Brandish
Developer(s)	Nihon Falcom
Publisher(s)	Nihon Falcom (PC), NEC (PC-Engine), Koei (Super NES)
Release date(s)	JPN June 25, 1994 NA 1994
Genre(s)	Role-playing game
Mode(s)	Single player
Platform(s)	PC, PC-Engine, Super NES
Media	12 megabit cartridge (SNES)

Brandish is a dungeon-crawler and top-down view RPG and adventure hybrid developed by Nihon Falcom. Originally released for PC, it was later released for PC-Engine only in Japan by NEC. The best known version is the Super NES one, which is the only English version of the game and was published by Koei, and released in 1994 in Japan and a few months later (around 1995) in America. Image File history File links BrandishSNESboxart. ... A video game developer is a software developer (a business or an individual) that creates computer or video games. ... One of Japans oldest game companies, Nihon Falcom has produced dozens of titles for a wide range of home console systems, as well as PC. Some of the companys famous series include Ys, Dragon Slayer, Lord Monarch, and Vantage Master. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... One of Japans oldest game companies, Nihon Falcom has produced dozens of titles for a wide range of home console systems, as well as PC. Some of the companys famous series include Ys, Dragon Slayer, Lord Monarch, and Vantage Master. ... NEC Corporation (Japanese 日本電気株式会社 Nippon Denki Kabushiki Gaisha; TYO: 6701 , NASDAQ: NIPNY) is a multi-national information technologies company headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Anthem: Kimi Ga Yo  (君が代) Imperial Reign Capital Tokyo Most populous conurbation Tokyo1 Japanese Government Constitutional monarchy  - Emperor HIM Emperor Akihito  - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (LDP) Formation    - National Foundation Day Feb 11, 660 BCE2   - Meiji Constitution November 29, 1890   - Current constitution May 3, 1947   - Treaty of San Francisco April 28, 1952... June 25 is the 176th day of the year (177th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 189 days remaining. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... In computer games and video games, single-player refers to the variant of a particular game where input from only one player is expected throughout the course of the gaming session. ... Macs like the iMac Core Duo are also personal computers. Unlike many PCs, the iMac is an all in one with all its components, including processor and speakers, in one case. ... For more information on the North American version of this system, see TurboGrafx 16. ... The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, also known as Super Nintendo, Super NES or SNES, is a 16-bit video game console released by Nintendo in North America, Brazil, Europe, and Australia. ... The megabit is a unit of information storage, abbreviated Mbit or sometimes Mb. ... In various types of electronic equipment, a cartridge can refer one method of adding different functionality or content (e. ... A role-playing game (RPG, often roleplaying game) is a type of game in which the participants assume the roles of fictional characters and collaboratively create or follow stories. ... See also Adventure! (role-playing game), a role-playing game from White Wolf Game Studio. ... Nihon Falcom Corporation is an old Japanese computer game company. ... Macs like the iMac Core Duo are also personal computers. Unlike many PCs, the iMac is an all in one with all its components, including processor and speakers, in one case. ... For more information on the North American version of this system, see TurboGrafx 16. ... NEC Corporation (Japanese 日本電気株式会社 Nippon Denki Kabushiki Gaisha; TYO: 6701 , NASDAQ: NIPNY) is a multi-national information technologies company headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan. ... The European SNES design is identical to the Super Famicom. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Storyline

A long time ago, a small kingdom in the name of Berimya built around a lofty tower, which almost pierced the sky. The inhabitants of the City, guarded by the mighty Dragon, lived in peace and abundance. However, King Berebus, the ruler of Berimya, harbored a dark ambition to expand the territory of his kingdom. He ordered the scholars to make a research on the Tower in the center of Berimya.

Soon, one of the scholars brought a tome written in an ancient language from the tower to Berebus, which they started deciphering. As they were deciphering the tome, some scholars feared that they might be laying their hands on the forbidden knowledge of the ancients.

Finally, the scholars decipher the tome, which read, "The Great Guardian of Berimya, the Dragon, and the Essence of Power lies on the top of the Tower; the one who possesses the Essence will possess all." Undaunted by the otherwise ominous words of the tome, Berebus decided to make the Essence of Power his own.

He secretly organized an army, which soon seized the Tower and raised the swords against the Dragon. Even the Dragon could not resist the power of Berebus's army. As Berebus grasped at the Essence of Power, the Dragon gave up its own life to take the Essence of Power down with himself. The Essence, losing control, transformed the King into an evil, hideous monster and sank the entire kingdom of Berimya, including the great tower, under the ground. All people on the surface of the earth forgot about Berimya and the Tower in its center, and a thousand years passed.

A mysterious swordsman known as Varik is constantly followed by a sorceress named Alexis, who wants revenge on him because she believes that he killed her master. When Alexis finally catches up with him and prepares to attack, the floor beneath them collapsed and both fell into a mysterious maze. The player must assume the role of Varik and escape from the underground maze.

Reception

The Super NES version isn't very well known or popular because of its late release, when the Super NES market was beginning to fade off in anticipation of the Nintendo 64 and PlayStation. Also, the game was published by Koei, which was known at the time for their strategic war games and not many RPG nor any action games. Another problem was the core gameplay, which affected all versions: The game plays in a top-down view and the controls are very tricky. When the default buttons are chosen, Varik moves without turning in another direction (strafe) unless the directions are pressed in combination with the rotate buttons, and when he rotates, the screen also does, which can easily confuse newcomers. The European SNES design is identical to the Super Famicom. ... The Nintendo 64 ) is Nintendos third home video game console for the international market. ... The Sony PlayStation ) is a video game console of the 32/64-bit era, first produced by Sony Computer Entertainment in the mid-1990s. ...

The game still proved popular enough in Japan to warrant two sequels exclusively in Japan that continue the saga of Varik and Alexis (which are known in Japan as Ares and Dela), the first one being Brandish 2: The Planet Buster, released in August of 1995 for the Super Famicom. Similar to the original Japanese release of Final Fantasy IV and Ys V, both an easy and hard version of this game were released. The next sequel include Brandish 3: Spirit of Balcan, released for PC. Final Fantasy IV ) is a console role-playing game developed and published by Square Co. ... Flight of King Gradlon, by E. V. Luminais, 1884 (Musée des Beaux-Arts, Quimper) Ys (also spelled Is or Ker-Ys in Breton) is a mythical city built in the Douarnenez bay in Brittany by Gradlon, King of Cornouaille, for his daughter Dahut. ...

The latest game, Brandish 4: Tower of Sleeping God, another PC exclusive, follows a similar gameplay with completely different storyline and characters. Macs like the iMac Core Duo are also personal computers. Unlike many PCs, the iMac is an all in one with all its components, including processor and speakers, in one case. ...

External links

• Brandish information and maps