Panorama Toh

Panorama Toh (ぱのらま島 “Panorama Island”), released by Nihon Falcom for the NEC PC-8801 computer in 1983, departed from the standard RPG formula in various ways. It combined RPG gameplay with real-time combat, combined fantasy with sci-fi elements, and introduced survival mechanics.

The game was designed by Yoshio Kiya, this was possibly the first action RPG. These innovative ideas about RPG design departed significantly from the turn-based norm at the time. It introduced real-time combat, sci-fi elements, a persistent open world with day-night cycle, and survival mechanics. This was a precursor to Falcom’s seminal action RPG franchise, Dragon Slayer. In 1984, he would go on to create Nihon Falcom’s Dragon Slayer franchise, which laid the foundations for the real-time, action RPG genre.