Falcom
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese computer game company. The company was founded in March 1981 by Masayuki Kato
. Falcom has played a definite role in the growth and development of the Japanese personal computer
software industry. The company released the first Japanese computer role-playing game in 1983 and followed with real-time action
and adventure game
s as well as games with fully developed soundtrack
s. They were pioneers of the action role-playing game
genre and Japanese role-playing game
industry, and remain one of the oldest role-playing game developers still in existence today.
developers in the 1980s, alongside Enix
and Square
, both of which were influenced by Falcom. Falcom's flagship titles include the Dragon Slayer, The Legend of Heroes and Ys
series. In the 1980s, these franchises, particularly Dragon Slayer, were responsible for setting the template for the action role-playing game
genre, and laying the foundations for the Japanese role-playing game
industry. With more than 400,000 copies sold, Dragon Slayer II: Xanadu
(1985) was the best-selling personal computer game
in Japan.
While most of Falcom's games have been ported to various video game console
s of all generations, they have only developed a few non-PC video games themselves. The company's decision to develop mainly for PCs rather than consoles set them apart from their main rivals, Enix and Square, but limited the company's popularity in the Western world
. Nevertheless, in terms of the number of game releases, Falcom's flagship Ys series is second only to Final Fantasy
as the largest Eastern role-playing game
franchise.
Falcom was also a pioneer in video game music, with their early soundtracks mostly composed by chiptune
musicians Yuzo Koshiro
and Mieko Ishikawa, and some arranged by Ryo Yonemitsu. They were the first company to produce game music CDs, the first to apply vocals to game music, and the first to have a band composed of professional musicians dedicated to games, the Falcom Sound Team JDK. Falcom's Ys soundtracks in particular are considered some of the finest and most influential role-playing game scores of all time.
Many Falcom games have been licensed and developed by other companies such as NEC
, Hudson Soft
, Epoch
, Tokyo Shoseki
(aka Tonkin House
), Sega
, RIOT
, Victor
, Koei and Konami
, for various PC and video game systems.
Masayuki Kato
Masayuki Kato was the president and founder of the Nihon Falcom Corporation that has made video games for various Japanese PC systems and consoles . The company's key franchises include the Dragon Slayer series, The Legend of Heroes series, and the Ys series.-References:...
. Falcom has played a definite role in the growth and development of the Japanese personal computer
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
software industry. The company released the first Japanese computer role-playing game in 1983 and followed with real-time action
Action game
Action game is a video game genre that emphasizes physical challenges, including hand–eye coordination and reaction-time. The genre includes diverse subgenres such as fighting games, shooter games, and platform games, which are widely considered the most important action games, though some...
and adventure game
Adventure game
An adventure game is a video game in which the player assumes the role of protagonist in an interactive story driven by exploration and puzzle-solving instead of physical challenge. The genre's focus on story allows it to draw heavily from other narrative-based media such as literature and film,...
s as well as games with fully developed soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
s. They were pioneers of the action role-playing game
Action role-playing game
Action role-playing games form a loosely defined sub-genre of role-playing video games that incorporate elements of action or action-adventure games, emphasizing real-time action where the player has direct control over characters, instead of turn-based or menu-based combat...
genre and Japanese role-playing game
History of Eastern role-playing video games
Eastern role-playing video games are role-playing video games developed in East Asia, specifically Japan, and, to a lesser extent, South Korea and China...
industry, and remain one of the oldest role-playing game developers still in existence today.
Overview
Falcom were one of the three most important Japanese role-playing video gameRole-playing video game
Role-playing video games are a video game genre with origins in pen-and-paper role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, using much of the same terminology, settings and game mechanics. The player in RPGs controls one character, or several adventuring party members, fulfilling one or many quests...
developers in the 1980s, alongside Enix
Enix
The was a Japanese company that produced video games, anime and manga. The company was founded by Yasuhiro Fukushima on September 22, 1975 as and renamed Enix in 1982...
and Square
Square (company)
was a Japanese video game company founded in September 1983 by Masafumi Miyamoto. It merged with Enix in 2003 and became part of Square Enix...
