The PC-98 dungeon crawler Slayers has recently received an English fan translation, allowing English-speaking players to experience the game for the first time. Originally developed by AIC Spirits and Banpresto in 1994, the game is based on Hajime Kanzaka‘s Slayers light novel series, which also inspired a popular manga and anime.
Game Overview
- Storyline: The game follows the adventures of the sorceress Lina Inverse and her companion, the swordsman Gourry Gabriev. They are drawn to a small town named Welnan by rumors of a dragon with valuable fangs. Here, a “Chimera of the Year” competition is taking place, where participants enter a dangerous dungeon to collect monster parts and create the best chimera. Lina and Gourry end up joining forces with the weakest contestant, adding twists and turns to the storyline.
- Gameplay: Slayers combines turn-based combat with first-person dungeon exploration. Players control Lina directly, navigating through the game’s challenges and engaging in strategic battles.
Translation Project
The fan translation project for Slayers has been in the works for many years. Initial efforts were announced by a hacker known as Filler back in 2008. However, updates were sparse until recently, when the project was finally completed. The translation team includes contributors such as EsperKnight, AlphaRobo, Guest, Eien ni Hen, and KirinnB, who worked on various aspects like ASM hacking, script extraction, and graphics tools.
Availability
The English translation patch for Slayers is available for download, allowing fans to apply it to their copies of the game. This development is significant for fans of the Slayers series and those interested in classic Japanese RPGs, as it provides access to a previously inaccessible title in the franchise’s history.
