Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen
Encyclopedia
is a 1993 real-time
strategy role-playing
video game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System
, directed by Yasumi Matsuno
with artwork by Akihiko Yoshida
. It is the first installment of an episodic series (although it is supposed to be the fifth episode, the previous episodes have not yet been produced), and was originally developed by Quest
for the Super Famicom
system (and subsequently Sega Saturn
in 1996 with vocal acting) in Japan.
Enix
only distributed twenty-five thousand copies of the Super NES version to North America, which made it one of the rarest critically acclaimed video game titles to date. As such, it can be difficult to purchase a copy of the game. It was re-released by Atlus as a PlayStation game (along with Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
) in 1997 with the name of Ogre Battle: Limited Edition. The PlayStation version of the game is not as difficult to procure as the original SNES
cartridge but still sells for more than $50 used. Ultimately, the Super Nintendo version was re-released in North America on the Virtual Console
on March 2, 2009 for 800 Nintendo points ($8). It has also been released as an import in the PAL regions on July 3, 2009. A version of the game was also released for iMode
mobile phones in Japan on September 1, 2010 with additional maps available for download.
's outside perspective on events that unfolded during the Yugoslav Wars
in the early 1990s, including the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia
. He was also inspired by the rock
band Queen
's second album
, which contained two songs titled "Ogre Battle
" and "The March Of The Black Queen", to name this game. Even the "Rhyan Sea" in the Ogre Battle world is named after "Seven Seas of Rhye
".
The next game in the series, the 7th episode
, Let Us Cling Together, was similarly named after a song
in the album A Day At The Races
. The other Ogre Battle games in the series were not developed by Matsuno and do not have Queen
songs in their subtitles. These include Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber
, Ogre Battle: Legend of the Zenobia Prince
, and Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis
.
Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen is often referred to as Ogre Battle. Four other games in the series have been released, of which Ogre Battle: Legend of the Zenobia Prince is most similar to the original, with Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber also being in the vein of the first offering. The other two titles, Tactics Ogre: Let us Cling Together
and Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis, have more in common with Final Fantasy Tactics
and other related video games.
The game begins with the seer Warren using tarot
cards to ask a series of questions to determine the player's suitability as leader of the revolution. There are several questions out of a fixed set which are randomly asked, each of which is associated with one of the twenty-two Major Arcana
cards of divinatory tarot. Each question has three possible answers: one righteous, one evil, and one neutral. After the player finishes answering the questions, Warren wishes luck for the revolution and the game begins. The player's answers to these questions determine the Lord's (main character's class) abilities and starting units.
Ogre Battle mixes movement elements of a real-time strategy
game with the character development and combat of a role-playing game
. The game consists of a series of battles in which the player deploys units to fight against enemies and liberate occupied towns and temples. A variety of character types can be recruited, ranging from common to rare, many of whom can change class with experience point
s. As a result, the character will either evolve or become an entirely new soldier with different abilities. Potential recruits consist of several historical
and mythological
figures, including knight
s, ninja
s, wizards
, angel
s, griffin
s, witches
, and others. The player is free to organize multiple units of five fighters or less, with the limit being lower when larger characters are present. Additionally, time passes on the tactical map, alternating between day and night. In accordance with this element, vampire
s and werewolves
will only be seen in the evening, with the former appearing in coffins during the day, and the latter appearing as normal men.
Each stage has a boss whose defeat signals the completion of the mission. Both during and after the stage, towns and temples can be visited to gain information or items. The game also features an alignment system, both for the revolution as a whole (reputation) and for individual characters (alignment and charisma). These parameters are influenced by how the game is played.
There are twenty-five main stages in the game, with some variation possible in how the stages are played. There are also four hidden stages accessible through the main game with an additional stage as an easter egg. Note that the game can be completed without finishing all the stages. There are thirteen different endings
to the main game, depending on the conduct of the player during the course of the game.
