Sword of Vermilion

From Sega Retro

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  • NTSC-U/PAL
  • NTSC-J

SwordOfVermilion TitleScreen.png

Vermilion MDTitleScreen.png

Sword of Vermilion
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Virtual Console, Steam
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Genre: RPG[1]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP 		¥8,5008,500 G-5502
Sega Mega Drive
US
Sega Mega Drive
FR
Sega Mega Drive
UK 		£49.9949.99[2][3]
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Mega Drive
CA
Sega Mega Drive
AS
Wii Virtual Console
JP ▼ 		600pts600[8]
CERO: A
Wii Virtual Console
US ▼ 		800pts800[4]
ESRB: Everyone
Wii Virtual Console
EU ▼ 		800pts800[5]
Wii Virtual Console
AU ▼ 		800pts800[9]
OFLC: Parental Guidance (PG)
Steam
US ▼ 		$2.992.99[11] 71114
ESRB: Everyone
Steam
EU ▼ 		€2.492.49[11] 71114
PEGI: 7+
Steam
DE ▼ 		€2.492.49[11] 71114
USK: 6
Steam
UK ▼ 		£1.991.99[11] 71114
PEGI: 7+
Steam
AU ▼ 		$3.493.49[11] 71114
OFLC: Parental Guidance (PG)
Steam Linux
US ▼ 		$0.990.99[13] 71114
ESRB: Everyone
Steam Linux
EU ▼ 		€0.990.99[13] 71114
PEGI: 7+
Steam Linux
DE ▼ 		€0.990.99[13] 71114
USK: 6
Steam Linux
UK ▼ 		£0.790.79[13] 71114
PEGI: 7+
Steam Linux
AU ▼ 		$1.351.35[13] 71114
OFLC: Parental Guidance (PG)
Steam OS X
US ▼ 		$0.990.99[13] 71114
ESRB: Everyone
Steam OS X
EU ▼ 		€0.990.99[13] 71114
PEGI: 7+
Steam OS X
DE ▼ 		€0.990.99[13] 71114
USK: 6
Steam OS X
UK ▼ 		£0.790.79[13] 71114
PEGI: 7+
Steam OS X
AU ▼ 		$1.351.35[13] 71114
OFLC: Parental Guidance (PG)

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. C 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. Up and Down move forward and backward; Left and Right turn 90° in the particular direction, and C 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! C uses your sword, which you must have equipped beforehand from the menu. A 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. Right moves you forward, Left moves you backward, Down makes you duck and C 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.

Menu

When not in a battle, press C to open the menu. You have eight options:

  • 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; C 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

C makes a selection. B 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 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.

Versions

Localised names

Also known as
Language Localised Name English Translation
English Sword of Vermilion Sword of Vermilion
English (US) Sword of Vermilion Sword of Vermilion
Japanese ヴァーミリオン Vermilion

Production credits

Source:
In-game credits


Source:
Sega TV Game Genga Gallery[14]

Digital manuals

  • Steam manual

  • Vermilion MD JP digital manual.pdf

    Mega Drive Mini JP manual

Magazine articles

Main article: Sword of Vermilion/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advertisements

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #2: "October/November 1990" (1990-xx-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #16: "November 1990" (1990-xx-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1989-11: "November 1989" (1989-XX-XX)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1989-11: "November 1989" (1989-XX-XX)
Logo-pdf.svg

Television advertisements

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
70 [21]
61 [22]
91 [23]
68 №90, [1]
88 [24]
86 №5, p63
67 №5, p94
86 №18, p71
93 [25]
87 №5, p81
82 [26]
94 [27]
71
82 [28]
91 [29]
80 [30]
95 [31]
80 [32]
81 №18, p68
Sega Mega Drive
 82
Based on
19 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
60
[33]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
73
[34]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
70
[35]
Console XS (UK) PAL
81
[36]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
91
[37]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
70
[38]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
89
[39]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
68
[40]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
53
[41]
Joystick (FR)
88
[24]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)
77
[42]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
72
[43]
Mega (UK) PAL
86
[44]
Mega Play (US) NTSC-U
73
[45]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
90
[25]
Mean Machines (UK)
82
[46]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
87
[47]
Player One (FR)
94
[27]
Play Time (DE)
73
[48]
Power Play (DE)
71
[49]
Raze (UK) PAL
82
[50]
Sega Power (UK)
91
[51]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
75
[30]
Sega Power (UK)
95
[31]
Sega Pro (UK)
80
[32]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
81
[52]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
61
[22]
Tilt (FR)
75
[53]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
82
[54]
VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) NTSC-U
80
[55]
Video Games (DE)
71
[56]
Sega Mega Drive
 78
Based on
31 reviews

