Compile's 1989 RPG Adventure of Randar is out now on Switch

D4 Enterprise has released the MSX2 role-playing game Adventure of Randar on the Nintendo Switch. The 1989 title from Compile is available today as part of the EGG Console series on the Japanese eShop for 770 yen.

Adventure of Randar originally launched as part of the Disc Station Special 1 - Spring Edition compilation for the MSX2 computer. The Disc Station series was a regular disk magazine published by Compile. These floppy disks contained a mix of small games, demos, and digital newsletters. The player controls Randar, Compile's spherical mascot character, on a quest to save the Mamorus Kingdom from a demon named Nesteelva. The mechanics follow the standard template of late-80s console and computer RPGs.

Grinding on the MSX2

Combat is entirely turn-based and relies on random encounters. Early battles pit Randar against basic enemies like Green Slimes. The user interface displays character stats and simple text prompts for attacking and using items. The screen layout uses the classic black background with text windows framing the monster sprites.

Players navigate a 2D overworld map connecting three towns, three caves, and a final castle. The dungeon layouts are maze-like and require careful exploration. The encounter rate is high. Progress requires heavy experience grinding to survive the later areas. This loop reflects the standard design philosophy of early Japanese computer games. Enemies hit hard in the early hours.

Despite the punishing difficulty curve, the game found an audience in 1989. Compile eventually produced two direct sequels for the MSX2 platform. Late-game progression gives Randar access to powerful gear. The status screen maxes out with items like Excalibur and Dragon Armor.

The Switch release

D4 Enterprise has been porting Japanese microcomputer games to the Switch for a few years now. The EGG Console line focuses heavily on the PC-8801, PC-9801, and MSX systems. This specific release runs through their proprietary emulator wrapper. It supports standard controller inputs but also accepts USB keyboards to replicate the original MSX2 hardware feel. The keyboard support requires a standard 106, 108, or 109-key Japanese layout.

This version omits the scene select function found in some other EGG Console releases. Players have to rely on the standard save system to track their progress. The game is currently available only through the Japanese eShop. Nintendo Switch consoles are region-free, so anyone with a Japanese account can purchase it. The text is entirely in Japanese.

Compile is mostly remembered today for the Puyo Puyo series and fast-paced shoot-'em-ups like Musha and Zanac. The company used Randar as a recurring character across multiple titles before eventually going bankrupt in the early 2000s. Playing a slow, methodical RPG starring their company mascot is a strange historical detour. It is a very different pace from the arcade action the developer usually produced.