What have we here? No one has found this video game in a thousand years.
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased demand for retro video games. Even mediocre video games, such as Quest 64, have doubled in value.
According to Price Charting, this game was selling for an average price of $11.30 in March 2020 and has since sustained a market value that's nearly double the price.[1]
What's interesting to hear is that these new fans actually enjoyed this charming video game, and these comments sustained the price increase.
This caught me off guard because I was planning on purchasing the Japanese version titled Eltale Monsters (エルテイル モンスターズ).
There are currently only two copies of the Japanese version listed for sale on a popular auction website for $49.99 and $80 (excluding shipping). This version includes quality-of-life improvements, balance tweaks, and added content. Here's my top five features from this version:
5. The first boss deals less damage. You no longer need to grind for XP for an hour (assuming you don't want to deplete your items) before you battle this boss.
4. Signs can be read. In the English version, you can't read any signs.
3. A completely different, extended ending with additional cutscenes and more story resolution.
2. Enemies drop items if you have 0-2 in your inventory, with up to three drops possible. In the English version, these drops are only possible if you have none of these items in your inventory, and they're limited to one drop per item.
1. Built-in cartridge save. There's no need to worry about the Controller Pak battery going dead and deleting your save file.
While the Japanese version can be occasionally found for less than $30, it sells out very quickly. If you're interested in watching the ending for this version, check it out below:
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