Arcus Odyssey
From Sega Retro
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| Arcus Odyssey | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| System(s): Sega Mega Drive | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Publisher: Wolf Team (Japan), Renovation Products (US) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developer: Wolf Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Licensor:  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Original system(s): X68000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sound driver: Wolf Team sound driver | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Genre: Action RPG[1], Action[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of players: 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Arcus Odyssey (アークス・オデッセイ) is a 1991 role-playing action game by Wolf Team and released in the US and Japan for the Sega Mega Drive. It is the only game in Wolf Team's Arcus series of RPGs to receive an international release and the first entry to see release on a Sega system.
A European release was planned by Ubisoft[8] but it did not materialise.
Contents
Story
Hundreds of years ago, the powerful dark sorceress Castomira sought to destroy the land of Arcus and remake it into a place of chaos and darkness. The only person powerful enough to stop her was Princess Leaty, a good sorceress and the granddaughter of the legendary King of Light. Leaty challenged Castomira and the two fought for days on end, but the powers of the light eventually overwhelmed the witch, who was banished to the Dark World for all eternity. Foreseeing the possible return of Castomira, Leaty created a magical sword known as "The Power of Leaty" and trusted its safekeeping to the King of Arcus.
Now, a millennium later, Castomira's followers have stolen the Sword in order to revive their mistress as the power of darkness grows stronger by the day. Only the powers of four brave heroes can prevent a second coming of Castomira and return peace to Arcus.
Gameplay
The game is an action RPG. It uses an isometric view, but the characters can move freely in eight directions. The player takes on the role of one of four different characters, each with different weapons and abilities, and explore each area, battling enemies and searching for items through maze-like areas with many possible paths. Sometimes it is necessary to find a particular item, such as a key, or talk to a character to progress to the next area.
Characters are moved with the D-pad and attack by pressing 
. Characters can draw a shield to guard against projectiles in the direction that they are facing by holding . The player can bring up an inventory screen with 
to select an item or magic, which can then be used with 
. Items are generally consumed when they are used, and magic spells expend magic points to cast.
The player can find a variety of offensive, defensive, and recovery items and magic in chests scattered throughout each area. Characters open chest automatically when they move in front of them. Some areas require the players to accomplish sub-quests in order to proceed, such as extinguishing a fire blocking the door to the next area. In some areas, the player can recruit an ally, who follows the player and attacks. Only one ally can follow the player at a time. After defeating most bosses, players receive a power boost, which gives them either more health or more power. Each character can level up his or her attack three times by acquiring Power Jewels.
Characters have a health bar that depletes as they take damage from enemies. The game ends if the characters run out of health, but the player can find healing items in chests. Characters are fully healed and gain an additional health point for every 10,000 points earned, up to a maximum of ten. If the character possesses the Doll of Life item when taking fatal damage, the character is revived at full health but loses the item. The game has a password system for continuing at a later time.
The game supports two-player simultaneous play.
Characters
| Jedda Chef | |
|---|---|
| A dashing swordsman. He is armed with the Teamatto Sword, which generates a vacuum wave when it is swung. At level 1, he has a magic ability that reduces the damage he takes from enemies. At level 2, he learns offensive flame magic. He starts with 6 hit points, and his maximum magic level is 4. | |
| Erin Gashuna | |
| A warrior maiden. She possesses a chain whip that can strike foes from a distance. Her weapon is shorter range than the others but more powerful, and she can swing it around in a circle to attack enemies in all directions by pressing again after the weapon is extended. At level 1, she has a magic ability that can cleanse poison. At level 2, she learns offensive wind magic. She starts with 7 hit points, and her maximum magic level is 3.
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| Diana Fireya | |
| A skilled archer. She shoots arrows, which ricochet off walls. She has the weakest attack, but it has long range. At level 1, she has a magic ability that restores health. At level 2, she learns offensive light magic. She starts with 6 hit points, and her maximum magic level is 4. | |
| Bead Shia | |
| A dark mage. He has a powerful attack and long range but the least hit points. At level 1, he has a magic ability that purifies poisons. At level 2, he learns magic that can summon a dark lord. He starts with 5 hit points, and his maximum magic level is 5. |
Items
The inventory can store six Magical Power Crystals and six other items. Special items for progression, such as keys, are held in a separate row.
