Faria: A World of Mystery & Danger! is an action RPG developed by Game Arts. It first launched in Japan in 1989 and came to North America in 1991 via Nexoft. Played from a top-down view, you take on the role of a foreign female warrior who enters the kingdom of Faria on a risky, adventure-filled quest.
The story opens with the heroine waking up at an inn in Faria. She learns an evil wizard has kidnapped the princess, and the king is offering a reward to anyone who can rescue her. You’ll explore a vast world, traverse dangerous dungeons and towers, fight all kinds of monsters, solve puzzles, and finally defeat the wizard to save the princess.
Its gameplay blends action and RPG elements, similar to The Legend of Zelda. You talk to NPCs in towns for info and items, run into random enemies on the world map, and engage in real-time battles on dedicated combat screens. Dungeons feature complex maze layouts where you must solve puzzles to find the path to the next floor. In combat, you can use a sword for close-range attacks or items like bows and bombs for long-range strikes.
One of Game Arts’ early RPG titles, Faria laid the groundwork for the company’s later success with series like Grandia and Lunar. Its design team included well-known creators such as Takeshi Miyaji and Akihiko Yoshida.
Overall, with its unique story, rich content, and challenging gameplay, Faria: A World of Mystery & Danger! delivers an unforgettable adventure for action RPG fans on the NES platform.