Momotarou Densetsu II (Japan)

Momotarou Densetsu II is a Japanese role-playing game that came out for the NEC TurboGrafx-16 (known as the PC Engine in Japan) back in 1992. It was developed and published by Hudson Soft, the same company behind many classic PC Engine titles. This is the sequel to the original Momotarou Densetsu, and like that game it draws on the familiar Japanese folktale of Momotaro, the boy born from a peach. If you've only seen the TurboGrafx-16 library from a western perspective, this one is a Japan-only release, so it never got an official translation or localization back in the day.

The core gameplay is turn-based RPG exploration. You control Momotaro and a party of animal companions as you travel across a map, visit towns, talk to NPCs, and dive into dungeons. Combat is random encounter style, with a menu-driven battle system where you choose attack, magic, or item commands. There's a lighthearted tone throughout, with cute sprites and humorous dialogue (all in Japanese, of course). The game uses a traditional leveling system and gradually introduces new areas and challenges as you progress.

For retro RPG fans, Momotarou Densetsu II is a solid entry in the TurboGrafx-16 library, especially if you enjoy quirky Japanese humor mixed with standard JRPG mechanics. It's not the deepest or most complex RPG on the system, but its charm and accessibility make it worth a look. Compared to other PC Engine RPGs like Ys or Dungeon Explorer, this one leans more into story and character interaction. Just be prepared to navigate Japanese menus if you don't read the language.