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Gemfire
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| Gemfire | |
|---|---|
 North American NES box art[a] | |
| Developer | Koei |
| Publisher | Koei |
| Platforms | NES, Super NES, PC-88, PC-98, MSX, X68000, FM Towns, Genesis, MS-DOS, Windows |
| Release | August 29, 1991 |
| Genres | Turn-based strategy, role-playing |
| Modes | Single-player, multiplayer |
Gemfire[b] is a 1991 role-playing strategy video game developed and published by Koei for the Nintendo Entertainment System and later ported to Japanese home computers, Super NES, Genesis, MS-DOS, and Windows. The object in the game is to unify a fictional island by force. Players use a variety of units, such as archers, infantry and dragons, in order to capture the castle needed to control that particular territory.
A sequel, Royal Blood II: Chronicles of the Kingdom of Dinar,[c] was released in Japan for Windows.
Gameplay
[edit]
At the outset of the game, the player has the option of selecting a scenario and family. All four scenarios use the same game board, but they differ in which families are present and what provinces, vassals and gems they have. Ultimately, the player must conquer the entire map to win the game.
Gameplay is divided into the main tactics screen and individual battle screens. On the tactics screen, the player is allowed one action per turn (in-game month) per territory. With that action, the player may hire or move troops, upgrade the territory's economy or defenses, engage in diplomatic actions (such as plunder an adjacent province or propose alliance with another family), or attack an enemy territory.
Only adjacent territories may be attacked. Upon attacking or being attacked by an enemy, the focus shifts to battle, wherein a player may field five units (archers, knights, horsemen, and either a wizard or a hired unit). The player moves individual companies of troops about the map in a turn-based tactics fashion; certain units may build fences to keep enemies out. One army wins if the enemy base is captured, all enemy units are defeated, or the enemy army runs out of food.
Plot
[edit]Gemfire takes place in the fictitious Isle of Ishmeria. Long ago, six wizards, each wielding a unique brand of magic, used their powers to protect the island and maintain peace. This was disrupted when they were collectively challenged by a Fire Dragon, summoned forth by a wizard intent on plunging the country into darkness. The sea-dwelling dragon of peace known as the Pastha charged the six wizards with the task of fighting back. They succeeded, sealing the Fire Dragon away into a ruby at the top of a crown, and themselves became the six jewels around the crown's base. The crown, called Gemfire, became a symbol of utmost power and authority.[5]
When Gemfire fell into the hands of the King of Ishmeria, Eselred, he sought to abuse the object's power, using it to embark on a tyrannical reign, instilling fear within his oppressed subjects. His young daughter, Princess Robyn, being unable to bear with her father's grievous misdeeds any longer seized Gemfire and pried the six wizard gems loose, causing them to shoot upward into the sky before scattering themselves to different parts of Ishmeria. When a furious Eselred learned of Robyn's actions, he had her locked away in a tower.
Meanwhile, the six wizard gems each take up residence with a prominent family of Ishmeria. The two most powerful of these clans are the Blanches, led by Prince Erin and supported by Zendor, Emerald Wizard and Wielder of Lightning; and the Lyles, led by Prince Ander and backed by Pluvius, Sapphire Wizard and Caster of Meteors. Four other clans (Flax, Coryll, Chrysalis and Molbrew) also have wizards (Scylla, Empyron, Chylla and Skulryk respectively) of Gemfire at their disposal in the beginning. With the breaking of the spell on Gemfire, each of these clans sets out to unseat Eselred, claim the throne as their own and restore order and peace to Ishmeria.
Reception
[edit]Reception
| Publication | Score | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOS | NES | Sega Genesis | SNES | |
| Famitsu | 24/40[6] | 25/40[7] | 23/40[8] | |
| PC Player | 65/100 | |||
| Playtime | 77/100 | |||
| Questicle.net | 25/100[9] | |||
![[icon]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding missing information. (May 2025) |
Gemfire has received mixed reception from critics.
Writing for Questicle.net, Dylan Cornelius criticized the game for being too difficult to get into, citing the game as having an overwhelming amount of things to do. The reviewer concluded that, while the game could hold the attention of Koei and strategy game fans, because the game fails to teach its rules properly, it couldn't be recommended by them.[9]
Legacy
[edit]On May 21, 1999, a sequel to Gemfire entitled Royal Blood II: Chronicles of the Kingdom of Dinar was released exclusively in Japan for Microsoft Windows computer operating systems.[10]
External links
[edit]- Gemfire at MobyGames
- Gemfire (Sega Genesis) can be played for free in the browser on the Internet Archive
Notes
[edit]- ^ Similar cover art was later used for the Genesis and MS-DOS versions.
