Quest 64 stands out in gaming history as the first role-playing game released for the Nintendo 64 in North America, launching on June 10, 1998.

The game was known by different titles depending on the region, being released as Holy Magic Century in Europe and Australia, and Eltale Monsters in Japan, giving it multiple identities worldwide.

Although developed by the Japanese company Imagineer, the game was released in North America before it ever came out in Japan, which is an unusual release order for a Japanese RPG.

The story takes place in Celtland, a medieval fantasy world inspired by Ireland, giving it a unique cultural flavor compared to other RPG settings.

Players take on the role of Brian, an apprentice mage who begins a journey to find his missing father.

Brian’s father is revealed to be searching for a thief who stole a powerful artifact known as the Eletale Book, tying the story together.

Instead of using a traditional level-up system, the game improves character stats based on player actions, such as increasing defense when taking damage.

This system is similar to mechanics used in Final Fantasy II, making it different from most RPG progression systems.

Battles occur directly on the map rather than switching to a separate battle screen, similar to the system used in Chrono Trigger.

The Nintendo 64 controller’s C buttons are each assigned to one of the four elements, allowing players to access wind, earth, water, and fire magic.

Quest 64 removes the concept of currency entirely, which is rare for an RPG. All items are obtained through exploration, enemy drops, or being given to the player rather than purchased.

When the player loses all HP, Brian is returned to the last inn where the game was saved, retaining all progress in abilities and experience. However, any items used before defeat are not restored, adding consequence to losing battles.

A sequel was considered after its release, and some details about its story were revealed before it was canceled. Instead of continuing the series directly, Imagineer released related titles on the Game Boy Color, including Quest: Brian’s Journey.

Another related game, Quest: Fantasy Challenge, was created as a different type of experience inspired by Mr. Do!.