Garyo Retsuden

Released by Data East for arcades in 1987, *Garyo Retsuden* is an action game set in the world of the Three Kingdoms. Players take control of either Gentoku, Kan'u, or Chohi as they set out to rescue Princess Fuyo, who has been kidnapped by Lu Bu, by defeating the giant beasts and demons that stand in their way. In addition to 8-way joystick and two-button controls, the game features a strategic element through the use of various items and rideable horses, which can even be restored with "carrots." As a charming quirk of its original development, the slight inconsistencies in character walking animations and scrolling during demo sequences serve as historical signatures that reflect the era in which the game was created.

Set in the Three Kingdoms period, an era of warring states, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei rise up to rescue Princess Fuyo, who has been abducted by Lu Bu. Taking up their weapons, these three heroes set out across wildernesses and great rivers, aiming for Chang'an, where the captive princess awaits. Their mission is to defeat the countless monsters that stand in their way.