During a battle, a player does not directly control their unit, but selects a tactic for the unit to follow (Best, Strong, Weak, Leader) which the characters follow when choosing who to attack. The player can also use stored tarot
cards, which can cause damage or have a special effect. The Lovers
card will cause all affected enemies to fight for the player; the Moon
card will change the formation of the enemy unit, causing them to attack differently; the Fool
card will remove all enemies but the leader from battle. The player also has the option of retreating from any encounter.
system that not only affects the gameplay but where tactical and strategic decisions have an impact on the outcome of a non-linear branching storyline, which is affected by factors such as the moral alignments of the troops used to liberate a city, whether to keep certain liberated cities guarded, making popular or unpopular decisions, concentrating power among just a few units, making deals with thieves, and a general sense of justice. These factors lead to one of 13 possible endings, alongside other factors such as how many and which units are used, how battles are fought, the army's reputation, player character
's alignment and charisma, and secrets discovered.
In Ogre Battle, alignment indicates how good or evil a character is. The scale runs from 0 to 100; the higher the number, the more 'good' the character is. When characters with high alignment liberate towns, it will raise the player's reputation (although a high charisma is also recommended). Characters with high alignment will be weak against dark attacks but strong against white attacks. They will fight better in the day and worse at night. Alignment can be raised by defeating enemies whose level is higher than the player's, defeating ghosts and other dark creatures, and drawing tarot cards which raise the alignment statistic. Once the player's alignment is high, it is (somewhat counter-intuitively) recommended not to exceed the level of his or her foes. Alignment will drop when the player defeats high alignment characters such as clerics and angels, or characters of a lower level. Thus, it is important for players who want to keep a high reputation to keep the fights fair.
Low alignment characters are considered more 'evil'. Subsequently, they fight better at night and are weak against light attacks. Liberating towns with these types of characters will lower the player's reputation (especially if they possess a low charisma statistic). A player whose alignment is relatively high will not necessarily be penalized for employing units of low-alignment soldiers; rather, a mix of high- and low-alignment fighters results in the most potent fighting force. Provided the player keeps low- and high-alignment characters in their own separate units, and only liberates towns with high-alignment units, he or she can still see the best ending. Conversely, one who wishes to drop his alignment can continually capture towns with a few high-level, low-alignment units. For example, one can employ a few decidedly low-alignment units to slaughter enemy units, reserving high-alignment units for liberation purposes only.
Apart from statistic increases at level-up, a character's class also determines how the character moves and fights. Each character has a terrain type where they move fastest and fight the best (some classes also get additional attacks), with flying characters able to move quickly over all terrain. In addition, each class has a set of attacks characters can perform, ranging from physical attacks targeting one opponent to magical attacks targeting a whole unit.
At the beginning of the game, the protagonist, whose name, gender, and other characteristics are chosen by the player, takes command of the Liberation Army. Throughout the course of the game, the protagonist is joined by various other characters, such as Lans Hamilton, a knight who served the king of Zeltenia until the king’s death; Warren Moon, a wizard with the ability to divine the future; Tristan, the rightful prince of Zenobia; and many others.
After the Empress is slain, it is discovered that she was manipulated by Rashidi, a dark wizard in the Empress’ employ. The protagonist defeats him, but before Rashidi dies, he uses his blood to release Demundza, the king of the Underworld
who was sealed away after the first great Ogre Battle. The protagonist and his army manage to seal Demundza away again before he can become too powerful.
There are more than one possible outcomes to the story depending on various factors such as the player's alignment, their reputation, and which character they choose to recruit.
version, released in 1996, features voice acting during encounters with bosses and potential recruits. The combatants have also been given a slight graphical overhaul. In addition, this version replaces the gray and yellow units on the map screen with more colorful and detailed sprites. It also includes a third viewpoint on the tactical map, allowing a more direct overhead view.
battle field. Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together was remade for the PSP in 2010 under the title of Tactics Ogre: Wheel of Fate in Japan, and released in 2011 in North America under the game's original title. Wheel of Fate featured additional content expanding the story of the original release.
, Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber depicts Episode 6 in the series taking place between the original Ogre Battle and Tactics Ogre. It includes a multi-targeting system that allows the player to send units to one or two additional areas before reaching their destination. Additionally, it features multiple bosses in certain levels, and inserts cut scenes between each mission. It lacks the tarot cards of the first game. It also features a more limited inventory system, reduced class changes, and includes required resting points for units.
in 2000, Ogre Battle: Legend of the Zenobia Prince serves as a side story to the original Ogre Battle featuring similar game-play mechanics. Despite this, it is an original game with a new story, maps, and character classes. It retains the tarot cards of the original Ogre Battle, and includes a multi-targeting system and multiple bosses in certain levels.
, Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis serves as a side story taking place before Episodes 5 (Ogre Battle) & 6 (Ogre Battle 64). Similar to Tactics Ogre it is a tactical RPG on an isometric battle field.
s Top 200 Games list.
Real-time strategy
Real-time strategy is a sub-genre of strategy video game which does not progress incrementally in turns. Brett Sperry is credited with coining the term to market Dune II....
strategy role-playing
Tactical role-playing game
A tactical role-playing game is a type of video game which incorporates elements of traditional role-playing video games and strategy games. In Japan these games are known as , a designation which might seem peculiar to native English speakers...
video game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The 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...
, directed by Yasumi Matsuno
Yasumi Matsuno
is a video game designer. He is one of a few designers to have two games receive a perfect score by Famitsu magazine. Vagrant Story and Final Fantasy XII were critically acclaimed by the magazine with a 40/40 score.-Early projects:...
with artwork by Akihiko Yoshida
Akihiko Yoshida
is a Japanese video game designer working for Square Enix. Yoshida was born in 1967 and joined Square Co. in 1995, before the company merged with Enix. He is well known for his work on the Final Fantasy series...
. It is the first installment of an episodic series (although it is supposed to be the fifth episode, the previous episodes have not yet been produced), and was originally developed by Quest
Quest Corporation
was a Japanese video game company founded in 1988. They were originally known as Bothtec, which had developed The Scheme, a Metroidvania-style open world action role-playing game featuring music by Yuzo Koshiro, that same year....
for the Super Famicom
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The 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...
system (and subsequently Sega Saturn
Sega Saturn
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
in 1996 with vocal acting) in Japan.
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...
only distributed twenty-five thousand copies of the Super NES version to North America, which made it one of the rarest critically acclaimed video game titles to date. As such, it can be difficult to purchase a copy of the game. It was re-released by Atlus as a PlayStation game (along with Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
Tactics Ogre
is a Japanese tactical role-playing game created by Quest. The game was originally released in 1995 on the Super Famicom in Japan and then re-released on the Sega Saturn in 1996 and the PlayStation in 1997...
) in 1997 with the name of Ogre Battle: Limited Edition. The PlayStation version of the game is not as difficult to procure as the original SNES
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The 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...
cartridge but still sells for more than $50 used. Ultimately, the Super Nintendo version was re-released in North America on the Virtual Console
Virtual console
A 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...
on March 2, 2009 for 800 Nintendo points ($8). It has also been released as an import in the PAL regions on July 3, 2009. A version of the game was also released for iMode
I-mode
NTT DoCoMo's i-mode is a mobile internet service popular in Japan. Unlike Wireless Application Protocol, i-mode encompasses a wider variety of internet standards, including web access, e-mail and the packet-switched network that delivers the data...
mobile phones in Japan on September 1, 2010 with additional maps available for download.
Overview
The dark political narrative of the game revolving around the reality of war was inspired by series originator Yasumi MatsunoYasumi Matsuno
is a video game designer. He is one of a few designers to have two games receive a perfect score by Famitsu magazine. Vagrant Story and Final Fantasy XII were critically acclaimed by the magazine with a 40/40 score.-Early projects:...
's outside perspective on events that unfolded during the Yugoslav Wars
Yugoslav wars
The Yugoslav Wars were a series of wars, fought throughout the former Yugoslavia between 1991 and 1995. The wars were complex: characterized by bitter ethnic conflicts among the peoples of the former Yugoslavia, mostly between Serbs on the one side and Croats and Bosniaks on the other; but also...
in the early 1990s, including the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia
Bosnian Genocide
The term Bosnian Genocide refers to either the genocide committed by Bosnian Serb forces in Srebrenica in 1995 or the ethnic cleansing campaign that took place throughout areas controlled by the Bosnian Serb Army during the 1992–1995 Bosnian War....
