Overview and Gameplay
Varik and the sorceress Alexis fall into a buried labyrinth, turning a chase into a fight for escape. Brandish is a dungeon-crawling action RPG for SNES, adapted from Nihon Falcom’s earlier Japanese computer game.
The adventure is built around maze floors, real-time combat, traps, locked passages, hidden shops, puzzles, and careful inventory use. Its most unusual feature is the rotating viewpoint: Varik stays facing upward on the screen while the dungeon turns around him as he changes direction.
Controls And Mechanics
- Movement is grid-based, with forward and backward movement, turning, and sidestepping.
- Varik can attack, defend, jump, open doors and chests, pick up items, use items, and rest.
- Weapons, armor, magic items, maps, shops, and limited inventory space shape dungeon survival.
- Traps can punish careless movement, including drops to lower floors.
- The game is single-player only and uses battery-backed saving.
Version Notes
The English SNES localization names the hero Varik, while the Japanese/original version uses Ares. The sorceress is localized as Alexis.
Release And Credits
- Released for SNES in North America in 1995.
- Developer: Nihon Falcom.
- Publisher: Koei.
- Original platform: Japanese PC computers.