, both of which were influenced by Falcom. Falcom's flagship titles include the Dragon Slayer, The Legend of Heroes and Ys
Ys (video game)
is a Japanese computer and console role-playing video game series, and Nihon Falcom corporation's flagship franchise. It started on the NEC PC-8801 in 1987, created by Masaya Hashimoto and Tomoyoshi Miyazaki...
series. In the 1980s, these franchises, particularly Dragon Slayer, were responsible for setting the template for the action role-playing game
Action role-playing game
Action role-playing games form a loosely defined sub-genre of role-playing video games that incorporate elements of action or action-adventure games, emphasizing real-time action where the player has direct control over characters, instead of turn-based or menu-based combat...
genre, and laying the foundations for the Japanese role-playing game
History of Eastern role-playing video games
Eastern role-playing video games are role-playing video games developed in East Asia, specifically Japan, and, to a lesser extent, South Korea and China...
industry. With more than 400,000 copies sold, Dragon Slayer II: Xanadu
Dragon Slayer II: Xanadu
is an action RPG developed by Nihon Falcom in 1985 for the PC-8801, PC-9801, FM-7, MSX and X1 computers. Enhanced remakes were released for the Sega Saturn, PC-9801 and Windows systems...
(1985) was the best-selling personal computer game
Personal computer game
A PC game, also known as a computer game, is a video game played on a personal computer, rather than on a video game console or arcade machine...
in Japan.
While most of Falcom's games have been ported to various video game console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
s of all generations, they have only developed a few non-PC video games themselves. The company's decision to develop mainly for PCs rather than consoles set them apart from their main rivals, Enix and Square, but limited the company's popularity in the Western world
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
. Nevertheless, in terms of the number of game releases, Falcom's flagship Ys series is second only to Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy
is a media franchise created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, and is developed and owned by Square Enix . The franchise centers on a series of fantasy and science-fantasy role-playing video games , but includes motion pictures, anime, printed media, and other merchandise...
as the largest Eastern role-playing game
History of Eastern role-playing video games
Eastern role-playing video games are role-playing video games developed in East Asia, specifically Japan, and, to a lesser extent, South Korea and China...
franchise.
Falcom was also a pioneer in video game music, with their early soundtracks mostly composed by chiptune
Chiptune
A chiptune, also known as chip music, is synthesized electronic music often produced with the sound chips of vintage computers and video game consoles, as well as with other methods such as emulation. In the early 1980s, personal computers became cheaper and more accessible than they had previously...
musicians Yuzo Koshiro
Yuzo Koshiro
is a Japanese video game music composer and audio programmer. He is regarded as one of the most influential innovators in chiptune music and video game sound design...
and Mieko Ishikawa, and some arranged by Ryo Yonemitsu. They were the first company to produce game music CDs, the first to apply vocals to game music, and the first to have a band composed of professional musicians dedicated to games, the Falcom Sound Team JDK. Falcom's Ys soundtracks in particular are considered some of the finest and most influential role-playing game scores of all time.
Published works
System indicated reflects the first release (or concurrent releases) of the game.- (1982.06) Galactic Wars (PC-8801)
- (1983.10) Super Mahjong (X1Sharp X1The X1 is a series of home computer released by Sharp Corporation from 1982 to 1988. It was based on a Z80 CPU.Despite the fact that the Computer Division of Sharp Corporation had released the MZ series, suddenly the Television Division released a new computer series called the X1...
) - (1983.10) Bird Land (PC-8001)
- (1983.10) Computer the Golf (PC-8801)
- (1983.10) Horror House (PC-8801)
- (1983.10) Cosmo Fighter II (X1)
- (1983.11) Private Stripper (PC-8801)
- (1983.12) SSGN Covert Cruise Special Attack Strategy (FM-8FM-8The FM-8 was a personal computer developed and manufactured by Fujitsu in May 1981. It was Fujitsu's second microcomputer released to the public after the LKIT-8 kit computer, and the first in the "FM" series. The FM-8 would later be replaced by two new models in November 1982 - the FM-11, aimed...
