Brain Breaker

Developer: Hiroshi Ishikawa

Publisher: Enix

Mar 31, 1985

Visual

pixel
side scroll

Structure

ability gated
interconnected map
item gated
non linear

Features

equipment

Themes

isolation
post apocalyptic
Sci-Fi

Sub-Genre

proto-Metroidvania

Summary

Brain Breaker is an epic open-world platform-adventure for the Sharp X1 Japanese home computer. It was an early Metroidvania-style game, predating both Metroid and Castlevania. It was designed by Hiroshi Ishikawa and published by Enix in 1985.

Last updated August 02, 2026

Where to play

Retro / Etc.
- Sharp X1

Resources

Links

IGDB

Black Magic

Developer: Action Software, Datasoft, Inc., Peter Ward

Publisher: Datasoft, Inc., Pixel Games UK

1987

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- interconnected map
- item gated
- non linear
- pixel
- side scroll
- proto-Metroidvania
Hero of the Golden Talisman

Developer: Mr Chip Software

Publisher: Mastertronic

1985

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- interconnected map
- item gated
- non linear
- pixel
- side scroll
- equipment
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- exploration
- 8-Bit
- fantasy
Dota

Developer: SystemSoft

Publisher: Eaglesoft, SystemSoft

1986

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- ability gated
- interconnected map
- item gated
- non linear
- pixel
- side scroll
- equipment
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- 8-Bit
- action
- fantasy
- medieval
- isometric
The Adventures of Captain Comic

Developer / Publisher: Michael Denio

1988

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- item gated
- non linear
- pixel
- side scroll
- Sci-Fi
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- exploration
- action
- puzzle heavy
Clash at Demonhead

Developer / Publisher: Vic Tokai

1989

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- item gated
- non linear
- pixel
- side scroll
- equipment
- Sci-Fi
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- Has Romhack
- 8-Bit
- boss gated
- discrete levels
Rad Warrior

Developer: Palace Software

Publisher: Epyx, Erbe Software, Palace Software

1988

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- item gated
- pixel
- side scroll
- post apocalyptic
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- exploration
- action
- puzzle heavy
The Goonies II

Developer: Konami

Publisher: Konami, Nintendo

1987

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- interconnected map
- non linear
- pixel
- side scroll
- equipment
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- Has Romhack
- exploration
- 8-Bit
- action
- first person
Cyborg Hunter

Developer: Sega

Publisher: Activision, Sega, Tec Toy

1988

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- interconnected map
- pixel
- side scroll
- Sci-Fi
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- exploration
- action
Draconus

Developer: Zeppelin Games

Publisher: Cognito, Zeppelin Games

1988

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- interconnected map
- non linear
- pixel
- side scroll
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- exploration
- action
- fantasy
The Great Work

Developer / Publisher: Damascus

2013

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- interconnected map
- non linear
- side scroll
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- exploration
- action
Pitfall II: The Lost Caverns

Developer: Activision

Publisher: Activision, Tandy

1984

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- interconnected map
- item gated
- pixel
- side scroll
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- exploration
- 8-Bit
- action
- Semi-Linear
The Scheme

Developer: Onion Software

1988

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- ability gated
- item gated
- non linear
- pixel
- side scroll
- Sci-Fi
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- exploration
- 8-Bit
- action
- fantasy
- leveling
- RPG

Brain Breaker

Summary

Where to play

Resources

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