Nihon Falcom: the story on HearLore

Nihon Falcom

Masayuki Kato stood in a small Tokyo office in 1981 and named his new company after a spaceship that would never fly in the real world. The name Falcom came from the Millennium Falcon, but the final letter was changed to an m to fit the naming trends of that time. Adding the word Nihon, taken from one of the native names of Japan, made the name sound more complete and grounded. This small startup would eventually lay the foundations for the action role-playing and Japanese role-playing game genres, yet its origins were humble and its name a playful nod to pop culture. The company's first role-playing game, Panorama Toh, was released for the PC-8801 in 1983 and created by Yoshio Kiya, who would go on to create the Dragon Slayer and Brandish franchises. While its RPG elements were limited, lacking traditional statistical or leveling systems, the game featured real-time combat with a gun, bringing it close to the action RPG formula that Falcom would later be known for. Set on a desert island, the game's overworld was presented as a hex grid and featured a day-night cycle. There were also indigenous non-player characters who the player could choose to attack, have a conversation with, or give money for items, though NPCs could choose to run away with the money. In order to survive on the island, the player needed to find and consume rations, as every normal action consumed hit points. The island also had traps, which required calling for help and waiting for NPCs to help. The player could also be bit by snakes that poisoned and paralyzed the player, requiring medicine to heal or calling for help from NPCs.

The Dragon Slayer Template

The original Dragon Slayer was responsible for setting the template for the action role-playing genre, establishing a formula that would define Falcom's identity for decades. Dragon Slayer II: Xanadu, released in 1985, sold more than 400,000 copies, making it the best-selling PC game up until that time. This success proved that complex, real-time combat systems could thrive on personal computers, a medium that was still finding its footing in the Japanese market. The game's design allowed players to engage in direct, action-oriented battles rather than relying solely on turn-based strategies, a choice that differentiated it from competitors and set a new standard for the genre. Falcom's decision to focus on personal computers rather than consoles set them apart from their main rivals, Enix and Square, but it also limited the company's popularity in the Western world. This strategic choice restricted their growth potential in the 1990s, as consoles were becoming the dominant platform for gaming in the West. Despite these limitations, the Dragon Slayer series continued to evolve, with each installment refining the action RPG mechanics that had made the original a hit. The series would eventually spawn multiple sub-series, including The Legend of Heroes, which would become one of Falcom's most enduring and beloved franchises.

When was Nihon Falcom founded and by whom?

Nihon Falcom was founded in 1981 by Masayuki Kato in a small Tokyo office. The company name derives from the Millennium Falcon spaceship with the final letter changed to an m to fit 1980s naming trends.

What was the first role-playing game released by Nihon Falcom?

The first role-playing game released by Nihon Falcom was Panorama Toh in 1983 for the PC-8801. Yoshio Kiya created the game which featured real-time combat and a hex grid overworld on a desert island setting.

Which Nihon Falcom game sold more than 400,000 copies in 1985?

Dragon Slayer II: Xanadu released in 1985 sold more than 400,000 copies making it the best-selling PC game up until that time. This title established the action role-playing genre template that defined Nihon Falcom's identity for decades.

When did Nihon Falcom co-found Sega Falcom with Sega?

Nihon Falcom co-founded the joint venture Sega Falcom on the 17th of July 1991. The partnership was 55% owned by Sega and 45% owned by Nihon Falcom to develop CD-based games for Sega consoles.

Who composed the early soundtracks for Nihon Falcom games?

Early Nihon Falcom soundtracks were mostly composed by chiptune musicians Yuzo Koshiro and Mieko Ishikawa. Yuzo Koshiro later became a legendary figure known for his work on the Ys series and other Nihon Falcom titles.

Which Nihon Falcom franchise became the second largest Japanese role-playing game franchise by 2010s?

The Ys series became second only to the Final Fantasy series as the largest Japanese role-playing game franchise in terms of overall game releases by the early 2010s. Nihon Falcom began making concerted efforts to bring games to consoles during this period after focusing primarily on personal computers.

Nihon Falcom

The Dragon Slayer Template

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Common questions

When was Nihon Falcom founded and by whom?

What was the first role-playing game released by Nihon Falcom?

Which Nihon Falcom game sold more than 400,000 copies in 1985?

When did Nihon Falcom co-found Sega Falcom with Sega?

Who composed the early soundtracks for Nihon Falcom games?

Which Nihon Falcom franchise became the second largest Japanese role-playing game franchise by 2010s?

The Music of the Machines

The Sega Partnership

The Legend of Heroes Legacy

The PC-Only Philosophy