Defenders of Oasis (1992). Play Free Online

Summary

Defenders of Oasis puts you in the sandals of the Prince of Shadam, a lone hero fighting an empire bent on awakening the dark god Ahriman. Inspired by One Thousand and One Nights, the game weaves oriental folklore into its overworld, where villages and castles sprout as hubs for dialogue, item trading, and rest. Battles unfold in a real‑time, command‑driven arena that automatically saves your progress after each encounter, allowing you to focus on building a three‑person party and experimenting with a wide variety of weapons, armor, and spells.

Critics at the time lauded its colourful graphics, which packed impressive detail onto a four‑megabyte cartridge, and a dynamic soundtrack that complements the exotic setting. Scores jumped as high as 90% in Sega Force and 15.5/20 in GamePro, and sales placed it in the top ten Game Gear titles for months after launch. Many still cite it as the pinnacle RPG of the handheld’s library.

Storyline

Defenders of Oasis casts you as the Shadam prince, tasked with stopping the dark wizard Ahriman. Ahriman’s return hinges on the three holy rings sealed by the ancient hero Jamshid, now coveted by the Yufurat Empire. The Prince escorts Princess Mariam, keeper of one ring, to Mahamoud for aid while gathering allies—a genie‑bound Jinn, thief Agmar, and sailor Sindbad. Together they must retrieve the remaining rings and thwart the empire’s plot.

A traitorous general steals the second ring, but the Prince frees the Jinn from a hidden lamp, gaining magical power. They infiltrate Al Karria’s castle, rescue Mariam, and claim the third ring from a tomb guarded by Ali Baba’s bandits. Jamshid’s spirit warns that Ahriman will shatter the seals, so they use Mariam’s amulet and the lamp’s ash to restore the rings. With the rings reforged they climb the Tower of Ziggurat, face the Roc, and battle Ahriman in the spirit realm, sealing him once more.

Edited by Maya Carter