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Cosmic Fantasy Collection is a video game compilation of the first two games of the Cosmic Fantasy series. Originally released for Japan in 2022 and later in 2024 get the compilation would get a English release starting with Limited Run Games as the publisher for the North America physical release. The compilation would be followed by Cosmic Fantasy Collection 2.
Gameplay[]
The gameplay of Cosmic Fantasy is straightforward and resembles most other games that followed the formula set by Dragon Quest in the early years of the Japanese RPG Boom. Yuu/Van navigate the over-world map, towns and dungeons in a standard top down point of view. They can interact with non-playable characters who offer advice, or work at the inn or shops. Animated cut senses progress the story forward. Many of the characters are represented with a detailed drawing, and voice over. Some scenes between battles also feature a narrated voice over without animation. Battles take place on the over world map, with Yuu/Van and others having the option to attack, use items or magic and of course, run. The game also has an auto battle option, as most battles in an RPG are nothing more than attacking and taking hit points of damage until the battle is won. The battle scenes are done in a first person point of view.
Development[]
The games originally made for the PC-Engine CD and created by manga artist Kazuhiro Ochi, published by Telenet Japan and developed by subsidiary LaserSoft.
Game List[]
| Title | Original System | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmic Fantasy: The Adventures of Yuu |  |
        
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| Cosmic Fantasy 2: The Adventures of Van | |
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Plot[]
Cosmic Fantasy: The Adventures of Yuu[]
On a routine flyby, a young CSC (Cosmic Security Company) Cosmic Hunter name Yuu (Minami Takayama), detects a distress signal emanating from the Planet Norg. Though visiting Norg was not on his agenda, Yuu crash lands on the planet and begins an investigation along with his companions Monmo (Yumi Takada), a tanooki-like motorcycle, and Mother, Yuu's spaceship A.I to aid him. There he meets several inhabitants of Norg including Saya (Yumi Takada), a beautiful girl that Yuu quickly develops feelings for, and Nyan (Seiko Nakano), a talking cat from the planet Siamese-y whose schemes often get him into trouble. On the planet Norg, Yuu learns of the legendary hero, Titanis, who banished the evil demon Morgan from the planet generations ago. However Morgan has returned to reclaim Norg and punish the descendants of Titanis. The people of Norg call on Yuu to save the day.
Cosmic Fantasy 2: The Adventures of Van[]
The story takes place on the Planet Idea. There, a young 16 year old boy named Van (Toshihiko Seki) lives a simple life in a farming village on Clan Island. One day, Van learns of a plot by an evil wizard named Galum, to kidnap the princess of planet Idea. The identity of the princess kept hidden, for her own safety and can only be realized through a pendant that she wears. It turns out that Van's childhood sweetheart Lara is actually the princess, and does become kidnapped. Furthermore, the princess has the power to grant immortality to the man she marries, which if Lara were forced to marry Galum would make him unstoppable. Van sets out to rescue Lara, but is too late, as when he confronts Galam face to face, the wedding had already taken place. Galum sends Van through a time warp, 20 years later, to a world where he rules the entire planet! In that distant future, which happens to be the present day of the game series, a rookie female Cosmic Hunter by the name Rim (Hiromi Tsuru) comes to Idea in search of Piku (Seiko Nakano), son of Nyan, only to get captured herself. As planet Idea has been ruled by Galam for 20 years and is not technologically advanced, visiting there against CSC regulations. The returning cast from the first game Yuu, Saya and Nyan come to Rim's aid and helps Van free his planet from Galam and if possible save Lara...
Reception[]
The original releases of Cosmic Fantasy were a critical and commercial success. Critics and gamers of Japan praised the games for their amazing visuals, story telling and voice acting.
Triva[]
- Working Designs was able to localized and published the second game Cosmic Fantasy 2 in 1992 in North America thus making only one released outside Japan until Edia.
- Cosmic Fantasy Stories released for the The Mega CD in 1992 not only a compilation of the first two games but also features some quality of life features. The first game include features improved graphics and music and non-playable characters can participate in battles as well as difficulty levels has been modified; in particular, boss battles have become noticeably easier in the first installment. Many areas have been re-designed, often becoming more complex. The Second game has undergone similar changes; the difficulty level is generally higher in this release, as enemies have learned new techniques that were absent in the original release, most notably attacks that inflict status ailments on the player-controlled characters.
- Cosmic Fantasy Visual Collection released in 1993 for the PC-Engine Super CD-ROM is compilation all of the cut senses from the first two games. Much like Cosmic Fantasy Stories the visual collection include improved versions of the first game.