Shiryou Sensen: War of the Dead | An Early Survival Horror RPG | REVIEW (1989, PC Engine)

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REVIEW | Shiryou Sensen: War of the Dead for PC Engine is a remake/reimagining of an MSX title of the same name, a horror action RPG considered by many to be the first survival horror game, even before Sweet Home on the Famicom. This PC Engine version also came out before Sweet Home, which makes it an even earlier example of the genre, though there is some debate on whether it qualifies as survival horror, as is the case with most old horror games not called Sweet Home, Resident Evil or Alone in the Dark.
This is a short review of Shiryou Sensen: War of the Dead from Fun Factory and Victor Musical Industries, made as part of a collaboration with ‪@HappyConsoleGamer‬ and ‪@MadPanicGaming‬. You can view the entire video on HCG channel here: • LOST JAPAN HORROR GAME...
There is a fan-made English language patch for this game that not only removes the Japanese language barrier for many people, but also fixes some of the game-breaking glitches mentioned in this video.
Subscribe to Import Gaming FTW for more rare, underrated and interesting games from Japan: / @importgamingftw
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Japanese title: 死霊戦線 WAR OF THE DEAD
Release date: 3-24-1989
Publisher: Victor Musical Industries (ビクター音楽産業株式会社)
Developer: Fun Factory/Fun Project
Platform: PC Engine (PCエンジン)
Import Gaming FTW playlist: • Import Gaming FTW! (Ja...
Gameplay was captured on real hardware using the Elgato HD60 S+ and video/audio was edited using Davinci Resolve Studio 18.
All background music comes from the games featured.
If you like the video, leave a like, comment or share with a friend who loves Japanese games-I appreciate any and all support, and it helps Import Gaming FTW continue to grow!
Thank you for watching!
~Jimmy Hapa
0:00 Intro & Predecessor
1:29 PC Engine Game/Survivor System
3:23 Combat, Items, Specials & More!
6:13 Raw Gameplay
6:43 Inventory, Exploration, Story
8:30 Major Flaws & Conclusion
#PCEngine #SurvivalHorror #ImportGamingFTW

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Опубликовано:

6 авг 2024

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Комментарии : 123

@denNESdanMAKU Год назад

The Artwork of these games are ultra cool! Also pretty refreshing to see a female hero instead of a buffed dude with a bandana.

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

Always a fan of female protagonists from this era! Buff dudes with bandanas aren't too bad, though.

@Devilman6066 Год назад

Thank you for taking the time to beat this. I know how arduous it can be to complete something that falls short of promising.

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

Well, it's my pleasure...well, it wasn't really that much of a pleasure at points, but you know what I mean. Thanks for watching!

@orenges Год назад

this game is so underrated and has the BEST main theme

@RiderWithTheScarf Год назад

I swear, every time I dive into the old japanese PC and PC-E games there's always some kind of treasure to discover that is sadly not iterated upon as much as their more mainstream counterparts. It is funny to see the Zelda 2 formula though working far better for these games rather than Link's own adventure. And hey, if Project Z, Thexder and many such classics can get faithful remakes that completely iron out the flaws, maybe this has a chance too. We're getting some Jaleco love this days after all. Here's hoping.

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

True, there are some remakes coming out that I would have never thought publishers would revisit...I saw a bunch of Demon Crystal games were on the Switch e-shop and I had to do a double take. I'd love for War of the Dead to get the (proper) remake treatment!

@LanEXHikari Год назад

Fantastic, it is amazing that there are titles like this that still go unappreciated, it truly shared most elements that contemporary survival horror games are notorious for. Thank very much for the video ✌🏼

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

You're welcome, thank you for watching!

@barry-allenthe-flash8396 Год назад

Oh, very cool to see some coverage on this! I knew about this because of HardcoreGaming101, but yeah, it's super obscure even compared to Sweet Home... I bet it would be more well respected if it was on more platforms, oh well. At least you're fighting the good fight to get recognition for a deserving retro title! Seriously, very cool to see a vid on this for Halloween. It's also nice to see the return of a Chibisode! 😄

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

Thanks! I'll probably do another "chibisode" right after I do a couple of videos about Tactics Ogre.

