Benkei Gaiden
↗ 15%
(PC Engine - JP, RPG)
.png)
Complete
$14.99
Loose $4.89
Developed by:
Sun Electronics Corp.
Published by:
Sunsoft
Released On:
22 Dec 1989
Also available on:
The peaceful lands of Japan have been terrorized by monsters for many years. The Buddhist priests, known as the Dharma Eyes, found refuge in a secluded temple where they raised young martial artists who would one day free the people from the monsters' grasp. When one of these disciples was kidnapped by monsters and taken to their tower, it was up to another disciple named Oniwaka to embark on a quest to rescue his friend and put an end to the monster invasion.
Benkei Gaiden is a traditional Japanese-style RPG set in feudal Japan with supernatural elements. The player controls Oniwaka as he navigates a top-down map, visiting towns, buying equipment such as weapons and armor, and fighting randomly appearing enemies in turn-based combat viewed from a first-person perspective. As with the early Dragon Warrior games, the interaction menu is similar, requiring players to bring up a menu and choose verb commands like "Talk" or "Search". The game's gameplay system sticks to the classic formula, offering a familiar experience for fans of the genre.
UPC-A:
4907940500286 (Japan)
eBay Product ID:
59379867 (Japan)
Part #:
SS89002 (Japan)
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Prices as of 09 Oct 2026
Typical $14.99–$18.22 (last 90 days)
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Market activity: moderate · about 8 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
Set in a supernatural Kamakura-period Japan plagued by an invasion from the Demon Realm, this action-adventure game tasks the player with guiding the mysterious warrior Kikaku on a quest across the country. After years of training under a monk, the protagonist must travel to various locations to battle demons and sprites, ultimately confronting the true enemy threatening the peace.
Story
Story
The long era of war finally came to an end, and peace returned to the people during the Kamakura period.
Suddenly, an invasion from the Demon Realm began. Fearsome demons and supernatural creatures raided villages, tormenting the people. A monk named Hogen, who was the first to notice the movements of the Demon Realm, took along a mysterious infant named Kikaku, whose birth and background were unknown, and moved to a secluded mountain temple.
Several years later, Kikaku had grown into a strong young man after training under Hogen. Events began to happen around Kikaku, and it was said that the war with the Demon Realm was about to begin.
Gaiden
•
Scenario: Ichiromu Nakamura
The Mysterious Land of Japan
The time is the Kamakura period. In 1192, Minamoto no Yoritomo became the Seii Taishogun (Barbarian Subduing General) and established the bakufu (shogunate) in Kamakura.
The world is full of demons and sprites, having turned into a terrifying world where evil demons wander about. Now go forth, Oniwaka! Travel all over Japan and defeat the true enemy.
How to Play
Greeting
Thank you for purchasing SUNSOFT's HuCARD *Benkei Gaiden*. Please read this handling manual carefully for usage instructions and precautions. Enjoy the atmosphere of medieval Japan as a demon-hunter.
Precautions
•
Avoid extreme temperature, humidity, and strong shocks. Do not forcibly bend the card.
•
Do not touch or wet the terminal parts, as this causes malfunctions.
•
Gently wipe dirty terminals with soft gauze or gauze soaked in ethyl alcohol.
•
Keep a distance of about 2 meters from the TV screen.
•
Take a 5-10 minute break every hour of continuous play.
Resetting the System
Press the RUN and SELECT buttons simultaneously to reset the system.
System Compatibility
HuCARD is exclusively for the H.E system. Unauthorized duplication or use in rental businesses is prohibited. In the unlikely event of a malfunction due to manufacturing fault, the product will be replaced.
Saving and Loading
*Benkei Gaiden* supports two saving methods: password and battery backup.
Password Method
•
Play on the PC Engine console alone to use password continue.
•
Speak to the priest at the shrine in town and ask for the "Journey Record".
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Write down the record.
•
To continue, press RUN on the title screen, select "Continue", and enter the journey record.
Battery Backup Method
•
Requires the CD-ROM2 system or a PC Engine backup unit.
•
Saves the Journey Record as a battery backup in addition to the password.
•
After speaking to the priest, select the backup option.
•
Determine which file to save to and press the I button to complete.
•
Saving over a previous file erases the old data.
Beginning of the Journey
Oni Wakosaburo explains the commands used on the journey.
General Commands
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Conversation (Kaiwa): Talk to people. Stand next to or diagonally in front of them.
•
Power (Chikara): Shows the strength of you and your companions. Ask Saburou for details.
•
Equip (Soubi): Equip weapons or armor. Select the person, then choose items. You can equip up to three items: one weapon, one armor piece, and one helmet.
•
Magic (Houjutsu): Select this to use a spell. Choose from the list of known spells.
•
Item: Use a carried item.
•
Examine: Use on objects that you are curious about.
Battle Commands
•
Attack: Use a weapon to fight an enemy.
•
Spell: Use a spell to attack enemies or assist companions.
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Escape: Use when things are not going well to escape from enemies.
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Item: Use a carried item during battle.
Initial Instructions
Head to the village for battle. Listen to the story, buy weapons and items, and equip them before departing.
Changing Party Order
The person in front is more likely to take damage.
•
Press the Select button.
•
Select the member you want to move using the D-pad.
•
Press the 1 button to swap positions.
Village Preparations
Prepare for the long journey by utilizing the following facilities:
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Inn: Pay for a room with a meal and futon. Cures most injuries or poison after staying one night.
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Ritual House: Sells medicine and antidotes.
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Weapon & Armor Shop: Sells various weapons and armor. Purchase expensive items carefully.
