A quick entry for a title which was to be an Electronic Novel for Broderbund and Synapse. Where most of the planned titles were released and coded by Joe Viera (http://www.gamebase64.com/search.php?a=5&f=1&id=1963&d=18&h=0), the rest of them for some reason never quite made it.
This was one of those titles which never surfaced. According to MobyGames, it is suggested that the previous games were released to mixed success – which is probably why this title was cancelled.
But its been confirmed that the game was completed and should be out there some where. Does Joe Viera have a copy of the game still?
Thanks to Michael Huth, more credits and some artwork has been found in a manual for Brimstone. This reveals an extra credit of William Mataga as programmer, and the following story:
“The Diamyo’s daughter is kidnapped! You, the Ronin, masterless samurai, must return her or purge your dishonour with ritual suicide. Navigate the feudal castle, befriend the Zen master, penetrate the ninja stronghold. When your task seems done, you are far from done. What is and what only seems to be?
The eastern sky pales. The hour of the Horse approaches. Wake now, Ronin; you must strap on your sword and make an offering to the gods . .. You continue to float upward, surrounded by cavernous black clouds that stretch for immeasurable distances on all sides. You feel like a sail cut loose from its ship and carried aloft by a whirlwind …”
Well, in 2023 – the Atari version was recovered – so this gives a glimpse of what the game would have been like. There is also a great video about the finding too. Can the C64 edition now be found?
Contributions: Allan Pinkerton, Ryan Baumann, Michael Huth, mocagh.org
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Update history
- 26/09/24 – More credits and artwork scans added thanks to Michael Huth and https://mocagh.org/.
- 04/01/24 – Link made to the Atari version that was recovered.
