Software:Landstalker

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Short description: 1992 video game
Landstalker
North American box art
Developer(s)Climax Entertainment
Publisher(s)Sega
Director(s)Kenji Orimo
Designer(s)Kenji Orimo
Programmer(s)Kan Naito
Artist(s)
  • Yoshitaka Tamaki
  • Hidehiro Yoshida
Writer(s)Shinya Nishigaki
Composer(s)Motoaki Takenouchi
Platform(s)Sega Genesis
Release
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Script error: The function "nihongo_foot" does not exist. is a 1992 action role-playing video game developed by Climax Entertainment and published by Sega for the Sega Genesis. The player takes on the role of the treasure hunter Nigel as they navigate a three-dimensional world through an isometric viewpoint, solving puzzles and fighting enemies.

The game was a critical and commercial success. A spinoff called Software:Lady Stalker: Challenge from the Past was released in Japan for the Super NES in 1995. A sequel was in the planning stages but was cancelled.[4] Dark Savior and Alundra are considered spiritual successors. Nigel is a playable character in Time Stalkers.

It has been re-released several times: on the Wii's Virtual Console in 2007, Steam in 2011, on the Sega Genesis Mini in 2019, and on the Nintendo Classics service in 2023.

Gameplay

The player, as Nigel the treasure hunter, is tasked with searching for clues that lead to the treasure of King Nole. This is accomplished primarily by travelling through both outdoor areas and dungeons. All gameplay and plot-advancing scenes take place in an isometric view.

From the outset of the game, Nigel may walk, jump, swing his sword, climb ropes and ladders, talk to various non-player characters, and pick up and throw various objects. With very few exceptions, these basic actions do not change throughout the game, although Nigel's weapons and armor may be replaced with better versions. There are a variety of items throughout the game, most of which either increase or restore health and attacking power or are important to advancing the plot or solving puzzles.

Much of the game's dungeons and overworld are filled with monsters, mostly creatures from fantasy and mythology like ogres, skeletons, ghosts, golems, and more; many may be avoided or killed for gold or other collectables, while others must be killed to advance the plot and the game. Many traps and puzzles also appear requiring the player to jump from platform to platform press switches and move blocks to climb on. Locked doors inhibit the player's progress, the player must find keys or beat enemies or puzzles to unlock them and progress further. Many dungeons and areas have a boss to defeat at the end. The monsters, puzzles and dungeons increase in difficulty as the game progresses. The player has health which is kept track of by hearts; health and the maximum health limit may be increased with items purchased in towns or found in dungeons. The player is not prevented from revisiting old towns and dungeons, and is frequently required to do so to advance the plot.

There are several optional side quests found in the game involving helping out the non-player characters. Nigel can complete these tasks for benefits, like increased attacking power and use of shortcut warps to travel across the overworld quicker. These can help the player but are not necessary to complete the game.

Plot

In Gamul Date 312, Nigel, a treasure hunter who is 88 years old, far older than he appears, is traversing a dungeon of rolling boulders and moving platforms called Jypta Ruins to acquire the Statue of Jypta. After selling this statue to a shop owner in a port town of Kalva, Nigel is accosted by a wood nymph named Friday. She explains that she is being chased by three persistent yet bumbling thieves named Kayla, Ink, and Wally because she knows the location of the legendary treasure of King Nole. Once Nigel spends most of his money on a bird to carry him to the island, Friday admits that while she doesn't know the exact location of the treasure she has a "feeling" where it is. The player controls Nigel from here on where he and Friday, who accompanies him for the entire game, first journey through a dungeon until they fall into a river and end up in the care of the red-furred bear-people of Massan. When Nigel awakes, he finds his way to the neighboring village of Gumi, where the yellow-furred bear-people are ready to sacrifice the daughter of Massan's leader, Fara. Nigel follows the crazed tribe into their shrine and breaks them of their curse, freeing Fara and earning the respect of both tribes and a clue to help him to the treasure.

Nigel and Friday travel westward until they come to the lighthouse town of Ryuma which has been attacked by thieves. Nigel goes to the thieves' cave and rescues the mayor and some other men who have been kidnapped. He also finds a lithograph of a dragon, which Friday tells him is a clue to the treasure. Before he can leave, Kayla, Ink, and Wally show up and hold Friday hostage until Nigel hands them the lithograph.