. He was also inspired by the rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
's second album
Queen II
Queen II is the second album by British rock group Queen, released in March 1974. It was recorded at Trident Studios, London in August 1973 with co-producers Roy Thomas Baker and Robin Cable, and engineered by Mike Stone....
, which contained two songs titled "Ogre Battle
Ogre Battle (song)
"Ogre Battle" is a song by British rock band Queen. Composed by lead vocalist Freddie Mercury, it is the sixth track on their second studio album Queen II, recorded on August 1973 at Trident Studios, London....
" and "The March Of The Black Queen", to name this game. Even the "Rhyan Sea" in the Ogre Battle world is named after "Seven Seas of Rhye
Seven Seas of Rhye
"Seven Seas of Rhye" is a song by British rock group Queen. Written by Queen lead vocalist Freddie Mercury, it is the final track on both the group's debut album Queen and its follow-up Queen II . However, only a less-developed instrumental version was featured on the former...
".
The next game in the series, the 7th episode
Tactics Ogre
is a Japanese tactical role-playing game created by Quest. The game was originally released in 1995 on the Super Famicom in Japan and then re-released on the Sega Saturn in 1996 and the PlayStation in 1997...
, Let Us Cling Together, was similarly named after a song
Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together)
is a song from the 1976 Queen album A Day at the Races and is written by guitarist Brian May. It is the closing track on the album.The song is notable for having two choruses sung entirely in Japanese, and it was released as a single exclusively in Japan, reaching #49 on the charts...
in the album A Day At The Races
A Day at the Races (album)
A Day at the Races is the fifth album by British rock group Queen, released in December 1976. A Day at the Races was the band's first completely self-produced album, and the first not to feature producer Roy Thomas Baker. Recorded at Sarm East, The Manor and Wessex Studios in England, A Day at the...
. The other Ogre Battle games in the series were not developed by Matsuno and do not have Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
songs in their subtitles. These include Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber
Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber
, sequel to Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen, is a real-time strategy role-playing video game developed by Quest and published by Atlus for the Nintendo 64 in 2000. Though basically similar to the original Ogre Battle, it has borne some notoriety for significant game play tweaks that...
, Ogre Battle: Legend of the Zenobia Prince
Ogre Battle: Legend of the Zenobia Prince
is a strategy video game developed by Quest for the Neo Geo Pocket Color, and is currently the only Ogre Battle title to not be released in English due to the system being discontinued in areas outside of Japan....
, and Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis
Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis
is a tactical strategy game developed by Quest. It was originally released by Nintendo in Japan in 2001 on the Game Boy Advance, then later released by Atlus in North America in 2002....
.
Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen is often referred to as Ogre Battle. Four other games in the series have been released, of which Ogre Battle: Legend of the Zenobia Prince is most similar to the original, with Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber also being in the vein of the first offering. The other two titles, Tactics Ogre: Let us Cling Together
Tactics Ogre
is a Japanese tactical role-playing game created by Quest. The game was originally released in 1995 on the Super Famicom in Japan and then re-released on the Sega Saturn in 1996 and the PlayStation in 1997...
and Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis, have more in common with Final Fantasy Tactics
Final Fantasy Tactics
is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square for the Sony PlayStation video game console. It is the first game of the Final Fantasy Tactics series and was released in Japan in June 1997 and in the United States in January 1998...
and other related video games.
Gameplay
Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen begins in the outskirts of the Zeteginan Empire, twenty-four years after the founding of the empire through conquest. The main character is leading a revolution against this empire, which has turned to evil through the use of black magic by the mage Rashidi.The game begins with the seer Warren using tarot
Tarot
The tarot |trionfi]] and later as tarocchi, tarock, and others) is a pack of cards , used from the mid-15th century in various parts of Europe to play a group of card games such as Italian tarocchini and French tarot...
cards to ask a series of questions to determine the player's suitability as leader of the revolution. There are several questions out of a fixed set which are randomly asked, each of which is associated with one of the twenty-two Major Arcana
Major Arcana
The Major Arcana or trumps are a suit of twenty-two cards in the tarot deck. They serve as a permanent trump suit in games played with the tarot deck, and are distinguished from the four standard suits collectively known as the Minor Arcana...
cards of divinatory tarot. Each question has three possible answers: one righteous, one evil, and one neutral. After the player finishes answering the questions, Warren wishes luck for the revolution and the game begins. The player's answers to these questions determine the Lord's (main character's class) abilities and starting units.
