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{{Short description|Role-playing video game series developed by Capcom}}
{{about|the video game series|the video game|Breath of Fire (video game)|the Yoga breathing technique|Pranayama}}
{{About|the video game series|the first game in the series|Breath of Fire (video game)|the yoga documentary|Breath of Fire (TV series)|the yoga breathing technique|Pranayama}}

{{Infobox video game series
{{Infobox video game series
|title = Breath of Fire
| title = Breath of Fire
| image = File:Breath_of_Fire_logo.png
⚫
|creator = Yoshinori Kawano<br>[[Tokuro Fujiwara]]<br>Makoto Ikehara
⚫
| genre = [[Role-playing video game|Role-playing]]
|image = BreathofFire.png
|developer = [[Capcom]]
| developer = [[Capcom]]
|publisher = Square Soft/Capcom
| publisher = Capcom
⚫
| creator = Yoshinori Kawano<br>[[Tokuro Fujiwara]]<br>Makoto Ikehara
|platforms = [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[mobile phone]], [[Game Boy Advance]], [[iOS]], [[PlayStation]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[PlayStation 3]], [[PlayStation Portable]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]], [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]]
| platforms = [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]], [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]], [[Game Boy Advance]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[Microsoft Windows]], [[PlayStation Portable]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS]]
⚫
|genre = [[Role-playing video game|Role-playing]]
| first release version = ''[[Breath of Fire (video game)|Breath of Fire]]''
|spinoffs =
|first release version = ''[[Breath of Fire (video game)|Breath of Fire]]''
| first release date = April 3, 1993
|first release date = April 3, 1993
| latest release version = ''[[Breath of Fire 6]]''
|latest release version = ''[[Breath of Fire 6]]''
| latest release date = February 24, 2016
|latest release date = February 24, 2016
}}
}}


'''''Breath of Fire'''''{{efn|In [[Japanese language|Japanese]]: {{Nihongo|ブレスオブファイア|Buresu obu Faia}}}} is a [[role-playing video game]] series developed by [[Capcom]]. It originated on the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] in 1993. The series is notable for its recurring characters and ambiguous [[Continuity (fiction)|continuity]]; though each game is its own self-contained story, the names of the two lead characters are usually Ryu and Nina.<ref name="hcgaming">David DeRienzo. [http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/bof/bof.htm Hardcore Gaming 101 - ''Breath of Fire'']. Retrieved on 2010-02-02.</ref>
'''''Breath of Fire'''''{{efn|In [[Japanese language|Japanese]]: {{Nihongo|ブレスオブファイア|Buresu obu Faia}}}} is a [[role-playing video game]] series developed by [[Capcom]]. It originated on the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] in 1993. The series has recurring characters and ambiguous [[Continuity (fiction)|continuity]]; though each game is its own self-contained story, the names of the two lead characters are usually Ryu and Nina.<ref>{{cite web|first=David |last=DeRienzo |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/bof/bof.htm |work=[[Hardcore Gaming 101]] |title=Breath of Fire |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100501222807/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/bof/bof.htm |archivedate=May 1, 2010 |accessdate=2010-02-02}}</ref>


The story commonly involves an adventurer named Ryu (name usually changeable) who can [[Shapeshifting|shapeshift]] into different types of [[dragon]]s.<ref>[http://www.mobygames.com/game-group/breath-of-fire-series Breath of Fire'' series]. MobyGames. Retrieved on 2008-4-8.</ref> Over the course of his journey, he befriends Nina, a girl with wings. At its inception, ''Breath of Fire'' took place in a [[Middle Ages|medieval]] [[fantasy]] style [[Fictional universe|fictional world]]. Following the mainstream success of [[Japanese role-playing video games|Japanese role-playing games]] in the 1990s,<ref name="Gamsutra" /> the series began using the original [[anime]]-style artwork for later [[Western world|Western]] releases of the games (rather than the Westernized art that was drawn specifically for the Western releases of the first two games), [[Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction|post-apocalyptic]] themes, and an increased emphasis on character development. Despite these changes, the core structure of ''Breath of Fire'' remains largely [[Nonlinear gameplay|linear]] and plot-focused. As of 2016, six ''Breath of Fire'' titles have been released, with three games being [[Porting|ported]] to [[handheld game console]]s as well as [[Nintendo]]'s [[Virtual Console]], and two ported to the [[Nintendo Switch]]'s SNES games library. As of December 31, 2019, the series has sold 3.2 million units worldwide.<ref>[http://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/finance/salesdata.html CAPCOM | Game Series Sales]</ref>
The story commonly involves an adventurer named Ryu (name usually changeable) who can [[Shapeshifting|shapeshift]] into different types of [[dragon]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Breath of Fire series|url=https://www.mobygames.com/game-group/breath-of-fire-series|access-date=2020-12-22|website=MobyGames}}</ref> Over the course of his journey, he befriends Nina, a girl with wings. At its inception, ''Breath of Fire'' took place in a [[medieval fantasy]] style [[Fictional universe|fictional world]]. Following the mainstream success of [[Japanese role-playing video games|Japanese role-playing games]] in the 1990s,<ref name="Gamsutra" /> the series began using the original [[anime]]-style artwork for later [[Western world|Western]] releases of the games (rather than the Westernized art that was drawn specifically for the Western releases of the first two games), [[Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction|post-apocalyptic]] themes, and an increased emphasis on character development. Despite these changes, the core structure of ''Breath of Fire'' remains largely [[Linear gameplay|linear]] and plot-focused. {{as of|2016}}, six ''Breath of Fire'' titles have been released, with three games being [[Porting|ported]] to [[handheld game console]]s as well as [[Nintendo]]'s [[Virtual Console]], and two ported to the [[Nintendo Switch]]'s Super NES games library. By 2022, the series had sold over 3.3 million copies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/finance/salesdata.html|title=CAPCOM &#124; Game Series Sales|website=www.capcom.co.jp|date=31 March 2023 }}</ref>