- ^ Known in Japan as Royal Blood (Japanese: ロイヤルブラッド, Hepburn: Roiyaru Buraddo). Titled Super Royal Blood in the Super Famicom version (Japanese: スーパーロイヤルブラッド, Hepburn: Sūpā Roiyaru Buraddo)
- ^ Japanese language: ロイヤルブラッドII 〜ディナール王国年代記〜
References
[edit]- ^ "NES Games" (PDF). Nintendo of America. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 11, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
- ^ "Genesis Pro Review: Gemfire". GamePro. No. 40. IDG. November 1992. pp. 50–51.
- ^ "Software List (Software Licensee Release)". Sega Hard Encyclopedia (in Japanese). Sega Corporation. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
- ^ Gemfire release information (Super NES) Archived 2012-11-11 at the Wayback Machine at GameFAQs
- ^ Gemfire - Nintendo Entertainment System Instruction Manual (PDF). pp. 4–5.
- ^ "Royal Blood Summary (Famicom)". Famitsu (in Japanese). KADOKAWA CORPORATION. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
- ^ "Royal Blood Summary (Mega Drive)". Famitsu (in Japanese). KADOKAWA CORPORATION. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
- ^ "Super Royal Blood Summary (Super Famicom)". Famitsu (in Japanese). KADOKAWA CORPORATION. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
- ^ a b Cornelius, Dylan (17 February 2012). "The Quest To Review Every NES Game". Questicle.net. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
- ^ "GAMECITY [コーエーカタログ]". www.gamecity.ne.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-05-05.
Gemfire
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Development and Production
Development History
Gemfire was developed by Koei's team under the leadership of producer Kou Shibusawa, the professional pseudonym of company co-founder Yoichi Erikawa, who sought to blend strategic simulation gameplay with fantasy elements in what became an early entry in the company's "Imagination Game" series.[7][3] The game drew inspiration from Koei's established historical simulation titles such as Nobunaga's Ambition while pivoting to an original fantasy setting to incorporate magic systems into the core strategy framework.[3] This shift allowed Koei to explore imaginative worlds beyond historical constraints, marking a notable evolution in their portfolio. Development culminated in the full release on August 29, 1991, in Japan under the title Royal Blood: Eiyū-tachi no Tatakai, prior to its Western localization as Gemfire.[8] The NES version supports 1-2 players.[6]Design and Innovation
Gemfire innovated within Koei's portfolio by blending turn-based strategy mechanics, drawn from the developer's historical simulation titles, with RPG-inspired elements centered on "gem magicians"—six elemental wizards imprisoned in magical gems that players liberate and command as unique army leaders with specialized powers like fire, water, or thunder spells. This fusion allowed for tactical depth in unit composition, where magicians' abilities influenced battlefield outcomes beyond standard troops.[1] Technically, the game optimized NES constraints to render an expansive overworld map of Ishmeria divided into 30 provinces, enabling strategic oversight of territory control, resource management, and movement across a persistent landscape displayed in a split-screen interface. Battle sequences employed sprite-based animations to depict dynamic clashes involving fantastical units such as dragons breathing fire or knights charging in formation, while computer-controlled opponents utilized AI for diplomacy, including alliance proposals, vassal defections, and opportunistic plundering of adjacent lands.[4][9] The design philosophy prioritized replayability through four varied scenarios, each assigning players to one of eight noble families with distinct starting territories, vassal loyalties, and gem allocations, fostering diverse approaches to conquest and economic expansion via investments in provincial farms, markets, and fortifications to bolster gold production and troop recruitment. Music was composed by midori, with cover illustration by Noriyoshi Ourai.[3] Localization for Western markets renamed the title from the Japanese Royal Blood to Gemfire, emphasizing the artifact's narrative and mechanical centrality, alongside a streamlined English manual to enhance accessibility for console players.[10][6]Gameplay
Core Mechanics
Gemfire's core mechanics revolve around strategic management of a kingdom on the overworld map of Ishmeria, divided into 30 provinces, where players balance military expansion, economic development, and diplomatic maneuvering to achieve unification. On the overworld tactics screen, players issue commands to control territories, such as recruiting troops including infantry, archers, and horsemen at a cost of 2 gold per unit, with a maximum of 999 troops per territory. Units can be moved to adjacent provinces using the "Move Troops" command, allowing transfers of soldiers, gold, food, or even special fifth units like gem magicians, which serve as powerful allied forces. Additionally, gold can be allocated for provincial upgrades through the "Develop" command, spending 10 gold per action to enhance cultivation for increased food production or protection to bolster defenses against events and invasions.