) - (1983.12) Panorama Island (PC-8801)
- (1983.12) Horror House Part-II (PC-8801)
- (1984.01) Monster House (MZ-2200Sharp MZThe Sharp MZ is a series of personal computers sold in Japan and Europe by Sharp beginning in 1978.-Overview:...
) - (1984.03) Demon's Ring (PC-8801)
- (1984.06) The Threat of North (PC-6001)
- (1984.07) Escape from Twilight Zone (FM-7FM-7FM-7 is a home computer released in 1982 in Japan.The Fujitsu FM-7 was Fujitsu's first entry into the Japanese home computer market, and for their debut computer, they chose to come out with a 6809-based personal computer very similar to Radio Shack's Color Computer.-Hardware:*Two MC 68B09 CPUs @...
) - (1984.11) Dragon Slayer (PC-8801)
- (1985.04) Asteka (PC-8801)
- (1985.10.28) Dragon Slayer II: XanaduDragon Slayer II: Xanaduis an action RPG developed by Nihon Falcom in 1985 for the PC-8801, PC-9801, FM-7, MSX and X1 computers. Enhanced remakes were released for the Sega Saturn, PC-9801 and Windows systems...
(PC-8801) - (1986.10) Xanadu Scenario 2: The Resurrection of Dragon (PC-8801)
- (1986.10.06) Asteka II: Templo del SolTombs & TreasureTombs & Treasure is an adventure game originally developed by Nihon Falcom in 1987 for the PC-8801, PC-9801, FM-7, and X1 Japanese systems. An English-language NES version, published by Infocom in 1989, was altered to be more story-based, and featured new music and role-playing elements...
(PC-8801) - (1986.10.24) Dragon Slayer Jr.: RomanciaRomanciaDragon Slayer Jr: Romancia is an action-adventure game developed by Nihon Falcom in 1986 for the PC-8801, PC-9801, MSX, and X1 computers. A Famicom version was retooled and expanded by Compile and published by Tokyo Shoseki. An enhanced remake was released for Windows in 1999 by Unbalance...
(PC-8801) - (1987.06.21) Ys: Ancient Ys Vanished OmenYs I: Ancient Ys Vanishedis the first installment of Ys, an action role-playing video game series developed by Falcom in 1987...
(PC-8801) - (1987.07.17) Dragon Slayer IV: Drasle FamilyLegacy of the Wizardis a fantasy-themed action role-playing platform game released for the MSX and Famicom in Japan and for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the United States. Legacy of the Wizard is the fourth installment in Falcom's Dragon Slayer series...
(Famicom) - (1987.12.20) Dragon Slayer V: SorcerianSorcerianis an action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom, and the fifth in the Dragon Slayer line of games. It was originally released for the NEC PC-8801 in 1987, and was later ported to other PC platforms such as the NEC PC-9801, the NEC PC-88VA, the Sharp X1 Turbo, and the MSX 2, for which it...
(PC-8801) - (1988.04.22) Ys II: Ancient Ys Vanished - The Final ChapterYs II: Ancient Ys Vanished - The Final Chapteris an action role-playing game developed and published by the Nihon Falcom Corporation, and first released on June 24, 1988 for the NEC PC-8801. It is the sequel to Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished, and takes place immediately following the end of the first game....
(PC-8801) - (1989.03) Star Trader (PC-8801)
- (1989.07.21) Ys III: Wanderers from YsYs III: Wanderers from Ysis an action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom Corporation. It is the third game in the Ys series.Ys III was initially released for the NEC PC-8801 and NEC PC-9801 in 1989, and versions for the MSX 2 and Sharp X68000 soon followed. In 1991, a number of console ports were produced:...
(PC-8801/PC-9801PC-9801The NEC PC-9801, part of the PC-98 series, is a Japanese 16-bit microcomputer manufactured by NEC.- History :It first appeared in 1982, and employed an 8086 CPU. It ran at a clock speed of 5 MHz, with two µPD7220 display controllers , and shipped with 128 KB of RAM, expandable to 640 KB...
) - (1989.12.10) Dragon Slayer VI: The Legend of HeroesDragon Slayer: The Legend of HeroesDragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes is a role-playing game developed by the Nihon Falcom. It is the sixth game in the Dragon Slayer line of games, and the first in the The Legend of Heroes series....
