JP RETRO GAMES｜Japanese Famicom & Retro Games

Ginga no Sannin (銀河の三人) is a 1987 Japanese Famicom RPG with a distinctive science-fiction setting. The Famicom version was released in Japan on December 15, 1987, and was published by Nintendo, with Pax Softnica involved in its development. citeturn0search12

This is Series No.07 of JP RETRO GAMES, a project documenting original Japanese Famicom games from Japan to the world.

A very different kind of Famicom RPG

Unlike the medieval fantasy worlds that were common in many RPGs of the era, Ginga no Sannin uses a science-fiction setting. The Famicom version is associated with the earlier PC title The Earth Fighter Rayieza , while adding changes for the console version, including additional gameplay elements.

The result is a fascinating snapshot of late-1980s Japanese game design: space battles, character portraits, Japanese text, and a world built around an alien threat.

Battles in space

The battle scenes are one of the most memorable parts of this game. Instead of a conventional fantasy battlefield, the player faces enemies against a star-filled space background.

The presentation is simple by modern standards, but the combination of pixel art, character portraits and Japanese interface design gives the game a very specific 1987 Famicom identity.

Rimi and the Bit attack

One of the scenes I wanted to include in this video is Rimi’s attack using the Bit.

The Famicom version introduced changes that included Rimi being able to use psychic powers, adding another distinctive element to the console version. 

Exploring the galaxy

Between battles, the game moves into exploration and navigation. The contrast between the dark space battles and the blue-and-white map screens is one of the visual details that makes this game immediately recognizable.

The original Famicom cartridge

For this episode, I used my original Japanese Famicom cartridge.

The cartridge artwork itself is worth a closer look. It captures the colorful late-1980s Japanese sci-fi aesthetic and features the three main characters against a futuristic background.

JP RETRO GAMES｜No.07

I chose Ginga no Sannin for this episode because a viewer requested it in the comments.

That is exactly what I want JP RETRO GAMES to become: a way to discover Japanese Famicom games that may be unfamiliar outside Japan, one cartridge at a time.

Have you played Ginga no Sannin before?

And which Japanese Famicom game should I play next?

Game: Ginga no Sannin (銀河の三人)
Year: 1987
Developer: Pax Softnica
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: RPG
Region: Japan (NTSC)
Format: Famicom

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