to your VS. System.

Contact your Authorized Nintendo Distributor or call Nintendo of America Inc., (206) 882-2040. for referral.

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Happy 40th anniversary, Castlevania! Konami's iconic, action packed nightmare kicked off an incredible run on this date in 1986. Japan's famous gaming weekly, Famitsu, celebrated its debut on the Famicom Disk System via a series of articles that followed in October to aid would-be vampire hunters!

This page describes the game, its many areas, and features a number of screenshots for Dracula's castle along with a few tips. It also celebrated the arrival of the game for the Famicom Disk System where it retailed for ¥2,980.

A number of other stages are described on this page including a few words on describing the dangers ahead such as using Holy Water to deal with hunchbacks to taking care on crossing a crumbling, stone bridge. Watch out for those birds!

This page belongs to the first of a series of more in-depth articles covering strategies on getting through the game in Famitsu's weekly magazine (also issued in October). This page describes the story of Simon Belmont's role in facing down Dracula who has awakened in 1876 after a century of sleep, his evil once more terrorizing the land from his 'demon castle'.

A page from another series of articles later in October from Famitsu. This time, we're at the climax of the story! Dracula awaits and the page provides a few tips on how to fight him along with screenshots of the path to his dreaded lair.

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

It's 1988 and your phone became the gateway to an RPG adventure with Fantasy Interactive Scenarios by Telephone (F.I.S.T.) by Steve Jackson (the UK one!) Originally launched in the UK, audiences in the USA could now join the adventure and romp through a Demon Prince's castle for "REAL GOLD PIECES!"

"FIST is an exciting new concept in fantasy gaming! Simply pick up your Touch-Tone telephone, dial 540-FIST and experience a dungeon adventure which YOU control! YOU make the decisions which direct your adventure by dialing numbers, as you compete for REAL GOLD awarded monthly.

The creatures and deadly traps which await you are brought to life with dramatic sound effects. Hear the ROAR of the FLESH EATER as you lock swords, the SIZZLE of the FIREBALL bursting towards you, the CHINKING of the GOLD PIECES you will find hidden in the Demon Prince's underground dungeon."

* Keep a pencil and paper handy to track your choices
* Dial 0 to hear the previous message
* Dial 9 to store your character in LIMBO for your next visit. Limbo saves time and money!
* Send in for your free starter pack for more information.

This one page ad wasn't quite as awesome as the two-page one that ran in the United Kingdom and offers a lot less information. For the most part, players can dial into FIST and experience monthly competitions for prizes by adventuring through a scenario.

Dialing into the service gave you a menu for options that described the rules, laid out the background for the scenario, connect with other adventurers to discuss the game, a shop to spend gold earned during the adventure, and even a training academy to get used to the combat.

Players could mail in for a FIST starter pack and their characters could even be saved by the service for later adventures, all driven by your phone. Hope that no one else needs it while you're on a dungeon crawl!

Also, there were TWO Steve Jacksons (hence the clarification). Steve Jackson in the United States was known for RPG systems like GURPS and his company still works on other RPG related materials today. Steve Jackson (in the United Kingdom) co-founded Games Workshop (of Warhammer miniatures fame).

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 18/07/2024

Deep Dungeon: Madō Senki (1986) by HummingBirdSoft was a dungeon crawling RPG released only in Japan for Nintendo's Family Disk System for the Famicom. Demons have risen up from a dungeon, stealing away Princess Etna's soul! Now it is up to you to rescue her! (a grid-based adventure thread)

No one uses doorknobs in this dungeon when a good kick is all you really need.

The king beseeches you to save the soul of his daughter, Princess Etna, that has been stolen and hidden deep within the dungeon by demons!

Back in town on the surface, you can rest up, buy supplies, and maybe (if you have enough gold) gear up with better armor and a new weapon.

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Rifts: Promise of Power (2005) | tactical RPG | N-Gage | Backbone Entertainment Based on the long running TTRPG by Palladium, players explore a world devastated by an eruption of cosmic energies that ended civilization and the lives of billions as they quest to find the truth behind themselves!

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

A two page kaleidoscope of pixelicious scenes hyped Japan in early 1992 for the March 20th release of Shining Force: Legacy of Great Intention, a strategy RPG by Sega Packed with 12 megabits and a battery backup, this adventure stood ready to take new heroes on an epic quest for the Mega Drive!

This side of the ad made note of the wide views for each scene filled with action and magic. It also noted its 12 megabit size and battery backup (for saves) with a March 20th release. Retail price: ¥8,700

The parade of scenes from Shining Force continue on this page celebrating its upcoming release as a new RPG for the Mega Drive shown below with Sonic's iconic, finger-wagging pose.

