Arsys Software
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | November 11, 1985 |
| Founder | Osamu Nagano, Kotori Yoshimura |
| Defunct | 2001 |
| Fate | Ceased operations |
| Headquarters | Japan , Japan |
Area served | Japan |
Key people | Osamu Nagano, Kotori Yoshimura |
| Products | Video games (Wibarm, Reviver: The Real-Time Adventure, Star Cruiser, Air Combat, Gran Turismo) |
Number of employees | 12 (1991), 3 (2001) |
Arsys Software (アルシスソフトウェア), which later operated under the name Cyberhead (サイバーヘッド), was a video game developer based in Japan that functioned from 1985 until 2001.
Overview
Established on 11 November 1985 by ex-Technosoft employees Osamu Nagano and Kotori Yoshimura (吉村功成),[1] Arsys specialized in creating games for personal computers. The founders were responsible for developing the original Thunder Force (1983) and Plazma Line (1984) at Technosoft, titles recognized for pioneering the use of 3D polygonal graphics in computer games.[2]Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Arsys launched its own projects with the 3D role-playing shooter Wibarm (1986), followed by the open-world adventure Reviver: The Real-Time Adventure (1987), and then the 3D first-person shooter RPG Star Cruiser (1988).[1] The company expanded from a team of two in 1988 to approximately twelve employees by 1991 during the production of Star Cruiser 2, before downsizing to just three staff members by 2001.
In addition to developing original titles, Arsys handled ports of various games to Japanese computer systems, including Prince of Persia and multiple releases by SystemSoft Alpha.[1] Their adaptation of Prince of Persia for the NEC PC-98 enhanced the graphics and introduced the protagonist’s distinctive turban and vest attire, which subsequently influenced versions produced by Riverhillsoft and Broderbund.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Arsys also supported other developers’ projects, contributing to Namco's 1995 flight combat simulator Air Combat and Sony’s 1997 PlayStation racing simulator Gran Turismo.[1] In 1990, they issued a chiptune music collection titled Arsys Best Selection (アルシス・ベストセレクション). The company ultimately ceased operations in 2001.
Wibarm
Released in 1986 and stylized as WiBArM (ウィバーン), Wibarm was an early role-playing shooter developed by Arsys Software for Japan’s NEC PC-88 platform, later ported to MS-DOS for Western audiences by Broderbund. This title combined run-and-gun shooting mechanics with elements typical of role-playing games, marking it as the first action RPG to utilize fully 3D polygonal graphics. Players pilot a transformable mecha capable of switching between walking, tank, and flying jet configurations. The game’s perspective shifts depending on mode: a top-down 2D view during flight, side-scrolling when exploring on foot, fully three-dimensional third-person inside structures, and classic 2D shoot-'em-up style segments during boss encounters.
Features include a variety of weapons, upgradeable gear, an automap system, and character progression through experience points. Unlike other first-person RPGs of its era that restricted movement to fixed 90-degree turns, Wibarm enabled seamless 360-degree navigation thanks to its polygonal graphics engine. It earned the Game of the Year accolade in 1986 from the Japanese computer gaming magazine Oh!MZ, later renamed Oh!X.
Reviver: The Real-Time Adventure, also known simply as Reviver (リバイバ), is an adventure game created by Kotori Yoshimura and released by Arsys Software in July 1987. It was available on platforms such as the NEC PC-8801, FM-7, Sharp X1, Sharp MZ, and MSX2. The subtitle underscores its pioneering implementation of a real-time persistent environment, featuring day-night cycles that influence screen illumination and the presence of NPCs. The gameplay allows players to navigate a fantasy world with full-color 2D top-down scrolling visuals, incorporating role-playing elements.
The title received the 1987 Game of the Year distinction from the Japanese gaming publication Oh!X.
Star Cruiser
Star Cruiser (スタークルーザー) is a 1988 first-person role-playing shooter launched for the PC-88. At its release, it was groundbreaking due to its use of fully 3D polygonal graphics, early adoption of first-person shooter mechanics, and occasional transitions into space flight simulation gameplay featuring six degrees of freedom within an open-ended cosmic setting. The game's 3D polygonal depiction of environments, objects, and adversaries anticipated later widespread industry trends. It also prioritized narrative depth with plot developments and extensive character interactions set in a futuristic science fiction universe.
The game earned the 1988 Game of the Year accolades from the Japanese computer gaming magazines POPCOM and Oh!X. It was subsequently ported to the Sharp X68000 in 1989 and the Sega Mega Drive (Genesis) console in 1990. Its sequel, Star Cruiser 2, was released in 1992 for the PC-9821 and FM Towns systems. Between 1992 and 2008, seven chiptune soundtrack albums composed by Toshiya Yamanaka were issued for both titles.
Air Combat and Gran Turismo
The company played a role in developing prominent games including Namco’s 1995 combat flight simulator Air Combat and Sony Computer Entertainment’s acclaimed 1997 racing simulator Gran Turismo, both designed for the PlayStation platform.
List of video games
Below is a compilation of titles developed by the company:
| Title | Release | Platform(s) | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| WiBArM | August 1986 (Japan) August 1989 (North America) |
PC-88, PC-98, X1, MZ, FM-7, MS-DOS | 3D role-playing shooter. Awarded 1986 Game of the Year by Oh!X magazine. |
| Reviver: The Real-Time Adventure | July 1987 | PC-88, FM-7, X1, MZ, MSX2 | Open-world adventure game. Received 1987 Game of the Year from Oh!X. |
| Star Cruiser | August 1988 | PC-88, PC-98, X1, X68000, Mega Drive | First-person shooter RPG with 3D graphics. Honored with 1988 Game of the Year awards by POPCOM and Oh!X. |
| Cyber Armor Wer Dragon | September 1989 | PC-88 | Side-scrolling shooter action title. |
| Knight Arms: The Hybrid Framer | 8 December 1989 | X68000 | 3D shooting game. Garnered 1989 Game of the Year awards from LOGiN and Oh!X. |
| Tenka Touitsu | 18 May 1990 | X68000 | Historical strategy genre. Adaptation of SystemSoft’s original. |
| Blitzkrieg Toubu Sensen 1941–45 | 25 October 1991 | X68000 | Turn-based historical strategy game. |
| Daisenryaku III '90 | 20 December 1991 | X68000 | Port of SystemSoft’s strategic title. |
| Spin Dizzy II | 10 April 1992 | PC-98, X68000 | Adaptation of Activision’s Spindizzy Worlds. |
| Prince of Persia | 20 July 1990 | PC-98, SNES | Cinematic platformer. Enhanced port version. |
| Star Cruiser 2 | 2 December 1992 | PC-98, FM Towns | First-person RPG shooter with 3D graphics. |
| Battle Zeque Den | 15 July 1994 | SNES | Beat ’em up action genre. |
| Air Combat | 30 June 1995 | PlayStation | Combat flight simulation. Developed jointly with Namco. |
| Gran Turismo | 23 December 1997 | Racing simulation. Co-developed with Polys Entertainment. | |
| Omega Boost | 22 April 1999 | Rail shooter genre. Collaborative development with Polyphony Digital. | |
| Galaxy Knights | July 2001 | PC | Science fiction RPG. |
External links
- English official site (archived)
- Japanese official site (archived) (Translated)
- Arsys Software Inc. profile on GameSpot
- Arsys Software, Inc. profile on MobyGames