Xanadu (video game)
Pioneering action RPG that set a Japanese sales record.
Xanadu (ザナドゥ, Zanadu), also known as Xanadu: Dragon Slayer II, is an action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom and released in 1985 for the PC-8801, X1, PC-8001, PC-9801, FM-7 and MSX computers. It is the second entry in the Dragon Slayer series, preceded by Dragon Slayer and followed by Dragon Slayer Jr: Romancia. The game set a sales record for computer games in Japan, with over 400,000 copies sold there in 1985, and is considered one of the foundations of the action role-playing subgenre.
- Developer
- Nihon Falcom
- Release Year
- 1985
- Platforms
- PC-8801, X1, PC-8001, PC-9801, FM-7, MSX
- Genre
- Action role-playing game
- Series
- Dragon Slayer (second entry)
- Sales Record
- Over 400,000 copies sold in Japan (1985)
Lore & Background
Xanadu features real-time action combat combined with full-fledged character statistics, innovative gameplay systems such as the Karma meter and individual experience for equipped items, and platform game elements combined with the dungeon crawl gameplay of its predecessor. It also had towns to explore and introduced equipment that changes the player character's visible appearance, food that is consumed slowly over time and is essential for keeping the player character alive, and magic used to attack enemies from a distance. The game begins with the player directly in control of the protagonist, with little to no introduction. To progress, one must speak with the king, who gives the player the bare essentials and a small amount of cash to train. The main view is a side-scrolling platformer view, switching to a top-down perspective during battle or when entering a building.
Reader's Guide
Xanadu was a pioneer in the game industry, receiving critical praise from Japanese gaming magazines and building a large fan base. Its 1985 sales record of over 400,000 copies sold in Japan, as of 2005, had yet to be broken by any role-playing PC game released in that country. The game introduced several innovative mechanics that influenced later titles, including the Karma morality system, individual experience for equipped items, and a platformer-style side-scrolling view. It is credited as a precursor to the development of the metroidvania genre. The following year saw the release of Xanadu Scenario II, an early example of an expansion pack. The game spawned the Xanadu series, a spin-off from the Dragon Slayer franchise. Enhanced remakes were later released for the Sega Saturn, PC-9801 and Windows platforms.
Did You Know?
- Xanadu set a sales record for computer games in Japan, with over 400,000 copies sold there in 1985.
- It introduced the Karma morality system and individual experience for equipped items.
- A Xanadu OVA was released in 1988 in conjunction with the MSX version of the game.
- The game's music was promoted by Japanese heavy metal band Anthem, who released an LP with two image songs titled 'XANADU'.
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