==Games==
==Games==
===Main series===
===Main series===
{{Video game titles|
{{Video game table|body=
{{Video game titles/item
{{Video game table item
|title= Breath of Fire
| title=[[Breath of Fire (video game)|Breath of Fire]]
| release1=April 3, 1993
|article= Breath of Fire (video game)
| release2=August 10, 1994
|date= {{vgrelease|JP|April 3, 1993|NA|August 10, 1994|EU|December 14, 2001 <small>(GBA)</small>}}
| release3=December 14, 2001 <small>(Game Boy Advance)</small>
|release= 1993 &mdash; [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]<br />2001 &mdash; [[Game Boy Advance]]<br />2015 &mdash; [[Wii U]] <br/>October 20, 2016 &mdash; [[Nintendo 3DS]]<br />2019 &mdash; [[Nintendo Switch]]
|refs=
| notes=
* Released on [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]
|notes=
* Developed by [[Capcom]]
* Originally released in Japan as {{Nihongo|''Breath of Fire: Ryū no Senshi''|ブレスオブファイアＩ　竜の戦士|Breath of Fire: The Dragon Warrior}}.
* SNES version translated and published in North America by [[Square Soft]]
* Also available on [[Game Boy Advance]] (2001)
* Known in Japan as ''Breath of Fire: Ryū no Senshi''
}}
}}
{{Video game titles/item
{{Video game table item
|title= Breath of Fire II
| title=[[Breath of Fire II]]
| release1=December 2, 1994
|article= Breath of Fire II
|date= {{vgrelease|JP|December 2, 1994|NA|December 10, 1995|EU|April 25, 1996}}
| release2=December 10, 1995
| release3=April 25, 1996
|release= 1994 &mdash; Super Nintendo Entertainment System<br />2001 &mdash; Game Boy Advance<br />2013 &mdash; Wii U<br/>November 2016 &mdash; [[New Nintendo 3DS]]<br />2019 &mdash; [[Nintendo Switch]]
|refs=
| notes=
* Released on [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]
|notes=
* Developed by [[Capcom]]
* Originally released in Japan as {{Nihongo|''Breath of Fire II: Shimei no Ko''|ブレスオブファイアＩＩ 使命の子|Breath of Fire II: The Destined Child}}.
* Also available on [[Game Boy Advance]] (2001)
* Known in Japan as ''Breath of Fire II: Shimei no Ko''
}}
}}
{{Video game titles/item
{{Video game table item
|title= Breath of Fire III
| title=[[Breath of Fire III]]
| release1=September 11, 1997
|article= Breath of Fire III
| release2=April 30, 1998
|date= {{vgrelease|JP|September 11, 1997|NA|April 30, 1998|EU|October 8, 1998}}
| release3=October 8, 1998
|release= 1997 &mdash; [[PlayStation]]<br />2005 &mdash; [[PlayStation Portable]]
|refs=
| notes=
* Released on [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]]
|notes=
* Developed by [[Capcom]]
* Only game with no subtitle in its Japanese name.
* Also available on [[PlayStation Portable]] (2005)
}}
}}
{{Video game titles/item
{{Video game table item
|title= Breath of Fire IV
| title=[[Breath of Fire IV]]
| release1=April 27, 2000
|article= Breath of Fire IV
|date= {{vgrelease|JP|April 27, 2000|NA|November 28, 2000|EU|August 3, 2001}}
| release2=November 28, 2000
| release3=August 3, 2001
|release= 2000 &mdash; PlayStation<br />2003 &mdash; [[Microsoft Windows]]
|refs=
| notes=
* Released on [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]]
|notes=
* Developed by [[Capcom]]
* Originally released in Japan as {{Nihongo|''Breath of Fire IV: Utsurowazarumono''|ブレスオブファイアＩＶ うつろわざるもの|Breath of Fire IV: The Unfading Ones}}.
* Also available on [[Microsoft Windows]] (2003)
* All releases on PlayStation systems are the original PlayStation version.
* Known in Japan as ''Breath of Fire IV: Utsurowazaru Mono''
}}
}}
{{Video game titles/item
{{Video game table item
|title= Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter
| title=[[Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter]]
| release1=November 14, 2002
⚫
|article= Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter
|date= {{vgrelease|JP|November 14, 2002|NA|February 16, 2003|EU|November 28, 2003}}
| release2=February 16, 2003
| release3=November 28, 2003
⚫
|release= 2002 &mdash; [[PlayStation 2]]
|refs=
| notes=
⚫
* Released on [[PlayStation 2]]
|notes=
* Developed by [[Capcom]]
* Originally released in Japan as {{Nihongo|''Breath of Fire V: Dragon Quarter''|ブレスオブファイアＶ　ドラゴンクォーター}}.
⚫
* Known in Japan as ''Breath of Fire V: Dragon Quarter''
}}
}}
{{Video game titles/item
{{Video game table item
|title= Breath of Fire 6
| title=[[Breath of Fire 6|Breath of Fire 6: Hakuryū no Shugosha-tachi]]
⚫
| release1=February 24, 2016
|article= Breath of Fire 6
| release2={{n/a|none}}
⚫
|date= {{vgrelease|JP|February 24, 2016}}
| release3={{n/a|none}}
⚫
|release= 2016 &mdash; Microsoft Windows, [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS]]
|refs=
| notes=
⚫
* Released on Microsoft Windows and [[Android (operating system)|Android]]
|notes=
* Developed by [[Capcom]]
* Full Japanese title: {{nihongo|''Breath of Fire 6: Hakuryū no Shugosha-tachi''|ブレスオブファイア6 白竜の守護者たち|lit. Breath of Fire 6: Guardians of the White Dragon}}.
* Also available on [[iOS]] (2016)
* Known in Japan as ''Breath of Fire 6: Hakuryū no Shugosha-tachi''
}}
}}
}}
}}
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===Mobile games===
===Mobile games===
{{See also|Mobile phone games of the Breath of Fire series}}
{{See also|Mobile phone games of the Breath of Fire series}}
Beginning in November 2003, Capcom began releasing ''Breath of Fire'' titles specifically for [[mobile phone]] devices in Japan.<ref name="Gamewatch1">{{cite web |script-title=ja:カプコン、携帯ゲームを3キャリアで同時配信。「ブレス オブ 大富豪」、「ソリティア ファイター」 |url=http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20030804/cap.htm |language=Japanese |author=Takakazu, Kitamura |publisher=GameWatch |date=2003-08-04 |accessdate=2010-06-30}}</ref> Each game was developed for use on [[NTT DoCoMo]], [[Au (mobile phone company)|au]], and [[SoftBank]] brand cellphones that use the [[i-mode]], EZWEB, or [[Qualcomm Brew|BREW]] services. The first title, {{Nihongo|''Breath of Daifugō''|ブレス オブ 大富豪}}, is a replication of the Japanese card game ''[[daifugō]]'' featuring characters from ''Breath of Fire IV'', and would be followed by a [[sports game]] called {{Nihongo|''Breath of Fire: Ryū no Tsurishi''|ブレス オブ ファイア 竜の釣り師|lit. Breath of Fire: Dragon Fisherman}} in October 2005, which contained an expanded version of the fishing [[minigame]] also from the game.<ref name="Fami1">{{cite web |script-title=ja:ブレスオブファイア』や『ロックマン2』が続々とアプリに！ |url=http://www.famitsu.com/k_tai/news/1168471_1350.html |language=Japanese |date=2005-10-14 |publisher=[[Famitsu]] |accessdate=2010-06-30}}</ref> Two [[action role-playing game|action role-playing]] spin-offs of ''Breath of Fire IV'' titled {{Nihongo|''Breath of Fire IV: Honō no Ken to Kaze no Mahō''|ブレスオブファイアIV 炎の剣と風の魔法|lit. Breath of Fire IV: The Sword of Fire and the Magic of Wind}} and {{Nihongo|''Breath of Fire IV: Yōsei-tachi to Hikari no Kagi''|ブレスオブファイアIV 妖精たちと光のカギ|lit. Breath of Fire IV: The Faeries and the Key of Light}}' were released in November 2007<ref name="Fami2">{{cite web |url=http://www.famitsu.com/k_tai/news/1211639_1350.html |publisher=[[Famitsu]] |date=2007-11-01 |accessdate=2010-06-30 |script-title=ja:『バイオ』、『デビル』、『大魔界村』など！ カプコンの11月の配信タイトルが明らかに |language=Japanese}}</ref> and November 2008 respectively.<ref name="Gamewatch2">{{cite web |title=モバイルゲームレビュー「ブレスオブファイアIV 妖精たちと光のカギ」 |author=Fuminori, Hidaka |language=Japanese |date=2008-11-04 |publisher=GameWatch |url=http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20081204/bof.htm}}</ref>
Beginning in November 2003, Capcom began releasing ''Breath of Fire'' titles specifically for [[mobile phone]] devices in Japan.<ref name="Gamewatch1">{{cite web |script-title=ja:カプコン、携帯ゲームを3キャリアで同時配信。「ブレス オブ 大富豪」、「ソリティア ファイター」 |url=http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20030804/cap.htm |language=ja |author=Takakazu, Kitamura |publisher=GameWatch |date=2003-08-04 |access-date=2010-06-30}}</ref> Each game was developed for use on [[NTT DoCoMo]], [[Au (mobile phone company)|au]], and [[SoftBank]] brand cellphones that use the [[i-mode]], EZWEB, or [[Qualcomm Brew|BREW]] services. The first title, {{Nihongo|''Breath of Daifugō''|ブレス オブ 大富豪}}, is a replication of the Japanese card game ''[[daifugō]]'' featuring characters from ''Breath of Fire IV'', and would be followed by a [[sports game]] called {{Nihongo|''Breath of Fire: Ryū no Tsurishi''|ブレス オブ ファイア 竜の釣り師|lit. Breath of Fire: Dragon Fisherman}} in October 2005, which contained an expanded version of the fishing [[minigame]] also from the game.<ref name="Fami1">{{cite web |script-title=ja:ブレスオブファイア』や『ロックマン2』が続々とアプリに！ |url=http://www.famitsu.com/k_tai/news/1168471_1350.html |language=ja |date=2005-10-14 |publisher=[[Famitsu]] |access-date=2010-06-30}}</ref> Two [[action role-playing game|action role-playing]] spin-offs of ''Breath of Fire IV'' titled {{Nihongo|''Breath of Fire IV: Honō no Ken to Kaze no Mahō''|ブレスオブファイアIV 炎の剣と風の魔法|lit. Breath of Fire IV: The Sword of Fire and the Magic of Wind}} and {{Nihongo|''Breath of Fire IV: Yōsei-tachi to Hikari no Kagi''|ブレスオブファイアIV 妖精たちと光のカギ|lit. Breath of Fire IV: The Faeries and the Key of Light}}' were released in November 2007<ref name="Fami2">{{cite web |url=http://www.famitsu.com/k_tai/news/1211639_1350.html |publisher=[[Famitsu]] |date=2007-11-01 |access-date=2010-06-30 |script-title=ja:『バイオ』、『デビル』、『大魔界村』など！ カプコンの11月の配信タイトルが明らかに |language=ja}}</ref> and November 2008 respectively.<ref name="Gamewatch2">{{cite web |title=モバイルゲームレビュー「ブレスオブファイアIV 妖精たちと光のカギ」 |author=Fuminori, Hidaka |language=ja |date=2008-11-04 |publisher=GameWatch |url=http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20081204/bof.htm}}</ref>


