Rance (series)

Rance is a role-playing video-game series created, developed, and published by AliceSoft. It is the oldest continually-running erotic video-game series. The first installment, "Rance – Quest for Hikari –", was released in 1989, while the last main-series game, "Rance X – Showdown –", was released in 2018.
The "Rance" series follows the titular character, Rance, as he saves a number of kingdoms, defeats demon invaders, and causes mischief in the in-game world, "The Continent." He has appeared in most of the main series games as the playable character, accompanied by his loyal slave, Sill Plain. The main series has ten full games, with two "Rance IV" followups, while the "Kichikuou Rance" ("Brutal King Rance") is an alternative-universe spin-off. In addition, the first three games, "Rance – Quest for Hikari –", "Rance II – The Rebellious Maidens –"and "Rance III – Fall of Leazas –" have been retro-actively superseded by their later-released versions, "Rance 01 – Quest for Hikari –", "Rance 02 – The Rebellious Maidens –" and "Rance 03 – Fall of Leazas –".
Games.
"Rance – Quest for Hikari –".
Rance is given the task of finding and protecting the daughter of a rich family by Keith Gold, the owner of a local guild to which Rance is attached; he appears in almost all of the "Rance" series games. Rance investigates the city, while Sill investigates at the all-girls Paris Academy, where the kidnapping victim attended school. The first game made by AliceSoft, it was released on the PC-8800 and PC-9800 series of computers, as well as the Sharp X68000, the MSX 2 and 2+, the FM TOWNS, and the PC88VA. A Windows 95–03 version of the game was released in the late 1990s, about eight years after the first game was released.
"Rance 01 – Quest for Hikari –".
"Rance 01 – Quest for Hikari –", released for Windows in 2013, has the same setting as "Rance – Hikari Quest –", and replaces the latter in the main canon. The game featured an improved gameplay system, and features more new content from "Rance – Quest for Hikari –" comparatively to "Rance 02 – The Rebellious Maidens –", the re-release of "Rance II – The Rebellious Maidens –". The game was officially released in English by MangaGamer in 2020.
"Rance II – The Rebellious Maidens –".
The city of Kathtom, a member of the Free Cities Alliance, is suddenly entombed under-ground by the Four Mages who were tasked to guard the town by Ragishss Cryhausen, the city's former guardian. Rance sets out with Sill to defeat them, but soon learns that their minds were corrupted by the power of the rings that they wield. Rance sets out to prevent them from receiving the magic power the rings grant. It was released on the same computer systems as the first "Rance" game was.
"Rance 02 – The Rebellious Maidens –".
A graphical re-make of "Rance II – The Rebellious Maidens –", released for Windows in 2009. It was the genesis for the other early "Rance" series game re-releases. It did not contain as much new content as the next re-release, "Rance 01 – Quest for Hikari –". Later released Kai version includes the completely rewritten script to better fit the main canon. 
"Rance III – The Fall of Leazas –".
Leazas, a kingdom ruled by Queen Lia, who marries Rance in the "Brutal King Rance" time-line, is invaded by the warring empire of Helman, to the west. Demons are believed to be the cause of the attack, and to solve that problem, Rance sets out to find the "Chaos" sword, which contains the soul of an incredible thief from about one and one-half millennia ago. It was released on the PC-9800 series of computers, along with Sharp X68000 and the FM TOWNS; an early Windows release, similar to those that the first two "Rance" games received, was also released.
"Rance 03 – The Fall of Leazas –".
A complete re-creation of "Rance III – The Fall of Leazas –", released for Windows in 2015. The graphics are renewed, while the story is changed to better fit into the main canon. It is the most advanced of the early "Rance" re-releases.
"Rance IV – The Legacy of the Sect –".
This game directly follows the events of its predecessor. Rance, having defeated the demons of Helman and saved Leazas, is teleported to Ylapu, a giant floating island above Leazas. There, Rance must find a way to escape from the island, but is hindered by agents of Leazas and Helman who come to retrieve him to The Continent. The legacy alluded to by the game's title is a powerful magical artifact left by the Holy Magic Sect. It was released for the PC-9800 series and the FM TOWNS.
"Rance 4.1 ~ Save the Medicine Plant! ~".
Rance accepts a quest to stop a horde of under-ground monsters from attacking the Happiness Pharmaceutical building, where the Seirogan, a healing medicine, is produced. They discover that the perpetrators are the Angel Army; one of their commanders escapes, which begins the next game, "Rance 4.2 ~ Angel Army ~".