Real-time strategy
Real-time strategy is a sub-genre of strategy video game which does not progress incrementally in turns. Brett Sperry is credited with coining the term to market Dune II....
game with the character development and combat of a role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
. The game consists of a series of battles in which the player deploys units to fight against enemies and liberate occupied towns and temples. A variety of character types can be recruited, ranging from common to rare, many of whom can change class with experience point
Experience point
An experience point is a unit of measurement used in many role-playing games and role-playing video games to quantify a player character's progression through the game...
s. As a result, the character will either evolve or become an entirely new soldier with different abilities. Potential recruits consist of several historical
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and mythological
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
figures, including knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
s, ninja
Ninja
A or was a covert agent or mercenary of feudal Japan specializing in unorthodox arts of war. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations...
s, wizards
Wizard (character class)
The Wizard is a type of magical character class in certain role-playing games and computer role-playing games. Wizards are considered to be spellcasters who wield powerful spells, but are often physically weak as a trade-off. Wizards are commonly confused with similar offensive spellcasting...
, angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
s, griffin
Griffin
The griffin, griffon, or gryphon is a legendary creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle...
s, witches
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
, and others. The player is free to organize multiple units of five fighters or less, with the limit being lower when larger characters are present. Additionally, time passes on the tactical map, alternating between day and night. In accordance with this element, vampire
Vampire
Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
s and werewolves
Werewolf
A werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope , is a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or an anthropomorphic wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse...
will only be seen in the evening, with the former appearing in coffins during the day, and the latter appearing as normal men.
Each stage has a boss whose defeat signals the completion of the mission. Both during and after the stage, towns and temples can be visited to gain information or items. The game also features an alignment system, both for the revolution as a whole (reputation) and for individual characters (alignment and charisma). These parameters are influenced by how the game is played.
There are twenty-five main stages in the game, with some variation possible in how the stages are played. There are also four hidden stages accessible through the main game with an additional stage as an easter egg. Note that the game can be completed without finishing all the stages. There are thirteen different endings
Multiple endings
Multiple endings refer to a case in entertainment where the story could end in different ways, described as an alternate ending.-Literature:...
to the main game, depending on the conduct of the player during the course of the game.
Modes of play
Ogre Battle has two main modes of play, the world map and the tactical map. On the world map, the player can manage his characters changing their class, re-ordering them into different units, and erasing them. The player can also save and load the game, as well as manage items. In addition, the world map is where the player chooses the next stage, which can either be an already completed stage or a new stage.Tactical map
Once the player has selected a stage, action shifts to the tactical map. Here, the player can deploy units and move them around. Each unit has a cost associated with it which must be paid to deploy the unit and every day at noon thereafter. There is a limit on the number of units which can be deployed at one time. Characters with high alignment fight better during the day while those with low alignment fight better at night. There are also towns and temples which can be liberated by units. Upon liberation, a random tarot card is drawn which can affect either the liberating unit's statistics, the statistics of all units on the battlefield or the reputation parameter. In addition, liberated towns provide income every noon which can be used to buy items (some towns have shops which can be used when a unit is stationed there) or pay for unit costs. In addition, there are often hidden towns, temples, or items which can be found by moving a unit close to the appropriate location.Battle
Each stage has a number of enemy units which attempt to re-capture the player's towns and temples. If a player's unit gets too close to an enemy unit, a battle ensues. During a battle, the view shifts to a close up view of the two combatant units. Characters alternate taking actions with the battle ending after one round of combat (many units can attack multiple times per round). The unit which caused the most damage is the victor and forces the other unit to retreat.During a battle, a player does not directly control their unit, but selects a tactic for the unit to follow (Best, Strong, Weak, Leader) which the characters follow when choosing who to attack. The player can also use stored tarot
Major Arcana
The Major Arcana or trumps are a suit of twenty-two cards in the tarot deck. They serve as a permanent trump suit in games played with the tarot deck, and are distinguished from the four standard suits collectively known as the Minor Arcana...