(PC-8801/PC-9801) - (1990.12.21) DINOSAUR (PC-8801)
- (1991.03.21) Dragon Slayer VII: Lord MonarchLord Monarchis a real-time strategy war game by Nihon Falcom. The game is considered to be the seventh installment in the Dragon Slayer series. It was originally released in 1991 for the NEC PC-9801, ported 1992 to the Super Famicom and 1994 to the Sega Mega Drive...
(PC-9801) - (1991.10.25) BrandishBrandishBrandish is a dungeon crawler and top-down view action RPG and adventure hybrid series developed by Nihon Falcom. Originally released in 1991 for the NEC PC-9801 and FM Towns home computers, it was later released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and TurboGrafx-16...
(PC-9801) - (1991.12.20) Popful MailPopful Mailis a side-scrolling platform game. Popful Mail was developed by Nihon Falcom for the NEC PC-8801 computer in 1991 and for the PC-9801 in 1992. It was later ported to PC Engine CD-ROM by NEC Home Electronics and to the Sega CD by "Sega Falcom", an alliance of the two game companies Sega and Falcom...
(PC-8801/PC-9801) - (1992.03.19) Dragon Slayer VI: The Legend of Heroes IIDragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes IIDragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes II is a computer role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom Corporation. It was first released in 1992 for the NEC PC-8801...
(PC-8801/PC-9801) - (1993.03.12) Brandish 2: Planet BusterBrandishBrandish is a dungeon crawler and top-down view action RPG and adventure hybrid series developed by Nihon Falcom. Originally released in 1991 for the NEC PC-9801 and FM Towns home computers, it was later released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and TurboGrafx-16...
(PC-9801) - (1994.02.18) Dragon Slayer VIII: The Legend of Xanadu (PC Engine CDTurboGrafx-16TurboGrafx-16, fully titled as TurboGrafx-16 Entertainment SuperSystem and known in Japan as the , is a video game console developed by Hudson Soft and NEC, released in Japan on October 30, 1987, and in North America on August 29, 1989....
) - (1994.03.18) The Legend of Heroes III: White WitchThe Legend of Heroes III: Prophecy of the Moonlight WitchThe Legend of Heroes II: Prophecy of the Moonlight Witch, known as in Japan is a computer role-playing game originally developed by Nihon Falcom Corporation. It is the third game in the The Legend of Heroes series, and the first in the "Gagharv Trilogy". This game is a remake of the original game...
(PC-9801) - (1994.06.10) Popful MailPopful Mailis a side-scrolling platform game. Popful Mail was developed by Nihon Falcom for the NEC PC-8801 computer in 1991 and for the PC-9801 in 1992. It was later ported to PC Engine CD-ROM by NEC Home Electronics and to the Sega CD by "Sega Falcom", an alliance of the two game companies Sega and Falcom...
(Super FamicomSuper Nintendo Entertainment SystemThe Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
) - (1994.11.25) Brandish 3: Spirit of BalcanBrandishBrandish is a dungeon crawler and top-down view action RPG and adventure hybrid series developed by Nihon Falcom. Originally released in 1991 for the NEC PC-9801 and FM Towns home computers, it was later released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and TurboGrafx-16...
(PC-9801) - (1995.04.28) Revival Xanadu (PC-9801)
- (1995.06.30) The Legend of Xanadu II: The Last of Dragon Slayer (PC Engine CD)
- (1995.12.08) Revival Xanadu II Remix (PC-9801)
- (1995.12.29) Ys V: Kefin, The Lost City of SandYs V: Kefin, The Lost City of Sandis an action role-playing game for the Super Famicom developed by Nihon Falcom Corporation. It is the fifth game in the Ys series of video games.Ys V was originally released in 1995...
(Super Famicom) - (1996.05.24) The Legend of Heroes IV: A Red DropThe Legend of Heroes IV: A Tear of VermillionThe Legend of Heroes: A Tear of Vermillion, known as in Japan is a role-playing game originally developed by Nihon Falcom Corporation. It is the fourth game in the The Legend of Heroes series, and the second in the "Gagharv Trilogy". This game is a remake of the original game released for the NEC...
