Populous
↗ 6.8%
😊 7.7/10
(PC Engine - JP, Strategy)
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 (Alt 1).png)
Complete
$21.36
Loose $6.64
Developed by:
Alfa System
Published by:
Hudson Soft
Released On:
05 Apr 1991
Also available on:
You play a god, gaming against other gods in a celestial game of conquest. To win, you must help your chosen people take over the world and wipe out the vermin who worship that other god.
Each Populous player starts out with a single human, dumped into the middle of the wilderness. Sometimes there is inhabitable land in sight, sometimes not. To get a chance to win, you must change the landscape, creating flat land for your followers to build on. The more followers you have, the more powerful you will be, so take care of them. Build as fast as you can, because the other god is doing the same.
When you have enough followers, you can make the leader of your people into a hero. He will then go around the land you have built, literally taking strength from the people into himself, and working his way toward the enemy. When he gets there, he will engage in holy warfare upon your enemy's people. He will burn; he will kill. And he won't stop until they're all dead... or he is.
But you don't have to let your people have all the fun; the gods have other tools as well. You can drown your enemies one at a time with your land-lowering powers, submerge their towns in swamps, or raise a volcano in the middle of their best farmland. Even better, you can flood the land and drain all the people who didn't build on high ground.
Populous was released for the PC Engine in 1991 and is a classic example of the strategy genre. A god's play is just never done as it offers endless possibilities for conquest and destruction.
EAN-13:
4988607200435 (Japan)
Part #:
HC91041 (Japan)
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Number of Players Supported:
1 Player
Miscellaneous Attributes:
Save Game Memory
Prices as of 09 Oct 2026
Typical $18.00–$21.42 (last 90 days)
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Market activity: active · about 15 sales a year
Activity is a 12-month sales count. Dashed segments rest on two sales a year or fewer.
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Manual
Game Guide
Extracted from the original game manual
In this god game, players assume the role of a deity on planet P, battling against a demonic counterpart to determine the fate of the land. By guiding populations, shaping the terrain, and unleashing natural disasters, players aim to outmaneuver and destroy the opposing faction. Victory is achieved by completely annihilating the rival race before they do the same to yours.
Story
Introduction & Handling
Thank you for purchasing Hudson's HuCARD, 'Populous'. Before use, please read this manual carefully regarding handling and precautions, and keep it in a safe place.
Care Precautions
•
As a precision device, avoid use or storage in extreme temperature/humidity conditions and strong shocks. Do not forcibly bend the card.
•
Do not touch the terminals or get them wet, as this may cause malfunction.
•
If terminals become dirty, gently wipe them with a soft gauze or a gauze soaked in ethyl alcohol.
•
Play at a distance of approximately 2 meters from the TV screen.
•
When playing for long periods, take a break of 5-10 minutes every hour for your health.
Reset Method
Pressing the RUN button while pressing the SELECT button during the game will restart the game from the beginning.
Product Information
The HuCARD is a game cartridge exclusively for the FC. While every effort is made to ensure quality, if a defect attributable to the company occurs, the product will be exchanged for a new one. Unauthorized copying of this software and commercial use are prohibited.
Story
Forests, grasslands, volcanoes, and waters fuse on planet P. One who casts a gaze down upon that land from above became the "God". "God" developed the vast lands with absolute power, and the humans settled there called themselves the "Children of God".
Those who shed light into the deepest darkness of the ground, the "Demons", were born. The "Children of Demons" grew in prosperity and eventually threatened the "Children of God". Now, the ram's horn sounds across the land, and the curtain of battle has been raised.
Table of Contents
•
Populous Made Easy... 4
•
Basic Screens and Pad Operations... 18
•
Modes... 20
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Pick-Of-World... 22
•
Icons... 23
•
Psycho Frame... 33
•
Close-Up Maps... 34
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Game Over & Continue... 41
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Information Shield... 42
•
Populous Q&A... 44
Game Overview
In this game, the player becomes God, and the computer becomes the Devil. What God can do is divided into three main things:
•
Guide humans
•
Create land
•
Cause natural disasters
The Devil can also do the same things.
