Exile (1988 video game series)

Exile (XZR)
Industry	Video games
Founded	1988
Founder	Telenet Japan
Products	XZR, XZR II, Exile, Exile: Wicked Phenomenon
Parent	Telenet Japan

is an action RPG video game franchise created by Telenet Japan. The initial two installments, XZR and XZR II, were launched in Japan in 1988 for platforms including the NEC PC-8801, NEC PC-9801, MSX2, and the X1 turbo (the latter only for the first title). In 1991, a reimagined version of XZR II, named Exile, was released on the TurboGrafx-16 and Sega Genesis. These editions were introduced to the North American market in 1992, with localization handled by Working Designs for the TurboGrafx-CD and publishing managed by Renovation Products for the Genesis. A follow-up entry, exclusive to the Super CD-ROM² system, titled Exile: Wicked Phenomenon, was launched in 1992 and also localized by Working Designs.

The storyline centers on Sadler, a Syrian Assassin who serves as the main character. The original computer releases were distinguished by their incorporation of references to religious figures, political personalities, symbolic imagery, narcotics, and assassins who traverse time. Subsequent console adaptations considerably softened or substituted these elements with fictional organizations during English localization.

XZR: Hakai no Gūzō

, the inaugural game of the series, first appeared on the NEC PC-8801 in July 1988. It was later ported to the MSX2, NEC PC-9801, and eventually the X1 turbo. Gameplay blended action-platform mechanics with alternating overhead and side-scrolling views. The storyline has drawn comparisons to the later Assassin's Creed series. The soundtrack for the PC-8801 version was composed by Yujiroh, Shinobu Ogawa, and Tenpei Sato.

The plot follows Sadler, a Syrian Assassin whose mission is to eliminate the Caliph. The narrative unfolds across early Islamic history and various locations such as Baghdad, Persia, Babylon, and Alexandria. Major themes include combating environmental pollution, interactions with historical and mythological figures like Semiramis and Ishtar, and time travel culminating in assassinations of modern political leaders. Controversially, the original ending reveals a familial connection between Sadler and the Caliph. This first title was not adapted for consoles when the franchise expanded three years later; instead, Telenet chose to remake its sequel.

XZR II: Kanketsuhen

was launched on December 17, 1988 for the NEC PC-8801, NEC PC-9801, and MSX2. The soundtrack for the PC-8801 was created by Shinobu Ogawa and Tenpei Sato.

Continuing Sadler's saga during the period of the Christian Crusades, XZR II depicts his quest to unify humanity under one God to establish peace. He conducts a Masonic ritual to resurrect Mani and eliminates various Hindu and Buddhist deities. Sadler forms an alliance with Hugues de Payens, leader of the Knights Templar, in pursuit of the Holimax, a sacred relic. His journey spans multiple nations including France, where Rumi is abducted, as well as India, Cambodia, and Japan. In Cambodia, he revives Mani; in Japan, he saves Ninkan, a figure historically connected to the cult Tachikawa-ryu. Sadler then travels through time to the Eden, encounters Bacchus, and assassinates Hiram Abiff, a significant figure in Masonic lore. After defeating Jubelum of the Three Ruffians, Sadler secures possession of the Holimax.

Exile

The inaugural console installment debuted on the PC Engine CD-ROM² System on March 29, 1991, and later arrived on the Mega Drive platform on December 6 of the same year. Both editions were introduced to the North American market in 1992, with Renovation Products releasing the Genesis version in March, while Working Designs managed the TurboGrafx-CD edition's launch in October.

Serving as a reimagining of XZR II, Exile underwent substantial narrative changes, notably eliminating Sadler's time travel to the modern era and excluding Sufrawaldhi, one of Sadler's allies.

The Genesis release underwent censorship targeting scenes deemed inappropriate, such as depictions of a village set ablaze and nudity. For the TurboGrafx-CD version, Working Designs received directives from NEC to modify names containing religious or drug-related terms—for instance, "Christian Crusaders" were renamed "Klispin Crusaders." Nonetheless, a town featuring crucified heretics persisted in the TurboGrafx-CD edition but was omitted from the Genesis counterpart.

Exile: Wicked Phenomenon

The concluding title in the series was launched in Japan for the Super CD-ROM² add-on on September 22, 1992, followed by its North American release in June 1993 under Working Designs' publishing. Departing from earlier entries' strong religious motifs, this chapter centers on Sadler’s mission to vanquish chaos and solve the enigma surrounding an ancient tower.

The North American packaging stood out by showcasing a photograph of the final boss model—a rare marketing choice at that time. Vic Ireland revealed that this design drew inspiration from Japanese diorama-style advertisements and involved practical effects crafted by a professional with film industry expertise. This promotional campaign left a lasting impression on readers, although similar efforts for other titles like Vasteel did not achieve comparable success.

Characters

At the heart of the series is Sadler (voiced by Kaneto Shiozawa in Japanese and Blake Dorsey in English), a formidable warrior hailing from Assassi. His companions include Rumi (Yūko Minaguchi/Rhonda Gibson), an agile female fighter; Fakhyle (Kōji Yada/Keith Lack), an aged sorcerer; and Kindhy (Hirohiko Kakegawa/unknown), a taciturn giant endowed with extraordinary strength.

Gameplay

The XZR/Exile franchise integrates three distinct gameplay styles: strategic hideout screens for planning and managing inventory; RPG segments featuring overhead exploration of towns and quest fulfillment; and side-scrolling action sequences within dungeons where combat unfolds. Players predominantly control Sadler using sword combat and later gain access to magical spells. Advancement is achieved through accumulating money and experience points to upgrade attributes such as HP, MP, AP (attack power), and AC (armor class), which depend on character level and equipped gear.

Early computer versions notably included real-world illicit substances—such as hashish, coca, opiates, LSD, marijuana, and peyote—as items to restore health or boost stats, albeit with potential adverse effects or fatal consequences if overused. The console adaptations replaced these with fictionalized counterparts that lacked harmful side effects.

In Exile: Wicked Phenomenon, gameplay was overhauled by eliminating hideout screens and enabling players to alternate control between Sadler and his allies during action stages to exploit their unique skills. The game reintroduced narcotics with altered spellings (for example, cannabis became "cananavis") in its English localization. Although AP and AC meters were removed from the HUD—which now displayed health, experience points, and currency—using drugs remained a strategic choice to temporarily increase offensive and defensive capabilities.

Reception

The Japanese publication PC Engine Fan awarded Exile a rating of 24.23 out of 30. Subsequently, IGN included it among "Renovation's Top 10 Games." Levi Buchanan from IGN observed that although the Genesis version suffered from a poor translation, this flaw did not considerably diminish the game's extensive narrative experience. Additionally, the game received favorable recognition in Jerry Ellis's work, The 8-Bit Book – 1981 to 199x.

John Huxley of defunctgames.com provided a positive critique of Exile: Wicked Phenomenon, commending its effective combination of action and role-playing gameplay. He appreciated the high-quality voice acting but pointed out that the graphical quality of the cutscenes was somewhat inferior and that the overall depth did not quite reach that of Ys I & II.

External links

Turbo-CD Exile at FantasyAnime