History VideoGame / Brandish

The original game was released in 1991 for the UsefulNotes/PC98 and Platform/FMTowns, before being ported to the Platform/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem and [[UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 PC Engine]] in 1994/1995. The first ''Brandish'' was the only entry of the series ever released in other countries (with the SNES version being the only English language version available), and with great alterations at that. Its story starts with the protagonist, Ares, being ambushed by the mage Dela Delon, who aims to avenge her evil wizard master, killed by Ares in the game's backstory. While battling, one of Dela Delon's spells breaks open the ground, sending them both into a deep labyrinth. Now, Ares must figure out a way to escape.

The original game was released in 1991 for the UsefulNotes/PC98 and UsefulNotes/FMTowns, before being ported to the UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem and [[UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 PC Engine]] in 1994/1995. The first ''Brandish'' was the only entry of the series ever released in other countries (with the SNES version being the only English language version available), and with great alterations at that. Its story starts with the protagonist, Ares, being ambushed by the mage Dela Delon, who aims to avenge her evil wizard master, killed by Ares in the game's backstory. While battling, one of Dela Delon's spells breaks open the ground, sending them both into a deep labyrinth. Now, Ares must figure out a way to escape.

A fourth installment, ''Brandish VT: Fata Morgana Templum'', followed in 1996, once more for the PC-98, with its port for [[UsefulNotes/MicrosoftWindows Windows]] computers titled ''Brandish 4: The Tower of Sleeping God''. While it retained the series' gameplay and graphics despite switching from an overhead perspective to an isometric one, the storyline was very different. This is because the fourth game was originally envisioned as a brand new IP known as ''Victim's Tower'', with Falcom [[DolledUpInstallment retooling it]] after realizing the interface and basic gameplay were similar to the previous three ''Brandish'' installments. The "VT" in the title is [[DevelopmentGag a nod]] to the original concept, with the titular Fata Morgana Templum/Tower of the Sleeping God (a giant tower in the middle of the desert) [[IHaveManyNames also known]] in-game as the Victim's Tower. The fourth game is also notable for its implementation of a Good-Neutral-Evil [[KarmaMeter alignment system]] and MultipleEndings based on the player's alignment, not unlike the mainline ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' games.

In 2009, the first ''Brandish'' would be [[VideoGameRemake remade]] for the [[UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable PSP]] as ''Brandish: The Dark Revenant'', being fully 3D but retaining the same rotatable camera system of the original; Creator/XSEEDGames would handle localization of ''The Dark Revenant'' for the North American and PAL regions in 2015. Dela would also appear as a GuestFighter in 2010's ''VideoGame/{{Ys}} vs. [[VideoGame/TrailsSeries Sora no Kiseki]]: Alternative Saga'', serving as a [[AssistCharacter support character]] and the game's sole representative for her home series.

* SpellMyNameWithAnS: With most cases chalked up to the fact that only the first game and its PSP remake ever made it out of Japan.
** The series' HotWitch [[BreakoutCharacter poster girl]] is commonly known to English-speaking audiences as Dela Delon. The localization of ''The Dark Revenant'' instead gave her name as Dora Doran... which somewhat better matches the katakana from the Japanese release (ドーラ・ドロン). [[note]]ドーラ is Dora/Dola, whereas ドロン can be transliterated as either Doron or Delon (as evidenced by quite a few Japanese articles about French actors Creator/{{Alain|Delon}} and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathalie_Delon Nathalie Delon]]).[[/note]]
** Umber. On very rare occasions will you see her name spelled as Umbar (not to be confused with [[Franchise/TolkiensLegendarium the Middle-Earth port city]]), while the katakana used in-game (アンバー・ガルシア, ''Anbā Garushia'') suggests her name should've been Amber, [[https://twitter.com/kidfenris/status/1282808130674532352 furthered by the fact that]] her theme in the third game is titled "Stay Gold" -- indicating some color-based wordplay that was LostInTranslation. Her surname (Garcia) is sometimes [[JapaneseRanguage given as "Galsia"]] as well, not unlike the Garcia/Galsia issue in ''VideoGame/StreetsOfRage''.
** The name of the WhiteMagicianGirl from the fourth game is a lesser example. Website/HardcoreGaming101's [[http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/brandish-vt/ article on the game]] and [=Gu4n=]'s unfinished translation of ''4'' opt for Clare while [[Website/{{Pixiv}} pixiv Encylopedia]]'s entries for both ''Brandish VT''[[labelnote:*]]ブランディッシュVT[[/labelnote]] and the character herself[[labelnote:*]]クレール(ブランディッシュ)[[/labelnote]] translate to Claire. [[note]]The katakana used typically is transliterated as Claire/Clair.[[/note]]

* GratuitousRussian: The [[http://www.museumofplay.org/online-collections/22/46/113.3400 Japanese cover]] of ''Brandish'' includes the backstory written out in Russian for some reason.

* WhipItGood:
** Dela's possible weapon in ''Spirit of Balcan''.
** Dee, the protagonist of ''Brandish VT'', also favors a whip.