Gameplay Mechanics
Attack as a Knight
•
The leader can transform into a knight when power reaches the Knight mark.
•
The knight acts independently, killing enemies and burning down enemy buildings.
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Knights cannot be moved by the will of Gods or Demons.
•
Once the leader becomes a knight, the symbol cannot be moved until the knight dies or the faction changes.
Determining the Victor
•
The faction whose race is entirely destroyed loses the game.
Close-up Map
This map shows the area inside the cursor frame of the Book of World, where players use icons to create land and control the population.
•
① Symbol Monument: Displays the symbol of the species. The God faction uses a cross, and the Demon faction uses a skull shape. Each symbol controls the actions of the population.
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② Small Symbol (Leader): Indicates the leader. Holding a small cross indicates a God faction leader; holding a small skull indicates a Demon faction leader.
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③ People of the Creation Era:
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A Population: Exist around the world and obey player orders to create buildings or evolve.
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B Leader: There is only one leader per faction who always carries a small symbol. If a leader dies, the small symbol can move to that location.
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C Knight: Formed when power reaches the specific mark.
How to Play
Town Development Basics
Head to the Leader's location using the quick access icon. Flatten the land around the Leader to create a flat area, which prompts the Leader to build a structure.
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The God race Leader has a small symbol.
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The Demon race Leader has a small symbol.
Expanding Population and Structures
Humans live inside buildings and reproduce. When the population exceeds the building's capacity, humans spill out to build new structures.
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Redevelop the land to make buildings grander once a new building is finished.
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Repeating this cycle increases the number of humans and buildings.
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The final stage of a grand building is a Fortress City.
Guiding Human Movement
Humans cannot be moved directly. Use the "Symbol of the God" or the "Symbol of the Devil" to guide them in a desired direction.
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Move the Symbol to the destination.
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The Leader starts walking towards the Symbol.
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Commoners follow the Leader.
Combat and Natural Disasters
Once the town is strong, initiate attacks against enemies.
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Use the Symbol to command "Move forward" and "Fight."
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Utilize natural disasters such as Volcanoes, Earthquakes, Floods, and Marshes to gain an advantage.
Game Modes Overview
There are three primary modes: Tutorial, Conquest, and Application.
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Tutorial: For beginners to learn basic play.
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Conquest: The main stage-clear mode.
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Application: For custom map and setting conditions.
Tutorial Mode Details
This mode is designed for first-time players and starts from a lost state.
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Press the 'RUN' button to start the game.
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Conditions are set to allow easy clearing for beginners.
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You can change settings for the God side and Demon side attack methods.
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Re-run the game after changing settings to apply them.
Conquest Mode Settings
Conquest is a stage-clear mode where advancing to the next stage depends on clearing conditions. Memorizing displayed passwords allows for continued play.
GENESIS (Stage 0) Configuration
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Map Name: Also valid as a password.
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Map Number: Battle Number; start stage is '0'.
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Terrain: GRASS PLANES, DESERT, SNOW AND ICE, ROCKEY (Lava).
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Enemy Reaction Speed: From VERY SLOW to VERY FAST.
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Enemy Population Growth Rate: From VERY POOR to VERY GOOD.
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Construction Conditions: CANNOT, BUILT JUST (visible enemies), ONLY (above enemy), BUILT ON (humans see enemy).
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Swamp Type: SHALLOW (extinguishing) or BOTTOMLESS.
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Sea Type: FATAL (drowning) or HARMFUL (dangerous).
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Allies: Presence of a person who can ally with the enemy.
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Disaster/Structure Abilities: Earthquakes, Fortresses, Ships, Volcanoes, and Floods for enemy and ally sides.
Custom (Application) Mode
Create a world by changing settings or freely editing maps.
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Access specific map editing details on pages 29-32.
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Adjust terrain and operation characteristics.
Power Icons and Divine Miracles
Power Icons execute 'Divine Miracles' like Creation, Earthquake, and Harmagdon. Usage depends on accumulated Psycho-Power.
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Check available icons via the Psycho-Frame in the top right of the screen.
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Accumulate power by letting allies flourish.
Available Power Icons
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A. Creation: Dig up or fill in land to create flat terrain for building.