[11] The resource and economy system centers on gold as the primary currency, generated monthly from controlled territories through taxes, surplus food sales, or plundering actions, with a cap of 999 gold per province. Harvest taxes are collected in September. This gold funds essential activities beyond recruitment and development, including diplomacy such as forming alliances or offering bribes via the "Ally" command to secure peaceful relations or territorial concessions, and espionage through "Defection" missions that cost gold to attempt swaying enemy vassals or officers to the player's side. Food, another key resource produced via cultivation, supports troop maintenance and can be gifted or traded to influence relations, tying directly into economic stability across provinces.[11][10] Turns operate on a monthly basis across the map, with each of the 30 provinces receiving one action per cycle in a randomized order, enabling players to execute commands like "View" for scouting enemy positions and troop dispositions, "Negotiate" for peace talks or demands, or "Attack" to declare war on adjacent foes. In multiplayer mode, supporting 2 players on the console versions, turns alternate among participants, with each player managing their kingdom's actions sequentially until all provinces have acted, fostering competitive strategy in real-time sessions. The PC port supports similar hot-seat multiplayer, potentially up to 4 players.[11] Vassal and family mechanics emphasize building alliances with noble houses, recruited as officers or lords through defection attempts or post-battle opportunities, which bolsters overall army strength by providing additional units and leadership. Each vassal's loyalty is tracked via a meter, influenced by participation in successful battles to raise it or defeats that can drop it to zero, as well as diplomatic gifts like food distributions that improve morale and productivity; low loyalty reduces tax yields, food output, and combat effectiveness, potentially leading to rebellions or defections.[11]Battle System
The battle system in Gemfire employs turn-based tactical combat on a grid-based battlefield, typically measuring around 10 by 8 spaces, where opposing forces deploy units to vie for control. Battles commence when a player issues an Attack command on an adjacent enemy territory or responds to an incoming assault, with both sides selecting troop numbers (evenly distributed among standard units) and a food supply to sustain the engagement over multiple days. Each side fields up to five units: four core types—cavalry (horsemen), archers, and two variants of infantry (knights)—plus an optional fifth unit, such as a hired mercenary, monster like a dragon, or a gem-empowered wizard or sorceress. Deployment occurs along opposite edges of the field, allowing players to position ranged archers at a distance for safe attacks, melee-focused knights to anchor defensive lines, and aerial dragons to bypass ground obstacles for swift strikes.[4] Combat unfolds in alternating turns grouped into days (four turns each: sunrise, noon, sunset, and night), with units able to move, attack, build or destroy fences, wait, or activate special abilities before passing control. Movement varies by unit type—cavalry advances up to three spaces, while archers, knights, and most fifth units cover two—though terrain elements like forests, rivers, mountains, and pre-placed obstacles (e.g., boulders or walls) increase costs or block paths entirely, often providing cover that boosts defense against incoming fire. Attacks resolve with directional bonuses: frontal assaults yield standard damage but risk backlash, flanking causes moderate extra harm, and rear strikes double the impact while halving the enemy's counterattack. Archers fire at long range (up to two spaces) without retaliation risk, knights can erect temporary fences for zoning, and fifth units unleash unique capabilities, such as wizard spells drawn from elemental gems (fire, water, earth, wind) that deal area damage or status effects, though these powers diminish with repeated use and require periodic rest. Each family is associated with a unique gem that powers special abilities for their fifth units, such as elemental spells (fire for damage, water for healing) that exploit weaknesses in combat.[4][12][13][3] Unit interactions emphasize matchup dynamics akin to rock-paper-scissors, where type advantages dictate outcomes beyond raw numbers. Horsemen excel at charging distant archers to neutralize their range before they can fire, knights hold strong in prolonged melee against slower foes but struggle against mobile cavalry, and wizards counter aerial threats like dragons through targeted elemental magic that exploits weaknesses (e.g., water spells dousing fire-based monsters). Damage calculations factor in unit strength, attack angle, and terrain modifiers, with animations depicting clashes scaled to troop counts for visual feedback on losses. Players may toggle manual control or enable auto-battle for quicker resolutions, though strategic positioning remains key to minimizing casualties.[4][12] Victory conditions prioritize decisive control: capture the enemy's flag by moving a unit onto its designated tile, eliminate all opposing forces through attrition, or outlast the foe by depleting their food rations across five days (defenders win by default if the attacker fails to conquer promptly). Defeated rulers can be recruited as allies, exiled, or banished, influencing the broader campaign.[4][13]Scenarios and Modes
