Brandish 3: Spirit of Balcan Renewal (PC-98)

Brandish 3 Renewal (sub-titled Spirit of Balcan) is the enhanced re-issue of Falcom’s 1994 action-RPG. It hit the NEC PC-9801/9821 on 29 September 1995 and was sold as a hybrid pack containing nine 3.5-inch HD floppies plus a CD-ROM that doubles as an audio soundtrack (a pure CD-ROM edition followed later). What changed compared with the original release? 256-colour overhaul – every portrait, UI element and bonus wallpaper was redrawn; the program now requires a 256-colour graphics mode. CD-DA / MIDI score refresh – Falcom Sound Team J.D.K. replaced several tracks and added new ones; the bundle’s disc plays them straight from the drive. Renewal engine tweaks – faster weapon-draw, smarter enemy path-finding, optional full-screen auto-map and hard-disk–only installation, slashing loading times (same tech later powered Brandish VT). The labyrinth still runs 40 floors plus a post-game Time-Attack, but routes were retimed for the snappier engine.