Dark Half
Dark Half is a role-playing game developed by Westone, the studio behind Wonder Boy, and published by Enix for the Super Famicom in May 1996. It never left Japan, but an English fan translation was released in 2015. The game's defining idea is that you play both sides of the story. Chapters alternate between Falco, a paladin trying to stop an ancient evil, and the demon lord who has taken a human host. It has a darker tone than most RPGs of its era.
Controls
What Dark Half is
Dark Half opens with Falco confronting the demon king and failing. From there the story switches back and forth between the two characters, so you see events from the hero's side and the villain's. Both explore the same world, and what one discovers can matter to the other.
Each character has soul power that drains as they walk, and the game ends if either runs out, which makes exploration a matter of planning. Battles take place on a grid and move quickly. Falco fights in the traditional way with equipment and items, while the demon lord spends soul power on strong magic and can win monsters over to his side. Save points are scarce, usually about one per chapter.
How it plays in your browser
This page runs the Japanese Super Famicom game with the English fan translation applied, emulated in your browser. There is nothing to install.
Since save points are rare, a long session is the best way to play. Keep the tab open while you work through a chapter.
Tips worth knowing
- Keep an eye on soul power for both characters, and avoid wandering aimlessly since every step costs some.
- Use escape freely in random battles when soul power or health is low, as running away usually works.
- Adjust the area of effect on spells. Hitting fewer targets gives more damage, which is useful against single strong enemies.
- As the demon lord, recruit monsters to fill out your party instead of fighting every battle alone.
- Remember that healing magic harms undead enemies, which makes it a weapon as well as a cure.
Frequently asked questions
Who made Dark Half?
Westone developed Dark Half and Enix published it for the Super Famicom in 1996.
Was Dark Half released in English?
Not officially. It was only sold in Japan, and the English text on this page comes from a fan translation released in 2015.
What makes Dark Half different from other RPGs?
You play as both the hero Falco and the demon lord, with chapters alternating between them, and both characters must manage soul power that drains as they move.
More games like this
Kingyo Chuuihou! Tobidase! Game Gakuen, Neugier: Umi to Kaze no Kodou, Touge Densetsu: Saisoku Battle. You can also browse the full games library or read the guides on the blog.