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Bokosuka Wars

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This game revolves around a leader who must lead an army in phalanx formation across a battlefield in real-time against overwhelming enemy forces while freeing and recruiting soldiers along the way, with each unit able to gain experience and level up through battle. The player must make sure that...

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Developer
Workss

Released on
1985

Size
1 Player

Version
NES

Requirements
Nintendo Entertainment System

Downloads
Strategy

Publisher
ASCII

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

This game revolves around a leader who must lead an army in phalanx formation across a battlefield in real-time against overwhelming enemy forces while freeing and recruiting soldiers along the way, with each unit able to gain experience and level up through battle. The player must make sure that the leader stays alive, until the army reaches the enemy castle to defeat the leader of the opposing forces.

The game was responsible for laying the foundations for the tactical role-playing game genre, or the “simulation RPG” genre as it is known in Japan, with its blend of role-playing and strategy game elements. The game has also variously been described as an early example of an action role-playing game, an early prototype real-time strategy game, and a unique reverse tower defense game. In its time, the game was considered a major success in Japan.

Bokosuka Wars

Overview & History

Originally conceived by Koji Sumino and first coded for the Sharp X1 in 1983 before being ported to the Famicom by ASCII in 1985, Bokosuka Wars stands as a primordial ancestor of the tactical RPG and real-time strategy genres. Blending whimsical fantasy aesthetics with surprisingly grueling strategy, the game puts players in control of the brave King Otonshin, who must lead his loyal army to overthrow the tyrannical rule of the evil King Agret. Unlike standard side-scrolling platformers of the mid-eighties, this title forces you to manage a growing battalion of soldiers, knights, and ranged attackers across hazard-filled terrain. While its primitive mechanics and high difficulty curve baffled many players upon its initial home console release, it earned a cult following for pioneering concepts that later evolved into legendary franchises like Pikmin and Fire Emblem.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Bokosuka Wars plays out on a single-screen, multi-tiered battlefield where King Otonshin marches continuously forward unless halted by obstacles, enemy troops, or direct player input. As the monarch traverses the landscape, he encounters captive soldiers and knights imprisoned in enemy territory; freeing them recruits them into your active marching phalanx. Movement requires careful spatial awareness, as your troops blindly follow the King's lateral alignment. Combat is resolved automatically upon contact with enemy units based on numerical strength and unit type—knights defeat standard grunts more efficiently, while foot soldiers are vulnerable. Terrain hazards, impassable walls, and aggressive enemy ambushes mean that a single misplaced step can decimate your ranks. Managing your formation, rescuing isolated troops, and protecting King Otonshin from direct hits are absolute prerequisites for surviving the grueling march toward Agret's fortress.