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Brandon Sheffield @brandon.insertcredit.com · 22/09/2026

Here's a list of rpg fan translations that do not use AI! very handy resource

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 23/08/2025

Biomotor Unitron (1999) was an RPG for the Neo Geo Pocket Color! A meteor brings strange crystals to a medieval world leading to the creation of Unitron mechs, ending a world war. Now in an age of peace, Unitrons and their pilots are repurposed into new lives...and gladiators! (a bot battler thread)

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

The Elder Scrolls Travels: Shadowkey (2004) | action RPG | N-Gage | Vir2L Studios Nokia's N-Gage got a taste of Bethesda's Elder Scrolls taking place before Arena during the final years of Jagar Tharn's masquerade as Tamriel's emperor with a pocket-sized chapter of first-person adventure!

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

A late 1993 ad from Japan for The Legend of Xanadu, an RPG for the PC Engine CD by Nihon Falcom A few of Falcom's titles such as Ys I & II had been ported to consoles by others, but the PC-focused studio would finally step up on their own with this original title designed for NEC's CD-ROM platform.

The teaser ad promised a release date of February 18th, 1994, and was flush with praise from a number of Falcom's staff. Up until this game, Nihon Falcom primarily released their games on Japanese PCs leaving it to third-parties to port their works to other platforms such as the Nintendo Famicom, Sega Master System, or the PC Engine CD.

It was also Yoshio Kiya's last project with Nihon Falcom before parting with the company after having worked on many of their most pivotal series from the first Dragon Slayer title to Ys.

The ad hypes up the fact that the game makes the best use of the CD-ROM format to deliver a "profound" experience featuring new combat gameplay designed for anyone to get into. Masayuki Kato, the president of Nihon Falcom at the time, was even quoted as saying that this would be the cutting edge of RPGs hinting at the huge investment and expectations that the company had for it.

The ad also features an offer for an "Emerald Dragon" and "Xanadu" telephone card if interested players purchase a PC Engine DUO-R system. Let's go!

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 02/11/2024

Amulets & Armor (1997) is an action RPG by United Software Artists and Exiguus Entertainent for PCs. Players can pick from eleven different classes ranging from Citizen to Warlock, choose from several action packed quests, then hack 'n slash their way to fame and fortune! (a dungeon crawling thread)

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

This late 1991 ad from Japan wants you to become an unlikely crusader of justice in Sega's Rent-a-Hero, an action RPG for the Mega Drive! Your family's house warming party is out of food. Your dad's in the living room dressed like a dinosaur. And somehow, you get a powered suit instead of pizza?!

The English text is actually part of the ad!

The rest describes how a small mistake turns a young boy into a superhero who goes on to solve a variety of cases. It's described as a modern-day action adventure RPG transforming you into a hero! Releases on September 20th for ¥8,700.

The bottom slip of the ad is for Wolf of the Battlefield II, a run 'n gun action game by Capcom also for the Mega Drive (and retailing on October 2nd for ¥7,000). In the West, it would be known as Mercs!

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Shin Seikoku: La Wares (1995) | RPG | Super Famicom | J-Force A secret society seek to control divine golems left behind by gods long ago in a world where mechs exist alongside swords and spells. This adventure blended typical turn-based battles on foot with armored duels in multi-story machines!

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Demon Stalkers (1987) was an arcade dungeon crawl by Micro Forte for the C64 and MS-DOS PCs. The peaceful mages of the kingdom unwittingly free the demon, Calvrak, when they dig the lowest level of their dungeon. Now you must brave one-hundred floors of danger to save the land! (a gauntlet thread)

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Battle of Kingdom (1991) | strategy | Game Boy | Lenar Defend a fantasy kingdom by fighting through various stages and branching paths, earning points to spend on creature cards as you build a deck of allied, autobattling beasties. You can also issue commands (like heals) to help them out, too!

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Club Capcom, Capcom's fan club 'zine from the early 90s, focused on their games (such as those in the arcade) with a variety of features Their Spring '93 issue featured a two-page spread for their arcade beat 'em up, The King of Dragons, whose RPG trappings came to life with colorful illustrations!

"If we are defeated, slaying Gildiss will become an impossible dream. We cannot let anyone stand in our way!"

"The journey was difficult, countless monsters were defeated, and a princess is pleading for our aid. As a servant of God, how can I turn her away? Fortunately, I have four companions that I can rely on. Grand us your strength, O Lord."
- Aldo the Cleric

Princess Mary
Granddaughter of King Eric, a brave princess who fights to defend her castle.

When they encounter the Red Dragon, how will the battle turn out? It all begins here.

