Sword of Vermilion

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Sword of Vermilion

System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Virtual Console, Steam

Publisher: Sega

Developer: Sega AM2

Genre: RPG

Number of players: 1

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	1989-12-16	¥8,5008,500	G-5502
US	1991-01-28
UK	1991-04	£49.9949.99^[1]
AU	199x
CA	199x
JP ▼	2007-02-27	600pts600
US ▼	2007-03-05	800pts800
EU ▼	2007-03-01	800pts800

ESRB

PEGI

OFLC

CERO
Missing Parameter!

Sword of Vermilion, known as Vermilion (ヴァーミリオン) in Japan, is an action RPG game developed by Sega under Yu Suzuki and released for the Sega Mega Drive in late 1989. It was brought to English-speaking nations in 1991 where it shipped with a 106-page hint book.

Plot

Erik V, king of Excalabria, is overthrown by Tsarkon, king of Cartahena. Before he dies, Erik tells his most trusted servant, Blade, to take his infant son and the family heirloom, the Ring of Wisdom, and escape, raising the baby as his own. Eighteen years later, Tsarkon's forces approach Wyclif, the town where Blade took the baby, requiring Blade to reveal the boy's true identity as Prince of Excalabria and sending him off to save the land by collecting a series of rings starting with the Ring of Wisdom.

Gameplay

Areas

You control the Prince in four different ways, depending on where you are:

Towns

When in towns, the game takes a top-down view. opens the menu (described below). You may only enter buildings whose doors are open. Each town might have any of the following buildings: a church (where you can get cured of poison and curses and can save your game), a weapon shop (selling weapons, shields, and armor), a tavern (which does not appear to sell anything), an inn (where you may rest), an equipment shop (which sells consumable items), and a fortune teller's building. Furthermore, one NPC in each town will usually give you a map of an area in the overworld when you talk to him. Each town has a building (for instance, with Parma, the castle) where you must go and talk to someone (with Parma, the King) who will tell you how to get the next ring.

Overworld/Dungeons

In the overworld and dungeons, the screen splits, with a 3D perspective on the left screen and a map on the right, with some status information on the bottom. and move forward and backward; and turn 90° in the particular direction, and opens the menu. The map on the right will only show what is immediately visible to you unless you have a map (and in the case of dungeons, which are dark by default, a light). Along the way, you will be stopped randomly by enemies who will take you into battle, find people who you can talk to, and find chests you can open for items, the latter usually placed in dead ends.

Battles

Battles take place in a top-down area the size of the screen. You always start facing down at the center of the battlefield, regardless of how many enemies there are and where they are, so act fast! uses your sword, which you must have equipped beforehand from the menu. uses the battle magic that you have readied beforehand from the Magic menu. Each enemy you kill gains you money, called "kims", and experience points. The battle ends when you either die, walk out the left/right sides, or kill all enemies on screen. If you are killed, you will be restored at a church, and the pontiff will take half your money for the poor.

Archmonster battles

When fighting an arhcmonster, which are bosses of this game, the battle will take place from a 2D side perspective. moves you forward, moves you backward, makes you duck and swings the sword, the attack can also destroy certain projectiles. You can't escape or use magic during archmonster battles so it's a fight until either player or arhcmonster dies.

Talk: talk to a person you are immediately next to/in front of/behind
Item: use or discard collected items
Str: show incremental screens of status; shows the next screen
Open: open treasure chests and doors
Magic: cast, prepare, or discard magic spells
Equip: put on, take off, or discard weapons, shields, and armor
Seek: look around for unusual things
Take: take an item from the opened treasure chest

makes a selection. at any time exits first a submenu, then the whole menu.

Pressing START opens another menu where you may choose how fast you want dialogue to appear.

History

Legacy

The game was re-released as part of Sega Mega Drive Collection for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable. It was also released for the Nintendo Wii's Virtual Console in Japan on 27 Febuary 2007, Europe on 1 March 2007 and North America on 5 March 2007. It was also released as part of Sega Mega Drive Classic Collection Volume 3 for Windows and is available for separate purchase on Steam.

The game has a Japanese guide book in the form of Vermilion Attack Manual Book. It also would receive a soundtrack in 2009 as Vermilion vs Rent A Hero Original Soundtrack, which also contains music from Rent A Hero.

