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==Early history== An early example was Magical Zoo's ''The Screamer'',<ref name=Moby-Screamer/> a 1985 post-apocalyptic sci-fi RPG released in Japan for the [[NEC PC-8801]] computer, set after [[World War III]] and revolving around [[cyberpunk]] and biological [[Survival horror|horror]] themes.<ref name=4Gamer-Screamer>{{Cite web|url=http://www.4gamer.net/news/history/2006.12/20061226145948detail.html|title=The Screamer|work=4Gamer.net|date=2006-12-26|accessdate=2011-03-29}} ([http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.4gamer.net%2Fnews%2Fhistory%2F2006.12%2F20061226145948detail.html&sl=ja&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8 Translation])</ref><ref name=Legendra-Screamer>[http://www.legendra.com/rpg/fiche-rpg_id-3174-rpg-the_screamer.html#fichesr_33_3174 The Screamer], Legendra</ref> The gameplay switched between first-person [[dungeon crawl]] exploration and [[side-scrolling shooter]] combat, where the player could jump, duck and shoot at enemies in real-time.<ref name=Moby-Screamer>{{MobyGames|id=/screamer_|name=The Screamer}}</ref> That same year, the action role-playing game ''[[Dragon Slayer II: Xanadu]]'' allowed the player to shoot projectile magic attacks at enemies.<ref name=Xanadu>Kurt Kalata, [http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/xanadu/xanadu.htm Xanadu], Hardcore Gaming 101</ref> The earliest to feature [[3D computer graphics|3D polygonal graphics]] was the 1986 game ''[[Wibarm|WiBArm]]'', released by [[Arsys Software]] for the [[NEC PC-8801|NEC PC-88]] computer in Japan and ported to [[MS-DOS]] for Western release by [[Brøderbund]]. In ''WiBArm'', the player controls a transformable [[mecha]] robot, switching between a [[2D computer graphics|2D]] [[Side-scrolling shooter video games|side-scrolling]] view during outdoor exploration to a fully 3D polygonal [[Third person (video games)|third-person]] perspective inside buildings, while bosses are fought in an arena-style 2D [[shoot 'em up video games|shoot 'em up]] battle. The game featured a variety of weapons and equipment as well as an [[automap]], and the player could upgrade equipment and earn experience to raise stats.<ref name=Retro>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/JPNcomputers/Japanesecomputers4.htm|author=John Szczepaniak|title=Retro Japanese Computers: Gaming's Final Frontier|page=4|publisher=Hardcore Gaming 101|accessdate=2011-03-18}} (Reprinted from ''[[Retro Gamer]]'', Issue 67, 2009)</ref><ref name=4Gamer-Wibarm>{{Cite web|url=http://www.4gamer.net/games/008/G000896/20080325040/|title=【リリース】プロジェクトEGGから3月25日に「ウィバーン」発売|publisher=4Gamer.net|accessdate=2011-03-05}} ([http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.4gamer.net/games/008/G000896/20080325040/&ei=Ki9yTc7aOsXssgb8jJmEDg&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDoQ7gEwAg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsite:4gamer.net%2BArsys%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-gb:IE-SearchBox%26prmd%3Divnsl Translation])</ref> In contrast to first-person RPGs at the time that were restricted to 90-degree movements, ''WiBArm's'' use of 3D polygons allowed full 360-degree movement.<ref name=4Gamer-Wibarm/> In 1987, ''[[Survival horror#Origins|Shiryou Sensen: War of the Dead]]'', an [[MSX2]] title developed by Fun Factory and published by [[Victor Entertainment|Victor Music Industries]], was the first true [[survival horror]] RPG.<ref name=Gifford>Kevin Gifford, [http://magweasel.com/2009/11/10/i-love-the-pc-engine-shiryou-sensen-war-of-the-dead/ Shiryō Sensen: War of the Dead], ''Magweasel.com'', November 10, 2009</ref><ref name=Szczepaniak>John Szczepaniak, [http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/wotd/wotd.htm War of the Dead], Hardcore Gaming 101, 15 January 2011</ref> Designed by Katsuya Iwamoto, the game revolved around a female [[SWAT]] member Lila rescuing survivors in an isolated monster-infested town and bringing them to safety in a church. It was [[Open world|open-ended]] like ''[[Dragon Quest]]'' and had [[Real-time game|real-time]] side-view battles like ''[[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link|Zelda II]]''. Unlike other RPGs at the time, however, the game had a dark and creepy atmosphere expressed through the story, graphics, and music,<ref name=Gifford/> while the gameplay used shooter-based combat and gave limited ammunition for each weapon, forcing the player to search for ammo and often run away from monsters in order to conserve ammo.<ref name=Szczepaniak/> In 1988, ''The Scheme'', released by [[Quest Corporation|Bothtec]] for the [[NEC PC-8801|PC-8801]], was an action RPG with a similar side-scrolling [[Open world|open-world]] gameplay to ''[[Metroid]]''.