About this game
Susanoh Densetsu is a action rpg game for the PC Engine, released in Japan in 1989.
Gallery
The Story Behind
Released April 27, 1989, Susanooh Densetsu was a turn-based strategy RPG based on Go Nagai's manga Susano-o, freely inspired by the Shinto myth of Susanoo, the god of storms. The game was developed by Alfa System and published by Hudson Soft exclusively for the Japanese PC Engine. Unlike traditional Dragon Quest-style RPGs, it featured tactical overhead-view combat. The source manga Susano-o ran in Weekly Shonen Magazine from 1979 to 1981, spanning 86 chapters. It won the 4th Kodansha Manga Award in the shounen category in 1980, giving the game adaptation a prestige foundation in the early PC Engine library.
Tricks & Tales
The game was produced by Shinichi Nakamoto and Takeo Imai, directed by Toshinori Oyama, with game design by Hiromasa Iwasaki and T. Takayama. Music was composed by a team of five: Takahito Abe, Keita Hoshi, Takayuki Iwabuchi, Toshiaki Takimoto, and Yuji Muroya. Though the PC Engine version was Japan-exclusive and remained relatively obscure outside fan circles, the game's tactical overhead-view battles were noted as innovative for early 1989, diverging from the standard Dragon Quest formula prevalent at the time.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
The PC Engine (Japan) and TurboGrafx-16 (North America) share the same physical HuCard slot shape but are not compatible with each other's software. NEC deliberately reversed the data bus wiring between the two regions: data pin D0 on the PC Engine corresponds to D7 on the TurboGrafx-16, and so on through all eight lines. Beyond the hardware wiring difference, most North American HuCards contain region-checking code that detects a Japanese console and immediately crashes. Converters that electrically flip the data bus do exist and allow cross-region play. CD-ROM² discs themselves carry no region protection and play freely on both systems—however, the System Cards required to boot CD software are region-locked in the same way as HuCards, so a Japanese System Card cannot be used in a TurboGrafx-16 and vice versa.
Maintenance Tips
HuCard contacts are the most common maintenance point on the PC Engine and TurboGrafx-16. The card's edge connector oxidizes over decades of storage, causing failure-to-read and graphical glitches. Cleaning with 90%+ isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab—gently wiping the gold contacts on the card itself—resolves most contact issues; stubborn oxidation responds to dedicated contact cleaners such as DeoxIT. Never blow into the card slot with your mouth, as moisture accelerates the very corrosion you are trying to remove. On systems equipped with the CD-ROM² or Super CD-ROM² add-on, the optical drive is subject to the same age-related laser and sled degradation seen in any CD system of that era; the laser assembly uses a KSS-220a-type unit on the Super CD-ROM² and replacement parts remain available.
Going deeper
Explore the machine this game ran on, and what to check before you buy or care for one:
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Susanoh Densetsu copies regularly.
Does Susanooh Densetsu save progress without a Tennokoe?
Most HuCard games on PC Engine don't save on their own — they need Hudson's external Tennokoe backup unit (sold separately), which holds saves with a CR2320 battery. If you have a loose HuCard but no Tennokoe, the game will still play, but it won't remember your progress between sessions. If you're buying for a collection or occasional play, that's fine; for serious play, it's worth finding a Tennokoe or TurboBooster-Plus (which had one built in). Note: the Tennokoe Bank uses a CR2320 battery (thinner than the more common CR2032), and replacing it is difficult — the battery compartment is under a raised cover that's not designed for easy access.
Is the PC Engine region-locked?
Yes. The PC Engine's physical card slot will only accept Japanese HuCards — North American TurboGrafx-16 HuCards are shaped differently to prevent cross-region play. A Japanese-exclusive game like Susanooh Densetsu won't physically fit into a TurboGrafx-16 without modification. If you're collecting specifically for a TurboGrafx-16 console, verify that you have the right region before buying.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy Susanoh Densetsu
A short checklist for buying used PC Engine software wisely — useful with any seller, anywhere.
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Choose a seller who tests it before shipping
A copy that has actually been powered on and checked is a known quantity. An untested one is a gamble you only settle after it arrives.
Look for a seller who states it was function-tested and says what they confirmed. A serious seller can tell you exactly what was checked.
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Make sure it fits your console
Japanese PC Engine HuCards and CDs are not compatible with the North American TurboGrafx-16 — the formats differ. Use a Japanese PC Engine system.
Play it on a matching Japanese console or a region-free system, and confirm the listing states the region.
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HuCard or CD-ROM² — know which you're buying
PC Engine games come on HuCard chips or on CD-ROM². CD titles also require the right CD system and a working System Card.
Confirm the format in the listing, and for CDs check the disc surface and that saves are supported.
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Check that the contacts are clean
Dirty edge contacts are the most common cause of startup and sound trouble in cartridges of this age.
Choose a seller who cleans the contacts before shipping. A note that it was tested and cleaned means the basics were handled.
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Read the seller's reviews and return policy
A 100% positive record across thousands of sales is close to a guarantee — packing, communication and problem-solving all work for everyone. A return policy protects you if something is off.
Read the feedback and confirm a clear return window before you buy.
The last step before buying anywhere is knowing what it's worth.
See the unit we have →Unexpected Discoveries
Games you weren't looking for — but might be glad you found.
Rooms this game lives in
Wander deeper — explore the themed rooms where Susanoh Densetsu 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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