@BakiX Год назад

Thanks to you and this awesome video, not only was I able to discover this game for the first time, but even play it all the way until completion, finishing it today! Thanks! 👍

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

Oh wow, you ended up beating it, too? Thank you for watching, and I hope you enjoyed the game. Dated, of course, but it has its charms!

@BakiX Год назад

@@ImportGamingFTW Sure did! It deeefintely has its weaknesses, getting lost and trying to figure out "what to do next" in junction with random encounters can be...hair pulling, to say the least lol. But its story and constant introduction to new characters helps keep things fresh, as does that addictive world map music~. Its rough around the edges, but for me at least, theres such a genuine charm to how much scope this title tries to give off at a time where, on a technical level, scope and capabilities were just so limited. Despite its frustrations, you can see the passion behind it. And I just cant help but find that admirable and appreciate it for that.

@novelezra Год назад

Damn that WAR OF THE DEAD guide has some wonderful art in it. Do you know if it's the same artist who did the Howard and Nestor stuff? They look really similiar. Also that PC88 cover is wonderful. I love how Alien inspired an entire generation of Japanese gaming companies to play female protags. EDIT also if you have a link to the scans of the guide I'd love to see them!

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

I'm pretty certain it's Shuji Imai's art, the guy who did Howard & Nester. I can check the guide later though to confirm, assuming he's credited properly. Yeah, the MSX2/PC-88 cover is one of my favorite box art designs--I might do a short/casual video talking about some of my other favorites. I have the scans that I made, if I had a website or something, I'd post them there. Maybe I'll use the community tab.

@novelezra Год назад

@@ImportGamingFTW If I was you I'd just upload it to the internet archive!

@doublestarships646 9 месяцев назад

This game can definitely get a remake and be a hit.

@ImportGamingFTW 9 месяцев назад

100%, and I hope it happens someday.

@goatbone Год назад

I love discovering new games, thank you for exposing us to new games. That password system is by far the scariest part of the whole game. The protagonist reminds me of the WURM protagonist.

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

Thank you for watching, beware of awful password systems. And I was wondering who Lyla reminded me of with her green hair, I think I too was getting WURM vibes.

@Chickenrio Год назад

Nice video Jimmy! It's always great to see videos on PC Engine games.

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

Thanks for watching! I don't talk about the PC Engine much, but it's always a pleasure when I get the chance.

@slopesgameroom Год назад

Always got time for videos like this :D

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

Why, thank you. Fancy seeing you here, Mr. Ibbertson!

@Johnnygrafx 9 месяцев назад

Went I went searching for info on this game I had no idea I'd come across such a high quality review for it! Well done sir. Subbed! 🙂

@jebibones4282 8 месяцев назад

The MSX2 version is worth playing still, despite being very cryptic in what i wants the player to do. It has a day and night cycle, and better artwork than the PCE version, among other things. If anyone wants to play it, I highly recommend checking the map I made a while ago (because apparently nobody on the internet bothered to make one for the msx2 version), as it's overworld changes quite a bit in every edition. I donated it to the Grid Cartographer site, but if you want the exported png version of it, let me know and I'll send you a link. I also translated the games manual, as a bonus.

@otaking3582 Год назад

This definitely seems like the type of game that would benefit from a fan-made remake. Keep the basic elements and gameplay, combine elements of the MSX and PCE versions, and maybe add some modern conveniences.

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

That would be something I'd get excited about!

@user-dd6on5cr3u Год назад

Damn I know there is already Amelie Doree’s channel but it’d be awesome to see you cover anything from the PC-98 someday. Awesome Chibisode!

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

Thank you--I hope to find a working PC-98 for a good deal someday, there are a few games for the computer I'd really like to try out--and of course talk about on the channel.

@quietmind0zero Год назад

I was lost playing this three decades ago. It has its charms. Yeah the language barrier made it super hard enjoyable.

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

Thanks, you know I think I heard about it from RetroRGB, but it slipped my mind. That's awesome there's a patch for that version, it's really good.

@quietmind0zero Год назад

@@ImportGamingFTW Cool I will check it out then. Thanks

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

@@quietmind0zero My apologies, my previous reply was meant for someone else's comment! What I meant to say to you is that I'm all about games with charm, even if they may not be all that great! Anyway, thanks for watching and for the reply.