When the Red Dragon, Gildiss, awakens, the world will become a crucible of chaos and slaughter. So says an ancient prophecy that has, unfortunately, come true!

But five warriors stand ready to fight the Red Dragon:

* Vargas, a dwarven warrior skilled with his battle axe and whose home was destroyed by monsters. He has a particular interest in the dragon's treasure hoard...

* Leger, a wizard researching ancient magic in order to preserve it

* Derek, a powerful fighter honing his skills and sees the Red Dragon as the ultimate test

* Ravel, an elven hunter that has incredible skill with a bow seeking to test their abilities

* Aldo, a cleric seeking to build a cathedral. Because of his religious background, he does not use bladed weapons.

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 19/09/2024

J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I (1990) by Interplay was an RPG for PCs. Volume I covered the journey from Bag End to Rivendell and gave players the freedom to explore and interact with the world of Middle Earth while avoiding the Dark Lord's creatures! (a ringbearer's thread)

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Forever Kingdom (2001) | action RPG | PlayStation 2 | FromSoftware Three friends quest to break a curse binding their souls together! Known as EverGrace II in Japan, it served as a prequel with unearthly music, gear-based progression, and built on the previous title's, pot helmet friendly action.

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

An early 1999 ad hails Capcom's Dungeons & Dragons Collection in bringing the RPG-flavored action of 94's Tower of Doom and 96's Shadow over Mystara from the arcade to the Sega Saturn Snippets of the original arcade flyer cover art for both games are framed while our heroes chill in the lower left!

The frame up of the art is tagged with the question of whether it is a masterpiece or an unforgettable classic!

The text celebrates the arrival of the Dungeons & Dragons arcade classics to the Sega Saturn. It includes both "Tower of Doom" and "Shadow Over Mystara" noting that Shadow makes use of the Saturn's 4MB expansion cartridge. Two prices are offered: ¥5,800 for just the two-disc set, or ¥7,800 for the game and the 4MB cartridge (if you don't already have one).

The bottom text has contact information for Capcom while also noting that Street Fighter Zero 3 is coming out soon (and will require the 4MB cartridge).

The angry dragon on the right hand side of the portrait is from the arcade flyer for Shadow Over Mystara and is actually repurposed from an original illustration by Jeff Easley originally seen on the cover of The Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game sourcebook by TSR in 1994

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Larn (1986) is a roguelike RPG by Noah Morgan that debuted on UNIX and was later ported to other systems like DOS PCs. Players explore a ten level dungeon to cure their daughter while under a time limit. It was also one of the earliest roguelikes to feature an overworld area. (a heals quest thread)

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Record of Lodoss War (1995) | RPG | Super Famicom | Thinking Rabbit The first chapter of this RPG adaptation focused on an origin story for the "Grey Witch", Karla, whose ability to possess others allows her to defy death while she quests for answers as this angry mage discovers to his misfortune!

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

The first issue of CFC Style Fan-Book in 1996, Capcom's Japan-only newsletter, had a feature with characters from their arcade RPG beat 'em up, D&D: Shadow Over Mystara In it, they share a few thoughts including a complaint that since Magic Sword, clerics have been stereotyped as grumpy old men!

On this page, the thief (Moriah) and the elf (Lucia) talk about their fight against Sin, the sorceress who transforms into a vicious (and extremely huge) red dragon in the game as a boss. Lucia was happy to have been 'saved' by the Fighter in the nick of time while Moriah is glad to have claimed a Warp Crystal as her prize!

On this page, Miles and Greldon (the cleric has an alternate second look) talk about a letter Miles received from Darokin. An anonymous letter writer complains about being rescued by a burly old man and wishes that next time, if a priest were to rescue them, the prieset would also be a pretty girl.

Miles tears up the letter and complains to Greldan that ever since the days of Magic Sword (a fantasy arcade game from 1990 by Capcom), clerics have been stereotyped as grumpy old men.

The sidebar on the right has a few thoughts from Syous, the mage, who says that reading Ursula LE Guin's Earthsea is an essential work for understanding the fantasy genre and describes the plot. He recommends it for those looking for something else other than the usual Japanese fantasy settings. He also says not to read volume 4 of the localization.

In the bottom left corner, Shannon (the alternate Thief character if another player wants to be one in the game) notes that she's looking for a boyfriend and talks about the differences between thieves and dwarves when it comes to valuable things.

