Your first published work might not be your best — but it can be the one that changes who you meet next.
Master of Monsters marked the first official composing credit for Hayato Matsuo, who would later become known for soundtracks to major RPGs and anime. The game also introduced Hitoshi Sakimoto — who programmed and arranged orchestral music for the first time on this title — to Matsuo. The two became close friends and colleagues, later shaping the sound of Final Fantasy XII, the Ogre series, and many others together. Koichi Sugiyama, the legendary Dragon Quest composer and Matsuo's mentor, supervised the score. For SystemSoft, Master of Monsters was a fantasy spin on their military Daisenryaku series — replacing tanks with dragons, cities with wizards. The work itself was modest. The meeting it created was not.
— inspired by Hayato Matsuo
About this game
Released in 1991 for PC Engine CD-ROM², Master of Monsters is a turn-based strategy game where players command wizards who summon mythical creatures to fight for territorial control. Originally developed by SystemSoft for MSX and PC-8801 in 1988, the PC Engine version brought the strategic depth of summoning dragons, phoenixes, and other monsters to NEC's CD platform. Players choose from five wizards, each commanding different monster types, in battles fought across hex-based maps.
The Story Behind
Master of Monsters was originally released in 1989 for Japanese home computers (MSX, NEC PC-8801, PC-9801) before being ported to console platforms. The PC Engine CD-ROM² version, published by Micro Cabin on February 15, 1991, took advantage of the CD format's storage capacity. SystemSoft, the developer, was known for strategy titles including the Daisenryaku series. The game's success led to ports on Sega Genesis/Mega Drive and later sequels on Saturn and PlayStation. Master of Monsters was conceived as a fantasy spin-off of SystemSoft's Daisenryaku series, replacing military units with monsters and cities with wizards and towers. The soundtrack, composed by Hayato Matsuo under the supervision of his mentor Koichi Sugiyama (Dragon Quest), marked Matsuo's first official composing credit and introduced him to Hitoshi Sakimoto, who handled programming and arrangement — a collaboration that would shape RPG soundtracks for decades.
Tricks & Tales
The PC Engine CD version featured enhanced audio thanks to the CD-ROM format, with music composed by Hayato Matsuo — his first official composing credit. Hitoshi Sakimoto, who would later become a legendary RPG composer, handled programming and orchestral arrangement for the first time on this project. The two became close friends and would collaborate on Final Fantasy XII, the Ogre series, and many other influential soundtracks. The game model number MCCD0002 indicates it was an early CD-ROM² release for the platform. Unlike HuCard games, CD titles required the PC Engine CD-ROM² attachment or TurboDuo system. Players accumulate resources to summon monsters of varying power levels, commanding them to conquer and occupy holdings across a hex-based battlefield.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
This is a Japanese NTSC-J disc, but PC Engine CD-ROMs are region-free — a Japanese disc plays on a North American TurboGrafx-CD system without modification, and vice versa. The only thing that differs by region is the language on the packaging; the game itself is identical. A System Card may be required depending on the format (CD-ROM² / Super CD-ROM² / Arcade CD-ROM²), so verify your system has one if the disc doesn't boot. The game text and interface are in Japanese.
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Master of Monsters copies regularly.
Will this CD still play after 35 years?
CD-ROM² discs from the early 1990s can still play today if they've been stored properly — away from heat, humidity, and direct sunlight. The disc itself doesn't have batteries or internal memory to fail. Check the disc surface for scratches or clouding before playing; a clean, intact disc should load without trouble. If it doesn't read, try cleaning the CD-ROM² drive's laser lens gently with a disc-cleaning kit designed for optical drives.
Can I play this on a North American TurboGrafx-CD?
Yes. Unlike HuCard cartridges, PC Engine CD-ROMs are not region-locked — a Japanese disc works on a North American TurboGrafx-CD system, and the other way round. The game itself plays identically. The only difference is the language printed on the case and manual; the software inside is the same. If the disc requires a System Card (some CD-ROM² games do), make sure your TurboGrafx-CD has one — but the disc itself will load across regions without any modification.
Unexpected Discoveries
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Rooms this game lives in
Wander deeper — explore the themed rooms where Master of Monsters sits alongside its kin.
Memories from around the world
This is a young museum, and this page is still waiting for its first voices. The memories people send reach Taisei personally, and the ones that move him find a home here over time — always with the writer's blessing. Yours could be the very first for this game.
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