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Shiryou Sensen: War of the Dead

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Shiryou Sensen: War of the Dead (1987) is considered by many to be the first true survival horror game. Designed by Katsuya Iwamoto, it was developed by Fun Project and published by Victor Music Industries for the MSX2, PC-88 and PC Engine platforms. It also featured open-world gameplay and RPG e...

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Developer
Fun Project

Released on
1989

Size
1 Player

Version
TurboGrafx-16

Requirements
NEC TurboGrafx-16

Downloads
Action

Publisher
Victor Musical Industries

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

Shiryou Sensen: War of the Dead (1987) is considered by many to be the first true survival horror game. Designed by Katsuya Iwamoto, it was developed by Fun Project and published by Victor Music Industries for the MSX2, PC-88 and PC Engine platforms. It also featured open-world gameplay and RPG elements.

This horror action RPG revolves around a female SWAT member named Lila who must rescue survivors in an isolated monster-infested town. As the plot unfolds, it is later revealed that the monsters have come from a portal to another world and the family that has secretly protected it for generations.

Shiryou Sensen: War of the Dead

Overview & History

Released initially by Victor Musical Industries in 1988 for the MSX2 and PC-8801, Shiryou Sensen: War of the Dead found its definitive console home on the TurboGrafx-16 in 1989. Unlike typical mindless action titles of the era, this game blends traditional Japanese horror aesthetics with top-down role-playing elements. Players step into the combat boots of Lila, a hardened military policewoman who is dispatched to a remote, fog-shrouded American town after a distress call cuts off communication. Upon arrival, she discovers the local populace has mutated into ferocious ghouls, zombies, and monstrous abominations due to a sinister biological catastrophe. The TurboGrafx-16 version stands out for its atmospheric redbook audio CD soundtrack, enhanced visual clarity, and exclusive animated cutscenes that deepen the eerie, claustrophobic narrative.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

War of the Dead plays out from a top-down perspective, requiring players to navigate labyrinthine streets, dark forest paths, and decaying buildings while managing scarce resources. Unlike linear shooters, Lila must interact with surviving NPCs, uncover hidden keys, and solve environmental puzzles to progress. Combat relies heavily on positioning and timing; Lila can utilize a standard sidearm with limited ammunition as well as close-quarters melee strikes against relentless hordes of the undead. Players must carefully monitor Lila’s health and ammunition pools, as reckless charging invariably leads to a swift death. The game features an expansive interconnected map where backtracking is essential, alongside a rudimentary inventory management system that forces difficult decisions regarding which weapons and healing items to carry into dangerous, unmapped territory.