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 15/09/2024

Grandia (1997) is an RPG by Game Arts that debuted on the Sega Saturn and later released for the Sony PlayStation in 1999. An epic quest will take a young boy from his home to beyond the End of the World as he and his friends chase the mystery of a long lost civilization! (an adventuring thread)

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

The Faery Tale Adventure (1987) | action RPG | Various platforms | MicroIllusions Debuting on the Amiga and arriving later on the Sega Genesis, its open world drew in the curious with deadly consequences. It also left the door open to even the odds with a killer weapon if you knew where to look!

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

An illustration by Tetsuya Nakae (aka Daichan) featured in the third issue of Capcom's Japan-only newsletter, the CFC Style Fan-Book, from early '97 It imagines the hero from 1986's hack 'n slash, Tatakai no Banka (aka Trojan), noting it was the first time the name "Ryu" appeared in a Capcom game!

The text in the ad describes that as tyranny takes hold at the end of an age, a new hero named Ryu rises up to fight evil with his blade and bring justice to a ruined world.

The added text below provided more information about the game that Tetsuya Nakae chose as to illustrate for the third issue of CFC saying that it arrived in arcades in April 1986 as a side-scrolling action game. It also noted that this was the first time the name Ryu was used in a Capcom game. It also notes that a Famicom version was released on January 1987.

As a side note, in the West, it would become known as Trojan! The name of the hero wasn't mentioned in the English manuals (simply referring to him as the "TROJAN warrior"), but the Japanese manual for the Famicom game names him Ryu.

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Eternal Ring (2000) | action RPG | PlayStation 2 | FromSoftware On the "Island of No Return", a collection of unusual inhabitants and monstrous terrors await. But not to worry. In addition to your sword arm, a vast collection of magic rings (found or crafted) will also open the way to untold power!

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

Bugs and Drugs (1978) released on the PLATO mainframe by Mark Gorback, Dave Tanaka, and Paul Alfille is an early edutainment RPG. Targeted mainly towards medical students, players explore a hospital "dungeon" fighting diseases with fists or with medicine! (a deadly residency thread)

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

From Japan in 1994, a two page ad presents Kogado Studio's RPG take on Record of Lodoss War for the Sega Mega Drive CD and a Mega Drive action RPG named Ragnacenty by Nextech Lodoss' Mega CD iteration featured clips from the anime while Ragnacenty would eventually come west as Crusader of Centy!

This page shows two of our heroes -- the knight, Parn, and the elfin Deedlit -- beneath the title of the game. A few screenshots from are shown below next to text hyping the game up for its May 20th release, retailing at ¥7,800, as it takes advantage of its CD format to deliver an exciting new take on the popular property.

Ragnacenty's hype included mention of its "Trinity" system which gave the player special abilities depending on their animal friends in an adventure slated to debut on June 17th with a retail price of ¥8,000. It arrived in North America as Crusader of Centy in 1995!

At the bottom of the page, new models of Sega's Mega Drive are shown off such as the Mega Drive 2, the combined Mega-CD 2 unit, and Victor's Wondermega RG-M2 which also had karaoke friendly features, wireless IR receivers, and an S-video connector explaining its higher price versus the Mega-CD 2 right next to it.

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Reposted by Dungeonbuster

Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

BattleTech: The Crescent Hawk's Inception (1988) by Westwood Associates was a CRPG set in the early 31st century. As Jason Youngblood, you barely escape a surprise attack on your home! Now you must try to find allies and train yourself (and them!) as you quest for the truth! (an Inner Sphere thread)

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Odyssey² owners were invited to seek "ten rings of power" in 1981 with The Quest for the Rings, a console/boardgame hybrid with RPG elements published by Magnavox While exploring the board, players quest against one other who plays the "evil Ringmaster" with battles resolved on the game console!

A Computerized Master Strategy Game by Odyssey²

The Quest For The Rings

YOU ARE ABOUT TO ENTER AN ALTERATE WORLD WHERE DREAMS - AND NIGHTMARES - COME TRUE WITH FIRE BREATHING REALITY!

Ten rings of power lie hidden within the Dark Lands of the evil Ringmaster. In gloomy dungeons. Crystal caverns. Molten infernos. And mysterious shifting halls. Each posing its own challenge. And its own threat.

Each ring is guarded by the treacherous minions of evil that lurk within these halls of doom. Menacing Orcs and Firewraths. The loathsome Spydroth Tyrantulus. Doomwinged Bloodthirsts. And hiddeous firebreathing dragons.

As a member of a small company of legendary heroes, you embark on the supremely dangerous search for the rings. The Quest begins as you summon the Heroes to the screen using the computer and keyboard overlay. And whichever identity you choose
will equip you wlth potent weaponry needed to battle the armies of the Ringmaster. As a warrior, you carry an enchanted sword. As the wizard, you cast formidable spells. As the mysterious Phantom. you can walk through walls. And as the Changeling, you wear the cloak of invisibility.

