View source for Lufia & the Fortress of Doom

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{{Lead too short|date=May 2015}}
{{Short description|1993 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|image = Lufia Fortress of Doom.jpg
|caption = North American box art
|developer = [[Neverland (company)|Neverland]]
|publisher = {{vgrelease|JP|[[Taito]]|US|Taito America Corp.}}
|director = Masahide Miyata
|series = ''[[Lufia]]''
|writer = Masahide Miyata
|composer = Yasunori Shiono <br /> Aki Zaitsu <br /> Naomi Kuroda
|platforms = [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]]
|released = {{vgrelease|JP|25 June 1993|US|4 December 1993<ref>{{cite magazine |date=November 1993 |title=Lufia - Previews |url=https://archive.org/stream/Video_Games_The_Ultimate_Gaming_Magazine_Issue_58_November_1993#page/n45 |magazine=[[VideoGames - The Ultimate Gaming Magazine]] |publisher=L.F.P., Inc. |issue=58 |page=46}}</ref>}}
|genre = [[Role-playing video game|Role-playing]]
|modes = [[Single-player]]
}}
'''''Lufia & the Fortress of Doom''''', known as {{nihongo|'''''Estpolis Denki'''''|エストポリス伝記|Esutoporisu Denki|officially translated ''Biography of Estpolis''<ref>{{cite video game|title=Estpolis Denki |developer=Neverland Co., Ltd. |publisher=Taito |date=25 June 1993 |platform=Super Famicom |quote=< Staff > [...] Biography of Estpolis}}</ref>}} in Japan, is a [[role-playing video game]] developed by [[Neverland (company)|Neverland]] and published by [[Taito]] in [[1993 in video gaming|1993]], for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]. It is the first title in the ''[[Lufia]]'' series of video games and the only game from the series released under the Taito label in North America.
The game's plot follows The Hero, Lufia, Aguro, and Jerin on a quest to prevent the resurrection of four superpowered beings called Sinistrals, and frequently delves into the political and personal lives of the subjects of kingdoms all around the world. Top-down exploration is mixed with traditional turn-based combat using 2D sprites. The game was generally well-received, and has spawned [[Lufia|multiple sequels]] on the Super Nintendo as well as the [[Game Boy Color]], [[Game Boy Advance]] and the [[Nintendo DS]].
==Gameplay==
''Lufia & the Fortress of Doom'' plays much like a traditional role-playing video game and features 2D character sprites and environments. The player advances the story by travelling through several harsh dungeons, encountering monsters along the way. These battles occur randomly (every few steps or so) or in scripted situations, and winning them yields experience points that go towards leveling up the characters, giving them access to new abilities and making them stronger in the process. The battles themselves take place from a [[first person (video games)|first-person]] perspective, and require the player to use each character's strengths, such as physical attacks or [[Magic (gaming)|magic]] use, as in many other mainstream RPGs.
An interesting quirk in the battle system, reminiscent of older RPGs like the early ''[[Dragon Quest]]'' games, makes it such that when ordering two characters to attack a particular enemy, and the first character defeats the enemy, the second character's attack will still target the defeated enemy and thus miss. Thus foresight is required to make sure that no characters' battle moves are wasted, unlike other RPGs, where other enemies will be targeted if the intended enemy has already been defeated.
New equipment and restorative items are purchased from vendors in various towns, or found in chests scattered throughout the world. The player's progress is saved in one of three available slots on the cartridge's built-in battery back-up system by speaking to a priest at a church found in most towns.
==Plot==
===Setting===
[[File:Lufia & The Fortress of Doom (U) Pic 6.png|thumb|253x253px|The player character when in-town]]
The story of ''Lufia & the Fortress of Doom'' begins, in accordance with an ancient prophecy of the ''Lufia'' world, with a massive floating island with a large castle located on it emerging into the sky one dark day. Dubbed the "Fortress of Doom", this castle served as the base of operations for a group of all-powerful beings known as the Sinistrals, who planned to use their strength to bring the world to its knees.
In response, the people sent four of their bravest warriors: Maxim, Selan ("Serena" in Estopolis Denki), Artea ("Arty" in Estopolis Denki), and Guy, to infiltrate the dark fortress and destroy the Sinistrals before they could do any harm. The game begins with the player controlling these characters as they prepare to engage the Sinistrals, and eventually defeat them. However, after the battle, the fortress begins to collapse, with Maxim and Selan becoming trapped on the other side of a deep chasm that forms when the Sinistral throne room splits apart. Unable to teleport them to safety, Artea and Guy leave the falling island alone, and their trapped allies apparently perish when it crashes into the earth below.
