Arcus Odyssey

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Arcus Odyssey
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Wolf Team (Japan), Renovation Products (US)
Developer: Wolf Team
Licensor: Edia
Original system(s): X68000
Sound driver: Wolf Team sound driver
Genre: Action RPG, Action
Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code JP 1991-06-14 ¥8,5008,500 T-32053 US 1991-10 $69.9969.99 49096 US ▼ (Sega Channel) 1994-06-01 SUBsub EU ▼ (Sega Channel) 199x SUBsub CA ▼ (Sega Channel) 1995 SUBsub SA ▼ (Sega Channel) 1996 SUBsub JP ▼ 2003-10-15 ¥880880 TEL2004
Non-Sega versions No results

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 but it did not materialise.

Story

Leaty battles Castorima

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

Item inventory

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.
	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. 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

Source:

In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: Arcus Odyssey/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #27: "October 1991" (1991-xx-xx)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-03: "March 1991" (1991-02-08)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-04: "April 1991" (1991-03-08)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-05: "May 1991" (1991-04-08)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-06: "June 1991" (1991-05-08)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-07: "July 1991" (1991-06-08)

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 60 ACE (UK) NTSC 86 Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 78 Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J 58 Console XS (UK) NTSC-J 92 Cool Gamer (RU) 50 Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U 68 Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU) 60 Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 10 (RU) 70 Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J 53 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 96 Games-X (UK) 60 Game Players Sega Guide! (US) NTSC-U 70 Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J 60 Joystick (FR) NTSC-J 87 Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J 73 MegaTech (UK) PAL 86 Player One (FR) 79 Play Time (DE) 81 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 92 Sega Pro (UK) NTSC 89 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 73 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 67 VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) 70 Zzap! (IT) 96

	74
Based on 25 reviews

Arcus Odyssey

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Technical information

Main article: Arcus Odyssey/Technical information.

References

Arcus games for Sega systems
	Arcus Odyssey (1991)
	Arcus I-II-III (1993)