Production credits

Director: Sada
Scenario Writer: Namako
Game Design: Sada, Namako, Madoka
Chief Programer: Madoka
Chief Designer: Key
Main Program: Madoka, Namako
Program: Bin, Zeas-Q, Lalf2
Sound Program:
- 68000: Hiro
- Z80: Yas
Background Design: Key
Player Design: Gudon
Boss Design: Gudon, Papa
Enemy Design: Gudon, Papa, Robo
Opening Design: Jiji
Title Design: Key
ASCII Design: Key
Map Design: Sada, Namako
Map Edit: Coma, Lucy
Sound (BGM): Hiro, Yas
Sound (Effect): Yas
Game Check: Dog
Manual Write: Madoka, Namako
Player: (player's name)
Producer: Yu Suzuki
Special Thanks: Yu, Bin

Source:

In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: Sword of Vermilion/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #2: "October/November 1990" (1990-xx-xx)
also published in:

Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #15: "October 1990" (1990-xx-xx)^[2]
GamePro (US) #15: "October 1990" (1990-xx-xx)^[3]
VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) #21: "October 1990" (1990-xx-xx)^[4]

Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #16: "November 1990" (1990-xx-xx)
also published in:

GamePro (US) #16: "November 1990" (1990-xx-xx)^[5]
Game Players Sega Guide! (US) #0101: "Vol. 1, No. 1: Fall 1990" (1990-10-xx)^[6]
Sega Visions (US) #3: "Winter 1990/1991" (1990-xx-xx)^[7]

Digital manuals

Steam manual

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)

60

^[14]

Aktueller Software Markt (DE)

73

^[15]

Beep! MegaDrive (JP)

NTSC-J

70

^[16]

Console XS (UK)

PAL

81

^[17]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

91

^[10]

Electronic Gaming Monthly (US)

NTSC-U

70

^[18]

Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)

89

^[19]

Famitsu (JP)

NTSC-J

68

^[20]

Game Informer (US)

NTSC-U

53

^[21]

Joystick (FR)

88

^[22]

Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)

77

^[23]

Mega Drive Fan (JP)

NTSC-J

72

^[24]

Mega (UK)

PAL

86

^[25]

Mega Play (US)

NTSC-U

73

^[26]

MegaTech (UK)

PAL

90

^[27]

Mean Machines (UK)

82

^[11]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

87

^[28]

Player One (FR)

94

^[29]

Play Time (DE)

73

^[30]

Power Play (DE)

71

^[31]

Raze (UK)

PAL

82

^[12]

Sega Power (UK)

91

^[32]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

75

^[33]

Sega Power (UK)

95

^[34]

Sega Pro (UK)

80

^[13]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

81

^[35]

Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

NTSC-J

61

^[36]

Tilt (FR)

75

^[37]

Tricks 16 bit (RU)

82

^[38]

VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US)

NTSC-U

80

^[39]

Video Games (DE)

71

^[40]

	78
Based on 31 reviews

Sword of Vermilion

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual Hint Book

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, UK
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, CA

External links

References

↑ File:Raze UK 05.pdf, page 75
↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "October 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 69
↑ GamePro, "October 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 73
↑ VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "October 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 39
↑ GamePro, "November 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 100
↑ Game Players Sega Guide!, "Vol. 1, No. 1: Fall 1990" (US; 1990-10-xx), page 8
↑ Sega Visions, "Winter 1990/1991" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 22
↑ File:BeepMD_JP_1990-02.pdf, page 69
↑ File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf, page 87
↑ ^10.0 ^10.1 File:CVG UK 115.pdf, page 114 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 115.pdf_p114" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^11.0 ^11.1 File:MeanMachines UK 08.pdf, page 64 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachines UK 08.pdf_p64" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^12.0 ^12.1 File:Raze UK 05.pdf, page 74 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Raze UK 05.pdf_p74" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^13.0 ^13.1 File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf, page 30 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf_p30" defined multiple times with different content
↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 233
↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "März 1991" (DE; 1991-02-22), page 124
↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1990" (JP; 1990-01-08), page 69
↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 135
↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "January 1991" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 22
↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 103
↑ Famitsu, "" (JP; 1989-xx-xx), page 1
↑ Game Informer, "July 1999" (US; 1999-0x-xx), page 80
↑ Joystick, "Novembre 1990" (FR; 1990-1x-xx), page 118
↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 63
↑ Mega Drive Fan, "May 1990" (JP; 1990-04-07), page 89
↑ Mega, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-03-17), page 71
↑ Mega Play, "February 1991" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 41
↑ MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 30
↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 142
↑ Player One, "Mars 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 45
↑ Play Time, "6/92" (DE; 1992-05-06), page 94
↑ Power Play, "3/91" (DE; 1991-02-15), page 138
↑ Sega Power, "July 1991" (UK; 1991-06-06), page 10
↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 54
↑ Sega Power, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-10-30), page 47
↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68
↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
↑ Tilt, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 52
↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 26
↑ VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "November 1990" (US; 1990-1x-xx), page 52
↑ Video Games, "1/91" (DE; 1991-03-27), page 90

