The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road (2008). Play online

Summary

"The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road" (simply called the DS Oz RPG) arrives as a full‑screen touch‑only adventure from Media.Vision, the studio famous for Wild Arms. All movement is handled with the stylus, guiding a tiny green trackball on the bottom screen, while battles shift to a first‑person view reminiscent of Dragon Quest and EarthBound.

Combat revolves around a four‑slot system that forces tactical choices: Dorothy and the Scarecrow consume one slot each, the Lion takes two, and the Tin Man uses three. Because only four slots are available each turn, the Tin Man can act just once while the Lion can never strike alongside him, encouraging players to rotate participants and protect idle members.

Each character also has a natural affinity—Dorothy excels versus ghosts, the Lion against beasts, and so on—adding another strategic layer. Power is earned not through standard leveling but by confronting dragon masters; defeating them yields new spells and abilities. Elemental spirits, acting like Wild Arms tools, unlock hidden doors and treasure‑filled areas during dungeon dives.

The Japanese title, RIZ‑ZOAWD, is an anagram of “Wizard” and “Oz”, a quirky naming choice explained by director Nobuo Nakazawa. A limited Japanese edition even bundled a music CD with tracks composed by Michiko Naruke and performed by Kaori Asoh.

Storyline

The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road follows Dorothy and Toto as they answer the Wizard’s request to defeat four witches and earn each companion’s wish. In the spring, summer and fall levels the party must gather three magical eggs each, and a single egg lies in the winter level, for a total of ten. After the eggs are collected, Oz betrays them, forcing the group to trek the Yellow Brick Road toward Oz Castle, where the only way out is to defeat the Wizard himself.

Dorothy’s friends include a brain‑less Scarecrow, a heart‑less Tin Man who communicates only with metallic grunts, and a cowardly Lion. The four witches are Protea, the Winter Witch and mother of the three sisters; Delphi, the carefree Summer Witch; Holly, the mischievous Autumn Witch; and Flora, the gentle Spring Witch. Cat‑like Cat Hoods serve the sisters throughout the game.

Inside Oz Castle, the ruler Oz acts as a healer and merchant, selling items and equipment before the final showdown.