Lufia

"Lufia", known as nihongo|"Estpolis Denki"|エストポリス伝記|officially translated as Biography Estpolis [cite web|url=http://www.chudahs-corner.com/img/cover/s/SCDC-00486~00489_front.jpg|title=Game Sound Legend Consumer Series Biography Estpolis Sound Track|author=Scitron Digital Contents|publisher=Chudah's Corner|accessdate=2008-07-12] in Japan, is a series of computer role-playing games developed by Neverland (aside from "The Ruins of Lore", which was internally developed by Taito). The games are published by Taito in Japan, and Natsume or Atlus in the U.S. While the games are primarily traditional 2D RPG's they draw on elements from many other genres including Action-Adventure, Monster collecting and Puzzle Games. The series currently consists of four games, a trilogy and one gaiden or side-story. In the 1990's the games were developed for the Super NES while more recent installments have been released on the Game Boy Color/Advance.

Chronology

The Lufia series spans the course of several centuries, beginning with the descent of the god-like Sinistrals in Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals. These events are followed by Ruins of Lore which take place 20 years later. The Sinistrals then return in Fortress of Doom 79 years later (99 years after their original defeat by Maxim). The current series ends with the sinistrals final defeat in Legend Returns which takes place 101 years after Fortress of Doom( or 200 years after Rise of the Sinistrals).

Characters

Lufia follows the exploits of the hero Maxim and his quest to defeat the sinistrals, after his death this task is taken up by his descendants through several generations.

Series overview

"Lufia & The Fortress of Doom"

The first game in the Lufia series made for the Super Famicom published in Japan in June 1993 (under the name "Estpolis Denki") and later that year for the SNES in North America. The initial player character is a warrior who has taken it upon himself to rid the world from a group of evil beings known as the Sinistrals, and the game begins with him and his allies storming their floating fortress. Afterwards the game changes its protagonist to one of the warrior's descendants.

"Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals"

"Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals", released in Japan for the Super Famicom under the name "Estoplis Denki II", is a prequel to "Lufia & The Fortress of Doom" that takes place a hundred years before the events of the first game occurred, and ends the same way the first game began. Notoriously, it ends with the events that begin the first "Lufia", making the first game's introduction a great spoiler for the second. It was released in Europe as simply "Lufia" because "Lufia & the Fortress of Doom" was not released in Europe. This often causes a bit of confusion.

"Lufia: The Legend Returns"

Released in Japan in 2000 as "Estpolis Denki: Yomigaeru Densetsu", and in the following year in America, "Lufia: The Legend Returns" is the series' first handheld adventure on the Game Boy Color. Taking advantage of the Game Boy's new enhanced color palette, the game features sophisticated 8-bit graphics, a new battle system and randomized dungeons. In this game, the player acts as a descendant of Maxim in the fight against the Sinistrals.

"Lufia: The Ruins of Lore"

"Lufia: The Ruins of Lore" was released for the Game Boy Advance in Japan in 2002 as "Estpolis Gaiden: Chinmoku no Iseki" and a year later in North America. It is a gaiden or "sidestory" game that deviates from the normal lore of the series. It was published by Taito in Japan and Atlus in America.

"Estpolis Biography DX"

"Estpolis Denki DX" or "Estpolis Biography DX" is a mobile phone game only downloadable in Japan. It consists of the "Ancient Cave" scenario from "Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals", featuring characters and enemies from the original game. There are currently no plans to release the game in other countries.

Canceled games

"Lufia: Ruins Chaser"

"Lufia: Ruins Chaser" was a game being developed by Japanese software company Nihon-Flex for the PlayStation until they went bankrupt. For a time, development of the title ceased, however, it was picked up and heavily remade in both story and graphics, being renamed "".

"Lufia: Beginning of a Legend"

"Lufia: Beginning of a Legend" was in development for the Game Boy Color alongside "Ruins Chaser" for the PlayStation, and was to be a prequel to "Lufia II" as it told of Maxim's early days as an adventurer years before the Sinistrals strike.

Reception

References

External links

* [http://www.lufia.net/ Lufia.net]
* [http://lufia.rpgplanet.gamespy.com/ Lufia World]
* [http://forfeit.electromaz.com/ Forfeit Island]
* [http://www.ancientcave.com/ AncientCave.com - a Lufia Fansite]