Do you know how hard it is to try and hitchhike your way through the timestream when your ride suddenly disappears somewhere between the dawn of gaming history and the best PONG game ever played? We’ll save you the gory details and let your imagination wonder. Suffice to say, better late than never, we’ve caught up to our blue box and are ready to give a tour through some of the titles which made their debut on this day in gaming history!
FINAL FANTASY III (NES) [JAPAN]
Not to be confused with the US Final Fantasy III (more properly known as Final Fantasy VI), this title was released on this date in 1990, exclusively in Japan. The title wasn’t available elsewhere until a remake was developed in 2006 by Matrix Software for the Nintendo DS. The story revolves around four orphaned children, drawn to a crystal of light. This crystal grants them its power, and instructs them to go out into the world and help restore balance within it. Not knowing what to do with this information, the children set out on their respective missions and explore the world in so doing. The title builds on the original style of Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II, keeping turn-based combat but incorporating visible hit points as actions are made. This title also features the first use of the “job” system, seen in later Final Fantasy titles, like Final Fantasy X-2. Essentially toying with the class alignment system the original title in the series, Final Fantasy III allows playable characters to have access to all currently available jobs and change them at will, consuming capacity points to do so. It is also the first title in the series to feature battle commands such as “steal” or “jump,” as associated with different jobs (e.g. “steal” = thief specialty). Certain jobs also feature abilities usable outside of battle to get around obstacles in the world. Square also introduced summonable creatures with Final Fantasy III.
STAR FOX 64 (NINTENDO 64) [JAPAN]
Also known as Lyat Wars in Australia and Europe, this scrolling shooter was released in Japan on this day in 1997 and became a household name. The 3D title was a reboot of the original Star Fox title and the only game from the series to be released for the Nintendo 64 console. The player controls a vehicle piloted by Fox McCloud (usually an Arwing), usually in ‘corridor mode,’ which sends Fox down a fixed path through the environment. The player can maneuver around and slow the vehicle temporarily, but cannot completely stop, nor change direction. Boss stages, as well as multiplayer modes, occur in an ‘all-range mode,’ where the player can move freely within a large arena-style as they engage in combat. Originally the title was set to be entitled Star Fox 2 and would have found itself on the SNES system, but creator Shigeru Miyamoto decided to move the title over to the much more beastly Nintendo 64 console. Mr. Miyamoto was also a fan of English-language puppet dramas like The Thunderbirds and as a result, the animation sequences for Star Fox 64 feature the characters’ mouths popping open and closed like those of puppets. This design preference also saved the animation work required to develop the series. The title was remastered and released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2011.
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: MAJORA’S MASK [JAPAN]
Selling approximately 314,000 copies of the title in its first week in Japan, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask was released on this day in 2000. Following its global releases, it sold roughly three million copies in all. The title has received many bundles and remakes since its initial release, and has most recently found itself on the Nintendo 3DS in February of 2015. The sixth main installment in the Legend of Zelda series, it is a direct sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and is often considered to be a ‘darker’ addition to the series. Taking place in Termina, an alternate version of the world in which Hyrule exists, it sends link on an adventure to stop the Skull Kid, under the influence of the stolen Majora’s Mask, from dooming the land to be crushed by a falling moon. The moon slowly falls towards Termina, crashing after three days. Link must travel back in time to the dawn of the first day continually, to find ways to stop the events from unfolding which cause the moon to crash. In addition to time manipulation, the game also features a wide variety of masks, which are acquired throughout the game and time resets; each with their own unique usese. Unlike Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask required the “expansion pak” for the Nintendo 64, which provided additional memory for enhanced graphics and more on-screen activity. The game was praised by critics for its graphics and complex story. The only major criticism the game faced was it’s lack of ease of accessibility, as was seen with its N64 predecessor. However, the title still has sat with many, having captured their hearts with its mysteries, intricacies, and storytelling methods. In 2010 it was voted “Game of the Decade” (2000-2009) by GameFAQs. In 2011, in a tournament-style competition by IGN, the title was voted the second best Zelda game of all time, taking silver behind Ocarina of Time
Other titles released on this day:
- Kirby’s Dream Land (Japan) – NES – 1992
- Breath of Fire IV (Japan) – Playstation – 2000
- Onimusha 3: Demon Siege – Playstation 2 – 2004
- Mario Kart Wii – Wii – 2008
- NIER – Playstation 3/Xbox 360 – 2010
Images © Nintendo and Square Enix
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