==Music==
==Music==
The music of each ''Breath of Fire'' games has traditionally been produced by rotating members of Capcom's in-house sound team. While the themes from first game were composed by five members of the company's sound team [[Alph Lyla]], which included [[Yasuaki Fujita]], Mari Yamaguchi, Minae Fuji, [[Yoko Shimomura]] and [[Tatsuya Nishimura]], the second game's score was produced entirely by fellow company composer Yuko Takehara.<ref name="Box" /> ''Breath of Fire III''{{'}}s soundtrack took a [[jazz]]-inspired approach, and was written by the team of [[Yoshino Aoki]] and [[Akari Kaida]], with the music of ''Breath of Fire IV'' provided solely by Aoki herself. For the first time in the series, the music of ''Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter'' was created by an outside employee, [[Hitoshi Sakimoto]], with [[Yasunori Mitsuda]] serving as music producer on the project.<ref name="OST5">{{cite web |title=RPGFan Soundtracks - Breath of Fire V: Dragon Quarter OST |url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/bof5/index.html |author=Holtzworth, Christopher |date=2003-01-08 |publisher=RPGFan |accessdate=2010-06-25}}</ref>
The music of each ''Breath of Fire'' games has traditionally been produced by rotating members of Capcom's in-house sound team. While the themes from first game were composed by five members of the company's sound team [[Alph Lyla]], which included [[Yasuaki Fujita]], Mari Yamaguchi, Minae Fuji, [[Yoko Shimomura]] and [[Tatsuya Nishimura]], the second game's score was produced entirely by fellow company composer Yuko Takehara.<ref name="Box" /> ''Breath of Fire III''{{'}}s soundtrack took a [[jazz]]-inspired approach, and was written by the team of [[Yoshino Aoki]] and [[Akari Kaida]], with the music of ''Breath of Fire IV'' provided solely by Aoki herself. For the first time in the series, the music of ''Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter'' was created by an outside employee, [[Hitoshi Sakimoto]], with [[Yasunori Mitsuda]] serving as music producer on the project.<ref name="OST5">{{cite web |title=RPGFan Soundtracks - Breath of Fire V: Dragon Quarter OST |url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/bof5/index.html |author=Holtzworth, Christopher |date=2003-01-08 |publisher=RPGFan |access-date=2010-06-25 |archive-date=2009-12-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091230061903/http://rpgfan.com/soundtracks/bof5/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>