Heroes search from castle to castle in a quest for the ten rings of power. hidden on the gameboard by the Ringmaster. You'll encounter The Dungeons — castles built by men, then captured by the Ringmaster's armies. The lnfernos - towers of molten lava that will snuff out any player who comes in contact with them. The Crystal Caverns — with invisible walls. And The Shifting Halls — that conspire to block the Heroes by changing positions every few seconds.

Upon entering the Dark Lands where a ring is hidden, the Ringmasters minions begin their attack. Obtaining the ring becomes a difficult task. Requiring courage and even self-sacrifice, as players work together to outwit and outfight the Ringmaster's monstrous Nightmares in exciting on-screen action. If all ten rings are captured before the sands of time run out, the Ringmaster has been defeated. if not. he has won.

The Quest for the Rings is the first of the all new Master Strategy Series from Odyssey. Applauded as a first by true game enthusiasts, Quest for the Rings offers the combined fast pace and excitement of on-screen action with the intense strategy of gameboard competition.

And thus mankind's quest for rings of enchantment continues. As it has for thousands of years. Many finds have been rumored, yet few have ever been documented. And though no recent discoveries of such rings can be authenticated, the excitement and mystique surrounding their existence is ever strong and ever present. Concluding that man‘s Quest for the Rings is still very far from over.

Quest for the Rings is here now. Waiting for you to accept the heroic challenge and adventure it offers . . . in the relative safety of your own home. Don't wait. Begin your own exciting Quest for the Rings today!

"THE QUEST FOR THE RINGS" ADDS TO THE NUMBER OF EXCITING ODYSSEY2 GAMES.

"The Quest For The Rings" signals the beginning of the Master Strategy Series - and a highly advanced era in video game systems. Right now it's unique to Odyssey 2.

Players combine gameboard strategy with on-screen video action through use of the computer keyboard. It's just one of many exciting Odyssey 2 games now available. Others range from sports to arcade to educational games.

And more new games are under development. As each one is introduced, it will not only add to the selection, but will generate added enthusiasm and interest in Odyssey 2 and its library of game cartridges.

To keep customers coming back for more. To keep The Money Machine cranking toward your million-dollar goal.

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Ellak's Tomb (1984) | RPG | ZX Spectrum | Spectrum Computing This dungeon crawler was distributed as part of an e-zine, Spectrum Computing, offering a no-frills, grid-based quest with a party tasked to recover five special treasures. A more colorful version was also released for the C64!

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Reposted by Dungeonbuster

Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

Nihon Falcom's Brandish makes its way to the Nintendo Super Famicom in this two-page ad from Japan in 1994 The action RPG debuted in 1991 on PCs like the PC-98 casting players as the swordsman, Ares, pursued by a vengeful sorceress when they both are suddenly plunged into an ancient, buried city!

Featuring a release date of June 25th with a suggested retail price of ¥10,800, this page shows the box art and two screenshots from the game. Text tempts readers to find their way out of an underground labyrinth where both you, as Ares, and his sorcerous nemesis, Dela Delon, suddenly find yourselves.

At the bottom of the page is a "help wanted" notice for a variety of positions such as an assembly programmer, software engineer, or even a spot in CG production (using Silicon Graphics workstations!), presumably for Koei who ported and published the Super Famicom iteration of Brandish for Nihon Falcom in Japan.

Dela Delon, your nemesis, stands on this page gazing back above the title and next to words describing how much more realistic the action is now (tnanks to the Super Famicom), teasing an exciting RPG adventure.

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Ax Battler: A Legend of Golden Axe (1991) | action adventure with light RPG elements | Game Gear | Aspect Co. This portable spinoff of Sega's arcade beat 'em up, Golden Axe, was a wildly different, and lore heavy, take from its quarter munching cousin featuring Ax Battler in an action packed quest!

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Dungeonbuster @dungeonbuster.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

SSI's partnership with TSR didn't only stick to just RPGs when it came to adapting their worlds for PCs This 1989 ad not only has Curse of the Azure Bonds for RPG fans. It's also joined by a strategy wargame (War of the Lance) based on Dragonlance and a utility program for AD&D dungeon masters!

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons
Computer Products

TRIPLE YOUR FANTASIES.

Dungeon Masters Assistant, Vol. II
Utility program to help Dungeon Masters generate characters and treasures quickly for AD&D game campaigns

War of the Lance
DRAGONLANCE Strategic Fantasy Wargame

Curse of the Azure Bonds
FORGOTTEN REALMS Fantasy Role-Playing Epic

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