GetsuFumaDen

*This article is about the 1987 Famicom game. For the entire franchise, see GetsuFumaDen (series).*

## GetsuFumaDen

* Digital version
* Famicom

### Alternatetitle(s)

*Getsu Fūma Den*
*Getsufuumaden*

### Developer

Konami
M2 (PC)

### Platform(s)

Family Computer
iRevo
PC (Steam)
Wii Virtual Console
3DS Virtual Console
Wii U Virtual Console
Nintendo Switch

### Release date(s)

**Family Computer**
 July 7, 1987
**iRevo**
 2006
**Virtual Console**
 January 27, 2009 (Wii)
 February 20, 2013 (3DS)
 April 8, 2015 (Wii U)
**PC**
 May 13, 2021
 February 17, 2022
**Switch**
 February 10, 2022

### Media

ROM cartridge
Digital download

### Genre

Action-adventure, platformer, role playing

### Modes

Single player

***GetsuFumaDen*** (月風魔伝 (げつふうまでん) ?, lit. "Legend of Fūma Getsu") is a 1987 action-adventure, role playing, platformer game by Konami for the Famicom console. It was released in July 7, 1987 in Japan only. The game stars starring Getsu Fūma on his journey to the depths of Hell to fight demons and avenge the deaths of his brothers.

While this game had no sequel for a long time, several *GetsuFumaDen*-based stages appeared in other Konami games. These stages are set in Hell and appear in *Konami Wai Wai World*, *Wai Wai World 2: SOS!! Parsley Castle* and *Castlevania: Harmony of Despair*.

A sequel titled *True GetsuFumaDen* (真 (しん) ―月風魔伝 (げつふうまでん) , *Shin GetsuFūmaDen*?) was trademarked in January of 2000 but was never formally announced, and was presumably cancelled.

A sequel to this game was finally announced in 2021, 34 years after the original game, called *GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon* for PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch. The original *GetsuFumaDen* game (along with other perks) was included to users who bought the Early Access version, and was later included in the Deluxe Edition for Switch and PC.

## Plot

Year 14672 A.D., first year from the Demon Age (魔暦元年 (まれきがんねん) , *Mareki Gan-nen*?). From the depths of Hell the Demon Lord Ryukotsuki (龍骨鬼, *Ryūkotsuki*?) awakened, attempting to conquer the mortal realm governed by the three Getsu brothers (月氏三兄弟, *Getsu-shi San Kyōdai*?). With the knowledge passed down from generations, as well as the family Hadou katana (波動剣, *Hadōken*?) weapons, the Three Getsu Brothers faced Ryukotsuki.

Hadou katana - A spiritual blade which once swung, releases a wave of energy delivering damage to the enemies. With the three Hadou katanas together, they can release a much powerful attack called the *Dainendōha* (大念動波?, lit. "Great Will Aura").

However, Ryukotsuki attacked and killed the two eldest out of the three brothers, stole the three Hadou katanas and handed them over to the three *Majins* (Dokugandokuzu, Kyōkotsugyūgai and Ryūtōkibi) who ruled an island known as *Kyōki-tō* (狂鬼島?, lit. "Raging Demon Island"). Fuma, the youngest brother who survived, whose grief over the loss of his two older brothers eventually turned into rage, swore revenge against Ryukotsuki. Knowing he cannot defeat Ryukotsuki without the Hadou katanas, let alone without the powerful *Dainendōha*, he goes on a quest to *Kyōki-tō*, where Ryukotsuki and his three *Majins* reside, to take back the family treasures and defeat the Demon Lord.

Now, go Fuma; defeat Ryukotsuki, and bring peace to the souls of your brothers who died in vain!!!

## Gameplay

The game is structurally similar to *Castlevania II: Simon's Quest* and *The Goonies II*; the player controls Fūma, whose goal is to locate the three Hadou katanas that have been stolen from his clan in order to gain access to Ryūkotsuki's lair. Each of the Hadou katanas have been hidden away in the three neighboring islands surrounding Raging Demon, which are *Kigan-tō* (鬼願島?, "Ogre Head Island"), *Gokumon-tō* (獄門島?, "Prison Gate Island") and *Mitsukubi-tō* (三首島?, "Three Necks Island"). Each of these islands requires Fūma to be in possession of a different Demon Face (鬼面符, *Kimenfu*?).

The game starts off from an overhead view where the player guides Fūma to his next destination. When Fūma enters *torii* (a gate), the game switches to a side-scrolling action scene where the player must go from one end of the area to the next while fending off enemies and avoiding pitfalls in order to return to the main field and proceed to the next scene. In addition to these action scenes, there are also small *hokora* (shrines) featuring villagers who will provide hints to Fūma (and some also heal him) and shops where he can purchase new items and weapons using the money he has accumulated from defeated enemies. The player switches items by pausing the game during an action sequence and then pressing **A** to select a defensive item or **B** to change weapons. Experience points are accumulated by defeating enemies, which will fill out Fūma's sword gauge, increasing the strength of his attacks.

When the player reaches the main dungeon in each of the islands, the game switches to a pseudo-3D perspective which follows Fūma from behind. The player must proceed through a labyrinth in order to reach the boss holding one of the Hadou katanas. Each labyrinth is filled with numerous enemies who will confront Fūma, along with allies who will provide him with hints and helpful items. A candle is required to light these labyrinths, as well as a compass which shows Fūma's current direction. When the player reaches the boss's lair, the game switches back to a side-scrolling perspective before the actual confrontation.

The game uses a lives system like most action games. The player loses a life when he runs out of health or falls into a pitfall. When the player runs out of lives, he can continue from where he left off or quit and resume at a later point using a password. The player is penalized by having his money reduced by half.

