Quest 64

About Quest 64

Quest 64 (1998), Holy Magic Century in Europe, is Imagineer's elemental-magic RPG and the first role-playing game released for the Nintendo 64 in North America, praised for its graphics but faulted as shallow.

Quest 64 in Depth

In Celtland, a medieval fantasy world resembling Ireland, the apprentice mage Brian sets out to find his father, who has left the monastery of the mages; Brian later learns that his father is hunting a thief who stole the Eletale Book. Along the way, Brian must recover elemental gems hoarded by powerful criminals before facing the final boss.

As in Chrono Trigger, battles take place where the enemy is met rather than on a separate screen, with Brian locked in place while the fight plays out. His spells work through elemental spirits, each of the controller's four C buttons matching one of the classic elements, wind, earth, water and fire. There is no traditional levelling: as in Final Fantasy II, statistics rise according to how the player fights, so being hit often raises defence, and white spirits found in the world let the player strengthen an element of choice, unlocking new attacks. Unusually, there is no money; every item is found in chests, dropped by monsters or given away. If Brian runs out of health he returns to the last inn where he saved, keeping his spells, items and experience. A compass and clock track the time of day, and some events happen only by day or by night.

Making Quest 64

Imagineer developed the game and THQ translated and published it in North America in June 1998, followed by Konami in Europe that September; despite its Japanese origin, it only reached Japan in July 1999. Expectations were high because it was the first true RPG on the Nintendo 64. Reviews were mixed, with a GameRankings average of 54%: critics praised its graphics, IGN writing that it proved "compelling RPG graphics are possible on a cart", and its inventive spell system, but faulted its lack of depth in gameplay, story and exploration. GameSpot mocked its formula: "Go to Town #1... Discover that there's a villain... he's stolen Unique Elemental Magic Item #1 from Lord #1." The consensus was that it could charm newcomers to RPGs but was too simple and trite for anyone else, and Next Generation, giving three stars, said it proved cartridges could work for RPGs but showed "the need for well-told stories and characters you care about". After moderate financial success, a sequel was considered and its story revealed, but it was cancelled.