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Gold Shop: Operated by Mr. Kichijiro Kanaya. Show your ID to gain valuable information.
•
Shrine: Tells you about journey records. Listen immediately upon arriving in a village to avoid backtracking. Pay an offering to revive dead companions.
Other locations include teahouses for information and people's homes.
Reading Stats
Ise Saburo explains the stat display for Kibuto.
•
Face: Displays the character's face.
•
Equipment: Shows equipped weapon, armor, and coat of arms.
•
Money: Total money held by the four party members.
•
Stats: Detailed character attributes.
Stat Definitions
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Level: Increases to make the character stronger.
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HP (Vitality): Decreases with damage. Character dies when it reaches zero.
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MP (Magic Power): Required to use spells.
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Strength: Increases with level. Higher values mean more power.
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Agility: Increases with level. High values aid in escaping enemies or evading attacks.
•
Attack Power: Sum of character strength and weapon power. Higher values deal more damage.
•
Defense: Sum of character defense and armor defense. Higher values reduce damage taken.
•
Experience Points: Increase by defeating enemies. Reaching a certain amount levels up the character.
Kibuto Status Example
•
Level 1
•
HP 22/22
•
MP 0/0
•
Strength 5
•
Agility 2
•
Attack 5
•
Defense 1
•
Exp 4
•
To next level 6
•
Money 44
Controls
Directional Keys
Move the Ghosts in the direction pressed and select commands
II Button
Check the party's status on the map screen and cancel commands otherwise
I Button
Bring up the command window on the map screen and confirm commands otherwise
Items & Weapons
Wooden Sword (Bokuto)
A weapon used by Kiju, Saburo, Sayoka, and Benkei.
Hexagonal Cane (Rokkakuji)
A weapon used by Kiju and Saburo.
Spear (Yari)
A weapon used by Kiju, Saburo, Sayoka, and Benkei.
Whip (Muchi)
A weapon used by Kiju, Saburo, Sayoka, and Benkei.
Sword (Ken)
A weapon used by Kiju, Saburo, Sayoka, and Benkei.
Nodachi
A weapon used exclusively by Benkei.
Flail Scythe (Kusari Gama)
A weapon used by Kiju, Saburo, Sayoka, and Benkei.
Double-edged Spear (Futaba no Yari)
A weapon used by Kiju and Saburo.
Super Alloy Yo-yo
A weapon used exclusively by Sayoka.
Grepel Bomb (Kagyaku-dama)
A weapon used exclusively by Saburo.
Steel Cane (Kotetsu no Rokkakuji)
A weapon used by Kiju, Saburo, Sayoka, and Benkei.
Medicine
A drug that restores vitality, which is indispensable for the journey.
Antidote
A drug used when poisoned, which players should carry as a precaution.
Five Wheels Spirit Elixir
A set of five elixirs (Fire, Water, Wind, Wood, and Earth) with various magical effects, such as restoring magical power or vitality.
Sealing Magic Incense
An incense that, when burned, prevents monsters from attacking for a while.
Hand Mirror of Return
A mirror that allows the user to instantly return to the last town with an inn they departed from.
Six Paths Secret Elixir
A drug that can call the dead back from the underworld.
Enemies & Characters
Oniwaka
A character who can equip Hand Gauntlets, Front Apron, Dharma Robes, Bamboo Armor, Iron Helmet, and Iron Armor.
Saburo
A character who can equip Hand Gauntlets, Dharma Robes, Bamboo Armor, Iron Helmet, Iron Armor, and Magic-Sealing Armlet, among others.
Sayaka
A character who can equip Front Apron, Silk Shoulder Guard, Feathered Robe, Seven-Color Shoulder Guard, and Magic-Warding Feathered Robe.
Benkei
A character who can equip Dharma Robes, Iron Helmet, and Iron Armor.
Tips & Maps
Magic Destruction
Emits a shockwave to deal damage to a single demon.
Magic Destruction Vortex
Throws a Magic Destruction attack at a group of demons.
Lightning Release
Drops lightning to deal damage to a single demon.
Lightning Release (Gourai)
Drops more powerful lightning than the basic Lightning Release to deal damage to a single demon.
Cold Lock
Concentrates cold air to deal damage to a single demon.
Cold Break Array
Deals damage to all demons using powerful cold air.
Orbit Flame
Attacks a single demon with flame.
Orbit Flame Array
Creates a fire formation to deal damage to all demons.
Light Finger Release
Emits light from the fingertips to attack the enemy with enormous power.
Light Slash Wave
Cuts through demons.
Extreme No Rotation
Instantly vanishes any enemy in front of you, except bosses.
Seal Hex
Seals the opponent's magic so it cannot be used, effective against casters.
Sleepfall
Puts the opponent to sleep, preventing them from acting until they wake up.
Slow Attack Stop
Raises the defense of all allies for one turn in combat.
Fall Shield
Lowers the enemy's defense for one turn in combat.
Smoke Escape
Generates smoke to make it easier to escape from enemies.
Grand Rise
Raises the attack power of allies for one turn in combat.
Holy Step
Creates a holy field that prevents weak monsters from approaching; usable only while moving.
Speed Boost
Doubles your walking speed for a short time; usable only while moving.
Spirit Return
Restores a certain amount of health to one member of your party.
Spirit Resolve Negation
Recovers a significant amount of health for one member of your party.
Spirit Group Return
Restores a certain amount of health to all party members.
Spirit Resolve Transference
Completely restores one member of your party's health to full.
Suffering Resolution
Dispels poison from the body.
Reincarnation
Summons a fallen party member back from the underworld.
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