Peace reigns for ninety years after the heroes' encounter with the Sinistrals, and the actual game is set nine years after that. The story is told from the perspective of a red-haired boy the player is in charge of naming, and along the way he gets caught up in a struggle to save the world once again from the newly emerged Sinistral army.
===Story===
{{Expand section|date=May 2015}}
== Characters ==
=== Playable characters ===
* "The Hero": The primary character of the story that the player gets to name. He grew up in a small town of Alekia and was raised by a man named Roman, a friend of his father (who had died in a battle long ago). Very skilled in [[swordplay]], The Hero prefers to fight in close quarters, and wears heavy armor, though he does have some degree of magical skill, usually healing and defense spells. He is said to be a descendant of the great hero Maxim who vanquished the Sinistrals and saved the world.
* Lufia: The Hero's best friend whom he has known since childhood. She is bossy, but proficient in spellcasting. She has a romantic interest in The Hero and helps him in any way she can. She fights with wands and other lightweight weapons such as flails and even frying pans. Lufia utilizes Thunder, Water and Explosion magic as well as numerous support spells.
* Aguro: Leader of the army of the nation of Lorbenia, Aguro is a hardened warrior who is interested in the Hero's fighting ability. Having no skill in magic, he instead relies on his brute strength and skill with swords, axes and lances. He, like the Hero, can equip heavy armor to increase his defense.
* Jerin: A half-elf who, because of her heritage, has an increased lifespan and actually appears younger than she is. Agile, and good with magic, Jerin prefers to fight at a distance, using either a bow and arrow or wands in combat. She is proficient with Fire and Ice magic and is a master of healing.
[[File:Lufia 1 battle.png|thumb|250x250px|Battle mode]]
===Starting characters===
At the start of the game (introduction):
* Maxim: The primary character in the prequel to ''Lufia and the Fortress of Doom''. His past is much like "The Hero"'s present with certain variations.
* Selan: Maxim's wife, Selan is a powerful magic user but is not as strong with melee attacks.
* Guy: Guy is a longtime friend of Maxim who has no knowledge of magic himself but is physically the most powerful character.
* Artea: An elf who can attack all targets with his bow and has a decent amount of magic. Artea lives through both comings of the Sinistrals due to the long lifespan of an elf.
===Non-playable characters===
* The Sinistrals: A group of four powerful, god-like warriors who plan on taking over the world. From their floating Fortress of Doom, they gathered their strength, only to be defeated by Maxim and his friends years ago. Their ranks include Gades, Master of Destruction, an overbearing and proud warrior clad in dark armor; Amon, Master of Chaos, a resourceful man who wears gold armor and wields a trident; Erim, Mistress of Death, who can revive any of her brothers if they fall in combat; and Daos, Master of Terror, their leader, an incredibly powerful sorcerer. However, due to a mistake, in the English version Daos and Amon have their titles reversed. Daos is the Master of Chaos (Infernos in the Dutch version), while Amon is the Master of Terror; this is the only game in the series where this localization error occurs.