** Dela's possible WeaponOfChoice in ''Spirit of Balcan''.

2009 also saw [[https://www.romhacking.net/translations/1442/ the release]] of a FanTranslation of the second game's Super Famicom version (handled by Synchronicity), with [[https://gu4n.github.io/br2/index.html another]] (this time based on ''Brandish 2 Renewal'' and translated by a team led by [=Gu4n=] and preta) releasing in 2017. [=Gu4n=] additionally worked on [[https://gu4n.github.io/br4/ a translation patch]] for ''Brandish 4'', though only the Lawful route of Dee's story is finished and there are no current plans to fully translate the game.

** The name of the WhiteMagicianGirl from the fourth game is a lesser example. Both Website/HardcoreGaming101's [[http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/brandish-vt/ recap of the series]] and [=Gu4n=]'s unfinished FanTranslation of ''4'' opt for Clare while [[Website/{{Pixiv}} pixiv Encylopedia]]'s entries for both ''Brandish VT''[[labelnote:*]]ブランディッシュVT[[/labelnote]] and the character herself[[labelnote:*]]クレール(ブランディッシュ)[[/labelnote]] translate to Claire. [[note]]The katakana used typically is transliterated as Claire/Clair.[[/note]]

''Brandish'' is an ActionRPG series by Creator/{{Falcom}}, which currently consists of four main games. It is notable for having a rotatable "camera" despite having entirely 2D gameplay, thus allowing the player to do things like circle strafing, hit and run attacks, and other typically-3D techniques.

The original game was released in 1991 for the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem SNES]], and it was the only one ever released in other countries, and with great alterations at that. Its story starts with the protagonist, Ares, being ambushed by the mage Dela Delon, who aims to avenge her evil wizard master, killed by Ares in the game's backstory. While battling, one of Dela Delon's spells breaks open the ground, sending them both into a deep labyrinth. Now, Ares must figure out a way to escape.

''Brandish 2: The Planet Buster'' was originally released on UsefulNotes/PC98 in 1993, and was then ported to UsefulNotes/{{SNES}} in 1994. ''Brandish 3: Spirit of Balcan'' was developed in 1994. Both of these sequels again centered on Ares and Dela. ''Brandish 4'' or ''Brandish VT: Fata Morgana Templum'', followed in 1996, but while it retained the series' gameplay and graphics, the storyline was very different.

There was also a 2009 [[VideogameRemake remake]] of the original game for the [[UsefulNotes/PlaystationPortable PSP]], known as ''Brandish: The Dark Revenant'', which is 3D, but retains the same rotatable camera system. 2009 also saw the fan translation of the second game.

* AmazonianBeauty: Umber, a muscular wrestler who fights in a revealing outfit that basically looks like a sling swimsuit with a tubetop.

* TheArchmage: Balcan is both this and BigGood in ''Spirit of Balcan'' despite being dead several years before the start of the series.
* AscendedExtra: Dela Delon becomes playable in ''The Dark Revenant'' and ''Spirit of Balcan.'' Similarly, Umber and Jinza, who were [=NPCs=] in ''The Planet Buster,'' become playable characters in ''Spirit of Balcan.''

* BeamSpam: [[spoiler: God Bistall's]] second form in ''The Dark Revenant'' uses this.
* {{Bifauxnen}}: [[spoiler: Mauve]] in ''Brandish VT'' is a mild example.

* BreakoutCharacter: Dela Delon has become the signature character of the series and features on many front covers, despite only being playable in ''Spirit of Balcan'' and a secret mode of ''The Dark Revenant.''
* ButtMonkey: One function of Dela is to show the player which traps he will encounter in the next part of the game. That naturally means that she triggers each and every one of these traps and least in the first two games is constantly knocked out, transported away, dropped into pits,...

* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass and GeniusBruiser: Garahad in ''Brandish VT.''

* DigitalBikini: Dela Delon in the SNES U.S. version of Brandish. Her original outfit gets a one-piece bathing suit that covers most of her skin.
* DisappearsIntoLight: Happens to [[spoiler: God Bistall]] in ''The Dark Revenant.''
* DubNameChange: In the [=SNES=] port, Ares is know as "Varik", and Dela Delon as "Alexis". The latter was due to CharacterNameLimits.

* EvilOverlord: Lord Bistall from the first game whose ambition to take the power of the nation's guardian dragon for himself resulted in the massive earthquake that caused the kingdom's destruction. Also, King Badorrer from the second game, who rules his nation with iron fist and hopes to become a godlike being with the power of the sword Planet Buster.

* GratuitousNinja: One of the bosses in the first game are a group of ninjas. One of the playable characters in ''Spirit of Balcan'' is a ninja master.

* KarmaMeter: Present in ''Brandish VT'' where every character except Mermelada and Garahad will get [[MultipleEndings different endings]] depending on their karma at the end.

