We recently reported a new release of Traysia, a reprint of the 1992 Mega Drive title from Telenet, that is seeing a release in Europe for the first time. The game has come about through a collaboration of Shinyuden, Ratalaika Games, and Edia Co. Ltd. Pre-orders for this special edition are still open until the end of August, and Shinyuden has kindly sent a copy to us to take a look at. Before we dive into the goodies, it’s worth mentioning that this isn’t just a straight port, but a new translation that improves the dialogue. There will also be a separate release for Spanish-speaking retro gamers, which opens this niche JRPG to a new audience.
One of the great aspects of this rerelease is the high-resolution artwork that has been highlighted through a beautiful two-sided poster and a striking set of postcards. The cart box also comes with a reversible cover, with each side taking its art from the poster art, and this is a nice touch. Traysia certainly has some fantastic artwork on show, and collectors will appreciate the preservation undertaken in reproducing it in this way.
There is also a fun trinket that represents a love token given to the protagonist Roy at the start of the game by his lover Traysia, who the game is named after. Roy has to leave his beloved to go on an adventure with his uncle, and the pendant charm is what he holds dear as he hopes to return to Traysia sooner rather than later. It’s a great way to showcase the story within the game, and fans will appreciate the level of detail.
To round out the extras in this special edition, a registration card, similar to those found in game boxes back in the day, is included. The registration card can be used to register your warranty with Shinyuden, but collectors will keep it safe in the cart box as a nostalgic tribute to days gone by. It’s a great way to round out a beautiful collector’s set that also includes the basic cart and manual you would expect from a release such as this.
In terms of the actual game, Traysia may not be the greatest example of a 16-bit JRPG, but it ticks all the right boxes. We hadn’t played it before, seeing as this release only saw the light of day in Japan and the USA. But, having played for a few hours, there is a decent RPG here. Probably one that hardcore fans of the genre will appreciate more than casual fans, but anyone who enjoys old-school RPG mechanics will find lots here to enjoy.
Overall, this new release of Traysia will please Mega Drive and Genesis collectors who like quality items included. This isn’t the usual cardboard tat that we see from other publishers when these types of products are released. The high-quality posters and postcards, along with the lovely pendant and registration card, make this a worthwhile purchase for collectors. Those who just want to play the game can enjoy the new translation that makes the story more digestible than when it was first released.