cards, which can cause damage or have a special effect. The Lovers
The Lovers
The Lovers is the sixth trump or Major Arcana card in most traditional Tarot decks. It is used in game playing as well as in divination.- Interpretation :...
card will cause all affected enemies to fight for the player; the Moon
The Moon (Tarot card)
The Moon is the eighteenth trump or Major Arcana card in most traditional Tarot decks. It is used in game playing as well as in divination.-Symbolism:* Two large, foreboding pillars are shown...
card will change the formation of the enemy unit, causing them to attack differently; the Fool
The Fool (Tarot card)
The Fool or The Jester is one of the 78 cards in a Tarot deck; one of the 22 Trump cards that make up the Major Arcana. The Fool is unnumbered...
card will remove all enemies but the leader from battle. The player also has the option of retreating from any encounter.
Alignment
The game introduced a moral alignmentAlignment (role-playing games)
In some role-playing games, alignment is a categorisation of the moral and ethical perspective of the player characters, non-player characters, monsters, and societies in the game....
system that not only affects the gameplay but where tactical and strategic decisions have an impact on the outcome of a non-linear branching storyline, which is affected by factors such as the moral alignments of the troops used to liberate a city, whether to keep certain liberated cities guarded, making popular or unpopular decisions, concentrating power among just a few units, making deals with thieves, and a general sense of justice. These factors lead to one of 13 possible endings, alongside other factors such as how many and which units are used, how battles are fought, the army's reputation, player character
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
's alignment and charisma, and secrets discovered.
In Ogre Battle, alignment indicates how good or evil a character is. The scale runs from 0 to 100; the higher the number, the more 'good' the character is. When characters with high alignment liberate towns, it will raise the player's reputation (although a high charisma is also recommended). Characters with high alignment will be weak against dark attacks but strong against white attacks. They will fight better in the day and worse at night. Alignment can be raised by defeating enemies whose level is higher than the player's, defeating ghosts and other dark creatures, and drawing tarot cards which raise the alignment statistic. Once the player's alignment is high, it is (somewhat counter-intuitively) recommended not to exceed the level of his or her foes. Alignment will drop when the player defeats high alignment characters such as clerics and angels, or characters of a lower level. Thus, it is important for players who want to keep a high reputation to keep the fights fair.
Low alignment characters are considered more 'evil'. Subsequently, they fight better at night and are weak against light attacks. Liberating towns with these types of characters will lower the player's reputation (especially if they possess a low charisma statistic). A player whose alignment is relatively high will not necessarily be penalized for employing units of low-alignment soldiers; rather, a mix of high- and low-alignment fighters results in the most potent fighting force. Provided the player keeps low- and high-alignment characters in their own separate units, and only liberates towns with high-alignment units, he or she can still see the best ending. Conversely, one who wishes to drop his alignment can continually capture towns with a few high-level, low-alignment units. For example, one can employ a few decidedly low-alignment units to slaughter enemy units, reserving high-alignment units for liberation purposes only.
Classes
One of the most important aspects of Ogre Battle is the class system. Each character has a class which determines the characteristics of that character. There are over 75 different classes available in Ogre Battle, but any given character is limited to a subset depending on their race. For instance, human characters can either be male (fighter) or female (amazon). There are also dragons, wyrms, pumpkins, angels, giants, hellhounds, octopi, hawk men, demons, griffins, mermaids, golems and undead class trees. Within a tree, there are usually level, alignment, and often charisma requirements. In addition, some classes also require the use of a special item. Finally, the two human class trees are unique in that they have the most branches in their tree and characters can be demoted to move along a different path.Apart from statistic increases at level-up, a character's class also determines how the character moves and fights. Each character has a terrain type where they move fastest and fight the best (some classes also get additional attacks), with flying characters able to move quickly over all terrain. In addition, each class has a set of attacks characters can perform, ranging from physical attacks targeting one opponent to magical attacks targeting a whole unit.
