Madou Monogatari I (1996). Play online

Summary

Madō Monogatari I (often just called Madou Monogatari I) drops you into a sprawling 3D maze where a six‑year‑old sorceress, Arle Nadja, must climb a perilously high tower. The game feels like a nostalgic mash‑up of Paladin’s Quest and classic Phantasy Star combat, while puzzles demand equal brainpower. Its item roster is delightfully bizarre—expect Japanese curry, champagne, a tiny elephant, and crystal shards that can even summon Santa, plus a capsule that lets you snatch enemies and turn them into allies, a mechanic that nods to Pokémon. Released in 1996, it stands as the last official Mega Drive title in Japan and serves as a polished revision of the Game Gear version, borrowing heavily from earlier MSX, PC‑98, and PC Engine entries. I love how it marries frantic monster‑hunting with clever, almost tongue‑in‑cheek puzzle design.

Storyline

Madou Monogatari I follows five‑year‑old (six‑year‑old in some versions) Arle Nadja as she takes her final exam at the magic school. She must climb a massive tower, gather three magic spheres, and defeat the tower’s guardians – Cockatrice (absent from the PC‑9801 release) and the final foe, Fudoushi (called Mamono in the MSX version). The tower is filled with puzzles, illusions, and occasional rivals, forcing Arle to stay alert.

In the Game Gear adaptation, the wizard Camus appears. He can aid Arle by teaching her spells such as “Bayoen” or by stealing a sphere after three hours of play. If Camus is healed, he hands Arle Dragon Horns during the Fudoushi fight, creating a second ending where he later vanishes as an illusion.

After defeating Fudoushi/Mamono, Arle graduates from kindergarten, and the chapter closes with a brief glimpse of her growing up.