In March 2006, Capcom released the 11-disc ''Breath of Fire Original Soundtrack Special Box'' [[boxset]] on their in-house record label [[Suleputer]], which contained all music from the first five games in the series.<ref name="Box">{{cite web |title=RPGFan Soundtracks - Breath of Fire OST Special Box |date=2006-09-25 |accessdate=2009-06-09 |url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/bofbox/index.html |author=Strange, Derek |publisher=RPGFan}}</ref> The set includes the first-ever soundtrack release of the original ''Breath of Fire'', as well as the first complete soundtrack releases for ''Breath of Fire II'' and ''Breath of Fire III'', which had previously only received single-disc selections during their original printings, with a total of 307 tracks from all five titles.<ref name="Tanomi" /> Capcom produced a limited run of only 2000 copies of the boxset, which was distributed on their online store e-Capcom, as well as special retailers, and included a 28-page booklet featuring art from the series.<ref name="Tanomi">{{cite web |title=ブレス オブ ファイア I～V オリジナル・サウンドトラック スペシャルボックス |url=http://www.tanomi.com/bof/ |language=Japanese |publisher=Tanomi.com |year=2007 |accessdate=2010-07-05 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100629032434/http://www.tanomi.com/bof/ |archivedate=2010-06-29 }}</ref>
In March 2006, Capcom released the 11-disc ''Breath of Fire Original Soundtrack Special Box'' [[boxset]] on their in-house record label [[Suleputer]], which contained all music from the first five games in the series.<ref name="Box">{{cite web |title=RPGFan Soundtracks - Breath of Fire OST Special Box |date=2006-09-25 |access-date=2009-06-09 |url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/bofbox/index.html |author=Strange, Derek |publisher=RPGFan |archive-date=2009-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210032902/http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/bofbox/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The set includes the first-ever soundtrack release of the original ''Breath of Fire'', as well as the first complete soundtrack releases for ''Breath of Fire II'' and ''Breath of Fire III'', which had previously only received single-disc selections during their original printings, with a total of 307 tracks from all five titles.<ref name="Tanomi" /> Capcom produced a limited run of only 2000 copies of the boxset, which was distributed on their online store e-Capcom, as well as special retailers, and included a 28-page booklet featuring art from the series.<ref name="Tanomi">{{cite web |title=ブレス オブ ファイア I～V オリジナル・サウンドトラック スペシャルボックス |url=http://www.tanomi.com/bof/ |language=ja |publisher=Tanomi.com |year=2007 |access-date=2010-07-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100629032434/http://www.tanomi.com/bof/ |archive-date=2010-06-29 }}</ref>


