"Sold out nationwide."
"Urgent notice: On the first day of release, all stores nationwide are out of stock!"
Before noon, such news spread like wildfire, sweeping across all of Japan like a tsunami through television, radio, and word-of-mouth.
Major television stations urgently interrupted their programs with news bulletins, and anchors reported this sales miracle in incredulous tones. Newspaper editorial departments were in a frenzy, and the editor-in-chief slammed his desk, looking at the manuscripts submitted by the reporters: "What kind of headlines are these? Write bigger headlines for me! Extra! Print extra editions!"
"The Birth of a Myth! The Descendants of Loto Conquer the Archipelago Again!"
"The Pinnacle of the RPG Pyramid! The Undisputed King!"
"Millions of Players in a Frenzy! Akihabara Sees Another Sleepless Night!"
The media used every inflammatory word they could think of to describe this unprecedented spectacle. It was as if anything less would not be enough to express their inner shock.
In the second-hand market, the price of Dragon Quest II instantly soared. A cartridge that originally cost around five thousand Japanese yen quickly skyrocketed to ten thousand, twenty thousand, and some even listed it at an exorbitant price of fifty thousand Japanese yen, yet it remained a seller's market, with one cartridge being extremely hard to find.
The new term "DQII refugees," carrying a mix of jest and helplessness, quickly spread among players. Those who returned empty-handed, like wanderers deprived of spiritual sustenance, lingered near newsstands where game magazines could still be bought, their eyes wide like copper bell, searching for any information about the game. Even a few thoughts from players who had completed the game could offer them some comfort.
Game store employees, on the other hand, experienced a baptism intertwined with hell and heaven.
From the moment they opened in the morning, they were submerged in a tide of customers, without even time to go to the bathroom. A university student working part-time at an electronics store in Shinjuku later recalled that he felt like he wasn't selling games that day, but rather distributing relief supplies after a major earthquake.
Telephone rings asking if the game was still in stock came one after another, almost burning out the phone lines. The phones in several stores even broke down directly.
Cash registers were overloaded, paper rolls for printing receipts were changed one after another, and eventually, handwritten receipts were used.
They were exhausted, their voices hoarse, almost on the verge of collapse. Their arms ached from constantly taking money and handing out goods.
But when they looked at the empty shelves and the money boxes that were packed to the brim, almost overflowing, a distorted smile, mixed with extreme fatigue and immense ecstasy, would involuntarily appear on their faces.
The overwhelming success of Dragon Quest II spread rapidly within the Nintendo headquarters building. A strong warm current instantly dispersed the gloomy clouds that had accumulated over Kyoto for days, and also dispelled the oppressive atmosphere brought by competitors that had hung over the hearts of Nintendo employees. Every department, every office, felt a long-lost, almost boiling vitality.
The president's meeting room on the top floor.
Hiroshi Yamauchi was listening to the sales report, the steam from his cup of hot tea rising, blurring the expression on his face. His face, which had not relaxed for a long time and always carried a hint of majesty and scrutiny, still showed little emotion. It wasn't until he heard the news of "sold out nationwide on the first day" from the head of the sales department, after the report was finished, that he gently set down his teacup, the bottom of the cup making a barely audible sound as it touched the expensive solid wood tabletop.
At that very moment, a very subtle upward curve appeared at the corner of Hiroshi Yamauchi's mouth.
The arc was so small it was almost negligible, and so fleeting it was like an illusion.
However, the old foxes in the meeting room, who had been immersed in the workplace for many years, all had sharp eyes. They almost simultaneously caught this fleeting change.
"Hoo…"
Someone, very, very softly, let out a breath, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. Tense shoulders instantly relaxed, and several executives exchanged glances, seeing in each other's eyes a sense of relief and undisguised joy.
"Understood." Hiroshi Yamauchi's voice was as calm as ever, showing no emotion. "Next item."
Although it was only three words, to everyone present, it was no less than heavenly music. The president did not question, did not doubt, and did not even give further instructions, which in itself was an affirmation. A silent, yet weighty commendation.
In the New Year's battle, Nintendo achieved a brilliant start with the earth-shattering blow of Dragon Quest II. The previously somewhat dull atmosphere, caused by Sega's pokémon-induced merchandising craze, was swept away.
Kenichi Tanaka naturally plunged into the new adventure immediately.
That night, he almost bathed and burned incense before carefully inserting the cartridge, which held countless expectations, into his FC console.
The familiar opening music played, but the melody was grander and more stirring than the first installment.
Prince of Lorasia, Prince of Samaltria, Princess of Moonbrooke.
The legend of the three heroes thus unfolded.
A map several times larger than the previous work.
A more intricate and complex storyline.
A brand new three-person party system.
And, the painful yet joyful, much higher battle difficulty than the original.
Kenichi Tanaka once again entered a state of forgetting to eat and sleep.
All his "client visit records" and "market research reports" were completely forgotten.
He even began to seriously study the loopholes in the company's punch-in system and how to more efficiently use his lunch break to advance the Prince of Lorasia's level.
A few days later, when he accidentally met Mrs. Sato carrying a vegetable basket in the apartment hallway, the previous embarrassment was gone from his face.
Instead, there was an excited, beaming expression.
"Mrs. Sato, you wouldn't believe it! This Dragon Quest II is simply a masterpiece!"
"The Prince of Lorasia is so brave, and while the Prince of Samaltria was a bit weak at first, he became powerful after learning spells! And that Princess of Moonbrooke, she's so pitiful, I must rescue her as soon as possible!"
Mrs. Sato listened, momentarily stunned, but her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Her experience playing dragon quest was still vivid in her mind.
"It sounds even more interesting than the last one."
Mrs. Sato nodded thoughtfully.
Then, as if remembering something, she leaned closer and whispered, "Um… Tanaka, can this Dragon Quest II still be bought now?"
"My good-for-nothing grandson cried several times a few days ago because he couldn't buy it."
Mrs. Sato clutched the sleeve of her kimono, her gaze so earnest it could almost drip water, as if the person standing before her was not just a neighbor, but her only hope.
Kenichi Tanaka looked at the curious sparkle in her eyes, unbefitting her age, for new things, and the corner of his mouth subtly curved upward.
This old lady, she probably coveted it herself.
She had also completed the first dragon quest several times.
He patted his chest, feigning generosity.
"Mrs. Sato, don't worry."
"Once I finish it, I'll bring it to you and your grandson to experience right away."
"This game is definitely worth the wait."
He secretly calculated that he would at least have to battle for another week or so to rescue the princess from that damn dungeon.
Upon hearing this, the wrinkles on Mrs. Sato's face instantly blossomed into a blooming chrysanthemum.
"Oh, thank you so much, Tanaka."
"You're really going to a lot of trouble."
She thanked him repeatedly, her joy unmistakable in her tone.
"Oh, by the way, I made some small pastries today. I'll bring some over for you to try later."
"Please don't dislike them."
This sudden burst of enthusiasm left Kenichi Tanaka feeling somewhat helpless, thinking, "So you were indeed coveting my Dragon Quest II."