Classic, Daemonic Role-Playing Game "Illusion City" Continues to Impress with its Timeless Pixel Art Design, Remaining Aesthetically Pleasing After 34 Years in GIFs.
Reliving the 90s: A Journey Through Early PC Gaming
Floppy Disks Galore: We're taking a nostalgic trip back to the early days of Japanese PC gaming, exploring everything from specialty '80s computers to the good old days of Windows XP.
Seven floppies, seven!
Developer: Micro Cabin | Release Year: 1991 | Platforms: PC-98, MSX Turbo R, PC-88VA, X68000, FM-Towns
A hefty stack for a game launching in 1991, you might think. After all, this was the time when the double-disk Amiga classic, Lemmings, was keeping computer gamers busy, and the Game Boy, with its largest cartridges maxing out at 1 megabyte, was one of the most popular devices on the planet.
But with a whopping 8 megabytes at its disposal, what could Micro Cabin have achieved? Enter Illusion City, a near-future Hong Kong reminiscent of a custom Shadowrun campaign, oozing with shady corporations to overcome and plenty of demons to slay. The combination of magic and machine guns made for engaging turn-based battles, while a tightly-written plot ensured the antagonists were as much a part of the story as the likeable main cast.
The game was bound to be a great RPG, but it's the attention to detail that sets it apart.
Cinematic Pixel Art: From the captivating intro to the intriguing character movements, Micro Cabin's dedication to visual detail is evident. Every pixel revels in theatrical performances, from Tian Ren's rough edges and attitude-filled slouch on the sofa to his subsequent cigarette-smoking, to the disciplined posture of the heroine, Mei Hong. This attention to minute detail sets Illusion City apart from other 90s RPGs.
Distinctive Storytelling: Illusion City isn't just another sci-fi adventure; its NPCs and major adversaries are packed with personality, making it feel like a living, breathing world. The game's animations are almost decadent in places, but they are never meaningless. These visual storytelling elements help the grimy, spiritually besieged version of Hong Kong stand out among other RPGs and cyberpunk tales of the early 90s.
Enrichment Data:- In 1991, Micro Cabin was known for its releases on platforms like the PC-98, such as the notable action RPG, Fray.- Fray focuses on Fray, a young girl who wants to prove herself as a brave adventurer, setting off on a quest to help a character from the Xak series.- Fray is an example of early '90s Japanese computer RPGs that blended action elements with story-driven gameplay.- The game represents Micro Cabin's contribution to the Japanese PC gaming scene in the 90s, building on the success of the Xak series.
Kerry Brunskill is PC Gamer's go-to word game expert, regularly covering old Japanese PC games. She's keeping her 3-decade-old Atari 400 heritage alive.
Somehow, she managed to parlay this childhood passion into a lifelong career in gaming journalism. Today, she's delighting PC gamers with reviews and insights into fascinating and influential games of the '80s and '90s.
- In the 1990s, the gaming landscape was marked by a significant shift in technology, with the emergence of professionally developed games on PC platforms, as seen in the launch of Illusion City.
- As smartphones and social media started to gain popularity, people still found time to immerse themselves in classic PC games like Illusion City, which offered a unique blend of magic, technology, and engaging narratives.
- Kerry Brunskill, a renowned games journalist, has been instrumental in reviving interest in those early PC games of the 90s, sharing insights and reviews with modern gamers about titles like Illusion City.
- The world of Illusion City, despite being a work of fiction, presented a striking resemblance to the social and technological changes happening around us during those days, making it a fascinating piece of entertainment.
- As we reminisce about the 90s and the early days of Japanese PC gaming, it's worth noting that the games of that era not only provided entertainment but also reflected the shifts in technology, social dynamics, and cultural preferences of the time.
- Just as the 90s saw the evolution of gadgets like the Atari 400 and games like Illusion City, technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, offering new possibilities and experiences for gamers today, keeping the spirit of innovation and exploration alive.