Nigel's heroics earn him a place in the court of Duke Mercator, who orders him to go and defeat an old wizard, Mir, who is locked in a tower nearby and who has been terrorizing the town and extorting the Duke. Nigel braves a crypt and the wizard's tower and faces him in single combat. Defeated, Mir confesses all he knows about King Nole's treasure and then explains that the Duke is his brother and had been using him as a scapegoat for years. Nigel returns to the Duke and is about ready to confront him when he is tossed into a dungeon. While imprisoned he finds out that the princess of Maple, his home country, who had been a guest at the castle, has been taken away by the Duke's dragon-like henchman, Zak. He manages to escape to find the castle knights in open revolt and ships stuck in the harbour because the lighthouse in Ryuma is broken. Nigel saves Arthur, the Duke's general, and is given the key to the Greenmaze, where the Sunstone can be found, the gem that powers Ryuma's lighthouse.

Nigel navigates the maze despite the best efforts of troublesome gnomes and restores the lighthouse. He then takes a ship to pursue the Duke. He makes landing up the coast of the island at Verla, which has practically become a ghost town. The Duke had enslaved the population of the town and forced them to work in nearby mines searching for a legendary treasure. Nigel frees the townspeople, and they give him a legendary sword they found but had hidden from the Duke. Nigel continues through the mine to find the Duke sailing, via rafts, across a lake to an island temple. Nigel finds a way over and navigates through the labyrinth to fight the Duke but is caught off-guard by Zak. Nigel is teleported to safety by Mir before the Duke and Zak can finish him off. Mir then proceeds to give Nigel some more information about King Nole's treasure. Mir also gives a magical axe to Nigel which allows him to cut down trees with a single swing of his sword.

Nigel retakes his sword in hand, and Friday leads him up through mountains to get to the entrance to the underground dungeon where King Nole hid his treasure. They encounter Zak again, who has decided that while he doesn't like working for the Duke any longer he still wants to face Nigel one on one. After Nigel proves his superiority, Zak gives Nigel something he stole from the Duke that will allow Nigel to enter the underground. Zak departs defeated.

Nigel finds himself back at the same cave he started in, this time filled with monsters but no traps. He gets to the Duke just as he uses the Princess to open the gate between the above and below worlds (referencing the song In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida). Nigel charges through into the center of the island and into King Nole's labyrinth, a massive confusing dungeon guarding King Nole's palace. After making it through the labyrinth and the palace, Nigel makes it to the room which held the treasure. After all the challenges so far, things are not quite finished for King Nole's restless Spirit attacks Nigel but Nigel makes quick work of him. The Duke then shows up and as he thanks Nigel for doing the dirty work for him, Gola, the Dragon God that King Nole worshipped, burns him alive.

Nigel fights Gola using all of his strength and cunning, and when the beast is finally vanquished, the treasure is his. With vast sums of gold under his control he decides that rather than retire he and Friday will continue their adventures. In the original ending in the Japanese and European version the treasure vanishes after Gola's last stand. Nigel isn't very upset and suggests taking Friday with him to the main country for new adventures.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
Dragon3/5, 4/5[6]
Famitsu8/10, 8/10, 8/10, 9/10[7]
Game Informer8.75/10[8]
GamesMaster84/100[9]
Hyper92%[10]
Marukatsu Mega Drive85/100, 75/100,
90/100, 90/100[12]
Mega92%[3]
Mega Action85%[13]
Mega Drive Advanced Gaming96%[14]
MegaTech93/100[15]
MegaZone90%[16]
Sega Power89%[17]
Sega Pro84%,[18] 85%[19]
Sega Zone91/100,[20] 90%[21]
Retrospective reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings77%[22]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Eurogamer5/10[23]
GameSpot7/10[24]
GameSpy9/10[25]
IGN7.5/10[26]
Nintendo LifeStarStarStarStarStarStarStarStarStar[27]
RPGamer4/5[29]

According to Famitsu and Next Generation, Landstalker was a major system seller for the Sega Mega Drive, selling 34,385 copies in its first week on the market and 160,000 copies during its lifetime in Japan.[31][32] The game received a 25.28/30 score in a poll conducted by Mega Drive Fan and a 8.5064/10 score in a 1995 readers' poll conducted by the Japanese Sega Saturn Magazine, ranking among Mega Drive titles at the number 41 spot.[33][34] It also garnered critical acclaim.[31] GamePro's Lawrence Neves stated that "Landstalker will amaze you for hours with its complexity, amuse you with its graphics, and frustrate you with its controls".[1]

