The Black Onyx

About

The Black Onyx is a turn-based RPG where players lead a small party through a fantasy world to recover a stolen artifact. Combat involves managing abilities and positioning in grid-based battles. Exploration is linear but interspersed with puzzles and random encounters. Character progression focuses on stat increases and weapon mastery, with limited class variety. The story is straightforward, centering on retrieving the titular crystal and stopping a villainous sorcerer. The game is notable as the final title released for Sega’s SG-1000 in card form and the last game published by Sega for the system. Despite its short development cycle, it earned a dedicated following among retro RPG fans for its clean design and nostalgic value. With multiple versions across platforms like MSX and PC-8800, it remains a curious artifact of early 1980s Japanese gaming. A direct sequel followed within a year, hinting at untapped potential that never fully materialized.