Densetsu no Ogre Battle [Model SHVC-OB]

33 Years old Nintendo Super Famicom cart. Quest
Densetsu no Ogre Battle [Model SHVC-OB] screenshot

Densetsu no Ogre Battle © 1993 Quest

Densetsu no Ogre Battle is a revolutionary real-time tactical RPG that blends deep world-building, alignment-based character progression, and grand-scale strategy. Created by Yasumi Matsuno, it is widely considered one of the most intellectually ambitious games on the system, introducing a complex moral system where the player’s actions—including how they treat liberated towns and which units they recruit—directly influence the game's ultimate outcome and narrative trajectory.

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TECHNICAL

GAME ID: SHVC-OB
BARCODE: 4988671007039

TRIVIA

Released on March 12, 1993 in Japan.

Genre Innovation: By combining real-time map movement with strategic, card-based combat resolution, the game broke away from the rigid turn-based structures of its peers. Players must manage multiple squads across a persistent battlefield, balancing the need to capture key locations against the ever-present threat of enemy counter-attacks, all while managing unit morale and alignment.

The Moral Compass: Uniquely, the game tracks the "Alignment" and "Charisma" of every character in your army. Killing weak enemies with a high-level squad can lower your morale, while liberating towns under the right conditions rewards the player with Tarot cards—the game's primary mechanism for influencing battle outcomes through magical buffs or debuffs.

The "Matsuno" Aesthetic: This title marked the beginning of what would become the signature style for director Yasumi Matsuno: mature, political storytelling set in a rich, dark fantasy universe. The depth of the lore, combined with the game's multiple endings, set a new standard for narrative-driven strategy gaming.

Export releases:
[US] "Ogre Battle [Model SNS-OB-USA]"

STAFF
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Character and Tarot Card Designed By: Akihiko Yoshida
Main Graphics Design and Image Effects By: Hiroshi Minagawa
Character Animation By: Satoshi Tetsuka
Battlefield Designed By: Masanori Hara
Graphics Designed By: Akihiko Yoshida, S. Teranishi, Y. Koyanagi, Kazutaka Matsuda
Battle Mode Programming By: N. Morioka
Main Field Programming By: T. Sato, M. Ogawa
Sub Programming By: Tatsuya Azeyagi
Music Composed By: Masaharu Iwata, Hitoshi Sakimoto (YmoH.S), Hayato Matsuo
Sound Manipulated By: Toshiaki Imai
Assistant Planner: Koba Kazu, Kasuyuki Ogura, T. Katoh
Radio Actors: Lily Chow, Darren Jhoner
Additional Programming: Tomohiko Satou, Tony Mizukami, Junichi Matsumoto, Infinity Co. Ltd
Development Supervisor Ogre Battle USA: Robert L. Jerauld
Enix America Staff: Tsuneo Morita, Paul Bowler, Paul Handelman, Robert L. Jerauld
Planned By: Yasumi Matsuno
Directed By: Yasumi Matsuno
Executive Producer: Takayuki Kamikura, Shouichi Iida
SOURCES
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ROM dump (MAME).