In GameFan's annual Megawards, Landstalker won the awards for Most Innovative New Game (Sega) and Best Action/RPG, and was a nominee for the Best Music (Genesis) and Game of the Year awards.[35] Mega placed the game at #5 in their Top Mega Drive Games of All Time.[36] Gamasutra included it as an example of an open world game as part of their Game Design Essentials series.[37] In 2017, Gamesradar ranked the game 24th on their: "Best Sega Genesis/Mega Drive games of all time."[38]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Neves, Lawrence (November 1993). "Role-Player's Realm: Landstalker". GamePro (IDG) (52): 252. https://archive.org/details/game-pro-issue-52-november-1993/page/252/mode/1up. 
  2. ↑ "Software List (Sega Release)" (in ja). Sega Corporation. https://www.sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Mellerick, Paul (November 1993). "Game Review: Landstalker". Mega (Future Publishing) (14): 32–33. https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:Mega_UK_14.pdf&page=32. 
  4. ↑ McFerran, Damien (11 May 2023). "Here's A Glimpse Of The Landstalker Sequel We Never Got To Play". Hookshot Media. https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/05/heres-a-glimpse-of-the-landstalker-sequel-we-never-got-to-play. 
  5. ↑ "BEメガドッグレース: ランドストーカー 〜皇帝の財宝〜" (in ja). Beep! Mega Drive (SoftBank Creative) 8 (11): 26. November 1992. https://archive.org/details/beep-megadrive-1992-11/page/n27/mode/1up. 
  6. ↑ Jay; Dee (May 1995). "Eye of the Monitor". Dragon (TSR, Inc.) (217): 65–74. https://archive.org/details/DragonMagazine260_201801/DragonMagazine217/page/64/mode/2up. 
  7. ↑ "New Games Cross Review: ランドストーカー 〜皇帝の財宝〜" (in ja). Famitsu (ASCII Corporation) (203): 39. November 6, 1992. https://archive.org/details/famitsu-0203/page/39/mode/1up.  (Transcription by Famitsu.com. ).
  8. ↑ Petzoldt, Rick; McNamara, Andrew; Van Der Schaegen, Ross (November–December 1993). "Sega Genesis Reviews: Landstalker". Game Informer (Sunrise Publications) (13): 22–23. https://archive.org/details/game-informer-issue-13-november-december-1993/page/n23/mode/2up. 
  9. ↑ Ellis, Les (December 1993). "Reviews: Landstalker". GamesMaster (Future Publishing) (12): 106. 
  10. ↑ Lawson, Wayne (December 1993). "Review: Landstalker". Hyper (nextmedia) (1): 53. https://archive.org/details/hyper-001_20200724_0134/page/n52/mode/1up. 
  11. ↑ Swan, Angus; Davies, Paul (October 1993). "Megadrive Review: Landstalker". Mean Machines Sega (EMAP) (12): 102–105. https://archive.org/details/mean-machines-sega-magazine-12/page/n103/mode/2up. 
  12. ↑ "新作ソフト誌上ロケーションテスト: ランドストーカー 〜皇帝の財宝〜" (in ja). Marukatsu Mega Drive (Kadokawa Shoten) 4 (13): 110. November 10, 1992. https://archive.org/details/marukatsu-md-02/Marukatsu%20Megadrive%2002/page/110/mode/1up. 
  13. ↑ Longworth, David (Christmas 1993). "Official Review: Landstalker". Mega Action (Europress) (8): 10–11. https://archive.org/details/mega-action-08_202212/page/n9/mode/2up. 
  14. ↑ Davison, John; Lloyd, Rich (August 1993). "Review: Landstalker". Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (Maverick Magazines) (12): 16–19. https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:MDAG_UK_12.pdf&page=16. 
  15. ↑ Glancey, Paul; Guise, Tom (November 1993). "Megadrive Review: Landstalker". MegaTech (EMAP) (23): 76–78. https://archive.org/details/megatech23/page/n75/mode/2up. 
  16. ↑ Humphreys, Andrew (October 1993). "Mega Drive Review: Landstalker". MegaZone (Sega Ozisoft) (32): 24–27. https://archive.org/details/megazoneau32/page/n23/mode/2up. 
  17. ↑ Longhurst, Richard (November 1993). "Mega Drive Review: Landstalker". Sega Power (Future Publishing) (48): 52–53. https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:SegaPower_UK_48.pdf&page=52. 
  18. ↑ Boni, Dino (September 1993). "ProReview: Landstalker". Sega Pro (Paragon Publishing) (16): 24–26. https://archive.org/details/sega-pro-16/page/n23/mode/2up. 