(PC-9801) - (1996.10.04) Brandish VTBrandishBrandish is a dungeon crawler and top-down view action RPG and adventure hybrid series developed by Nihon Falcom. Originally released in 1991 for the NEC PC-9801 and FM Towns home computers, it was later released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and TurboGrafx-16...
(PC-9801) - (1996.12.22) Lord Monarch OriginalLord Monarchis a real-time strategy war game by Nihon Falcom. The game is considered to be the seventh installment in the Dragon Slayer series. It was originally released in 1991 for the NEC PC-9801, ported 1992 to the Super Famicom and 1994 to the Sega Mega Drive...
(Windows PCMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
) - (1997.03) Lord Monarch First (Windows PC)
- (1997.04.25) The Legend of Heroes (Windows PC)
- (1997.05) Lord Monarch Pro (Windows PC)
- (1997.06.27) Sorcerian ForeverSorcerianis an action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom, and the fifth in the Dragon Slayer line of games. It was originally released for the NEC PC-8801 in 1987, and was later ported to other PC platforms such as the NEC PC-9801, the NEC PC-88VA, the Sharp X1 Turbo, and the MSX 2, for which it...
(Windows PC) - (1997.12.12) Vantage MasterVantage Masteris a tactical RPG game developed and published by Nihon Falcom in 1997. The game was never released outside of Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. Falcom released a sequel, Vantage Master V2, a few months after the first game's release, featuring new maps and adjusted character balance but unchanged...
(Windows PC) - (1998.04.24) Ys 1 ETERNAL (Windows PC)
- (1998.07.10) Vantage Master V2Vantage Masteris a tactical RPG game developed and published by Nihon Falcom in 1997. The game was never released outside of Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. Falcom released a sequel, Vantage Master V2, a few months after the first game's release, featuring new maps and adjusted character balance but unchanged...
(Windows PC) - (1998.10.30) Monarch Monarch (Windows PC)
- (1998.12.11) Brandish 4BrandishBrandish is a dungeon crawler and top-down view action RPG and adventure hybrid series developed by Nihon Falcom. Originally released in 1991 for the NEC PC-9801 and FM Towns home computers, it was later released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and TurboGrafx-16...
(Windows PC) - (1999.04.23) The Legend of Heroes III: White WitchThe Legend of Heroes III: Prophecy of the Moonlight WitchThe Legend of Heroes II: Prophecy of the Moonlight Witch, known as in Japan is a computer role-playing game originally developed by Nihon Falcom Corporation. It is the third game in the The Legend of Heroes series, and the first in the "Gagharv Trilogy". This game is a remake of the original game...
(Windows PC) - (1999.12.09) The Legend of Heroes V: A Cagesong of the OceanThe Legend of Heroes V: A Cagesong of the OceanThe Legend of Heroes III: Song of the Ocean, known as in Japan is a computer role-playing game originally developed by Nihon Falcom Corporation...
(Windows PC) - (2000.07.06) Ys 2 ETERNAL (Windows PC)
- (2000.11.07) Sorcerian OriginalSorcerianis an action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom, and the fifth in the Dragon Slayer line of games. It was originally released for the NEC PC-8801 in 1987, and was later ported to other PC platforms such as the NEC PC-9801, the NEC PC-88VA, the Sharp X1 Turbo, and the MSX 2, for which it...
(Windows PC) - (2000.12.07) The Legend of Heroes IV: A Tear of VermillionThe Legend of Heroes IV: A Tear of VermillionThe Legend of Heroes: A Tear of Vermillion, known as in Japan is a role-playing game originally developed by Nihon Falcom Corporation. It is the fourth game in the The Legend of Heroes series, and the second in the "Gagharv Trilogy". This game is a remake of the original game released for the NEC...
(Windows PC) - (2001.06.26) Ys 1&2 Complete (Windows PC)
- (2001.12.20) Zwei!!Zwei!!is an action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom Corporation. It has been released on three platforms so far: Windows, PS2 and the PSP. The title itself is derived from the German word "zwei" meaning "two". An online version called Zwei!! Online, developed by Korean developer Neonsoft...
