Gensei Kaito Den

About

Gensei Kaito Den is a lighthearted RPG following Ali-Baba a thief leading 40 robbers through a series of heists and adventures. Each chapter takes players from train robberies to treasure hunts with occasional detours into puzzle-filled dungeons. Combat uses a turn-based system with side-view battles letting characters swap between physical moves magic and special attacks. The structure mirrors Compile’s earlier Gensei Kitan but shifts focus to Ali-Baba while reusing the same menu-driven interface and automatic travel between locations. Leveling up resets health and energy pools making progression feel fresh even in repetitive fights. The game stands out for its episodic pacing and quirky world-building. Familiar faces from Gensei Kitan including a dog named Smash return but Ali-Baba’s selfish ambitions drive the humor. Labyrinthine levels and simple puzzles keep exploration engaging though the lack of a world map limits freedom. While obscure today it remains a cult favorite among retro RPG fans for its brisk storytelling and charm. Its 1995 release on PC-9800 hardware cemented Compile’s reputation for mixing action and comedy in bite-sized adventures.

Storyline

Gensei Kaitō Den is set in the same world as Gensei Kitan. Important characters from Gensei Kitan (including its protagonist, the dog Smash) appear in the game, and some of them are playable. However, the main hero is a young and very ambitious thief named Ali-Baba - who is, naturally, the leader of a band of 40 robbers. The game is divided into chapters; each one describes an episode from Ali-Baba's "career", from train robbery to treasure hunt and even discovery of the magic lamp.