Blog:Atlus Hotline
From Game Developer Research Institute
CRV (talk) 15:39, 20 May 2018 (UTC) [permalink]
Someone posted a nice little surprise on Twitter — two lists of Atlus games they received when they interviewed at the company years ago. [1] The first is a list of games developed for other companies going back to 1986, when Atlus was established. Well-worn ground on this site, but it's nice to have official documentation straight from the source. Yes, Atlus toiled away as a contract developer in its early years, making games like Karate Kid for LJN in between bigger projects like Megami Tensei and Xexyz.
Games like Megami Tensei showed that Atlus had more going on than a lot of contractors, which brings us to the second list. These are original titles that were self-published, starting in 1989. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Below is a translation of the lists, followed by some notes and observations:
Atlus Co., Ltd. Development Works List
(as of April 1, 1991)
Title Genre Platform Publisher Release Date
01 Ginga Denshou STG FC Imagineer 86
02 Labyrinth ACT FC Tokuma Shoten 87
(game based on a film)
03 Bio Senshi Dan ACT FC Jaleco 87
04 Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei RPG FC Namco 87
05 The Karate Kid ACT NES LJN 87
(game based on a film)
06 Major League Baseball SPT NES LJN 87
(US Major League Baseball)
07 Gotcha! ETC NES LJN 87
(survival game)
08 T&C SPT NES LJN 87
09 Jaws ACT NES LJN 87
(game based on a film)
10 Kame no Ongaeshi [Xexyz] ACT FC Hudson 88
11 Erika to Satoru no Yume Bouken ADV FC Namco 88
12 Appare! Gateball SPT PC Hudson 88
13 King of Kings SLG FC Namco 88
14 NFL SPT NES LJN 88
(NFL football)
15 13 Nichi no Kinyoubi [Friday the 13th] ACT NES LJN 88
16 Kyuukyoku Tiger STG PC Taito 89
17 Dungeon Explorer ACT PC Hudson 89
18 Construction Tool: Maze-kun PZL PC88/98 Telenet Japan 89
19 PC Genjin [Bonk's Adventure] ACT PC Hudson 89
20 Nekketsu Koukou Dodgeball-bu: PC Bangai-hen SPT PC Naxat 90
21 Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II RPG FC Namco 90
22 Maniac Pro Wres RPG PC Hudson 90
23 Battle Fleet SLG FC Namco 90
24 Bikkuriman: Gekitou Sei Senshi RPG FC Hudson 90
25 Ankoku Densetsu [Legendary Axe II] ACT PC Victor Musical Industries 90
26 Jantei Monogatari ETC CD Telenet Japan 90
27 Power Eleven SPT PC Hudson 91
Key
(Genre) STG = Shooting, ACT = Action, RPG = Role-Playing, SPT = Sports, ADV = Adventure
SLG = Simulation, PZL = Puzzle, ETC = Other
(Platform) FC = Famicom, PC = PC Engine, NES = US Famicom, CD = CD-ROM
[Editor's Additions]
Atlus Co., Ltd. Development Works List (original)
(as of April 1, 1991)
Title Genre Platform Release Date US Version
01 Puzzle Boy [Kwirk] PZL GB 11/89 O
02 Cosmo Tank ACT GB 6/90 O
03 Puzzle Boys PZL FD 8/90
04 Pocket Stadium SLG FC 12/90
05 Totsugeki! Valetions [Spud's Adventure] ACT GB 1/91
06 N.Y Nyankies [Rockin' Kats] ACT FC 4/91
07 Quiz Marugoto the World ETC CD 4/91
08 Tranqui-Lander STG AM Coming 91
09 Mesopotamia [Somer Assault] ACT PC Coming 91
10 Denshi Techou Puzzle Boy PZL PA Coming 91
11 Puzzle Boy II PZL GB Coming 91
12 Chiki Chiki Machine Mou Race [Wacky Races] ACT FC Coming 91
(game based on a TV anime)
13 Armored Police Metal Jack ACT SF Coming 91
(game based on a TV anime)
14 Jantei Monogatari II ETC CD Coming 91
15 Shin Megami Tensei RPG SF Coming 92
16 Tranqui-Lander STG SF Coming 92
Key
(Genre) STG = Shooting, ACT = Action, RPG = Role-Playing, SPT = Sports, ADV = Adventure
SLG = Simulation, PZL = Puzzle, ETC = Other
(Platform) GB = Game Boy, FC = Famicom, FD = Famicom Disk, PC = PC Engine, PA = Sharp Electronic Organizer
NES = US Famicom, CD = CD-ROM, AM = Arcade, SF = Super Famicom
[Editor's Additions]
- Games like Jaws that were contracted to Atlus, but subcontracted to other companies (like Westone) are included.
- LJN's X-Men was developed in Japan, but it's nowhere to be found here. There was the possibility it was a Jaws-type situation, but now I assume that was not the case and Atlus had no involvement.
- Arkanoid (FC/NES) and Seiken Psycho Calibur (FDS) are not listed, even though sound designer Tsukasa Masuko has said he worked on them at Atlus.
- Karate Kid is referred to by its English name, not its Japanese name (Best Kid), while Friday the 13th is referred to by its Japanese name.
- Pocket Stadium says Famicom, but it came out for Game Boy.
- Unreleased games aren't included.
- That said, I couldn't find any information on Denshi Techou Puzzle Boy.
- Tranqui-Lander seems to be a working title for BlaZeon. Tranqui-Lander is the name of the weapon you use to possess the game's so-called "Bio-Cyborgs".
- A few games on the second list did eventually get a US release.
