Ogre Battle: Prince of Zenobia (伝説のオウガバトル外伝 ゼノビアの皇子), launched 6/22/2000, developed and printed by SNK
After the discharge of Ogre Battle and Techniques Ogre, the primary improvement workforce for the Ogre video games left Quest and joined Sq., the place they developed Remaining Fantasy Techniques. OB64 was launched in 1999 with out their involvement, and (as of 2026) is the final mainline recreation within the collection. After that, there have been two “gaiden” (aspect story) video games after which two remakes of Techniques Ogre which are completely different sufficient they’re virtually like new video games across the similar story.
This recreation, developed by SNK, was virtually like a fan launch — it was developed in home by SNK consisting of a workforce of people that favored Ogre Battle. They licensed the IP from Quest to develop it. What they got here up with was a recreation that may be very devoted to Ogre Battle’s system.
As standard you start with the tarot card questions that decide your preliminary military make-up and MC stats. The sport itself is structured as 13 complete phases with 4 secret further phases, though there are two paths and so you’ll solely play 11 (3 of the 4 further phases are additionally route particular) in anybody playthrough. The storyline is ready in the course of the unique OB recreation, with one of many aspect characters (Tristan), who tries to take his land again from the enemies.
The gameplay is kind of equivalent to the unique Ogre Battle, though there are some further unit sorts, objects, and such. However you continue to liberate cities (primarily based on the alignment of the troops), discover hidden areas and objects, and combat battles.
The enemies nonetheless have very simplistic AI the place they only rush you (particularly your property base). You do not need to fret as a lot about your cities being retaken, although, and apparently the drawbacks to sitting on a map for some time to earn cash aren’t on this model.
The battles work similar to they did in OB; every unit does a set variety of assaults relying on their class sort and place. After these occur, the battle is over and the “loser” (who took extra injury) will get pushed again.
So this recreation shall be interesting for individuals who favored the unique Ogre Battle, and never a lot in any other case. As I mentioned in my posts on Ogre Battle (particularly the second submit), I used to be not a fan of the unique recreation, and I’m not all that enthusiastic about this one both. To me it has all the issues of the unique recreation plus it’s a must to play it with the extra awkward Neo Geo Pocket controls. However, if you happen to favored the unique OB it’s price a play, and there may be an English patch.
There’s yet another unique recreation within the franchise — the Techniques Ogre gaiden recreation launched for the GBA in 2001. After that, it’s simply the TO remakes.