Story
Twenty-five years prior to the beginning of the game, Empress Endora conquered the continent of Zetegenia. During her reign, a resistance organization called the Liberation Army forms to free the continent from her rule.At the beginning of the game, the protagonist, whose name, gender, and other characteristics are chosen by the player, takes command of the Liberation Army. Throughout the course of the game, the protagonist is joined by various other characters, such as Lans Hamilton, a knight who served the king of Zeltenia until the king’s death; Warren Moon, a wizard with the ability to divine the future; Tristan, the rightful prince of Zenobia; and many others.
After the Empress is slain, it is discovered that she was manipulated by Rashidi, a dark wizard in the Empress’ employ. The protagonist defeats him, but before Rashidi dies, he uses his blood to release Demundza, the king of the Underworld
Underworld
The Underworld is a region which is thought to be under the surface of the earth in some religions and in mythologies. It could be a place where the souls of the recently departed go, and in some traditions it is identified with Hell or the realm of death...
who was sealed away after the first great Ogre Battle. The protagonist and his army manage to seal Demundza away again before he can become too powerful.
There are more than one possible outcomes to the story depending on various factors such as the player's alignment, their reputation, and which character they choose to recruit.
Sega Saturn
The Japan-only Sega SaturnSega Saturn
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
version, released in 1996, features voice acting during encounters with bosses and potential recruits. The combatants have also been given a slight graphical overhaul. In addition, this version replaces the gray and yellow units on the map screen with more colorful and detailed sprites. It also includes a third viewpoint on the tactical map, allowing a more direct overhead view.
PlayStation
The PlayStation version, released in 1997, features enhanced battle graphics not seen in the Sega Saturn edition, including new spell effects and shifting camera angles. This version also features larger text boxes. It lacks the voice acting and graphical detail for the units that was included in the Saturn game.Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
Released in 1995, Tactics Ogre represents Episode 7 in the series, continuing the story directly after Ogre Battle and the later released Ogre Battle 64. Unlike games under the Ogre Battle header, the Tactics Ogre sub-series are tactical RPG's fought on an isometricIsometric
The term isometric comes from the Greek for "having equal measurement".isometric may mean:* Isometric projection , a method for the visual representation of three-dimensional objects in two dimensions; a form of orthographic projection, or more specifically, an axonometric projection.* Isometry and...
battle field. Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together was remade for the PSP in 2010 under the title of Tactics Ogre: Wheel of Fate in Japan, and released in 2011 in North America under the game's original title. Wheel of Fate featured additional content expanding the story of the original release.
Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber
Released in 1999 on the Nintendo 64Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
, Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber depicts Episode 6 in the series taking place between the original Ogre Battle and Tactics Ogre. It includes a multi-targeting system that allows the player to send units to one or two additional areas before reaching their destination. Additionally, it features multiple bosses in certain levels, and inserts cut scenes between each mission. It lacks the tarot cards of the first game. It also features a more limited inventory system, reduced class changes, and includes required resting points for units.
Ogre Battle: Legend of the Zenobia Prince
Released only in Japan on the Neo Geo Pocket ColorNeo Geo Pocket Color
The Neo Geo Pocket Color , is a 16-bit colour handheld game console by SNK. It was the last console they produced in the Neo Geo family...
in 2000, Ogre Battle: Legend of the Zenobia Prince serves as a side story to the original Ogre Battle featuring similar game-play mechanics. Despite this, it is an original game with a new story, maps, and character classes. It retains the tarot cards of the original Ogre Battle, and includes a multi-targeting system and multiple bosses in certain levels.
Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis
Released in 2001 on the Game Boy AdvanceGame 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...
, Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis serves as a side story taking place before Episodes 5 (Ogre Battle) & 6 (Ogre Battle 64). Similar to Tactics Ogre it is a tactical RPG on an isometric battle field.
Reception
Ogre Battle was rated the 180th best game made on a Nintendo System in Nintendo PowerNintendo Power
Nintendo Power magazine is a monthly news and strategy magazine formerly published in-house by Nintendo of America, but now run independently. As of issue #222 , Nintendo contracted publishing duties to Future US, the U.S. subsidiary of British publisher Future.The first issue published was...
s Top 200 Games list.