==Reception==
==Reception==
<div style="font-size: 90%;float:right;border-left:1em solid white">
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Review scores and sales'''
|+'''Review scores and sales'''
Line 100: Line 108:
|-
|-
|''[[Breath of Fire (video game)|Breath of Fire]]''
|''[[Breath of Fire (video game)|Breath of Fire]]''
|<center>&mdash;</center>
|{{center|&mdash;}}
|<center>&mdash;</center>
|{{center|&mdash;}}
|<center>70%<ref name="GR1">{{cite web |title=Breath of Fire for SNES - GameRankings |publisher=[[GameRankings]] |year=2002 |accessdate=2016-05-11 |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/snes/563529-breath-of-fire/index.html}}</ref></center>
|{{center|70%<ref name="GR1">{{cite web |title=Breath of Fire for SNES - GameRankings |publisher=[[GameRankings]] |year=2002 |access-date=2016-05-11 |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/snes/563529-breath-of-fire/index.html}}</ref>}}
|<center>79% ''(GBA Re-release)''<ref>http://www.metacritic.com/game/game-boy-advance/breath-of-fire</ref></center>
|{{center|79% ''(GBA Re-release)''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/breath-of-fire/critic-reviews/?platform=game-boy-advance|title=Breath of Fire|website=Metacritic}}</ref>}}
|-
|-
|''[[Breath of Fire II]]''
|''[[Breath of Fire II]]''
|<center>350,000<ref name="FamSNES2">{{cite journal |journal=[[Famitsu|Weekly Famitsu]] |date=1995-01-05 |publisher=Enterbrain, Inc. |title=Enterbrain Software Sales Data |language=Japanese}}</ref></center>
|{{center|350,000<ref name="FamSNES2">{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Famitsu|Weekly Famitsu]] |date=1995-01-05 |publisher=Enterbrain, Inc. |title=Enterbrain Software Sales Data |language=ja}}</ref>}}
|<center>&mdash;</center>
|{{center|&mdash;}}
|<center>76%<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |title=Breath of Fire II for SNES - GameRankings |publisher=[[GameRankings]] |year=2002 |accessdate=2010-06-02 |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/snes/563530-breath-of-fire-ii/index.html}}</ref></center>
|{{center|76%<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |title=Breath of Fire II for SNES - GameRankings |publisher=[[GameRankings]] |year=2002 |access-date=2010-06-02 |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/snes/563530-breath-of-fire-ii/index.html |archive-date=2012-09-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922231346/http://www.gamerankings.com/snes/563530-breath-of-fire-ii/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}
|<center>81% ''(GBA Re-release)''<ref>http://www.metacritic.com/game/game-boy-advance/breath-of-fire-ii</ref></center>
|{{center|81% ''(GBA Re-release)''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/breath-of-fire-ii/critic-reviews/?platform=game-boy-advance|title=Breath of Fire II|website=Metacritic}}</ref>}}
|-
|-
|''[[Breath of Fire III]]''
|''[[Breath of Fire III]]''
|<center>425,000<ref name="magicboxjp">{{cite web |title=MagicBox Top-Selling Console Games for 1997 (Japan) |publisher=MagicBox | url=http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-BestSell1997.shtml |accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref></center>
|{{center|425,000<ref name="magicboxjp">{{cite web |title=MagicBox Top-Selling Console Games for 1997 (Japan) |publisher=MagicBox |url=http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-BestSell1997.shtml |access-date=2007-02-21 |archive-date=2007-02-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070218202258/http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-BestSell1997.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}
|{{center|28 / 40<ref>{{cite magazine |date=1997-09-15 |magazine=[[Famitsu|Weekly Famitsu]] |title=New Games Cross Review |publisher=Enterbrain, Inc. |language=ja |page=25 |issue=457}}</ref>}}
|<center>&mdash;</center>
|<center>74%<ref name="GR3">{{cite web |title=Breath of Fire III Reviews |publisher=[[GameRankings]] |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/searchresult.asp?term=Breath+of+Fire+III&itemid=196817 |accessdate=2008-10-15 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref></center>
|{{center|74%<ref name="GR3">{{cite web |title=Breath of Fire III Reviews |publisher=[[GameRankings]] |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/searchresult.asp?term=Breath+of+Fire+III&itemid=196817 |access-date=2008-10-15 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>}}
|<center>&mdash;</center>
|{{center|&mdash;}}
|-
|-
|''[[Breath of Fire IV]]''
|''[[Breath of Fire IV]]''
|<center>334,000<ref name="MagicBox">{{cite web |title=Best Selling Titles of 2000 (Japan) |publisher=MagicBox |url=http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-BestSell2000.shtml |accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref></center>
|{{center|334,000<ref name="MagicBox">{{cite web |title=Best Selling Titles of 2000 (Japan) |publisher=MagicBox |url=http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-BestSell2000.shtml |access-date=2007-02-21 |archive-date=2020-07-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726062931/http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-BestSell2000.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}
|{{center|31 / 40<ref>{{cite magazine |date=2000-04-26 |magazine=[[Famitsu|Weekly Famitsu]] |title=New Games Cross Review |publisher=Enterbrain, Inc. |language=ja |page=25}}</ref>}}
|<center>&mdash;</center>
|<center>82%<ref name="GR4">{{cite web |title=Breath of Fire IV Reviews |publisher=[[GameRankings]] |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/196818.asp?q=Breath%20of%20Fire | accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref> </center>
|{{center|82%<ref name="GR4">{{cite web |title=Breath of Fire IV Reviews |publisher=[[GameRankings]] |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/196818.asp?q=Breath%20of%20Fire | access-date=2007-02-21}}</ref> }}
|<center>83%<ref name="MC4">{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/psx/breathoffire4?q=breath%20of%20fire |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |accessdate=2010-07-04 |title=Breath of Fire IV (psx) reviews}}</ref></center>
|{{center|83%<ref name="MC4">{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/psx/breathoffire4?q=breath%20of%20fire |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=2010-07-04 |title=Breath of Fire IV (psx) reviews |archive-date=2012-09-12 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6AbtsyHTk?url=http://www.metacritic.com/redirectcritic?p=psx |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}
|-
|-
|''[[Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter]]''
|''[[Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter]]''
|<center>140,073<ref>{{cite web |title=GID 927 - Breath of Fire V: Dragon Quarter - PS2 - Garaph |url=http://garaph.info/softwareindividual.php?gameid=927 | publisher=Garaph.info |accessdate=2009-02-10}}</ref></center>
|{{center|140,073<ref>{{cite web |title=GID 927 - Breath of Fire V: Dragon Quarter - PS2 - Garaph |url=http://garaph.info/softwareindividual.php?gameid=927 | publisher=Garaph.info |access-date=2009-02-10}}</ref>}}
|<center>32 / 40<ref>''プレイステーション2 - ブレスオブ ファイアV ドラゴンクォーター''. Weekly Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.81. 30 June 2006.</ref></center>
|{{center|32 / 40<ref>''プレイステーション2 - ブレスオブ ファイアV ドラゴンクォーター''. Weekly Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.81. 30 June 2006.</ref>}}
|<center>78%<ref name="GR5">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/561476-breath-of-fire-dragon-quarter/index.html |title=Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter for PlayStation 2 Reviews |publisher=[[GameRankings]] |year=2003 |accessdate=2010-06-15}}</ref></center>
|{{center|78%<ref name="GR5">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/561476-breath-of-fire-dragon-quarter/index.html |title=Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter for PlayStation 2 Reviews |publisher=[[GameRankings]] |year=2003 |access-date=2010-06-15}}</ref>}}
|<center>78%<ref name="MC5">{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps2/breathoffiredragonquarter?q=Breath%20of%20Fire |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |year=2003 |title=Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter (ps2) reviews |accessdate=2010-06-15}}</ref></center>
|{{center|78%<ref name="MC5">{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps2/breathoffiredragonquarter?q=Breath%20of%20Fire |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |year=2003 |title=Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter (ps2) reviews |access-date=2010-06-15 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>}}
|-
|-
|}</div>
|}