Gemfire offers four single-player scenarios that structure the campaign as a series of escalating conquests across the island of Ishmeria, each building on the narrative of rebellion against the tyrannical Lankshire family while introducing varying strategic demands. The initial scenario, titled "Erin & Ander," begins at the outset of the nobility's uprising and tasks players with uniting five provinces using fundamental gem-based tactics and military actions, emphasizing early consolidation against a still-powerful Lankshire regime that can fortify defenses if not challenged swiftly.[3][10] The second scenario, "Flax's Shame," advances the timeline by five years, requiring control over eight provinces amid the fall of the Coryll family and the Tate family's push for central dominance; here, advanced diplomacy becomes crucial for forging alliances and vassalages to counter expanding threats. In "Terian's War," set ten years into the conflict, players navigate a fractured landscape where major families like Molbrew and Chrysalis lie in ruins and noble factions polarize, demanding adept resource management and tactical strikes to seize the full map. The culminating "Gemfire" scenario, fifteen years later, presents a hard mode full conquest with intensified perils, including fire dragon incursions tied to the sorcerer Zemmel's lingering influence, as the Blanche family dominates the north and Lankshire's grip weakens.[3] Starting conditions vary significantly for replayability, allowing players to select from 4 noble families per scenario (excluding the non-playable Lankshires), with variations in availability across scenarios, each endowed with distinct attributes such as the Blanche family's affinity for powerful magic via the Zendor gem or the Lyle family's robust knight units and initial vassals, alongside customized gem allocations that influence unit enhancements and spellcasting potential.[14][3][15] Multiplayer is facilitated through hot-seat play, supporting 2 players on the SNES and NES versions who alternate turns to share the map or vie in custom scenarios edited via the game's tools; the PC port supports similar hot-seat multiplayer, potentially up to 4 players, though no dedicated AI-versus-AI mode exists.[16][15] Difficulty progresses across scenarios, with later ones ramping up enemy AI aggression through more proactive invasions and diplomacy resistance, while curtailing starting resources like gold and troops to heighten the challenge of expansion.[10][4]Setting and Plot
World and Lore
Gemfire is set in the fictional Isle of Ishmeria, a medieval fantasy realm characterized by a feudal society of kings, princesses, and vassals, where chivalry and territorial loyalty define social structures. This land draws inspiration from European medieval aesthetics, featuring diverse geography such as rugged mountains, dense forests, and imposing castles that shape its strategic landscape. Ishmeria is divided into 30 political territories, fostering a patchwork of rival noble houses.[12][17] The magic system of Ishmeria centers on six elemental gems, each embodying a classical element—fire, water, earth, wind, light, and darkness—and housing an ancient wizard. These gems, combined with a seventh ruby containing the destructive Fire Dragon, form the Gemfire crown, a powerful artifact that harnesses their collective energy. Magic in this world is exceedingly rare, confined almost entirely to the influence of these gems and their wizard inhabitants, distinguishing Ishmeria's lore from the historical simulations typical of developer Koei.[12] In Ishmeria's ancient history, the six wizards, aided by the Guardian Dragon Pastha, forged an alliance to combat the rampaging Fire Dragon that terrorized the isle, ultimately sacrificing themselves by sealing the beast into the ruby and their essences into the gems to forge the Gemfire crown and restore peace. Over time, these gems were distributed among prominent noble families, each adopting heraldic symbols reflective of their virtues and domains. The realm teems with mythical creatures like griffins, unicorns, leprechauns, fairies, and dragons, adding to the tapestry of wonder and peril in this enchanted domain. Pastha serves as a mythical protector in the lore.[17][12][3]Story Summary