@mariusamber3237 Год назад

You mentioned the bugs - funnily, the fan-translators fixed them, apparently there were some simple coding errors involved that they hadn't managed to fix before the release (absence of overflow checks or something). As for the game - yeah, it has its issues, some seriously significant, but the theme was interesting at the very least back in the day.

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

That's cool that the patch fixed those bugs, I figured it was something that was just overlooked and it was too late to go back and fix when discovered. Yeah, despite the frustration and flaws with this game, the theme and overall odd charm to it makes it a winner in my book.

@Zeithri Год назад

Those character designs for the S-SWAT team.. One looks like the inspiration for Chris and the other Barry! But there's no WESKERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

Nice observation!

@primokarma9841 Год назад

looks so cool

@fazares Год назад

Cool game...i already knew it but wasnt aware of the computer versions

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

Yeah, I might do a video at some point about the MSX2 version.

@NIGH11 Год назад

New Jimmy ! Huzzah ! Weirdly i saw no alert for this channel and only knew to check here directly after seeing it on the Happy Console Gamer ! Susan should know by now i need to know when there's a new IGFTW post haste !

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

Thanks, Kev--actually, this time Susan has been sharing the video out more than ever, which is why this video has decent views. Not getting to my subscribers, as usual, but I appreciate the bone thrown my way for once.

@BelleDelphin 5 месяцев назад

A PC-88 version is the best for me. It has some strange infernal vibe. Also, the 8 colors graphics looks very original, like an art object.

@noneofyourbusiness4616 Год назад

This is the kind of game the Happy Console Gamer would be TOO SCARED to feature on his channel.

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

I know, that guy's such a coward.

@jq908 Год назад

😎

@vectrex28 Год назад

This is one HuCard I didn't give much thought about despite owning it. Might pop it in again and see how it goes despite the flaws you pointed out

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

Did you end up giving it another go?

@Darkbeatdk Год назад

Great review. I picked this up a few years ago after hearing about how early of a survival horror game it was and because I like action RPGs in this style and of this time period, but I've never gotten very far in it, so thank you for letting me know what to expect from this one. Gotta avoid those bugs!

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

Thank you--hope you get back into the game and can avoid some of the many pitfalls found within!

@thebestchatman1578 Год назад

Great Work As Always Jimmy!!!

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

Thanks, Chatman!

@aliceinmansonland448 Год назад

All right! There's an English patch!

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

I love it when there's an English patch for these old Japanese games.

@andlopez18 Год назад

Jimmy, excellent video. I didn't know this game existed. The concept and art of the game are very interesting, but it shows that it has aged. However, it is still an innovative game for the time.

@Novapoid Год назад

What a great, entertaining video. Never heard of this game before; I 100% agree this is the kind of title that should get a modern remake, fixing every crucial area that prevented it from achieving true cult status. I love the concept and the atmosphere, just not the execution (mainly referring to gameplay variety & bugs).

@lancem6755 Год назад

Ditto Slope, thanks for sharing Jimmy! Ouch, that password screen is brutal. I wouldn't play it due to that alone. (without save states)

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

Thanks for watching early, Lance! I thought about cutting together a horror movie like scene for the password screen, but figured it would be too much. There were several times where I had to reset due to glitches... the nightmare of having to input those passwords each time...

@st1ka Год назад

damn, I had actually never heard of either the MSX OR the Pc engine versions. Though I suppose I shouldn't be surprised both of those systems have most of their libraries exclusive to Japan. P.S. Great to see you post another video my dude! ^^

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

Thanks, Mr. St1ka--I need to watch you 8-bit spoopy games video!

@st1ka Год назад

@@ImportGamingFTW thank you good sir ^^

@WeWillAlwaysHaveVALIS Год назад

Cool video, a remake/remaster of this would be a great idea. I'd certainly be interested in playing it at least.

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

Fingers crossed, all the elements are already in place to make a great game...just needs to be rearranged a bit and polished up some more.

@WeWillAlwaysHaveVALIS Год назад

@@ImportGamingFTW I do have vague memories of playing a game that was similar in presentation (horror RPG featuring the undead) for the Commodore 64 I had as a child, though this was the early 90s, I'm just wondering what on earth it could have been (I had a lot of pirated tapes that were compilations of games and were also unlabeled).