(Windows PC) - (2002.06.27) VM JapanVantage Masteris a tactical RPG game developed and published by Nihon Falcom in 1997. The game was never released outside of Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. Falcom released a sequel, Vantage Master V2, a few months after the first game's release, featuring new maps and adjusted character balance but unchanged...
(Windows PC) - (2002.12.19) Dinosaur Resurrection (Windows PC)
- (2003.09.27) Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim (Windows PC)
- (2004.06.24) The Legend of Heroes VI: Sora no KisekiThe Legend of Heroes VI: Sora no KisekiThe Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky, known as in Japan is a role-playing video game produced by Nihon Falcom. The game is the first of a trilogy known as Sora no Kiseki. The game was released on Microsoft Windows in Japan on June 24, 2004. The game was re-released on December 23, 2005 at a...
(Windows PC) - (2004.12.25) GuruminGuruminGurumin: A Monstrous Adventure, known simply as Gurumin in Japan, is an action/adventure video game developed by Nihon Falcom Corporation. Originally released on December 25, 2004 for PC...
(Windows PC) - (2005.06.30) RINNE (Windows PC)
- (2005.06.30) Ys: The Oath in FelghanaYs: The Oath in Felghanais a Japanese Action RPG released in 2005 for Microsoft Windows by Nihon Falcom. It is a remake of the third game in the Ys series, Ys III: Wanderers from Ys. A PSP version was released on April 22, 2010 in Japan...
(Windows PC) - (2005.10.29) Xanadu NextXanadu NextXanadu Next is a 2005 role-playing video game developed by Nihon Falcom and published by Nokia for the Nokia N-Gage and Windows. The game is a spin-off of the 1985 action role-playing game Dragon Slayer II: Xanadu.- Story :...
(Windows PC) - (2006.03.09) The Legend of Heroes : Sora no Kiseki Second ChapterThe Legend of Heroes VI: Sora no KisekiThe Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky, known as in Japan is a role-playing video game produced by Nihon Falcom. The game is the first of a trilogy known as Sora no Kiseki. The game was released on Microsoft Windows in Japan on June 24, 2004. The game was re-released on December 23, 2005 at a...
(Windows PC) - (2006.06.29) GuruminGuruminGurumin: A Monstrous Adventure, known simply as Gurumin in Japan, is an action/adventure video game developed by Nihon Falcom Corporation. Originally released on December 25, 2004 for PC...
(PSPPSPPSP most commonly refers to the PlayStation Portable, a handheld game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment.PSP may also refer to:-Computing and programming:*Corel Paint Shop Pro, a graphics editor...
) - (2006.09.28) The Legend of Heroes : Sora no Kiseki First ChapterThe Legend of Heroes VI: Sora no KisekiThe Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky, known as in Japan is a role-playing video game produced by Nihon Falcom. The game is the first of a trilogy known as Sora no Kiseki. The game was released on Microsoft Windows in Japan on June 24, 2004. The game was re-released on December 23, 2005 at a...
(PSP) - (2006.12.21) Ys OriginYs Originis a Japanese Action RPG released in 2006 for Microsoft Windows by Nihon Falcom. It is the seventh game in the Ys series but as a prequel, it is the first in terms of chronology...
(Windows PC) - (2007.06.28) The Legend of Heroes : Sora no Kiseki The 3rdThe Legend of Heroes VI: Sora no KisekiThe Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky, known as in Japan is a role-playing video game produced by Nihon Falcom. The game is the first of a trilogy known as Sora no Kiseki. The game was released on Microsoft Windows in Japan on June 24, 2004. The game was re-released on December 23, 2005 at a...
(Windows PC) - (2007.09.27) The Legend of Heroes : Sora no Kiseki Second ChapterThe Legend of Heroes VI: Sora no KisekiThe Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky, known as in Japan is a role-playing video game produced by Nihon Falcom. The game is the first of a trilogy known as Sora no Kiseki. The game was released on Microsoft Windows in Japan on June 24, 2004. The game was re-released on December 23, 2005 at a...
