My Played Video Games Review: Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen for the Super Nintendo

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Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen is a tactical role-playing game developed by Quest Corporation and released in 1993. Initially, it was published for the Super Nintendo/Super Famicom by Quest in Japan and by Enix America in North America.

This is such a distinctive game, and even now it frequently appears on "Best SNES Games" lists on the Web. Curious why it has such a lasting appeal? After playing it, here’s my opinion on it.

Japan only box cover art (Image source)

The Story

Lead your army through the strife-torn Zenobian Empire and take back the continent! Recruit new characters to join your mission along the way. Once you gain control, will you return power to the rightful ruler or claim the continent for yourself? The choice is yours!

Box, manual and cartridge of the game. (Image source)

The Graphics and Sound

The battle sprites look good, and the attack and spell animations are well-executed. However, the main map has you moving a token-like figure around. The leader tokens aren’t particularly impressive but serve their purpose. A nice detail is the changing of time - the screen darkens as day turns to night. Details like candles burning in windows add to the atmosphere. Characters like the Vampire can only fight at night, retreating to their coffins when the sun rises.

The music is great, with war-like tunes that enhance the gameplay without becoming repetitive or annoying. It's one game where you’ll want to keep the your other music player off and enjoy the excellent soundtrack.

Gameplay video sample of Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen on the SNES. Watch in 360p for near TV resolution of that time.

The Gameplay

The gameplay in here is quite unique compared to what I've seen before. It combines RPG elements where your characters gain levels with strategic elements where you must deploy them in their preferred terrains, consider their costs, and plan their movements strategically based on their combat strengths. This blend of strategy and RPG mechanics makes for a compelling battle system where you can even find time to eat a sandwich while playing.

Beneath this engaging battle system lies a "Popularity" system where every action—from liberating towns to defeating enemies, affects your reputation with the common people. Maintaining a good reputation is crucial for achieving the best ending and unlocking hidden characters.

Complementing the "Popularity" system is a "Piousness" system, which evaluates your tactics in battle. If you consistently overpower weaker enemies, your reputation may suffer, whereas challenging stronger foes can enhance your rebellious image for the better.

These interconnected systems elevate Ogre Battle from a simple RPG/Strategy game into a deeper and more complex experience, where every decision you make has meaningful consequences for your journey and outcomes.

The game features intuitive point-and-click controls. If you have a mouse, you can use it to navigate the game effortlessly. The control scheme is straightforward, with several options available for customization, including the ability to adjust sound and music settings.

Players can manipulate the passage of time within the game, speeding it up if the day feels too slow or slowing it down if things become too chaotic. Similarly, the pace of battles can be adjusted to suit your preference, allowing for a more relaxed or intense gaming experience as needed.

Replay value is good. You need a map of characters to figure out the numerous classes available and their specific requirements. The game also offers extra hidden stages, rare items, and around 14 different endings, making for an extensive and rich exploration experience.

However, be prepared for a significant time investment. The game is long, with over 20 stages to complete. Even if you’re not fussy about the cards you draw or the cities you fail to defend, don’t expect to breeze through. Each skirmish takes at least a day, and you’ll be working to reclaim an entire country. This is war, and it can last for months, keeping you glued to your screen.

My Verdict

If you're looking for an outstanding strategy/RPG or a game so deep it could occupy you for a year, this is for you. Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen is incredibly complex and thorough, making it challenging and not for everyone. But if you're up for it, you might get hooked on finding every ending and secret character.

Bottom line: If you want a game that requires strategic thinking and can entertain you for hours, this is the one. It's one of the best games for its time and age and perhaps still one of the best of its kind. However, due to its steep learning curve and complexity, it’s not for everyone.

Play it on the titanic Super Nintendo/Super Famicom or play it on a worthy emulator

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