@blindcrow849 Год назад

Cool video. But there is also a quite interesting point about it. The artist who made the illustrations for the guide book you showed is definitely the same that made the Nintendo Power's Howard and Nester comics, who is still a mistery today. If you could check who draw in this guide book, you might help solve it one and for all.

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

I'm fairly certain it's Shuji Imai's artwork, but I'll see if there are any credits the next time I take a look at the guide. Thank you for watching!

@blindcrow849 Год назад

@@ImportGamingFTW Thanks! Someone confirmed he was credited for this guide, so no need for to check anymore. I always loved this artist but was unable to find his name, as many others as it seems.

@seanhardy5340 Год назад

There is no question. Whoever did that manual art (or strategy guide) IS the artist who did the early Howard and Nester comics in Nintendo Power. If you have his name, let it be known.

@seanhardy5340 Год назад

I stand corrected. Shuji Imai drew Howard and Nester. We can only assume Nintendo/Tokuma Shoten must have paid well at the time.

@darktetsuya Год назад

can't believe I missed this one but definitely considering looking it up one way or the other ... hopefully the MSX original doesn't have any of those game-breaking issues present on PCE? but one I'm gonna have to look up for sure.

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

I don't think the MSX2 game nor the PC-98 versions have such bugs. The MSX2 game and the PCE version have a very different feel and quite a few different scenarios. I may try to record a full playthrough of the original and do a video on it sometime.

@Gorilla_Jones Год назад

Wow cool.

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

Thanks, Mr. Jones.

@BENULTIMAN2000 Год назад

When I first saw the Title of this Video, I thought it was gonna be a Japanese Exclusive Game based off of the Dawn of The Dead Franchise but I guess I was wrong about that considering that I had just watched a Video about Japanese Exclusive Games based off of Western Properties

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

Not related to Dawn of the Dead, but I thought about mentioning that the game has some Dead Rising vibes.

@briteboy6131 Год назад

This is a title I've been interested in for a while, and I had just recently decided to try it out again through emulation. (I love it when things are timed like this, lol). This game definitely isn't perfect, but something about it makes me want to actually finish it

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

Good luck making it through--at least with emulation, you won't have to worry about passwords!

@briteboy6131 Год назад

Yeah, there are some valid arguments against emulation, but I can't complain about save states for difficult parts, and the convenience of having all kinds of fun obscure stuff I've been meaning to play through or finish available on a modded switch. Having a screen for handhelds and the dock for everything else is more handy than I thought it would be too. I'd recommend it, especially for travelling.

@tiagopereirasantossilva556 Год назад

@importGAmingFTW! I love video about Dr. Hauzer !

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

And I loved making it--I appreciate you requesting it way back when!

@DubiousGamingOnline Год назад

splatterhouse, startropics, mega man. got it.

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

What are you doing here, good sir?

@chrispierceall3627 Год назад

Man not sure what it is but there's something extra gross/horrific about 16bit era monster graphics, that title screen with the rooted skulls is extra grim looking as well. Splatter House is a really prime example of it, probably cause we get to fill in the gaps a bit with our imagination. Also the artist for the manual looks like the same one who did the art for the Resident Evil 1 manga renditions of the characters. Thanks for this quick one Jimmy.

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

You're welcome--yeah, I love the graphics for the game, especially the MSX2 original. Quite gritty and unsettling.

@practicallyneutral Год назад

...so THAT'S what MF stands for...

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

Heeeeeey, long time! Also, thank you for becoming a member! You're the first (and only at the moment). Hope you're doing well, I think about you and the family often. I'm surprised we haven't had a catch up in a while.

@Alexandre-rt7xk Год назад

The tragedy is that even if by some miracle they decided to remake the game, they would change the charming awesomeness of its 80s anime art to something more modern.

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

Very true, which is why I'm usually a bit trepidatious when it comes to remakes...more so for movies or anime than games, but there have been a lot of letdowns, for sure.

@tamerkoh Год назад

@@ImportGamingFTW How do you feel about ones that update the graphics to be more detailed, but stay faithful to the original style? For example, the PSP Final Fantasy remakes look really amazing to me. They retained the overall chibi style that existed since the NES/sNES original versions, except it's higher res, more detailed, and the worlds look beautiful. Especially Final Fantasy II's locations, like Bafsk. I love how the PSP version turns it into a gorgeous sunset, Paris-looking town with the high res pixel art ^^

@tiagokang639 Год назад

0:32 is that Daigo Umehara on the cover?