<ref name=Retro/> [[Compile (publisher)|Compile]]'s ''[[The Guardian Legend]]'' that year was a successful fusion of the action-adventure, shoot 'em up and role-playing game genres, later inspiring acclaimed titles such as ''[[Sigma Star Saga]]'' in 2005.<ref name="Thomas">{{Cite news| last = Thomas|first = Lucas M.|title = {{'}}''Sigma Star''{{'}} Combines RPG, Shoot-Em'-Up Action |newspaper = [[Evansville Courier & Press]] |page = D11|date = 2005-08-18 |accessdate= 2008-06-25 |url=http://www.courierpress.com/news/2005/aug/18/game-time-sigma-star-saga/ |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5hmtdzPXD |archivedate=2009-06-25}}</ref> That same year, Arsys Software released ''[[:jp:スタークルーザー|Star Cruiser]]'' for the PC-88. This innovative game is notable for being a very early example of an RPG with fully 3D polygonal graphics,<ref name=4gamer>[http://www.4gamer.net/games/008/G000896/20080428044/ スタークルーザー] ([http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.4gamer.net%2Fgames%2F008%2FG000896%2F20080428044%2F translation]), 4Gamer.net</ref> combined with [[first-person shooter]] gameplay,<ref name=Star-Cruiser>{{Allgame|16126|Star Cruiser}}</ref> which would occasionally switch to [[Space flight simulator game|space flight simulator]] gameplay when exploring outer space with [[six degrees of freedom]]. All the backgrounds, objects and opponents in the game were rendered in 3D polygons, many years before they were widely adopted by the gaming industry. The game also emphasized storytelling, with plot twists and extensive character dialogues.<ref name=4gamer/> It was later ported to the [[Mega Drive|Sega Mega Drive]] in 1990.<ref name=Star-Cruiser/> The game's sequel, ''Star Cruiser 2'', was released in 1992,<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20040201144907/http://dengeki.jp/~roburi/cd.csv でんげき~別館~] ([http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.co.uk%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D1%26ved%3D0CBsQIDAA%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwebcache.googleusercontent.com%252Fsearch%253Fq%253Dcache%253AMVbKeE4duaEJ%253Awww.dengeki.jp%252F~roburi%252Fcd.csv%252Bsite%253Adengeki.jp%252B%252522%2525E3%252582%2525B9%2525E3%252582%2525BF%2525E3%252583%2525BC%2525E3%252582%2525AF%2525E3%252583%2525AB%2525E3%252583%2525BC%2525E3%252582%2525B6%2525E3%252583%2525BC2%252522%252B1993%2526cd%253D1%2526hl%253Den%2526ct%253Dclnk%2526gl%253Duk%2526client%253Dfirefox-a%2526source%253Dwww.google.co.uk%26ei%3DXfZJTavME6WL4gbJv42eDA%26usg%3DAFQjCNG3SsZ1R3MJQ4tRi789OyEi12aEUA%26sig2%3D-fvcCW3TfnJrZcxvVDvEAQ Translation]), ''[[Dengeki]]''</ref> for the [[NEC PC-9801|PC-9821]] and [[FM Towns]] computers.<ref>[http://www.dengeki.jp/~roburi/akiary/200406.html 日記(バックナンバー)] ([http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.dengeki.jp/~roburi/akiary/200406.html&ei=evdJTbGLAY314AaNtpyJDA&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCQQ7gEwAQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsite:dengeki.jp%2B%2522%25E3%2582%25B9%25E3%2582%25BF%25E3%2583%25BC%25E3%2582%25AF%25E3%2583%25AB%25E3%2583%25BC%25E3%2582%25B6%25E3%2583%25BC%2B2%2522%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26prmd%3Divns Translation]), ''[[Dengeki]]''</ref> In 1990, [[Hideo Kojima]]'s ''[[SD Snatcher]]'', while turn-based, introduced an innovative first-person shooter-based battle system where firearm weapons (each with different abilities and target ranges) have limited ammunition and the player can aim at specific parts of the enemy's body with each part weakening the enemy in different ways. Such a battle system has rarely been used since,<ref>Kurt Kalata, [http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/snatcher/snatcher.htm Snatcher], Hardcore Gaming 101</ref> though similar battle systems based on targeting individual body parts can later be found in Square's ''[[Vagrant Story]]'' (2000), a [[Time-keeping systems in games#Pausable real-time|pausable real-time]] RPG<ref>{{Cite web|title=Retronauts: Volume 4 - Yasumi Matsuno|author=Jeremy Parish|publisher=[[1UP.com]]|date=2006-03-18|url=http://www.1up.com/features/retronauts-yasumi-matsuno|accessdate=2011-04-09}}</ref> that uses both melee and bow & arrow weapons,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vagrant Story - Retroview|publisher=[[RPGamer]]|url=http://www.rpgamer.com/games/other/psx/vagrant/reviews/vagrantstrev2.html|accessdate=2011-04-09}}</ref> as well as [[Bethesda Softworks|Bethesda]]'s ''Fallout 3'' (2008) and [[Nippon Ichi]]'s ''[[Last Rebellion]]'' (2010).