| Chest | |
|---|---|
| Open to collect an item. | |
| Magic | |
| Select in the inventory to use magic. | |
| Magical Power Crystal | |
| Equips magic points at a certain magic level. In the inventory, select the crystal corresponding to the desired magic level. For instance, selecting the second crystal uses level 2 magic and consumes two Magical Power Crystals. Characters have different spells depending on the selected magic level. | |
| Power Jewel | |
| Upgrades the character's hit points (blue) or attack power (red). The jewel cycles between blue and red, so the player can choose the desired upgrade. | |
| Medicine of Regeneration | |
| Restores three points of the character's health. This item is used instantly instead of being stored in the inventory. | |
| Herb of Purification | |
| Cures ailments such as poison or silence effects. Each item has three charges. | |
| Anti-Poison Herb of Wizardry | |
| Cures poison. Each item has three charges. | |
| Lamp of Life | |
| Fully restores the character's health. | |
| Doll of Life | |
| Revives the character with full health upon taking fatal damage. | |
| Potion of Invincibility | |
| Temporarily makes the character invulnerable. | |
| Magic of Elemental Summoning | |
| Summons warrior spirits that attack all enemies on screen. | |
| Magical Fire Ring | |
| Conjures whirling fireballs that attack nearby enemies. |
Acts
| The Power of Leaty | |
|---|---|
| The Lost Cave | |
| The Bad Dream | |
| The Wicked Flame | |
| The Arrival | |
| Dark Minions | |
| A Nightmare Castle | |
| The Full Moon | |
Versions
The game was released for the Sharp X68000 in 1991.
It was released for the Super Famicom in Japan in 1993 under the title Arcus Spirits. A North American release was planned but canceled after Sega acquired Renovation Products.
History
Passwords for the game were erroneously listed in the "Master Section" of an issue of Sega XS magazine, resulting in listings for a potential Master System version of Arcus Odyssey eventually appearing on older online lists of officially-released Master System games.[9] However, no version for the platform was ever developed.
Production credits
- Program: F.Fukaya
- Music Program: C.Tokuhiro
- Scenario: T.Yamada
- Graphic Design: K.Nagata, Y.Ushijima, A.Kabaya, A.Higurashi, T.Yamamoto
- Image Illustration: M.Inomata
- Illustration: K.Yamane
- Music: M.Sakuraba
- Sound Effect: R.Furuya
- Business Works: J.Asanuma, H.Kayano, K.Iijima, J.Shibata
- Checker: M.Uchida, S.Gotou, T.Okano, H.Sasaki, Y.Hashimoto, H.Kunimatsu
- Producer: M.Uno, David Izat
- Executive Producer: M.Akishino
- Special Thanks: K.Fukushima
Magazine articles
- Main article: Arcus Odyssey/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
Physical scans
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74 |
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| Based on 25 reviews | |
| Mega Drive, JP |
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 Cover
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  Cart  Manual |
| Mega Drive, US |
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 Cover
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 Cart  Manual |
Technical information
- Main article: Arcus Odyssey/Technical information.
References
- ↑ File:ArcussOdyssey MD JP Box.jpg
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-02 23:21)
- ↑ Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 9
- ↑ GamePro, "September 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 38
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Retail News, "September 1991" (US; 1991-0x-xx), page 26
- ↑ Sega Channel schedule (US; 1994-06-01)
- ↑ https://www.amusement-center.com/project/egg/game/?product_id=263
- ↑ Sega Force, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-12), page 10
- ↑ https://www.smspower.org/forums/9485-UnreleasedRumouredSMSGames (Wayback Machine: 2021-05-06 10:27)
- ↑ File:Arcus Odyssey MD credits.pdf
- ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 20
- ↑ ACE, "March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-08), page 68
- ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "Februar 1992" (DE; 1992-01-10), page 120
- ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "July 1991" (JP; 1991-06-08), page 30
- ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 127
- ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 17
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "September 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 20
- ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 290
- ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 10, "" (RU; 2003-10-08), page 18
- ↑ Famitsu, "1991-xx-xx" (JP; 1991-06-28), page 18
- ↑ GamePro, "September 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 36
- ↑ Games-X, "14th-20th November 1991" (UK; 1991-11-14), page 34
- ↑ Game Players Sega Guide!, "Vol. 3, No. 1: February/March 1992" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 72
- ↑ Hippon Super, "July 1991" (JP; 1991-06-04), page 113
- ↑ Joystick, "Septembre 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 167
- ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "September 1991" (JP; 1991-08-xx), page 115
- ↑ MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 53
- ↑ Player One, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 54
- ↑ Play Time, "6/92" (DE; 1992-05-06), page 92
- ↑ Sega Pro, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-11-21), page 50
- ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 64
- ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 86
- ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 8
- ↑ VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "November 1991" (US; 1991-1x-xx), page 46
- ↑ Zzap!, "Settembre 1991" (IT; 1991-xx-xx), page 64
| Arcus Odyssey | |
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Main page | Maps | Magazine articles | Reception | Region coding | Technical information | Bootlegs | |
| Arcus games for Sega systems | |
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Arcus Odyssey (1991) |
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Arcus I-II-III (1993) |