As the only Isu series on Sega MD, Isu 3: Adventurer from Isu was the best of its kind that year, and the only 2D scroll ARPG in the series. It is worth mentioning that Falcom provided official settings to Tokin House, HUDSON, and Sega to develop SFC, PCE and MD versions of Isu IV. As a result, Tokin House developed the SFC version of "Isu IV.: The Mask of the Sun", while HUDSON developed the PCE version of "Isu IV.: Dawn of The Kingdom of Isu", resulting in two completely different sets of "Isu IV" works, but the Sega version of "Isu IV" was somehow terminated, stillborn, so it was more precious to the MD version of "Isu 3".
The story unfolds with the eternal male protagonist of the series: 3 years after I. & II., the red-haired swordsman Yatru and his friend Dorch (who appeared in the 1st and 2nd generations of "Isu" and helped Yatrou) came to the latter's hometown of Filgana, but found that the town was in danger of being attacked by monsters, so Yatru once again embarked on a battle journey. While in Filjana, Yatru meets Dorch's childhood playmate Elena (the heroine of the game, and she certainly can't escape the "fate" of the heroine of the same series who always falls in love with Yatru) and her brother Chester. In order to get revenge, Chester actually helps an ambitious king to resurrect the great demon King Galbaran.
In the end, Atrou set foot on Garbaland island and destroy the Great Demon King, while Chaste, the only one who could sink the island of Garbaran, also activated the trap alone and sank with the island. In the end, Yatru and Dorch leave Filjana and embark on an adventure again.
It may be that I am used to the "mouthless" nature of other "Isu" series of Yatru (including a remake of this work), and I always feel a little bit of contradiction for this game that Yatru will speak in person. In addition, since Isu 3 is a rare 2D transverse ARPG, it has a jumping and button swinging system, which is different from the first and second generations of "semi-physical contact attacks", which greatly enhances the action elements. However, players seem to be less fond of 2D side-scrolling, so future series have re-enabled overlooks or other 3D perspectives.
In terms of difficulty, the biggest point of this game is: if you can't win the boss, find somewhere else in the maze to level up! Players are able to override everything with a high level most of the time. The final demon king of this game is recognized as invincible. Because Yatru's highest level is only 12, it is easy to die in the final battle. However, it takes a long time to brush experience points in the middle and late stages, and it is a bit dull to repeat the work to fight mobs to upgrade. However, the MD version has a secret skill to adjust the level at any time, because the level can be restored to the maximum value, so this secret skill can also be used as an HP recovery potion, so you can use this secret skill in the middle of playing the boss, with this skill, the pass can be said to have a hand!
And this secret technique is also easy to trigger, just connect the 2P controller, press the "up + A + B + C" of the 2P controller at the same time in the opening screen, and then start the game as usual with the 1P controller. Then press the Start of the 1P controller in the middle of the game to open the status screen, the cursor is on the Status item, press the "C" button of the 2P controller and then press "Up", and then normally enter the screen of the option Status, and then press the "Up + C" of the 2P handle at the same time, you can adjust the level of Yatru at will.
The advantage of the game is that it is simple to operate and map, even the town is only this one, there is no puzzle element, so it is not easy to get lost or checkpoint. And the game's props are not too many, so you don't need to read the manual to attack this game. Based on the console version I remember playing as a child, what was missing at that time was supposed to be an ornament that could be automatically revived once (the most useful when playing the last demon king), but I didn't know where to get it. The boss of this game needs Yatru to reach a certain level, plus equipping a power ring or a defensive ring to increase the attack or defense power to break, and the level is time-consuming.
I think that except for the Fire Dragon, the other bosses will not be difficult to deal with as long as they increase their level. However, most players will think that the last demon King, Garbalan, is difficult to fight (don't be afraid, because there are cheats to adjust the level of the protagonist)! In addition, because this game is a horizontal screen composition, the player's proficiency required to jump, jump up to attack (especially when fighting the last demon king) or jump down is higher than other games in the same series.
As mentioned above, the power ring and the defense ring, because the protagonist of this game, Atreu, does not use magic, so he has to wear a ring with different functions. For example, there are "Life Rings" that can restore HP, and "Protective Rings" that keep Yatru from being injured for a short time. Each time you put on the ring, it consumes the power of the ring, and after exhaustion, you need to find a female clerk in the town to fill it, which is the most important system of this work. It is even more important to mention that in the later remake, the ring became divided into different magical attributes such as fire, wind, and earth.
Finally, Yatru said, "If your life were to eliminate adventure, there would be nothing left", so Falcom will continue to create the Isu series featuring Yatru (the PC version of Isu: Origins is an exception).
Due to the high action of Isu 3, the short time it takes to clear, and the fact that I had completed the MD version as a child and had a memory bonus, I gave the game "Isu 3: Adventurer from Isu" a 7 points, but I still prefer a remake of this work called "Isu: The Oath of Filgana", because the latter has gone beyond the scope of reproduction. I wonder if you prefer the original or a remake? Or do you have any memories of the work? You can share it with everyone in the comments section.