(PSP) - (2008.04.24) Vantage Master Portable (PSP)
- (2008.07.24) The Legend of Heroes : Sora no Kiseki The 3rdThe Legend of Heroes VI: Sora no KisekiThe Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky, known as in Japan is a role-playing video game produced by Nihon Falcom. The game is the first of a trilogy known as Sora no Kiseki. The game was released on Microsoft Windows in Japan on June 24, 2004. The game was re-released on December 23, 2005 at a...
(PSP) - (2008.09.25) Zwei IIZwei IIis an action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom Corporation. It is a direct sequel to Zwei!! and is one of the latest next generation titles created by Falcom. Currently the game is only available for Windows...
(Windows PC) - (2008.12.11) Zwei!!Zwei!!is an action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom Corporation. It has been released on three platforms so far: Windows, PS2 and the PSP. The title itself is derived from the German word "zwei" meaning "two". An online version called Zwei!! Online, developed by Korean developer Neonsoft...
(PSP) - (2009.03.19) Brandish: Dark RevenantBrandishBrandish is a dungeon crawler and top-down view action RPG and adventure hybrid series developed by Nihon Falcom. Originally released in 1991 for the NEC PC-9801 and FM Towns home computers, it was later released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and TurboGrafx-16...
(PSP) - (2009.07.16) Ys I & II Chronicles (PSP)
- (2009.09.17) Ys SevenYs Sevenis a Japanese Action RPG developed and published by the Nihon Falcom Corporation and the seventh installment in the Ys video game series. It was released in Japan during 2009 for the Sony PlayStation Portable and was released by Xseed Games in North America on August 17, 2010 and in Europe on...
(PSP) - (2009.12.24) Ys I & II Chronicles (Windows PC)
- (2010.04.22) Ys: The Oath in FelghanaYs: The Oath in Felghanais a Japanese Action RPG released in 2005 for Microsoft Windows by Nihon Falcom. It is a remake of the third game in the Ys series, Ys III: Wanderers from Ys. A PSP version was released on April 22, 2010 in Japan...
(PSP) - (2010.07.29) Ys vs. Sora no Kiseki: Alternative Saga (PSP)
- (2010.09.30) The Legend of Heroes: Zero no Kiseki (PSP)
- (2011.09.29) The Legend of Heroes: Ao no Kiseki (PSP)
- (TBA) Ys: Woodland of Celceta (PlayStation Vita)
- (TBA) The Legend of Heroes: Zero no Kiseki (PlayStation Vita)
English-localized products
Many of these titles were not developed by Falcom, and in some cases bear little resemblance to the original game.- FaxanaduFaxanaduis an action role-playing platform-adventure video game for the Nintendo Family Computer and Nintendo Entertainment System . The name was licensed by computer game developer Nihon Falcom and was developed and released in Japan by Hudson Soft in 1987...
(NESNintendo Entertainment SystemThe Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
) Nintendo - Tombs & TreasureTombs & TreasureTombs & Treasure is an adventure game originally developed by Nihon Falcom in 1987 for the PC-8801, PC-9801, FM-7, and X1 Japanese systems. An English-language NES version, published by Infocom in 1989, was altered to be more story-based, and featured new music and role-playing elements...
(NES) Brøderbund Software - Ys: The Vanished Omens (SMSSega Master SystemThe is a third-generation video game console that was manufactured and released by Sega in 1985 in Japan , 1986 in North America and 1987 in Europe....
) Sega - Ancient Land of Ys (DOSDOSDOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
) Brøderbund Software - Legacy of the WizardLegacy of the Wizardis a fantasy-themed action role-playing platform game released for the MSX and Famicom in Japan and for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the United States. Legacy of the Wizard is the fourth installment in Falcom's Dragon Slayer series...