==Development==
Taito began to develop a port of ''Lufia & the Fortress of Doom'' for the [[Sega Genesis|Sega Mega Drive/Genesis]],<ref name="SMuk15">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/sega-uk-15#page/n17/mode/1up|title=News: Taito Enter Realm Of RPGs|magazine=[[Sega Magazine]]|issue=15|publisher=[[EMAP]]|date=March 1995|page=18}}</ref> but the game, primarily intended for a North American release, was not released because of Taito America's closure in 1995.{{ref|megadrive}} At least two full-page advertisements were made in U.S. magazines, the second one announcing a delay to spring 1995, with the tagline "It's worth the wait".<ref name="EGM65a1">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_65#page/n314/mode/1up|title=Lufia & the Fortress of Doom (Genesis) - Coming December 1994|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=65|publisher=Sendai Publishing|date=December 1994|pages=287}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:GamePro_US_066.pdf&page=83|title=Lufia & the Fortress of Doom (Genesis) - Coming Spring 1995 — It's worth the wait!|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=66|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=January 1995|page=73}}</ref> A ROM image of the Mega Drive version was leaked online in 2014 by a former programmer of the port.<ref name="O-A.com">{{cite web|last=Ocean|first=Billy|url=http://opa-ages.com/forums/topic/74634-i-have-a-never-released-genesis-rpg-prototype-rom/|title=I have a never released Genesis RPG prototype ROM...|website=Opa-Ages.com|date=February 9, 2014|access-date=2020-12-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310134043/http://opa-ages.com/forums/topic/74634-i-have-a-never-released-genesis-rpg-prototype-rom/|archive-date=2014-03-10|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| Dragon = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name=Dragon206/>
| EGM = 7.8 of 10<ref name=Moby>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/snes/lufia-the-fortress-of-doom/mobyrank|title=Lufia & the Fortress of Doom for SNES (1993) MobyRank|publisher=[[MobyGames]]|access-date=2012-08-12}}</ref>
| Fam = 28 of 40<ref>http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=8943</ref>
| GP = 9 of 10<ref name=Moby/>
| GamePro = 4.5 of 5<ref name=GamePro>''GamePro'', issue 53 (December 1993), pages 260-261</ref>
| Hyper = 79%<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Humphreys|first=Andrew|date=May 1994|url=https://archive.org/details/hyper-006/page/56/mode/2up|title=Lufia and The Fortress of Doom|magazine=[[Hyper (magazine)|Hyper]]|issue=6|page=56|accessdate=March 28, 2021}}</ref>
| NP = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>''Nintendo Power'', issue 54 (November 1993), pages 104-105 & 107</ref>
| RPGamer = 8 of 10<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rpgamer.com/games/lufia/luf1/reviews/luf1rdrev1.html |title=Lufia and the Fortress of Doom- Retroview |access-date=2015-08-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906221132/http://www.rpgamer.com/games/lufia/luf1/reviews/luf1rdrev1.html |archive-date=2015-09-06 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| RPGFan = 86%<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/lufia/Lufia.html |title=RPGFan Reviews - Lufia & the Fortress of Doom |access-date=2015-08-04 |archive-date=2015-09-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906165957/http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/lufia/Lufia.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev1 = ''[[Electronic Games]]''
| rev1Score = 93%<ref name=EG/>
}}
In the United States, it was the top-selling Super NES game in [[1994 in video games|February 1994]].<ref name="EGMApr1994">{{cite magazine|date=April 1994|title=EGM Hot Top Tens|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/e/ed/EGM_US_057.pdf|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|pages=52}}</ref>
Upon release, ''[[Electronic Games]]'' scored it 93%, calling it "the best RPG so far this year".<ref name=EG>''Electronic Games'', issue 15 (December 1993), page 112</ref> In ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'', [[Sandy Petersen]] gave the game 3 out of 5 stars.<ref name="Dragon206">{{cite journal|title=Eye of the Monitor|author=Petersen, Sandy|author-link=Sandy Petersen|journal=Dragon|issue=206|date=June 1994|pages=57–60}}</ref> ''[[GamePro]]'' gave it ratings of 4.5/5 for graphics, 4/5 for sound, 4/5 for control and 4.5/5 for overall fun factor.<ref name=GamePro/> ''Lufia '' was runner-up for ''GamePro''{{'s}} 1993 [[List of Game of the Year awards|Role-Playing Game of the Year]] award, which was won by ''[[Secret of Mana]]''.<ref>''GamePro'', issue 55 (February 1994), page 27</ref>
Retrospectively, the game has received positive to mixed reviews. Some reflect on it fondly for its story and characters, while others criticize it as being inferior to other console RPGs of that era, such as ''Secret of Mana'', the ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' titles, or its prequel ''[[Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lufia & the Fortress of Doom (1993) |url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/9980/lufia-the-fortress-of-doom/ |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=MobyGames |language=en}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==Sources==
* {{note|megadrive}}"[http://forfeit.electromaz.com/lufia1/news/ ''Lufia & the Fortress of Doom'' Turns Ten]". [http://forfeit.electromaz.com/ Forfeit Island]. 2003. Last accessed May 9, 2005.
==External links==
* {{moby game|id=/lufia-the-fortress-of-doom}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051125160444/http://www.lufia.net/ Lufia.net]
{{Lufia series}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lufia and The Fortress Of Doom}}
[[Category:1993 video games]]
[[Category:Cancelled Sega Genesis games]]
[[Category:Japanese role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Lufia]]
[[Category:Neverland (company) games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Super Nintendo Entertainment System games]]
[[Category:Super Nintendo Entertainment System-only games]]
[[Category:Taito games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]