The Black Onyx

Game Details:

"The Black Onyx" is a historically significant RPG developed by Bullet-Proof Software and spearheaded by Henk Rogers. It was first released in 1984 on the NEC PC-8801 platform, and later ported to various Japanese home computer systems such as MSX, FM-7, and Sharp X1. This game not only achieved commercial success as the first RPG in Japan but also served as a pioneer for subsequent JRPGs like "Dragon Quest" and "Final Fantasy."

Players create their own adventurer party in the game, which can include different character classes such as warriors and mages. They can recruit characters, purchase weapons and equipment, and heal in towns, while the real adventure unfolds in the ever-deepening dungeons. Combat is turn-based, featuring a variety of enemies that increase in strength as the player delves deeper. The ultimate goal of the player is to find the legendary "Black Onyx" – a mysterious gem that can prevent one from becoming an undead monster.

The game adopts a first-person perspective maze exploration mechanism, which was an advanced design at the time, providing a highly immersive experience. Although the interface is simple, it is rich in content. Due to its moderate system complexity and intuitive operation, it successfully attracted a large number of Japanese players, directly inspiring the development of native Japanese RPGs.

Editor's Recommendation:

If you want to understand the roots of Japanese RPGs, "The Black Onyx" is a name you must mention. Before "Dragon Quest" and "Final Fantasy" were born, it already provided Japanese players with a complete experience of character growth, party management, maze exploration, and tactical combat. Although the game is based on Western classics like "Wizardry" and "Ultima," it has made many optimizations in accessibility, lowering the barrier to entry and making RPGs no longer exclusive to niche players. It may seem a bit rudimentary by today's standards, but it is the rigor and exploration fun within its simplicity that makes it a cornerstone on the road to Japanese RPGs.

Game Guide:

I. Team Building Tips

• The game supports a maximum of five team members. It is recommended to choose a combination that balances attack, defense, and support in the early stages, such as two warriors, one mage, one healer, and one reserve character.
• The values of each character are randomly determined, so it is recommended to refresh repeatedly to obtain higher initial HP and strength attributes.
• If a character dies, they need to be healed back in town, and resurrection is costly. Pay attention to the rational allocation of positions and targets.

II. Basic Town Operations

• The game starts in a town that includes a hospital, weapon shop, inn, training hall, and dungeon entrance.
• Use the "hospital" to restore HP or remove negative status effects; it's recommended to go there immediately after a battle.
• The training hall can be used to level up characters with experience, which requires a fee each time, so be careful when allocating funds.

III. Dungeon Exploration Key Points

• The dungeon adopts a first-person perspective. The map is not displayed in the interface. It is recommended to draw the map manually, marking doors, corners, and traps.
• Random battles occur frequently, so it is recommended to carry enough potions and avoid staying in one place for too long.
• The deeper the dungeon levels, the stronger the enemies become, but they also hide more powerful weapons and quest items.

IV. About the "Black Onyx"

• The ultimate goal of the game is to find the "Black Onyx", which is usually hidden in the deepest layer of the dungeon. You need to complete several key quests, defeat powerful bosses, and obtain the necessary items to clear the game.
• The game has conditional puzzles; some passages can only be entered with specific keys or by triggering mechanisms. It is recommended to talk to NPCs or pay attention to text prompts.