Sword of Vermilion

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SwordOfVermilion TitleScreen.png

Sword of Vermilion
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Genre: RPG

















Sword of Vermilion, known as Vermilion (ヴァーミリオン) in Japan, is an action game developed by Sega under Yu Suzuki and released for the Sega Mega Drive in late 1989 (Japan)/early 1991 (US/Europe).

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 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/Views

You control the Prince in three 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 has a church (where you can get cured of poison and curses and can save your game), an arms shop (selling weapons, shields, and armor), a restaurant (which does not appear to sell anything), an inn (where you may rest), a potion shop (which sells not only potions but also candles and other items), and a fortune teller's building. Furthermore, one NPC in each town will 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.

The 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 candle). 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.

Battles

Battles take place in a top-down area. 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 weapon, which you must have equipped beforehand from the menu. Each enemy you kill gains you money, called "kims," and possibly experience points. The battle ends when you either walk out the left/right sides or kill all enemies on screen.

The 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
  • 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 lying around

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

Physical Scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
90
82
94
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} 89
Based on
3 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
{{|L}} N/A
Based on
0 reviews

Sword of Vermilion