History VideoGame / Arcana

An RPG released for the UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem by Creator/HALLaboratory, one of the only [=RPGs=] the company would ever work on. Known as ''Card Master: Seal of Rimsalia'' in Japan, ''Arcana'' is the story of a young warrior named Rooks and his attempt to fulfill his destiny as the last of the Card Masters.

* FiveManBand:
** TheHero: Rooks, who can use the cards for a variety of effects. He can also cast powerful healing magic, and is the strongest physical fighter in the game.
** TheLancer: Darwin, an elven swordsman who also knows a lot of magic, most of which helps to weaken his enemies' attacks. At first he joins Rooks only because they're headed in the same direction, but later on it turns out that he's searching for [[spoiler:Teefa]], who he was given to protect after King Wagnall was murdered ten years ago.
** TheBigGuy: The dwarf warrior Axs is one of the Knights of Lexford, and an old friend of Rooks's father. He raised Princess Salah as her protector after King Wagnall's murder, and later joins Rooks in an effort to stop Galneon.
** TheSmartGuy: Adopted by Axs after King Wagnall's murder, Princess Salah trained as a priestess, a warrior and a magic-user. When she nurses Rooks back to health after he's nearly killed at the Balnia Temple, she decides to join him to overthrow Galneon.
** TheChick: Teefa is apparently one of Ariel's apprentices, who accompanies Rooks on his initial journey to the temple in Balnia. She later [[FaceHeelTurn betrays him]] and steals the Crystal Sword. Later on, it's revealed both that [[spoiler:she's the missing princess]] and that [[spoiler:she was brainwashed by Galneon and Ariel into working for them]]. When Rooks and Darwin free her, she joins the struggle against Galneon.

* AnAxeToGrind: Axs, of course.

* OneWingedAngel: After Rooks fails to banish Rimsala in her nesting state as an egg with striking serpents, she fully awakens and becomes a screen-filling, multiarmed (yet almost pretty) monster that nearly kills him with a single strike.

* OneWingedAngel: After Rooks fails to banish Rimsala in her nesting state as an egg with striking serpents, she fully awakens and becomes a screen-filling, multiarmed monster that nearly kills him with a single strike.

%%* OurElvesAreDifferent: Darwin.

* FightLikeACardPlayer: The in game the cards are not the end all be all but are pretty useful for the early to mid game and Rooks is the last person who can really make use of them. Despite this, everything is graphically represented by cards, making you think they would be a little more central.

* NiceHat: Practically a requirement to be a playable character. Rooks has a decent military-style cap ([[AnachronismStew which is a little odd given the apparent development level of the setting]]), Teefa has a big poofy beret, Salah has a rockin' priest's miter, and Axs has a viking helmet as befits a dude who uses an axe. Darwin is made to stand out by ''not'' having a hat.

* VendorTrash: The Golden Sword and Rococo Armor (a suit of armor made up of precious gems and metals) are pretty much useless in combat, but can be sold for a fair amount of coin at the weapons shops.

An RPG released for the UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem by HAL Laboratory, one of the only [=RPGs=] the company would ever work on. Known as ''Card Master: Seal of Rimsalia'' in Japan, ''Arcana'' is the story of a young warrior named Rooks and his attempt to fulfill his destiny as the last of the Card Masters.

* [[EvilChancellor Evil Court Magician]]: Galneon murdered King Wagnall and seized the throne for himself.

* EarlyBirdCameo: Two VideoGame/{{Kirby}}s [[http://www.kirbysrainbowresort.net/info/cameos/arcana.html appear in the opening]].

* TheCameo: Two VideoGame/{{Kirby}}s [[http://www.kirbysrainbowresort.net/info/cameos/arcana.html appear in the opening]].

The game is known for its immersive atmosphere, a unique elemental system, and SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic by composer Jun Ishikawa (who also produced the original soundtrack for ''VideoGame/KirbysDreamland3'').

The game is known for its immersive atmosphere, a unique elemental system, and SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic.

* OurElvesAreBetter: Darwin is perhaps a borderline example, as he's probably the strongest fighter in the game after Rooks and also knows a fair amount of magic. He also joins you in three chapters, as opposed to the other party members who only appear in two each.

* EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses: Salah and [[spoiler:Teefa]], of course.