  19. ↑ Johnson, Jason (December 1993). "Review: Landstalker". Sega Pro (Paragon Publishing) (26): 56. https://archive.org/details/sega-pro-26/page/n55/mode/1up. 
  20. ↑ Haynes, Rik; Oji, Masaki (January 1993). "Review: Landstalker". Sega Zone (Future Publishing) (3): 36–38. https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:SegaZone_UK_03.pdf&page=36. 
  21. ↑ Norris, Tim (November 1993). "Review: Landstalker". Sega Zone (Future Publishing) (13): 38–39. https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:SegaZone_UK_13.pdf&page=38. 
  22. ↑ "Landstalker for Genesis". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/genesis/563330-landstalker/index.html. 
  23. ↑ Whitehead, Dan (October 6, 2007). "Virtual Console Roundup • Page 2". https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_vcroundup_061007?page=2. Retrieved January 11, 2022. 
  24. ↑ Shau, Austin (December 19, 2007). "LandStalker: The Treasures of King Nole Review". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/landstalker-the-treasures-of-king-nole-review/1900-6184145/. Retrieved January 11, 2022. 
  25. ↑ ((8-Bit Star)). "Landstalker". Archived from the original on June 28, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060628210202/http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/genesis/landsta.htm. Retrieved January 11, 2022. 
  26. ↑ Thomas, Lucas M. (September 14, 2007). "Landstalker: The Treasures of King Nole Review". Archived from the original on May 3, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190503165338/https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/09/14/landstalker-the-treasures-of-king-nole-review. Retrieved January 11, 2022. 
  27. ↑ Duyn, Marcel van (September 2, 2007). "Landstalker: The Treasures of King Nole Review (MD)". https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2007/09/landstalker_virtual_console. Retrieved January 11, 2022. 
  28. ↑ "Landstalker". Retro Gamer (44): 95. November 2007. https://archive.org/details/retro_gamer/RetroGamer_044/page/95/mode/1up. Retrieved January 11, 2022. 
  29. ↑ Schreier, Jason. "Land Stalker - Staff Retroview". Archived from the original on January 8, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090108144140/http://www.rpgamer.com/games/other/genesis/lstalker/reviews/lstalkerstrev1.html. Retrieved January 11, 2022. 
  30. ↑ Dancin' Humor (2001). "Landstalker". Archived from the original on June 29, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010629220214/http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/landstalker/Landstalker-2.html. Retrieved January 11, 2022. 
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 "Alphas: Dark Saviour". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (23): 121–123. November 1996. https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-002/page/n93/mode/1up. 
  32. ↑ "Game Search". https://sites.google.com/site/gamedatalibrary/game-search. 
  33. ↑ "Mega Drive & Game Gear All Catalog '93 7月号特別付録" (in ja). Mega Drive Fan (ja) (Tokuma Shoten) 5 (7): 43. July 15, 1993. 
  34. ↑ "メガドラ読者レース" (in ja). Sega Saturn Magazine (SoftBank Creative) 11 (9): 82–85. September 1995. https://archive.org/details/sega-saturn-magazine-ja-1995-09-01/page/83/mode/1up. 
  35. ↑ GameFan, volume 2, issue 2 (January 1994), pages 54-58
  36. ↑ Mega magazine issue 26, page 74, Maverick Magazines, November 1994
  37. ↑ "Gamasutra - Game Design Essentials: 20 Open World Games". https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/game-design-essentials-20-open-world-games. 
  38. ↑ GamesRadar Staff (2017-06-21). "Best Sega Genesis/Mega Drive games of all time" (in en). https://www.gamesradar.com/best-sega-genesis-games-all-time/. 

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
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