## Development

*GetsuFumaDen'*s box is rather unique, in that it features a lenticular panel on the front that displays two different images when held at different viewing angles.

*Main article: Konami Chara Cards*
Like several other early Konami games released in the 1980s-1990s, *GetsuFumaDen* included a numbered collector card set, known in Japan as *Konami Chara Cards*. Each card featured an illustration or a snapshot of the game, and the back of each card showed a serial number, as well as the game's title. They were randomly included with the games.

## Enemies

### Side-scrolling areas

* Triclops Head (三ッ目髑髏)
* Fugubara (河豚腹)
* Bonehead (髑太)
* Bone Fish (骨魚霊)
* Death Bird (死蘇鳥)
* Toadstool (痺茸)
* Flying Flower (飛期花)
* Flame Worm (火炎蚕)
* Poison Slime Frog (毒油がえる)
* Hell Wasp (地獄蜂)
* Ax Warrior (斧闘士)
* Snake Man (鉄蛇丸)
* Heat Ball Dragon (熱玉竜)
* Shimon (死門)
* Hell Centipede (地獄百足)
* Evil Rock (邪心岩石)
* Demon Spirit (鬼妖霊)
* Demon Mask (鬼面般若)
* Sickle Wasp (鎌蜂)
* Fish Wraith (魚怪魂)
* Bloodshot Eye (毛細血眼)
* Axe Cow (斧牛)
* Adolescent Armor (鎧童子)
* Iron Armor (鉄胃人)
* Skull Bug (飛髑髏)
* Dark Head (黄泉頭)
* Skeleton (経典骨)
* Ghost Cat (浮遊猫)
* Fire-Breathing Demon (炎息魔)
* Amoeba (亜米婆)
* Mad Red Oni (狂赤鬼)
* Monster Squid (多足変化)
* Poison Spider (毒蜘蛛)
* Annoying Face (煩悩顔)
* Slime (巣羅異無)
* Pillar Worm (鉄砲芋)
* Strongman (愚弁慶)
* Fake Moon (偽月)
* Nirvana Scorpion (蝎涅槃)
* Heavenly Skeleton (蓬莱骨)
* Cursed Snail (呪いの蝸牛)
* Devil Fruit (悪魔の実)
* Cursed Talisman (悪のおふだ)
* Volcanic Bomb (火山弾)
* Flame Man (火炎人)
* Flame Cart (火車)
* Fire Spider (火炎蜘蛛)
* Fire Pillar (火柱)
* Hell Bear (地獄熊)
* Fireball (火の玉)

### 3D dungeons

* Scorpion Ghost (蝎霊)
* Ghost Armor (甲青霊)
* Poison Lizard (毒蜥蜴)
* Lizard Cow (蜥蜴牛)
* Snake-Scented Ghost (蛇香霊)
* Ugly Oni Ghost (鬼醜霊)
* Ravenous Demon (餓鬼霊)
* Shaman (悪霊行者)
* Demon-Bird Man (妖鳥人)
* Flame Soul (痒炎霊)

### Bosses

* Jagi (邪鬼)
* Dokugandokuzu (独眼独頭)
* Kyōkotsugyūgai (凶骨牛骸)
* Ryūtōkibi (龍頭鬼尾)
* Ryukotsuki (龍骨鬼)

## Ports and re-releases

The game was first released on Family Computer in 1987 in Japan. It was later ported for iRevo mobile phones on 2006 in Japan. The original game was then made available on the Wii Virtual Console on January 27, 2009, on 3DS Virtual Console on February 20, 2013 and on Wii U Virtual Console on April 8, 2015, all of them only in Japan.

The game was then included in the Early Access version of *GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon* for PC on May 13, 2021, and made available in the Deluxe Edition of the game
which was released on Switch on February 10, 2022 and would later be released on PC on February 17, 2022 worldwide. Although this is the first time *GetsuFumaDen* would have a worldwide release, the game doesn't offer an official english translation yet, and the language remains in Japanese.

## Gallery

***GetsuFumaDen*** advert flyer.Getsu Fuma confronting Ryukotsuki in the final battle.***GetsuFumaDen*** advert on the instruction booklets of *Ai Senshi Nicol* and *Meikyū Jiin Dababa*.
## Trivia

* Dr. Cinnamon, from the *TwinBee* and *Wai Wai* series (also from Konami), appears in the instruction booklet of *GetsuFumaDen* explaining the care to be taken with Famicom's cartridges.
* According to the commercial, the Famicom version was supposed to be released on June 26, 1987, but got postponed until July 7, 1987.
	+ The adverts included in both *Ai Senshi Nicol* and *Meikyū Jiin Dababa'*s instruction booklets also point the release date on the June month.

## Related products

* *GetsuFumaDen Soundtrack* – The original soundtrack for the game.
* *GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon Original Soundtrack* – Contains the complete soundtrack for the game in vinyl form.
* *Konami Wai Wai World*
* *Wai Wai World 2: SOS!! Parsley Castle*

## See also

* *Devil Island* - A port/sequel bootleg of *GetsuFumaDen* for the Game Boy Color.

## References

1. ↑ Bonus perk only available for buyers of the Early Access version of *GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon*. The original *GetsuFumaDen* game is also slated to be included on the "Deluxe Edition" of *Undying Moon* (which is available for both PC and Switch).
2. ↑ Registration No. 4349453 in the Japanese Trademark lookup https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/t0000
3. ↑ Release date

## External links

* *Getsu Fūma Den* at the Konami Wiki
* *Getsu Fūma Den* at Wikipedia
* Getsu Fuuma Den at StrategyWiki
* Instruction booklet at Video Game Den (PDF)