"Rance 4.2 ~ Angel Army ~".
In a continuance of the previous game, "Rance 4.1 ~ Save the Medicine Plant! ~", Rance chases down the remainder of the Angel Army, while himself being chased after by an assassination group and three "Rare Gal-Monsters," a class of unique enemies that he offended in "Rance IV – The Legacy of the Sect –". The two games were released for the PC-9800 series, with a separate on-disc version.
"Brutal King Rance".
The game was assumed to be the final in the "Rance" series, and one of the final AliceSoft games; however, its great popularity allowed the company to continue its production of games. Rance, bored of his normal life, gathers a group of outlaw bandits and takes over some towns in southern Helman. The imperial army quickly puts down Rance's rebellion and take Sill captive; however, he escapes to Leazas, where he marries the country's queen to become a tyrant "brutal king," commanding his own army to seek his revenge on Helman. Large opposition forces arise tried to remove the tyrant ruler from power; yet, Rance continues his trials to re-assert his power as the King of Leazas, retrieve Sill from Helman control, and take over the world. Rance, in fulfilling his general "rôle" as an epic hero, saves The Continent from destruction by a greater evil. It is the first territory acquisition-based "Rance" game, and was the genesis for other similarly-designed games. It was also the first AliceSoft game released for Windows, instead of any number of Japanese computer systems. All other "Rance" games to-date have been released for Windows.
"Rance 5D – The Lonely Girl –".
The temporary stop in the production of "Rance" games, including the release of "Daiakuji" a year prior, led to the largest time-gap in-between the release of two "Rance" games. "Rance 5D – Lonely Girl –" is based on a unique roulette system, where the role-playing elements are determined by randomisation. In the game, Rance is travelling through The Continent, trying to recover the always-lacking money, when Rance and Sill accidentally enter Genbu Castle, a separate dimension. Rance et al. must then escape the dimension, with a newly-found woman, Rizna Lanfbitt of Zeth.
"Rance VI – Collapse of Zeth –".
Rance, continuing his trials from "Rance 5D – The Lonely Girl –", travels to Zeth, a kingdom to the south-west of Leazas. He offends Radon, a high governmental official, and is sent to the slave camp; Sill, who he bought from the Zeth slave camp, is treated very kindly. Whilst within the Zeth slave camp, Rance joins the resistance group "Ice Flame," which seeks to change the un-equal governing system of Zeth, which is biased against non-magic users. "Rance VI – Collapse of Zeth –" is considered to be one of the best games in the "Rance" series, which is helped by the continuance of the game from the "Brutal King Rance" time-line.
"Warring-States Rance".
Rance sets out for JAPAN, an island archipelago to the east of The Continent, which is modeled after the Warring-States Period of Japanese history. The original English translation of this game, that of Yandere Translations, gave the "Rance" series, and AliceSoft in general, a noticeable presence in the western world. Warring-States "Rance", also known by its title in Japanese, "Sengoku Rance", and as Rance VII, was one of AliceSoft's best-selling titles of all time. In the game, Rance, having taken control of one of the feudal states, seeks to take over JAPAN through his control of the state, and save it from destruction.
"Rance Quest – Rance Quest –".
Also known as Rance VIII, a continuation of the previous game, "Warring-States Rance", wherein Rance returns to The Continent to seek a cure for the curse placed on Sill. While attempting to convince the Queen of Pencilcow, a kingdom to the west of Leazas, to cure Sill, he offends her, and she places a curse on him that he must become much stronger to overcome. He then journeys around The Continent, seeking a cure for himself and Sill. The game is based more upon the cessation of the stories of individual characters rather than a more continuous story-line.
"Rance Quest MAGNUM".
An expansion of "Rance Quest – Rance Quest –", this game follows Rance as he quests around The Continent to break the curse incurred upon himself in the previous game. The game focuses on the addition of sundry quests, through which Rance can adventure, ostensibly to cure his curse, although primarily in practice to assuage the effects of the curse.
"Rance IX – The Helmanian Revolution –".
The government of Helman has fallen into the hands of Stessel Ignon, who corrupts the country and plans to take over the entirety of The Continent. A revolutionary force gathers, seeking to replace the former emperor to the throne, and they solicit the aid of Rance, who agrees, hoping to remove Sill's curse. The Prime Minister, Stessel, has been planning this, and his actions have been seen earlier in the "Rance" series; he pushed for the war between Helman and Leazas in the events of "Rance III – The Fall of Leazas –".