In the kingdom of Ishmeria, the story of Gemfire centers on the tyrannical rule of King Eselred, who corrupts the ancient Gemfire crown—a powerful artifact that channels magical energies—to oppress his subjects and consolidate absolute control.[3] His daughter, Princess Robyn, defies him by removing the six enchanted gems from the crown, which are then scattered by the Guardian Dragon Pastha to prevent Eselred from wielding their full might.[17] This act of rebellion ignites a sprawling civil war, as the gems fall into the hands of rival noble families vying for dominance across the island's provinces.[18] Players assume the roles of leaders from various noble houses, such as those of the Blanche or Lyle families, each commanding armies and sorcerers in quests to reclaim the scattered gems and unite the realm under a just ruler.[3] The narrative unfolds through strategic campaigns involving gem retrieval, diplomatic maneuvers to forge or shatter alliances, and escalating battles that test loyalties among feudal lords.[1] Climactic confrontations arise as the conflict risks unleashing the sealed Fire Dragon, a primordial threat bound within the crown's core ruby, threatening to consume Ishmeria if the balance of power tips too far.[3] The tale explores themes of power's corrupting influence, the fragility of feudal loyalty amid ambition, and magic as a double-edged force capable of salvation or destruction.[17] Multiple endings reflect the outcomes of gem acquisitions and alliance decisions, emphasizing restoration through conquest or the perils of unchecked tyranny.[18]Release and Ports
Initial Release
Gemfire was initially released in Japan on August 29, 1991, for the Family Computer (Famicom) under the title Royal Blood: Eiyū-tachi no Tatakai (ロイヤルブラッド 英雄たちの戦い), developed and published by Koei.[19] The game launched bundled with a comprehensive manual that detailed strategic elements, including unit management, province control, and battle tactics to guide players through its conquest mechanics.[8] The North American release followed on March 1, 1992, for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), retitled simply as Gemfire, with Koei handling publication.[20][21] Koei marketed Gemfire as its inaugural foray into fantasy-themed strategy gaming, emphasizing the innovative integration of magical gems, wizards, and multiplayer conquest modes in advertisements and promotional materials.[1] The NES cartridge packaging featured a standard box with a color instruction manual that incorporated illustrations of family crests for the game's noble houses and a fold-out map of the fictional continent of Ishmeria; no limited or special editions were produced for the initial launch.[9]Ports and Versions
Following its initial release on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1991, Gemfire was ported to several Japanese home computer platforms between 1991 and 1992, offering enhancements suited to PC hardware. The PC-88 version launched on September 27, 1991, in Japan, followed by the MSX port in 1991 and the PC-98 edition on December 21, 1991, also in Japan.[5] These early computer adaptations featured higher-resolution graphics compared to the NES, with the PC-98 supporting VGA-like capabilities through its enhanced display adapter for more detailed maps and unit animations. Additionally, these ports incorporated mouse controls for navigating menus and selecting units, improving usability over the NES controller-based interface.[1] The Sharp X68000 port arrived on March 27, 1992, in Japan, and the FM Towns version in May 1992, both benefiting from the platforms' superior sprite handling and color depth for smoother battlefield visuals.[5] Console ports expanded Gemfire's reach to 16-bit systems. The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) version, titled Super Royal Blood in Japan, was released on October 22, 1992, in Japan and December 1, 1992, in North America. This adaptation included upgraded sound effects and music leveraging the SNES's SPC-700 audio chip, as well as optimized battle pacing to reduce load times during large-scale engagements. The Sega Genesis (known as Mega Drive in Japan) port, titled Royal Blood in Japan, launched on June 25, 1992, in Japan and in 1992 in North America. It retained the core strategy elements but utilized the Genesis's YM2612 sound chip for richer audio tracks and faster overall performance on its Motorola 68000 processor.[5][22] A PC port for MS-DOS was released in 1992 in North America, adapting the game for IBM-compatible systems with support for VGA graphics cards to enhance visual clarity and EGA modes as a fallback. As of 2025, no official mobile ports, modern console re-releases, or digital distributions (such as on Nintendo Switch Online or PlayStation Plus) have been made available for Gemfire.[5]| Platform | Release Date | Region | Key Enhancements |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC-88 | September 27, 1991 | Japan | Higher resolution, mouse controls |
| MSX | 1991 | Japan | Enhanced graphics over NES |
| PC-98 | December 21, 1991 | Japan | VGA support, mouse controls |
| Sharp X68000 | March 27, 1992 | Japan | Improved color depth and animations |
| FM Towns | May 1992 | Japan | Superior sprite handling |
| MS-DOS | 1992 | North America | VGA graphics, EGA support |
| Sega Genesis | June 25, 1992 (JP); 1992 (NA) | Japan, North America | YM2612 audio, faster performance |
| SNES | October 22, 1992 (JP); December 1, 1992 (NA) | Japan, North America | Upgraded sound, optimized battles |