@rockymitsu Год назад

Probably! but the original character died in the film

@yes.6892 Год назад

I'd like a sequel than a remake personally

@Zionfarm Год назад

And just like that I picked up a copy from eBay for $28.

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

I'm happy you found it for so cheap!

@carlosaugustodinizgarcia3526 Год назад

I know they are unrelated but somehow this game gives me strong Parasite Eve vibes.RPG with modern weapons,a female swat member/Police officer with pyschic powers ,various mutated creatures... The same year War of the Dead was released (1987) Enix had JESUS,a horror adventure game inspired by Alien.Would it be considered a survival horror ?

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

Any link or resemblance to Parasite Eve is a good one, I love that game. You know...I KNOW about Jesus, but have never played it and never looked into it too much. Could be a candidate for early survival horror!

@automaticspaz 5 месяцев назад

anywhere I can read the manual or find scans/art?

@mageofjapanbackup Год назад

See this why I always try avoid saying "the first" always seems ever few years ppl be like "Oh I know this title called 1st but I found one even older" And cheap ;o *sees few for like 25ish bucks on ebay* ooo can also request a copy this title Jimmy? Looks like fun retro title bugs aside always enjoy oddball stuff like this from Japan hehe ;p

@AvalancheReviews Год назад

If avalanche Jared was here, he'd tell you sweet home isn't survival horror.

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

Well, it's a good thing he's not welcome here--that guy's full of it! Worst Resident Evil channel ever!

@AvalancheReviews Год назад

@@ImportGamingFTW Ooooo I'm about to snitch to himmmmmm

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

@@AvalancheReviews You do that--and also let him know I'mma beat his ass...in Street Fighter III and Dead or Alive 6.

@hfric 7 месяцев назад

You should post more videos about Japan Horror games, that where not imported to other regions ... like its many PS1 Horror Games

@tufrabza Год назад

Green haired, pony tailed protagonist woman... @1:47 she looks like Lyn from Fire Emblem (I'm sure its just a coincidence, and Lyn came out like 15 years later)

@chasonlapointe Год назад

Fix the bugs and I'd buy a copy of that for my Switch in a heartbeat....

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

I'd love to see that...along with a bit of an overhaul of the game progression, more enemy variety...

@or3con Год назад

I tried to play this, I think i got to the school and gave up. As you said, it's pretty tedious.

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

Very much tedious, more so toward the middle and end of the game. Starts off really fun, though.

@Dr.W.Krueger 11 месяцев назад

I like how with every release the cover artwork get worse and worse

@ImportGamingFTW 10 месяцев назад

Truth!

@KingofCrusher 4 месяца назад

I worked on hacking and translating this like 15 years ago, lol. It's such a bad yet wonky fun game.

@ImportGamingFTW 4 месяца назад

Thank you for your work--also, I love your username and profile pic. Another bad yet wonky fun game.

@KingofCrusher 4 месяца назад

@@ImportGamingFTW lol so true!

@Randalftown Год назад

The sequel is way better and actually fun to play. It’s the Resident Evil 2 of the franchise

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

I've heard it's really good, it's something I've wanted to try out for a while now! I'm kicking myself for not picking it up a few years back when I saw it pop up often. I think I was too cautious/weary since it was a FD game.

@FingerBreakerWu Год назад

Oh god, this looks bad.

@willmistretta Год назад

Oh, man, this one drove me up the wall. I've beaten almost 50 PCE games since I got the system in 2018 and this was by far my least favorite. Kind of hypothetically interesting in a "maybe someone who worked on RE played this once" way, but a boring, buggy slog from start to finish.

@ImportGamingFTW Год назад

If I had more time to go into it, I could have gone off on the game. I had to backtrack several times at the end of the game because I couldn't trigger an event for some reason...it was super frustrating.

@willmistretta Год назад

@@ImportGamingFTW I definitely did in my own review, which is actually pretty unusual for me. I'm not at all an angry reviewer type by inclination and tend to look for the bright side in most things.

@mariusamber3237 Год назад

Yeah, the idea/setting for the game are really good on paper, but this game is sadly the king of weird triggers that you have no way of knowing without a guide... many games from the 80s had that kind of design. The developer is also really obscure.