Faxanadu

About

Faxanadu is an 8-bit adventure RPG that blends dungeon crawling with platformer mechanics. You play as a wandering hero returning to your decaying hometown, where a mysterious force has corrupted the local dwarves into violent creatures. Your quest spans four distinct zones linked to the World Tree, each requiring exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving to uncover the origins of the corruption. Progress involves navigating vertical and horizontal environments, battling corrupted foes, and piecing together a fragmented narrative about a fallen king and a stolen magical weapon. The game stands out for its tight control and retro charm, though its difficulty and dated visuals may test modern audiences. While not widely known in Western markets, it holds cult status among classic RPG fans for its clever mix of genres and ties to the broader Dragon Slayer universe. Its blend of action and strategy feels ahead of its time, offering a brisk but unforgiving challenge that rewards persistence over power.

Storyline

The player-controlled protagonist of is an unidentified wanderer. He has no name, though the Japanese version allows the player to choose one. The game begins when he approaches Eolis, his hometown, after an absence to find it in disrepair and virtually abandoned. Worse still, the town is under attack by Dwarves.The Elven king explains that the Elf fountain water, their life source, has stopped and provides the protagonist with 1500 golds, the games currency, to prepare for his journey to uncover the cause.As the story unfolds, it is revealed that Elves and Dwarfs lived in harmony among the World Tree until The Evil One emerged from a fallen meteorite. The Evil One then transformed the Dwarves into monsters against their will and set them against the Elves. The Dwarf King, Grieve, swallowed his magical sword before he was transformed, hiding it in his own body to prevent The Evil One from acquiring it. It is only with this sword that The Evil One can be destroyed.His journey takes him to four overworld areas: The tree's buttress, the inside of the trunk, the tree's branches and finally the Dwarves' mountain stronghold.