Imagine discovering a treasure chest in your attic, only to find it's not gold, but the blueprint for a gaming legend! That's exactly what happened when Hironobu Sakaguchi, the mastermind behind the iconic Final Fantasy series, stumbled upon a 40-year-old document during a recent decluttering spree: the original proposal for his very first video game.
This wasn't just any old game idea; it was a glimpse into the genesis of a career that would shape the landscape of JRPGs forever. Sakaguchi, clearly thrilled, shared photos of the stapled-together manuscript on Twitter/X, instantly captivating fans worldwide. It's a remarkable find, especially considering its age!
While Sakaguchi didn't explicitly name the game in his tweet, eagle-eyed observers at Automaton-Media believe the documents detail 'The Death Trap,' a text adventure released in 1984. And this is the part most people miss: 'The Death Trap' wasn't just Sakaguchi's first game; it was also Square's very first completed title, a pivotal moment in the company's history. Think about it – this simple proposal laid the foundation for the gaming empire Square would become!
Developed during Square's time as part of Den-Yū-Sha Electric Company, 'The Death Trap' plunged players into a tense 1980s setting. You took on the role of Benson, a spy dispatched to a war-torn African nation. A terrorist organization had kidnapped a prominent scientist, plotting to create biological weapons. Your mission, should you choose to accept it (and you did, of course!), was to rescue the scientist and thwart the terrorists' schemes. The gameplay, typical of the era, relied on a text parser, where players typed commands to interact with the world.
The story continues with a sequel, 'Will: The Death Trap II,' released in 1985. This follow-up retained Benson as the protagonist but introduced exciting innovations like animated graphics and arrow-key movement, moving beyond the purely text-based interface of its predecessor.
But here's where it gets controversial... Square Enix, in recent years, has faced criticism for allegedly losing or misplacing crucial historical assets, including the source code for Final Fantasy Tactics and extensive documentation related to Final Fantasy VII. The fact that this 40-year-old proposal for 'The Death Trap' survived is a testament to its importance, and perhaps a little bit of luck!
It begs the question: what other hidden gems might Sakaguchi unearth in the future? He's been actively posting discoveries online, and who knows what other pieces of Square's early history might be waiting to be rediscovered?
This discovery is a fantastic reminder of the humble beginnings of a gaming giant. It highlights the importance of preserving gaming history and gives us a fascinating peek into the creative process of a true legend.
What do you think about Square Enix's track record of preserving their history? Are they doing enough to protect their legacy? And what other lost gaming artifacts would you love to see rediscovered? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
