DIOS

Released by ZAINSOFT in 1989, Dios is an action-RPG set on a colonized planet in the year 2231. Players choose from seven warriors tasked with battling mysterious, hostile lifeforms across diverse environments like forests, seabeds, and rocky mountains. The game captivated players at the time with its dynamic screen presentation, utilizing high-speed, eight-directional multi-scrolling to push the limits of the PC-8801. Later released on CD-ROM for the PC-88MC with support for Sound Board II, the game remains a memorable landmark of late-80s technical achievement.

The story begins in 2231, when a mysterious and deformed lifeform emerges on the colonized planet Dios, leading to a sudden, catastrophic massacre. When the United Nations space forces are dispatched to investigate, they are quickly overwhelmed and eradicated. To restore order, seven brave volunteers act as the final line of defense against annihilation. Players must choose one of these warriors and embark on a desperate struggle for the survival of the human race.