Xié'è Zhīzǐ

About

Xié'è Zhīzǐ is a 1995 RPG built for the Super A'Can that puts decision making at the heart of its story. You play as a character whose alignment shifts based on dialogue options and actions. Conversations with minor characters or pivotal choices can alter outcomes, leading to endings where the protagonist is either heroic or villainous. Combat follows turn based mechanics common to 90s JRPGs but with occasional twists depending on your reputation in the game world. The game’s reputation system tracks your morality in real time, influencing NPC interactions and mission availability. While its 20 year head start over modern choice driven RPGs means the graphics and interface feel dated, retro fans praise its branching scenarios as ahead of their time. A small but active preservation community keeps the Super A'Can version running on emulators.

Storyline

The Son of Evil is an RPG launched with the Super A'Can and intended to be its flagship title. It plays in a manner similar to popular JRPGs like Final Fantasy IV but with more emphasis on personal choice. The player has branching dialogue paths with even trivial NPCs as well as in more plot critical moments which can change events in the game and even make the protagonist good or evil.