As of the fifth game in the series, the ''Breath of Fire'' franchise has sold a total of 3.2 million units worldwide, with Capcom calling it their "best known and most successful role-playing game."<ref name="Sales">{{cite web|url=http://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/business/salesdata.html |publisher=[[Capcom]] |accessdate=2010-07-04 |title=CAPCOM / Total Sales Units |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327174103/http://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/business/salesdata.html |archivedate=2014-03-27 }}</ref> Sales of each successive title continued on an upward slope which peaked at the PlayStation entries in the series, with the fifth game, ''Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter'' on the PlayStation 2, representing a significant dip.<ref name="IGNsales">{{cite web |title=Dirty Dozen: Hidden Gems |url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/530/530285p2.html |publisher=[[IGN]] |date=2004-07-14 |author=Jeremy Dunham |author2=Ivan Sulic |author3=Ed Lewis |name-list-style=amp|accessdate=2010-06-22}}</ref> Each title received mostly positive reviews from aggregate review websites [[GameRankings]] and [[Metacritic]], with critics such as [[Gamasutra]] finding each game to be good, but largely formulaic, calling the franchise "always solid, if not particularly ambitious".<ref name="Gamsutra">{{cite web |title=A Japanese RPG Prime: The Esstential 20 |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3581/a_japanese_rpg_primer_the_.php?page=19 |author=Kalata, Kurt |date=2008-03-19 |accessdate=2010-07-04 |publisher=[[Gamasutra]]}}</ref> The series has routinely been compared to [[Square Enix]]'s popular ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' games, with [[GameSpot]] stating that "Though the Breath of Fire games have never been as well received as bigger RPG names like Final Fantasy, the series indicates that Capcom is definitely learning something about the fine art of RPG development."<ref name="GSpot4">{{cite web |title=Breath of Fire IV Review for PlayStation |url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps/rpg/breathoffire4/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary%3Bread-review |publisher=[[GameSpot]] |date=2000-11-28 |accessdate=2010-07-04 |author=Shoemaker, Brad}}</ref>
As of the fifth game in the series, the ''Breath of Fire'' franchise has sold a total of 3.2 million units worldwide, with Capcom calling it their "best known and most successful role-playing game."<ref name="Sales">{{cite web|url=http://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/business/salesdata.html |publisher=[[Capcom]] |access-date=2010-07-04 |title=CAPCOM / Total Sales Units |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327174103/http://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/business/salesdata.html |archive-date=2014-03-27 }}</ref> Sales of each successive title continued on an upward slope which peaked at the PlayStation entries in the series, with the fifth game, ''Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter'' on the PlayStation 2, representing a significant dip.<ref name="IGNsales">{{cite web |title=Dirty Dozen: Hidden Gems |url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/530/530285p2.html |publisher=[[IGN]] |date=2004-07-14 |author=Jeremy Dunham |author2=Ivan Sulic |author3=Ed Lewis |name-list-style=amp|access-date=2010-06-22}}</ref> Each title received mostly positive reviews from aggregate review websites [[GameRankings]] and [[Metacritic]], with critics such as [[Gamasutra]] finding each game to be good, but largely formulaic, calling the franchise "always solid, if not particularly ambitious".<ref name="Gamsutra">{{cite web |title=A Japanese RPG Prime: The Esstential 20 |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3581/a_japanese_rpg_primer_the_.php?page=19 |author=Kalata, Kurt |date=2008-03-19 |access-date=2010-07-04 |publisher=[[Gamasutra]]}}</ref> The series has routinely been compared to [[Square Enix]]'s popular ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' games, with [[GameSpot]] stating that "Though the Breath of Fire games have never been as well received as bigger RPG names like Final Fantasy, the series indicates that Capcom is definitely learning something about the fine art of RPG development."<ref name="GSpot4">{{cite web |title=Breath of Fire IV Review for PlayStation |url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps/rpg/breathoffire4/review.html?tag=summary%3Bread-review |publisher=[[GameSpot]] |date=2000-11-28 |access-date=2010-07-04 |author=Shoemaker, Brad}}</ref>


In May 2009, nearly seven years after the release of the latest game, ''Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter'', readers of Japanese ''[[Famitsu]]'' magazine voted the series 6th in the publication's survey of the Top 50 Most Wanted Game Sequels.<ref name="Wanted">{{cite web |title=Famitsu lists most wanted sequels of all time in survey |publisher=Destructoid |date=2009-05-04 |accessdate=2010-07-04 |author=Bennett, Colette |url=http://www.destructoid.com/famitsu-lists-most-wanted-sequels-of-all-time-in-survey-130852.phtml}}</ref> [[IGN]] would later name ''Breath of Fire'' the 4th greatest Capcom franchise of all time in June 2010, stating that "Though the Breath of Fire games evolved across the SNES to the PlayStation 2, the core held steadfast to Japanese RPG formulas – something that many gamers still celebrate."<ref name="IGNBest">{{cite web |title=Top 5 Capcom Series |publisher=[[IGN]] |date=2010-06-01 |accessdate=2010-07-04 |url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/109/1094183p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619045014/http://wii.ign.com/articles/109/1094183p1.html |archive-date=2010-06-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In May 2009, nearly seven years after the release of the latest game, ''Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter'', readers of Japanese ''[[Famitsu]]'' magazine voted the series 6th in the publication's survey of the Top 50 Most Wanted Game Sequels.<ref name="Wanted">{{cite web |title=Famitsu lists most wanted sequels of all time in survey |publisher=Destructoid |date=2009-05-04 |access-date=2010-07-04 |author=Bennett, Colette |url=http://www.destructoid.com/famitsu-lists-most-wanted-sequels-of-all-time-in-survey-130852.phtml}}</ref> [[IGN]] would later name ''Breath of Fire'' the 4th greatest Capcom franchise of all time in June 2010, stating that "Though the Breath of Fire games evolved across the SNES to the PlayStation 2, the core held steadfast to Japanese RPG formulas – something that many gamers still celebrate."<ref name="IGNBest">{{cite web |title=Top 5 Capcom Series |publisher=[[IGN]] |date=2010-06-01 |access-date=2010-07-04 |url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/109/1094183p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619045014/http://wii.ign.com/articles/109/1094183p1.html |archive-date=2010-06-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