(NES) Brøderbund Software - Sorcerian (DOS PC) Brøderbund Software
- Ys Book I & II (Turbo CD) NEC Home Entertainment
- Ys III: Wanderers from Ys (Genesis) Renovation Productions
- Ys III: Wanderers from Ys (Super NES) American Sammy
- Ys III: Wanderers from Ys (Turbo CD) Turbo Technologies
- Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes (Turbo CD) Turbo Technologies
- Brandish (SNES) Koei
- Popful Mail: Magical Fantasy Adventure (Sega CD) Working Designs
- Xanadu Next (N-GageN-GageThe N-Gage is a mobile telephone and handheld game system by Nokia, based on the Nokia Series 60 platform, released in October 2003. It began sales on October 7, 2003. The N-Gage QD replaced the original N-Gage in 2004....
) Nokia - Legend of Heroes: A Tear of Vermillion (PSP) Namco Bandai Games
- Legend of Heroes II: Prophecy of the Moonlight Witch (PSP) Namco Bandai Games
- Legend of Heroes III: Song of the Ocean (PSP) Namco Bandai Games
- Ys: The Ark of Napishtim (PS2PlayStation 2The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
and PSP) Konami - Ys Book 1 (mobile) Hudson
- Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure (PSP) Mastiff Games
- Ys Book I & II (Virtual ConsoleVirtual consoleA virtual console – also known as a virtual terminal – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some operating systems such as UnixWare, Linux, and BSD, in which the system console of the computer can be used to switch between...
) Hudson - Legacy of Ys: Books I & II (DSNintendo DSThe is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
) Atlus - Faxanadu (Virtual ConsoleVirtual consoleA virtual console – also known as a virtual terminal – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some operating systems such as UnixWare, Linux, and BSD, in which the system console of the computer can be used to switch between...
) Hudson - Ys Seven (PSP) XSEED Games
- Ys I & II Chronicles (PSP) XSEED Games
- Ys: The Oath in Felghana (PSP) XSEED Games
- The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky: First Chapter (PSP) XSEED Games
- The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky: Second Chapter (PSP) XSEED Games
- The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky: Third Chapter (PSP) XSEED Games
Many Falcom games have been licensed and developed by other companies such as NEC
NEC
, a Japanese multinational IT company, has its headquarters in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. NEC, part of the Sumitomo Group, provides information technology and network solutions to business enterprises, communications services providers and government....
, Hudson Soft
Hudson Soft
, formally known as , is a majority-owned subsidiary of Konami Corporation is a Japanese electronic entertainment publisher headquartered in the Midtown Tower in Tokyo Midtown, Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, with an additional office in the Hudson Building in Sapporo. It was founded on May 18, 1973...
, Epoch
Epoch Co.
Epoch Co., Ltd. is a Japanese toy and computer games company founded in 1958 which is best known for manufacturing Barcode Battler and Doraemon video games...
, Tokyo Shoseki
Tokyo Shoseki
was a Japanese video game developer and publisher company that created notable games like Cycle Race: Road Man, a sports game about competing in a race to ride a bicycle across Japan in a marathon and Super Tennis. The name of the company was named after Tokyo where their corporate headquarters was...
(aka Tonkin House
Tonkin House
Tonkin House is the brand name "Beijing" , such as "Tokyo" in Chinese as "Tonkin" is derived from what it was pronounced.-Summary:Tokyo Shoseki himself initially "Tokyo Shoseki" that there was also the launch of a computer software family with the brand name PC, Tokyo, Ltd...
), Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
, RIOT
Riot (developer)
Riot was one of Nihon Telenet's in-house development teams. They were mainly responsible for the ports of several Telenet games on the PC Engine, such as Browning, Valis, Exile and Xak I & II.-See also:*Nippon Telenet...
, Victor
Victor Interactive Software
Victor Interactive Software, Inc. was a Japanese video game software publisher and developer, established in 1970-08-03 as a division of Victor Entertainment.In 1996-10-01, Victor Entertainment Inc. merged with Pack-In-Video Co., Ltd...
, Koei and Konami
Konami
is a Japanese leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys, trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, slot machines, arcade cabinets and video games...
, for various PC and video game systems.
See also
- Dragon Slayer (series)
- The Legend of Heroes
- Ys (series)
- Yuzo KoshiroYuzo Koshirois a Japanese video game music composer and audio programmer. He is regarded as one of the most influential innovators in chiptune music and video game sound design...
- Falcom Sound Team JDK