"Rance X – Showdown –".
The last game in the "Rance" series, it was released on 23 February 2018. The war amongst the demon lords of the Monster Realm has ended, and they now invade the human realm, to their east. Rance leads the combined forces of all humanity to battle the attacking demons. It is known to have the biggest video game script ever created.
Characters.
The "Rance" series has featured a large number of characters throughout its installments. A number of characters are shown below.
The main playable and the titular character of the "Rance" series. He is a powerful warrior who was created to the "kichiku" character archetype. He was based out of a town in the Free Cities Alliance, where he accepts jobs from Keith's Guild when he is low on money. He lives in the "Rance Castle," which he had built after the events of "Rance Quest – Rance Quest –". The games generally feature quests and other missions that he embarks upon to gain or regain the money he has lost.
A powerful magic user that generally accompanies Rance on his quests. He bought her from a slave camp in Zeth, where she was born; she now must travel with him wherever he goes. She was frozen in ice at the end of "Warring-States Rance" and freed at the end of "Rance IX – The Helmanian Revolution –".
An organic-base android that functions as a pet to Rance. An accident during her creation caused her to have lower intelligence and an inability to gain a higher level. She was created in the events of "Rance IV – The Legacy of the Sect –". She is a noted magic user, although she is not as powerful as Sill due to her limitations.
The Queen of Leazas, who married Rance in "Brutal King Rance". She brought a new age of prosperity to the kingdom, which led to an antagonism en-brewed amongst a number of foreign countries and noblemen. She became the queen after her two brothers were killed in a succession dispute. She grants her hand-maiden, Maris Amaryllis, a large amount of governing power, whilst regularly taking maidens by way of her JAPANese ninja, Kentou Kanami. Her taking was eventually stopped by Rance.
A JAPANese ninja acquired by Queen Lia Leazas after she got lost on The Continent. She is generally engaged in assisting the queen in getting the affection of Rance, although she was used to gather maidens until the events of "Rance – Quest for Hikari –".
A magic user, originally from Zeth; she is first encountered by Rance in the Genbu Castle dimension in "Rance 5D – The Lonely Girl –" when he accidentally enters there. She is incredibly naïve, and that naïveté caused her a lot of pain while trapped in the alternate dimension; while a kind spirit helped her, it was Rance that enabled her to escape. She is now in the protection of the King of Zeth, a childhood friend of hers whom she knew before she was imprisoned.
A noted business-women, who seeks to marry Rance to increase her luck. She was born as a miko, but after predicting her own future as one of great misfortune, became obsessed with luck and wealth; this caused her to strive towards business, where she succeeded. She is first encountered in "Rance 5D – The Lonely Girl –", while seeking a man who has great luck.
The leader of the Zeth resistance group Ice Flame. She is introduced to Rance when he enters the Zeth slave camp in "Rance VI – Collapse of Zeth –", and takes control of her resistance group. The game continues, Zeth is made more equal, and the resistance groups is disbanded. She becomes one of the Four Lords who guard Zeth, the first non-magic user to do so.
The Muralaloux of the AL Church, the dominant religion on The Continent. She first appeared in "Rance Quest – Rance Quest –" as a bishop in the church; she became the Muralaloux when the former one, Duran Teyuran, died. She has a great knowledge of curses, and helped free Sill from her curse at the ending of "Rance IX – The Helmanian Revolution –".
She was saved by Rance whilst being attacked by monsters during the events of "Rance Quest – Rance Quest –" and turned into a slave. She is a member of the AL Church, and is very respectful to Crook, the church's Muralaloux. She is a very powerful guard in combat.
A former prince of Helman, who led the war against Leazas in the events of "Rance III – The Fall of Leazas –". He has a major "rôle" in "Rance IX – The Helmanian Revolution –", where Rance aids him in a large force seeking to take back the country from its current, corrupt state.
OVA.
A hentai OVA based upon the series, "Rance: Sabaku no Guardian", was released on December 25, 1993. It was not directly related to the events of any game in the series. It consisted of two episodes.
A second original video animation series, "Rance 01: Hikari wo Motomete The Animation", was an adaptation of the re-release of the first game, "Rance 01 – Quest for Hikari –", and was released from December 26, 2014 to June 24, 2016. Consisting of four episodes, the OVA was directed by Takashi Nishikawa and animated by studio Seven. 