===Series future===
===Series future===
In a December 2008 interview with gaming website [[1UP.com]], Capcom's former Head of Production [[Keiji Inafune]] stated the ''Breath of Fire'' series would be put on hiatus due to the company's lack of staff and an increasingly competitive role-playing game market, stating "There are currently no plans on making a new Breath of Fire game. Apart from that, regarding RPG titles, they are very popular in Japan, but only certain RPG titles sell so Capcom doesn't really need to even consider making these titles as an option."<ref name="1UP">{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3171986 |title=Keiji Inafune Talks Mega Man Revivals, Strider Possibilites |publisher=[[1UP.com]] |date=2008-12-19 |accessdate=2010-07-05 |author=Mielke, James }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Capcom USA Vice President of Strategic Planning Chris Svensson would later claim on the company's official message boards in June 2009 that the series remains a "resting IP".<ref name="unity">{{cite web |title=Ask Capcom: Breath of Fire 5 |author=Svensson, Chris |publisher=[[Capcom|Capcom-Unity]] |date=2009-06-17 |accessdate=2010-07-04 |url=http://www.capcom-unity.com/ask_capcom/go/thread/view/7371/14810127/Breath_of_fire_5_-_A_Cash_Cow_Capcom_are_u_listening&post_num=3#297215931}}</ref> Other companies such as [[Camelot Software Planning]] have expressed interest in developing a title for the series if Capcom remained unwilling to do so.<ref>{{cite web |author=Riley, Adam |date=2008-06-26 |title=C3 News :: Camelot Considering Breath of Fire RPG Revival |url=http://www.cubed3.com/news/10339/ |publisher=Cubed3.com |accessdate=2009-01-02}}</ref>
In a December 2008 interview with gaming website [[1UP.com]], Capcom's Head of Research and Development [[Keiji Inafune]] stated the ''Breath of Fire'' series would be put on hiatus due to the company's lack of staff and an increasingly competitive role-playing game market: "There are currently no plans on making a new Breath of Fire game. Apart from that, regarding RPG titles, they are very popular in Japan, but only certain RPG titles sell so Capcom doesn't really need to even consider making these titles as an option."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3171986 |title=Keiji Inafune Talks Mega Man Revivals, Strider Possibilites |website=[[1UP.com]] |date=2008-12-19 |access-date=2010-07-05 |author=Mielke, James }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Capcom USA Vice President of Strategic Planning Chris Svensson stated on the company's official message boards in June 2009 that the series remains a "resting IP".<ref>{{cite web |title=Ask Capcom: Breath of Fire 5 |author=Svensson, Chris |publisher=[[Capcom|Capcom-Unity]] |date=2009-06-17 |access-date=2010-07-04 |url=https://www.capcom-unity.com/ask_capcom/go/thread/view/7371/14810127/Breath_of_fire_5_-_A_Cash_Cow_Capcom_are_u_listening&post_num=3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807095021/https://www.capcom-unity.com/ask_capcom/go/thread/view/7371/14810127/Breath_of_fire_5_-_A_Cash_Cow_Capcom_are_u_listening&post_num=3 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-08-07 }}</ref> Other companies such as [[Camelot Software Planning]] have expressed interest in developing a title for the series if Capcom remained unwilling to do so.<ref>{{cite web |author=Riley, Adam |date=2008-06-26 |title=C3 News :: Camelot Considering Breath of Fire RPG Revival |url=http://www.cubed3.com/news/10339/ |publisher=Cubed3.com |access-date=2009-01-02}}</ref>


===Appearances in other media===
===Appearances in other media===
Breath of Fire would later be featured in [[Archie Comics]]' ''Worlds Unite'' crossover event as one of several [[Capcom]] and [[Sega]] guest franchises appearing in the company's ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (comics)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' and ''[[Mega Man (Archie Comics)|Mega Man]]'' titles.<ref>http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/02/23/capcom-and-sega-join-forces-for-worlds-unite-comic-book-crossover</ref>
Breath of Fire would later be featured in [[Archie Comics]]' ''Worlds Unite'' crossover event as one of several [[Capcom]] and [[Sega]] guest franchises appearing in the company's ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (comics)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' and ''[[Mega Man (Archie Comics)|Mega Man]]'' titles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/02/26/capcom-and-sega-join-forces-for-worlds-unite-comic-book-crossover|title=Capcom and Sega Join Forces for Worlds Unite Comic Book Crossover - IGN|date=26 February 2015 |via=www.ign.com}}</ref>

Between August 26 - September 2, 2020, an online survey was held for ''[[Teppen]]'' players, one of the questions featured asked which [[Capcom]] characters or series the community would like to see, Breath of Fire was one of the options players could select, and it was also possible to type in specific names within the question.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://teppenthegame.com/en/news/info/0000164.html|title=User Surveys <nowiki>|</nowiki> Teppen -Official Site-|date=26 August 2020 |publisher=teppenthegame.com|accessdate =June 28, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://form.qooker.jp/Q/auto/en/teppen202008/Pp2wAuHc/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200826174701/https://form.qooker.jp/Q/auto/en/teppen202008/Pp2wAuHc/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2020-08-26|title=TEPPEN User Survey|publisher=|accessdate =June 28, 2021}}</ref> On July 1, 2021, Breath of Fire was added to ''Teppen'' via its Dragons of War [[Expansion pack|expansion]]. Nina was added as a skin for the playable character [[Jill Valentine]], she is voiced by [[Abby Trott]] (English) and [[Kyoko Hikami]] (Japanese).<ref>{{cite web | url = https://teppenthegame.com/credit.html | title = Credit <nowiki>|</nowiki> Teppen -Official Site- | accessdate = July 1, 2021 | website = teppenthegame.com}}</ref> Her theme song is a remix of the soundtrack titled "Battle for Tomorrow" from ''[[Breath of Fire III]]''. In addition, the card pack features multiple characters, enemies and concepts from Breath of Fire.


