Saint Seiya - Ougon Densetsu (Japan)

Saint Seiya - Ougon Densetsu is a turn-based role-playing game (RPG) on the NES, faithfully recreating the famous Sanctuary arc from the Saint Seiya anime/manga. Players control Seiya, with the main objective being to overcome the 12 Zodiac Temples within a 12-hour time limit to save the severely wounded goddess Athena.

Gameplay is divided into two main parts: map exploration and combat. On the overworld map, players will move Seiya through various areas, from small towns to paths leading into the Temples. Upon encountering random enemies or entering boss battles, the game transitions to a turn-based combat screen. In combat, each character has stats such as HP (health), Cosmo (energy for special moves), and attack/defense attributes. Players need to manage Cosmo to use Seiya's special techniques like Pegasus Ryu Sei Ken or Pegasus Rolling Crush.

A unique aspect of the game is the Seventh Sense system. Upon reaching a certain level or fulfilling specific conditions, Seiya can awaken his Seventh Sense, significantly increasing his power and unlocking stronger techniques. Players can also summon other Saints like Shiryu, Hyoga, Shun, and Ikki to assist in crucial battles, especially against the Gold Saints. Each Saint possesses unique techniques and attributes, requiring players to choose appropriate strategies.

The game features a level-up system, where Seiya and other Saints grow stronger after each victory. Gathering experience and upgrading stats is crucial to cope with the increasing difficulty, particularly the battles against the Gold Saints, who are extremely powerful adversaries. The game concludes when the player defeats the final Gold Saint and successfully saves Athena.