Wizardry II - Llylgamyn no Isan (Japan)

Wizardry II - Llylgamyn no Isan (Legacy of Llylgamyn) is a Japan-exclusive Game Boy Color port of the classic 1982 dungeon crawler Wizardry II: The Knight of Diamonds. Released sometime around the turn of the millennium, this version was developed and published by unknown parties - likely ASCII or a similar Japanese studio - bringing the notoriously difficult first-person RPG to a handheld screen. It is not a hack or fan translation; this is an official localised release, though it never left Japan.

The game drops you into a maze-like dungeon where you control a party of adventurers you create from scratch. Every move in the labyrinth is turn-based, with random encounters forcing you into tactical combat. You manage hit points, spell slots, and equipment while mapping your progress on graph paper - or in your head, if you're brave. Characters gain experience, level up, and can learn new spells, but death is permanent unless you have a resurrection scroll or visit the temple. The core loop is simple: explore deeper floors, fight monsters, collect treasure, and try not to wipe out your party.

What makes this version interesting today is its rarity. It is one of the few handheld adaptations of the early Wizardry games, and it is a faithful translation of the PC original. The monochrome screen and small pixel art actually suit the minimalist dungeon design. If you enjoy brutally hard turn-based RPGs like the early Might and Magic or Sega's Shining in the Darkness, this will scratch that old-school itch. Just be prepared for a steep learning curve and menus entirely in Japanese - a guide or a second screen with a translation is almost mandatory.