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B. Symbol: Move friendly symbols to guide the populace within the leader's range.
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C. Earthquake: Causes shaking and building collapse within the close-up map.
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D. Swamp: Creates a bottomless swamp on flat ground to trap enemies.
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E. Knight: Turns the leader into a Berserker Knight that defeats nearby enemies.
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F. Volcano: Creates a huge mountain and destroys buildings within the close-up map.
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G. Flood: Raises sea level globally, drowning populace and submerging buildings.
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H. Harmagdon: Moves God and Devil symbols to the center for the final war.
Game Controls and Icons
Use these icons to manage SFX, BGM, and game play conditions before starting.
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A. Pause: Temporarily stops the game. Press RUN to unpause.
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B. SFX: Toggles sounds like heartbeats, earthquakes, and rain.
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C. BGM: Toggles background music.
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D. Display: Adjusts screen position, color tone, and game speed.
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E. Game Balance: Adjusts attack methods and activity speeds for both tribes.
Game Balance Settings (Standard and Advanced Modes)
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Land Creation: COM side only.
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Attack Towns: COM side only.
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Attack Leader: COM side only.
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Icon Usage: Toggles for Earthquake, Healing, Knight, Volcano, Flood, and Armageddon.
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Aggression Level: Adjusts enemy invasion intensity (Low to High).
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Reproduction Speed: Adjusts human reproduction rate in buildings.
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Tribal Development: Adjusts enemy attack levels based on development.
Paint Mode: Map Creation
Select the Paint Mode icon to enter Paint Map Mode and edit the world.
•
Controls:
•
Press button ① to cycle to the next icon
Controls
① Scroll Icon
Moves the close-up map in 8 directions, scrolling one square at a time
② Information Icon
Displays information about people or buildings in the information shield at the top right of the screen
① button (Info Icon)
Marks an object on the map to display its information in the shield
④ Command Icons (Assembly)
Directs the Leader to the Symbol so other villagers merge with them to form a stronger unit
④ Command Icons (Capture)
Commands villagers to find flat ground without existing structures and build upon it
④ Command Icons (Merge)
Commands nearby villagers to merge for a power up, then build structures if no one is left to merge with
④ Command Icons (Battle)
Commands villagers to find enemies, engage in battle, and build structures where enemies fell
⑤ Zoom-Up Icons (Symbol)
Displays information on your leader (Button 1) or symbol (Button 2) on the Information Shield
⑤ Zoom-Up Icons (Knight)
Displays your allied knight (Button 1) or your race's structures (Button 2) on the Information Shield
⑤ Zoom-Up Icons (Battle)
Calls up locations where humans are fighting to spectate battles
⑤ Zoom-Up Icons (Shield)
Finds and displays information on the human or structure previously marked with the Info Icon
Enemies & Characters
A Magic User
Moves using a flying carpet and plants vegetation along the path.
B Giant Crab
A giant gray crab with bulging eyes that leaves behind a row of rocks two blocks wide with no gaps.
C Green Creature (Slime)
A green, bloated slime that leaves behind a marsh two blocks wide along its path.
Tips & Maps
Leader Symbol Movement
The Leader's symbol moves to the location where they use a spell or become a Knight, so you must pay attention to where the transformation occurs.
People Survival Mechanics
People have a life force and may die while walking due to terrain-specific damage rates, with deserts and ice causing higher death rates than grasslands.
Strengthening the Leader
To make the Leader stronger, use the Group Icon to move the symbol to your side and move the Leader and people to it, though you cannot build buildings during this process.
Moving Enemy Skull Symbol
The enemy's skull symbol can be moved indirectly by attacking and defeating the enemy Leader in battle using the player, troops, or splash.
Game Balance Settings
For Land Construction, Attack on Towns, and Attack on Leader, only the computer side settings are fully active; on the player side, you can switch them on or off, but they will not be executed.
God Miracles Requirements
The Volcanoes, Mountains, and Meteors icons in 'Miracles of the Gods' cannot be used if you have not accumulated enough Psycho Power or if the game balance conditions restrict their usage.
Human Seal Function
The seal marked on a human moves in specific cases, though the full conditions are not listed in the provided text.
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