<ref>[http://www.jeuxvideo.fr/date-europeenne-fixe-action-rpg-last-rebellion-actu-323102.html European date fixed for the action / RPG Last Rebellion] ([http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jeuxvideo.fr%2Fdate-europeenne-fixe-action-rpg-last-rebellion-actu-323102.html&sl=fr&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8 Translation]), Jeuxvideo.com</ref> In 1996, ''[[Night Slave]]'' was a shooter RPG released for the [[NEC PC-9801|PC-98]] that combined the [[Scrolling shooter|side-scrolling shooter]] gameplay of ''[[Cybernator|Assault Suits Valken]]'' and ''[[Gradius]]'', including an armaments system that employs recoil [[Game physics|physics]], with many RPG elements such as permanently levelling up the [[mecha]] and various weapons using power-orbs obtained from defeating enemies as well as storyline [[cut scene]]s, which occasionally contain [[Eroge|erotic]] lesbian [[Adult video game|adult content]].<ref name=Retro/> Other early shooter-based action RPGs include the ''[[Parasite Eve (series)|Parasite Eve]]'' series of [[survival horror]] RPGs (1998 onwards) by Square (now [[Square Enix]]),<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20100103162429/http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/374/parasite-eve/ Parasite Eve], [[GamePro]]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Parasite Eve released on PlayStation Network|author=Sean Ridgeley|publisher=Neoseeker|date=March 15, 2011|url=http://www.neoseeker.com/news/16005-parasite-eve-released-on-playstation-network/|accessdate=2011-04-09}}</ref> the ''[[Deus Ex]]'' series (2000 onwards) by [[Eidos Interactive]] (now [[Square Enix Europe]]), [[Ancient (company)|Ancient]]'s [[Vehicular combat game|vehicular combat]] RPG ''[[Car Battler Joe]]'' (2002),<ref name="Keiser">{{Cite web | author=Kaiser, Joe | date=July 8, 2005 | title=Unsung Inventors | url=http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=336&Itemid=2 | work=Next-Gen.biz | accessdate=2010-04-02 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20051028224610/http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=336&Itemid=2 |archivedate = 2005-10-28}}</ref> [[Konami]]'s solar-powered [[Stealth game|stealth]]-based ''[[Boktai]]'' series (2003 onwards),<ref>[http://www.1up.com/do/minisite?pager.offset=1&cId=3146356 Retroactive: Kojima's Productions (Page 2)], [[1UP.com|1UP]]</ref> [[Irem]]'s ''[[Steambot Chronicles]]'' (2005),<ref>[http://www.siliconera.com/2006/05/23/steambot-chronicles/ Steambot Chronicles], Siliconera</ref> Square Enix's [[third-person shooter]] RPG ''[[Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII]]'' (2006)<ref>[http://www.next-gen.biz/features/japan-final-fantasy-vii-psp-and-potions JAPAN: Final Fantasy VII PSP and Potions], ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]''</ref> which introduced an over-the-shoulder perspective similar to ''[[Resident Evil 4]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII|publisher=Siliconera|url=http://www.siliconera.com/dirge-of-cerberus-final-fantasy-vii/|accessdate=2011-03-29}}</ref> and the [[Massively multiplayer online game|MMO]] vehicular combat game ''[[Auto Assault]]'' (2006) by [[NetDevil]] and [[NCsoft]].<ref name="Keiser"/> Other action RPGs featured both hack & slash and shooting elements, with the use of both guns (or in some cases, [[Bow and arrow|bow & arrow]] or [[Combat flight simulator|aerial combat]]) and [[melee]] weapons, including the ''[[Devil Summoner|Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner]]'' series (1995 onwards) by [[Atlus]],<ref>[http://www.siliconera.com/2006/10/11/shin-megami-tensei-devil-summoner-raidou-kuzunoha-vs-the-soulless-army/ Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner – Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army], Siliconera</ref> [[tri-Ace]]'s ''[[Star Ocean]]'' series (1996 onwards),<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20091029154602/http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/208603/star-ocean-second-evolution/ Star Ocean: Second Evolution], [[GamePro]]</ref><ref>[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/gaming/news/a197264/preview-resonance-of-fate-360-ps3.html Preview: 'Resonance of Fate' (360, PS3)], [[Digital Spy]]</ref> [[Cavia (company)|Cavia]]'s flight-based ''[[Drakengard]]'' series (2003 to 2005),<ref>[http://www.1up.com/previews/drakengard_3 Drakengard (PS2)], [[1UP.com]], accessed 2011-02-27</ref><ref>[http://uk.gamespot.com/ps2/rpg/drakengard2/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary%3Bread-review Drakengard 2 Review], [[GameSpot]], February 15, 2006</ref> and [[Level-5]]'s ''[[Rogue Galaxy]]'' (2005).<ref>[http://www.siliconera.com/2007/01/26/rogue-galaxy-charming-and-cel-shaded/ Rogue Galaxy: charming and cel shaded], Siliconera</ref>
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