Torneko: The Last Hope
Encyclopedia
Torneko: The Last Hope, known as in Japan
, is a console role-playing game for the Sony
PlayStation.
The game was co-developed by Chunsoft
and Matrix Software
and published by Enix
in both Japan and North America in 1999 and 2000 respectively.
Torneko: The Last Hope is a spin-off title of the Dragon Quest
franchise and the second Mystery Dungeon game to star the Dragon Quest IV character Torneko. It is also the second game in the Mystery Dungeon series to be released in North America, after Chocobo's Dungeon 2
. Like in Torneko no Daibōken: Fushigi no Dungeon
, Torneko (or Taloon, as he was known in Dragon Warrior IV) explores dungeons in search of items, while fighting of hordes of monsters.
In Japan, the game was ported to the Game Boy Advance
in 2001
, renamed Dragon Quest Characters: Torneko no Daibouken 2 Advance.
games that Torneko can fight. The monsters can only make one move for each of Torneko's moves. It is part of the roguelike
genre of dungeon crawl
ers.
. The original version game soundtrack from the PlayStation version was released by SPE Visual Works on January 21, 2000 in Japan on a single 21-track disc.
magazine, with a score of 37 out of 40 for the PlayStation version and 36 out of 40 for the Game Boy Advance version. Additionally, the game was voted by the publication as number 31 in its top 100 PlayStation games of all time.
Torneko: The Last Hope did not sell well in North America and garnered mixed reviews within the region. It received a decent 89/100 from RPGFan. The reviewer called the game "frustratingly difficult," but that its "addictive gameplay elements and top-notch soundtrack" make it a marvelous game. The game received a "fair" 6.9/10 from GameSpot
, which states that a lot of role-playing game players would be turned off by its lack of story and randomly-generated dungeons, but those who are looking for some lighter fare of role-playing game may like it. Other critics scored the game much lower, however. PSM Magazine gave the game a score of 1/10 and the Official PlayStation Magazine gave Torneko a 2/5.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, is a console role-playing game for the Sony
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...
PlayStation.
The game was co-developed by Chunsoft
Chunsoft
is a Japanese video game developer specializing in console RPGs and visual novels. It was founded by Koichi Nakamura, a video game designer from Enix...
and Matrix Software
Matrix Software
is a Japanese video game development company located in Tokyo. Founded in July 1994 by former members of Climax Entertainment and Telenet Japan, the company has since created games for a number of systems beginning with their role-playing title Alundra in April 1997...
and published by 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...
in both Japan and North America in 1999 and 2000 respectively.
Torneko: The Last Hope is a spin-off title of the Dragon Quest
Dragon Quest
, published as Dragon Warrior in North America until 2005,Due to the inconsistent usage by sources since Square Enix obtained the naming rights to Dragon Quest in North America. Dragon Quest has been used by sources to refer to games released solely under the Dragon Warrior titles...
franchise and the second Mystery Dungeon game to star the Dragon Quest IV character Torneko. It is also the second game in the Mystery Dungeon series to be released in North America, after Chocobo's Dungeon 2
Chocobo
A is a fictional creature from the Final Fantasy video game series. The creature is a large and normally flightless galliforme/ratite bird capable of being ridden and otherwise used by player characters during gameplay...
. Like in Torneko no Daibōken: Fushigi no Dungeon
Torneko no Daiboken: Fushigi no Dungeon
is the first game in the Mysterious Dungeon series. This installment features Torneko , the merchant from Dragon Warrior IV...
, Torneko (or Taloon, as he was known in Dragon Warrior IV) explores dungeons in search of items, while fighting of hordes of monsters.
In Japan, the game was ported to the Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
in 2001
2001 in video gaming
-Events:* Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences hosts the 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards; inducts John Carmack of id Software to the AIAS Hall of Fame...
, renamed Dragon Quest Characters: Torneko no Daibouken 2 Advance.
Gameplay
The main gameplay involves Torneko exploring maze-like dungeons in search of items. Each dungeon is full of monsters from the Dragon QuestDragon Quest
, published as Dragon Warrior in North America until 2005,Due to the inconsistent usage by sources since Square Enix obtained the naming rights to Dragon Quest in North America. Dragon Quest has been used by sources to refer to games released solely under the Dragon Warrior titles...
games that Torneko can fight. The monsters can only make one move for each of Torneko's moves. It is part of the roguelike
Roguelike
The roguelike is a sub-genre of role-playing video games, characterized by randomization for replayability, permanent death, and turn-based movement. Most roguelikes feature ASCII graphics, with newer ones increasingly offering tile-based graphics. Games are typically dungeon crawls, with many...
genre of dungeon crawl
Dungeon crawl
A dungeon crawl is a type of scenario in fantasy role-playing games in which heroes navigate a labyrinthine environment, battling various monsters, and looting any treasure they may find...
ers.
Music
The musical score for Torneko: The Last Hope was composed by Dragon Quest series alumnus Koichi SugiyamaKoichi Sugiyama
is a Japanese music composer, council member of JASRAC , and honorary chairman of the Japanese Backgammon Society...
. The original version game soundtrack from the PlayStation version was released by SPE Visual Works on January 21, 2000 in Japan on a single 21-track disc.
Reception
Torneko: The Last Hope was a financial and critical success in Japan. The PlayStation version of the game sold over 578,000 copies in Japan the year of its release. The Game Boy Advance version of the game had sold over 181,000 units in Japan by 2007. The game was well-received by FamitsuFamitsu
is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Enterbrain, Inc. and Tokuma. Currently, there are five Famitsū magazines: Shūkan Famitsū, Famitsū PS3 + PSP, Famitsū Xbox 360, Famitsū Wii+DS, and Famitsū Wave DVD...
magazine, with a score of 37 out of 40 for the PlayStation version and 36 out of 40 for the Game Boy Advance version. Additionally, the game was voted by the publication as number 31 in its top 100 PlayStation games of all time.
Torneko: The Last Hope did not sell well in North America and garnered mixed reviews within the region. It received a decent 89/100 from RPGFan. The reviewer called the game "frustratingly difficult," but that its "addictive gameplay elements and top-notch soundtrack" make it a marvelous game. The game received a "fair" 6.9/10 from GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
, which states that a lot of role-playing game players would be turned off by its lack of story and randomly-generated dungeons, but those who are looking for some lighter fare of role-playing game may like it. Other critics scored the game much lower, however. PSM Magazine gave the game a score of 1/10 and the Official PlayStation Magazine gave Torneko a 2/5.