[:File:Raze_UK_05.pdf_p75-1] File:Raze UK 05.pdf, page 75

[:File:EGM_US_015.pdf_p69-2] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "October 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 69

[:File:GamePro_US_015.pdf_p73-3] GamePro, "October 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 73

[:File:VG.26amp.3BCE_US_21.pdf_p39-4] VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "October 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 39

[:File:GamePro_US_016.pdf_p100-5] GamePro, "November 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 100

[:File:GPSG_US_01.pdf_p8-6] Game Players Sega Guide!, "Vol. 1, No. 1: Fall 1990" (US; 1990-10-xx), page 8

[:File:SegaVisions_US_03.pdf_p22-7] Sega Visions, "Winter 1990/1991" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 22

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1990-02.pdf_p69-8] File:BeepMD_JP_1990-02.pdf, page 69

[:File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf_p87-9] File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf, page 87

[:File:CVG_UK_115.pdf_p114-10] 10.0 ^10.1 File:CVG UK 115.pdf, page 114 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 115.pdf_p114" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:MeanMachines_UK_08.pdf_p64-11] 11.0 ^11.1 File:MeanMachines UK 08.pdf, page 64 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachines UK 08.pdf_p64" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:Raze_UK_05.pdf_p74-12] 12.0 ^12.1 File:Raze UK 05.pdf, page 74 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Raze UK 05.pdf_p74" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:SegaPro_UK_06.pdf_p30-13] 13.0 ^13.1 File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf, page 30 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf_p30" defined multiple times with different content

[14] 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 233

[:File:ASM_DE_1991-03.pdf_p124-15] Aktueller Software Markt, "März 1991" (DE; 1991-02-22), page 124

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1990-02.pdf_p69-16] Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1990" (JP; 1990-01-08), page 69

[:File:Console_XS_UK_01.pdf_p135-17] Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 135

[:File:EGM_US_018.pdf_p22-18] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "January 1991" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 22

[:File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide_Book_UK.pdf_p103-19] Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 103

[20] Famitsu, "" (JP; 1989-xx-xx), page 1

[:File:GameInformer_US_075.pdf_p80-21] Game Informer, "July 1999" (US; 1999-0x-xx), page 80

[:File:Joystick_FR_010.pdf_p118-22] Joystick, "Novembre 1990" (FR; 1990-1x-xx), page 118

[:File:MDAG_UK_05.pdf_p63-23] Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 63

[:File:Mdfan_JP_1990-05.pdf_p89-24] Mega Drive Fan, "May 1990" (JP; 1990-04-07), page 89

[:File:Mega_UK_19.pdf_p71-25] Mega, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-03-17), page 71

[:File:MegaPlay_US_02.pdf_p41-26] Mega Play, "February 1991" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 41

[:File:MegaTech_UK_01.pdf_p30-27] MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 30

[:File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p142-28] Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 142

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_007.pdf_p45-29] Player One, "Mars 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 45

[:File:PlayTime_DE_1992-06.pdf_p94-30] Play Time, "6/92" (DE; 1992-05-06), page 94

[:File:PowerPlay_DE_1991-03.pdf_p138-31] Power Play, "3/91" (DE; 1991-02-15), page 138

[:File:SegaPower_UK_20.pdf_p10-32] Sega Power, "July 1991" (UK; 1991-06-06), page 10

[:File:SegaPower_UK_23.pdf_p54-33] Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 54

[:File:SegaPower_UK_25.pdf_p47-34] Sega Power, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-10-30), page 47

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p68-35] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68

[:File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf_p87-36] Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87

[:File:Tilt_FR_097.pdf_p52-37] Tilt, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 52

[38] Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 26

[:File:VG.26amp.3BCE_US_22.pdf_p52-39] VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "November 1990" (US; 1990-1x-xx), page 52

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1991-01.pdf_p90-40] Video Games, "1/91" (DE; 1991-03-27), page 90

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Sword of Vermilion

From Sega Retro

Contents

Plot

Gameplay

Areas

Towns

Overworld/Dungeons

Battles

Archmonster battles

Menu

History

Legacy

Production credits

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Digital manuals

Physical scans

External links

References