Neophyte: The Journey Begins is an action game with RPG elements released for Windows in 1997 by Alien Software, with Minor Insight serving as one of the publishers. Conceived as the first episode in the *Neophyte* series, it offers a fantasy adventure featuring a top-down perspective and 2D movement, clearly inspired by console action-RPGs—and specifically the formula established by titles like *The Legend of Zelda*.
The protagonist is Thael, an orphan who has just reached the so-called Age of Ascension. He has trained for years alongside his uncle Aliqus, but his life changes when he must confront the consequences of an ancient tragedy: his mother was killed by the horde led by Vacmatio, the Great Evildoer. When Aliqus tasks him with retrieving a special sword from some ruins, Thael is also charged with rescuing a young princess whom the villain intends to sacrifice. This premise sets the stage for a classic fantasy adventure featuring inexperienced he...
Neophyte: The Journey Begins is an action game with RPG elements released for Windows in 1997 by Alien Software, with Minor Insight serving as one of the publishers. Conceived as the first episode in the *Neophyte* series, it offers a fantasy adventure featuring a top-down perspective and 2D movement, clearly inspired by console action-RPGs—and specifically the formula established by titles like *The Legend of Zelda*.
The protagonist is Thael, an orphan who has just reached the so-called Age of Ascension. He has trained for years alongside his uncle Aliqus, but his life changes when he must confront the consequences of an ancient tragedy: his mother was killed by the horde led by Vacmatio, the Great Evildoer. When Aliqus tasks him with retrieving a special sword from some ruins, Thael is also charged with rescuing a young princess whom the villain intends to sacrifice. This premise sets the stage for a classic fantasy adventure featuring inexperienced heroes, lost relics, supernatural foes, and a central evil antagonist.
The gameplay combines direct combat, exploration, and the overcoming of minor obstacles. Thael can engage in melee combat using daggers and swords, while certain tools allow for ranged attacks and offer additional tactical options against enemies. Players navigate the world from a diagonal perspective, traversing interconnected zones, ruins, and fantasy-themed environments. Interactions with the surroundings, item hunting, and progression through areas requiring investigation or obstacle navigation reinforce its nature as an action-adventure game.
The game was distributed as shareware, limiting its scope compared to the full version Alien Software had planned to develop. Nevertheless, this episode includes a battle against Vacmatio and allows players to explore the available areas before reaching a bridge to the west; crossing it marks the end of the experience. After that point, closing scenes appear, along with the option to register the game. The full version was never released, making *The Journey Begins* a fascinating example of 1990s indie PC projects.
Its anime-inspired 2D aesthetic, simple keyboard-and-mouse controls, and blend of action, fantasy, and RPG elements give it a distinctively retro charm. Rather than an expansive adventure, Neophyte: The Journey Begins serves as a promising introduction to a universe that would continue in subsequent episodes, as well as an example of how small studios sought to bring the feel of Japanese console RPGs to Windows.
