Aretha (アレサ, "Aretha") is a role-playing video game developed by Japan Art Media (JAM) and published by Yanoman Corporation to an exclusively Japanese market. It was originally released for the Game Boy in 1990. A sequel to the original trilogy named Aretha the Super Famicom was later released for the Super Famicom in 1993. Aretha was the first title in the game series of the same name.

Aretha
Aretha the Super Famicom cover art by Tosihiro Nukiyama
Developer(s)Japan Art Media[2]
Game Arts
Publisher(s)Yanoman Corporation[1]
Director(s)Mitsuru Takahashi
Takehisa Abe
Producer(s)Seiichi Yano
Kazutoyo Ishii
Yasuyuki Wakamiya
SeriesAretha
Platform(s)Super Famicom, Game Boy
ReleaseGame Boy
Super Famicom
  • JP: November 23, 1993
Genre(s)Role-playing video game
Mode(s)Single player

Gameplay

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In the SNES version, an all-directional random encounter turn-based battle screen is used that allows enemies to attack from the rear, the side, and the front.

Plot

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Aretha tells the story of Ariel, the granddaughter of a wise old grandmother who has been turned a ten-year-old, who has been given a simple task: to go through the forest to Nineveh, the nearby town, and meet a certain person while visiting the place. Eventually, Ariel uses this quest to hone her magic skills to fight the ultimate battle against evil.

Development

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Aretha was developed by Japan Art Media and published by Yanoman.[3]

Reception

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The Super Famicom version of the game was on the console's top-ten bestseller list in early 1994.[4]

Legacy

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Aretha was followed by two sequels, Aretha II: Ariel no Fushigi na Tabi (ARETHA II ~アリエルの不思議な旅~) and Aretha III, and a standalone side-story game Rejoice: Aretha Ōkoku no Kanata (リジョイス 〜アレサ王国の彼方〜). They were released for the same platforms between 1991 and 1995.

References

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  1. ^ a b "沿革 - ジグソーパズルのやのまん". Yanoman.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2004-11-17. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  2. ^ 会社名. "会社概要/日本 アート メディア JAPAN ART MEDIA". Jam1989.co.jp. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
  3. ^ Todd, Daniel (January 12, 2019). "Aretha". Hardcore Gaming 101. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  4. ^ "SNES N-Force Magazine Issue 10". March 1994. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
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