WHAT RPG beta - 2015/4/28
damage_x@hyakushiki.net
http://www.hyakushiki.net/consoles.htm

What`s WHAT?

This is a demonstration of an RPG game engine for the TurboGrafx-16/PC-Engine
Hucard format, created by a fan of Sega`s classic Phantasy Star series.
While still lacking a bit of polish, it is now a complete game!


Notes about game SAVEs:

On a normal PCE/TG16 there is no way to save the game, although if you do get
killed you will respawn in the current area so the game can be continued. On
a system with battery-backed RAM, you can save, but doing so will overwrite
any existing data from other games. In an emulator you can save, but in some
cases (Magic Engine) you need to save in the first slot, or else the emulator
won't recognize that anything has been saved. Of course, emulators generally
have a save state function anyway.


Game instructions:

Overworld map:

The player's party can walk the planet's surface as well as being able to
enter various towns, buildings, caves, and tunnels. Occasionally they will
meet an object or NPC that can be interacted with by pressing the d-pad
in the direction of the object/NPC followed by the II button. 

Pressing the I button on the overworld map brings up the camp menu.

Camp menu options:

ITEMS - Certain items can be used immediately from the camp menu. Items can
        also be discarded (except for important items).
TECH - Some characters have techniques which are useful outside of battle.
SKILL - A list of the character's skills will appear. A few skills may be
        useful outside of battle.
EQUIP - Each character's equipment can be selected from the inventory or
        removed to the inventory.
STATE - A list containing some of the character's statistics will appear.
ORDER - Party members can be made to exchange places within the party.
SAVE - The player can save their game data in one of four slots if
        battery-backed RAM is available.

Pressing the select button on the overworld map brings up the member select.
At certain points in the game the player will be able to choose which
characters to include in the party.


Battle system:

When the player's party encounters an enemy, the view point switches to a
first person perspective. Each fighter's agility determines how quickly they
become ready to perform an action. A meter at the bottom of the screen shows
the remaining time until each character is ready.

During random encounters, the player may hold the RUN button, and if all
player characters become ready then the party will run away and the battle
will end.

When it is the player character's turn, an action menu appears. If multiple
characters are ready at the same time, pressing SELECT will switch between
them.

Action menu options:

Attack - Uses an equipped weapon to attack the enemy. When choosing this
        option the player will be able to target a particular enemy, unless
        the weapon is capable of targeting all enemies at once.
Defense - The character will take no action but their defense strength is
        increased until their next turn.
Wait - The character takes no action but remains ready. Press and hold the
        I button during the battle to bring up the action menu for
        a character who is waiting.
Item - Allows certain restorative items to be used if available in the
        party's inventory.
Skill - Each character has special skills that may be used a limited number
        of times.
Technique - Only certain characters can use techniques. When a technique
        is used, the character's TP are depleted.

After each ready character has been assigned an action, the battle will
continue with each character acting in sequence. If an item, skill, or
technique is being used, the player may be prompted to choose a target
for the action and may be able to cancel the action by pressing the
I button. If an action is canceled then the item, skill uses, or TP will
not be consumed.

The battle will end when all enemies are defeated, or all player characters
are incapacitated. If the player loses, they will be able to continue the
game from the current area with all party members being returned to
conciousness with minimal HP.

When the player wins a battle, experience points and Meseta will be earned.