Heroic Legend of Arslan, The

[Discoalucard]

www.hardcoregaming101.net/arslan/arslan.htm

This is a Mega CD strategy RPG that looks similar to Fire Emblem, although drastically simplified. Like a lot of games in the era, it's mostly to show off the cutscenes, which are indeed quite well animated.

[Ganelon]

Nice, ryochan wrote this one, right? I wonder how much more amazing this game would've looked had it been released in the 32-bit era. I like to say it suffers from the Lunar syndrome where you can see the artist's ambitions that couldn't be realized by the limitations of the hardware, only this didn't get the chance.

Sachiko Kamimura just has an amazing command of color and I think is a primary reason for why the series is so well known. Not sure if you wanted to mention this or not but it may be more easily remembered by western fans by the name US Manga Corps (sadly gone now) gave the OVA: "The Heroic Legend of Arislan."

And don't forget the period between "Iran Also."

EDIT: Oh, and IIRC, this isn't actually an RPG, right? I recall it being a fantasy-themed turn-based strategy game without any sort of experience system (as with Nectaris or Famicom Wars).

[ryochan]

This will have to be a quick reply as I am without power at home and stealing my Dad's computer for a short time (out of state). Later the animation was renamed "The Heroic Legend of Arslan" as the Japanese went to US Manga and told them their names were inaccurate and asked them to fix it. For this reason, I have gone with the names as were given to US Manga Corps at that time.

If that is confusing though, I am fine with a note being added about the name change.

And yeah, the game is a strategy one. I have never noticed an experience system, I'm afraid.

[Sketcz-1000]

A well written piece. Although I've no real interest in the game itself, the quality of the writing and the level of detail to the game's background kept me reading. Do you write for anything else?

[ryochan]

Thank you. I'm glad it was an enjoyable piece.

And other than my blog, which is definitely written a bit more personally about games, I don't write for anything else, no.

[Deleted]

Feb 3, 2010 5:32:17 GMT -5 Sketcz-1000 said:

A well written piece. Although I've no real interest in the game itself, the quality of the writing and the level of detail to the game's background kept me reading.

This is exactly what I've got to say as well. I was so impressed that I decided to take a peer at your blog... and I have a few comments for it! I'll PM them so as to not siderail the topic here. Great work!

[Smithee]

Great job, Ryochan! I've been waiting to read this one, and it was worth it!

[ryochan]

Sotenga: Glad you liked it as well. Did I kill you with my PM reply? ~.^

Smithee: Arigatou. I'm really glad to have been able to elaborate on this game, since there really is so little coverage of it online.