* MsFanservice: Again, Dela Delon. Also [[AmazonianBeauty Umber]] ''(Brandish 3)'' and [[HotWitch Mermelada]] ''(Brandish 4)''.

* NumberedSequels: ''Brandish 2: The Planet Buster'', ''Brandish 3: Spirit of Balcan'' and ''Brandish 4: The Tower of Sleeping God''.
* OneWingedAngel: The final bosses in every installment go through this after their first phase, except for Bistall - he's already in his OneWingedAngel form when you encounter him.

* SittingSexyOnAPiano: Dela Delon in the cover art for ''[[http://i.imgur.com/7wzNhJ9.jpg Brandish Piano Collection.]]''
* SquishyWizard: Dela Delon in ''The Dark Revenant.''
* {{Stripperiffic}}: Dela Delon and Umbar.

* VillainHasAPoint: Gaua, BigBad of the third game, justifies his summoning of the dark god Apeiron by stating that there has to be absolute fear in order to keep people in line. Given how villains of the previous games, Lord Bistall and King Badorrer, tried to become godlike beings in their arrogance and caused huge calamities in the process, his reasoning actually has some merit.

* WhipItGood: Dee in ''Brandish VT.'' Also, Dela's possible weapon of choice in ''Spirit of Balcan''.
* WhiteMagicianGirl: Clare from Brandish 4.
* YouKilledMyFather: Master in her case, but this is Dela's primary reason for hunting down Ares, in addition to a massive bounty on his head. [[spoiler:It is revealed in the third game that while Ares did cut Balcan down, it was at Balcan's request as Balcan was getting possessed by the same evil power that possessed the mad tyrant whom Balcan and Ares took down earlier.]]

* EvilOverlord: King Badorrer from the second game, who rules his nation with iron fist and hopes to become a godlike being with the power of the sword Planet Buster.

* HeroWithBadPublicity: Ares is this. Despite saving the world multiple times, he has a massive bounty on his head due to getting involved in all sorts of disasters.

* TheCaligula: King Badorrer in the second game.

* LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe: Ares use a shield to block enemy attacks.

* DigitalBikini: Dela Delon in the SNES U.S. port of Brandish. Her original outfit gets a one-piece bathing suit that covers most of her skin.

* AGodAmI: The motivation of most villains in the series.

There was also a 2009 remake of the original game for the [[UsefulNotes/PlaystationPortable PSP]], known as ''Brandish: The Dark Revenant'', which is 3D, but retains the same rotatable camera system. 2009 also saw the fan translation of the second game.

* BlackAndWhiteMagic
** BlackMagicianGirl: Dela Delon.
** LadyOfBlackMagic: Mermelada from the fourth game.
** WhiteMagicianGirl: Clare from Brandish 4.

* HeroicMime: Ares.

* LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe: Ares.
* MagicKnight: Ares.

* NumberedSequels:
** ''Brandish 2: The Planet Buster''
** ''Brandish 3: Spirit of Balcan''
** ''Brandish 4: The Tower of Sleeping God''

* OneWordTitle

The original game was released in 1991 for the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem SNES]], and it was the only one ever released in other countries, and with great alterations at that. Its story starts with the protagonist, Ares, being ambushed by a mage Dela Delon, who aims to avenge her evil wizard master, killed by Ares in the game's backstory. While battling, one of Dela Delon's spells breaks open the ground, sending them both into a deep labyrinth. Now, Ares must figure out a way to escape.

* EvilOverlord: King Badorrer from the second game who rules his nation with iron fist and hopes to become a godlike being with the power of the sword Planet Buster.

* OneWingedAngel: The final bosses in every installment except the first game go through this.

* YouKilledMyFather: Master in her case but Dela's primary reason for hunting down Ares in addition to massive bounty on his head. [[spoiler:It is revealed in the third game that while Ares did cut Balcan down, it was at Balcan's request as Balcan was getting possessed by the same evil power that possessed the mad tyrant whom Balcan and Ares took down earlier.]]

* GreatEscape: The goal of ''Dark Revenant''. Most human NPCs you meet throughout the game are either adventurers who came to the underground labyrinth in search of treasures or unfortunate souls who fell into it by accident (like Dela and Ares). Due to abundant number of traps and monsters in the dungeon, many have given up on escaping and are content to act as shopkeepers, selling what they found to others who still intend on going. Also, this is your initial objective in the second game as you start off thrown into a jail.

* GreatEscape: The goal of ''Dark Revenant''. Most human NPCs you meet throughout the game are either adventurers who came to the underground labyrinth in search of treasures or unfortunate souls who fell into it by accident (like Dela and Ares). Due to abundant number of traps and monsters in the dungeon, many have given up on escaping and are content to act as shopkeepers, selling what they found to others who still intend on going.
* HeroicMime: Ares.

* WhipItGood: Dee in ''Brandish VT.''

* NobleTopEnforcer: Karl Kares from the second game cares about soldiers under his command and compliments Ares' skills, showing strong desire to fight Ares on even terms. He later opposes BigBad King Badorrer when he finds out what the mad king is trying to do.