Sword of Vermilion

Mega Drive, JP
Vermilion md jp cover.jpg
Cover
SwordofVermilion MD JP CartTop.jpg
Vermilion md jp cart.jpg
Cart
Vermilion md jp manual.pdf
Manual
SoV MD JP pcb.jpg
PCB
Mega Drive, US
SoV MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Swordofvermilion md us cart.jpg
Cart
Sword of Vermilion MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Sword of Vermilion MD US Hint Book.pdf
Hint Book
Mega Drive, UK
Vermilion md uk cover.jpg
Cover
Vermilion MD UK Cart.jpg
Cart
SoV MD EU pcb.jpg
PCB
Mega Drive, CA
SoV MD CA cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, AS†

Mega Drive, AS† (Wywy)
SoV MD AS wywy cover.jpg
Cover
SoV MD AS wywy cartback.jpgSoV MD AS wywy cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega Drive
✔
CRC32 ea1bc9ab
MD5 a742836dc29ee51cf6d985191820ae4e
SHA-1 c18fc75e0c5fa0e98c8664903e978ec4f73ef5d2
640kB 1990-09 Cartridge (US/EU)
Sega Mega Drive
✔
CRC32 e400dfc3
MD5 5def9f18e261692490fd53c1adafcc91
SHA-1 697fb165051179a2bbca77c8cfd0c929e334f8c1
640kB 1989-09 Cartridge (JP)

External links

References

  1. ↑ File:Vermilion md jp cover.jpg
  2. ↑ Raze, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-01-31), page 75
  3. ↑ Sega Power, "July 1991" (UK; 1991-06-06), page 11
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/k5zK--CzKF4xBISlDhDlzN4IzdjoXD4L (Wayback Machine: 2010-11-23 00:58)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 http://www.nintendolife.com/games/megadrive/sword_of_vermilion (Wayback Machine: 2017-07-04 17:29)
  6. ↑ https://archive.is/wfatv
  7. ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/software/02.html (Wayback Machine: 2018-03-05 23:11)
  8. ↑ http://vc.sega.jp:80/vc_vermilion/ (Wayback Machine: 2007-02-26 06:46)
  9. ↑ http://www.nintendo.com.au/index.php?action=catalogue&prodcat_id=41&prod_id=19781&pageID=4 (Wayback Machine: 2012-04-03 03:18)
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 https://steamdb.info/app/71114/ (Wayback Machine: 2019-11-19 00:12)
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 http://steamdb.info/app/71114/ (Wayback Machine: 2013-05-22 20:15)
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 12.7 12.8 12.9 https://steamdb.info/app/71114/history/?changeid=5755281
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7 13.8 13.9 http://steamdb.info/app/71114/ (Wayback Machine: 2019-11-19 00:12)
  14. ↑ Sega TV Game Genga Gallery, Graphic Sha, page 20
  15. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "October 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 69
  16. ↑ GamePro, "October 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 73
  17. ↑ VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "October 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 39
  18. ↑ GamePro, "November 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 100
  19. ↑ Game Players Sega Guide!, "Vol. 1, No. 1: Fall 1990" (US; 1990-10-xx), page 8
  20. ↑ Sega Visions, "Winter 1990/1991" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 22
  21. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1990" (JP; 1990-01-08), page 67 (69)
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  23. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "June 1991" (UK; 1991-05-11), page 114-116 (114)
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Joystick, "Novembre 1990" (FR; 1990-1x-xx), page 118
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 30
  26. ↑ Mean Machines, "May 1991" (UK; 1991-05-01), page 64-66 (64)
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Player One, "Mars 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 45
  28. ↑ Raze, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-01-31), page 74/75 (74)
  29. ↑ Sega Power, "July 1991" (UK; 1991-06-06), page 10/11 (10)
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 54
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Sega Power, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-10-30), page 47
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Sega Pro, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-19), page 30
  33. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 233
  34. ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "März 1991" (DE; 1991-02-22), page 124
  35. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1990" (JP; 1990-01-08), page 69
  36. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 135
  37. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "June 1991" (UK; 1991-05-11), page 114
  38. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "January 1991" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 22
  39. ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 103
  40. ↑ Famitsu, "" (JP; 1989-xx-xx), page 1
  41. ↑ Game Informer, "July 1999" (US; 1999-0x-xx), page 80
  42. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 63
  43. ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "May 1990" (JP; 1990-04-07), page 89
  44. ↑ Mega, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-03-17), page 71
  45. ↑ Mega Play, "February 1991" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 41
  46. ↑ Mean Machines, "May 1991" (UK; 1991-05-01), page 64
  47. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 142
  48. ↑ Play Time, "6/92" (DE; 1992-05-06), page 94
  49. ↑ Power Play, "3/91" (DE; 1991-02-15), page 138
  50. ↑ Raze, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-01-31), page 74
  51. ↑ Sega Power, "July 1991" (UK; 1991-06-06), page 10
  52. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68
  53. ↑ Tilt, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 52
  54. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 26
  55. ↑ VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "November 1990" (US; 1990-1x-xx), page 52
  56. ↑ Video Games, "1/91" (DE; 1991-03-27), page 90


Sword of Vermilion

SwordOfVermilion TitleScreen.png

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Books: Sega Mega Drive Attack Manual Book Vermilion (1990)

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