==See also==
==See also==
Line 145: Line 155:


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{notelist}}
{{Notelist}}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{Reflist|2}}


==External links==
==External links==
* {{curlie|Games/Video_Games/Roleplaying/B/Breath_of_Fire_Series|''Breath of Fire'' Games}}


{{Breath of Fire series}}
{{Breath of Fire series|state=expanded}}
{{Franchises by Capcom}}
{{Franchises by Capcom}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Breath of Fire| ]]
[[Category:Breath of Fire| ]]
[[Category:Capcom franchises]]
[[Category:Capcom franchises]]
[[Category:Works about dragons]]
[[Category:Video games about shapeshifting]]
[[Category:Video games about dragons]]
[[Category:Role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Video game franchises]]
[[Category:Video game franchises]]

Latest revision as of 14:36, 14 November 2024

This article is about the video game series. For the first game in the series, see Breath of Fire (video game). For the yoga documentary, see Breath of Fire (TV series). For the yoga breathing technique, see Pranayama.
Breath of Fire
Genre(s)Role-playing
Developer(s)Capcom
Publisher(s)Capcom
Creator(s)Yoshinori Kawano
Tokuro Fujiwara
Makoto Ikehara
Platform(s)SNES, PlayStation, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation Portable, Android, iOS
First releaseBreath of Fire
April 3, 1993
Latest releaseBreath of Fire 6
February 24, 2016

Breath of Fire[a] is a role-playing video game series developed by Capcom. It originated on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1993. The series has recurring characters and ambiguous continuity; though each game is its own self-contained story, the names of the two lead characters are usually Ryu and Nina.[1]

The story commonly involves an adventurer named Ryu (name usually changeable) who can shapeshift into different types of dragons.[2] Over the course of his journey, he befriends Nina, a girl with wings. At its inception, Breath of Fire took place in a medieval fantasy style fictional world. Following the mainstream success of Japanese role-playing games in the 1990s,[3] the series began using the original anime-style artwork for later Western releases of the games (rather than the Westernized art that was drawn specifically for the Western releases of the first two games), post-apocalyptic themes, and an increased emphasis on character development. Despite these changes, the core structure of Breath of Fire remains largely linear and plot-focused. As of 2016, six Breath of Fire titles have been released, with three games being ported to handheld game consoles as well as Nintendo's Virtual Console, and two ported to the Nintendo Switch's Super NES games library. By 2022, the series had sold over 3.3 million copies.[4]

Games

[edit]

Main series

[edit]
Title Original release date

Japan

North America

PAL region

Breath of Fire April 3, 1993 August 10, 1994 December 14, 2001 (Game Boy Advance)
Notes:
Breath of Fire II December 2, 1994 December 10, 1995 April 25, 1996
Notes:
Breath of Fire III September 11, 1997 April 30, 1998 October 8, 1998
Notes:
Breath of Fire IV April 27, 2000 November 28, 2000 August 3, 2001
Notes:
Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter November 14, 2002 February 16, 2003 November 28, 2003
Notes:
  • Released on PlayStation 2
  • Developed by Capcom
  • Known in Japan as Breath of Fire V: Dragon Quarter
Breath of Fire 6: Hakuryū no Shugosha-tachi February 24, 2016 none none
Notes:
  • Released on Microsoft Windows and Android
  • Developed by Capcom
  • Also available on iOS (2016)
  • Known in Japan as Breath of Fire 6: Hakuryū no Shugosha-tachi

Mobile games

[edit]
See also: Mobile phone games of the Breath of Fire series

Beginning in November 2003, Capcom began releasing Breath of Fire titles specifically for mobile phone devices in Japan.[5] Each game was developed for use on NTT DoCoMo, au, and SoftBank brand cellphones that use the i-mode, EZWEB, or BREW services. The first title, Breath of Daifugō (ブレス オブ 大富豪), is a replication of the Japanese card game daifugō featuring characters from Breath of Fire IV, and would be followed by a sports game called Breath of Fire: Ryū no Tsurishi (ブレス オブ ファイア 竜の釣り師, lit. Breath of Fire: Dragon Fisherman) in October 2005, which contained an expanded version of the fishing minigame also from the game.[6] Two action role-playing spin-offs of Breath of Fire IV titled Breath of Fire IV: Honō no Ken to Kaze no Mahō (ブレスオブファイアIV 炎の剣と風の魔法, lit. Breath of Fire IV: The Sword of Fire and the Magic of Wind) and Breath of Fire IV: Yōsei-tachi to Hikari no Kagi (ブレスオブファイアIV 妖精たちと光のカギ, lit. Breath of Fire IV: The Faeries and the Key of Light)' were released in November 2007[7] and November 2008 respectively.[8]

Music

[edit]

The music of each Breath of Fire games has traditionally been produced by rotating members of Capcom's in-house sound team. While the themes from first game were composed by five members of the company's sound team Alph Lyla, which included Yasuaki Fujita, Mari Yamaguchi, Minae Fuji, Yoko Shimomura and Tatsuya Nishimura, the second game's score was produced entirely by fellow company composer Yuko Takehara.[9] Breath of Fire III's soundtrack took a jazz-inspired approach, and was written by the team of Yoshino Aoki and Akari Kaida, with the music of Breath of Fire IV provided solely by Aoki herself. For the first time in the series, the music of Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter was created by an outside employee, Hitoshi Sakimoto, with Yasunori Mitsuda serving as music producer on the project.[10]

In March 2006, Capcom released the 11-disc Breath of Fire Original Soundtrack Special Box boxset on their in-house record label Suleputer, which contained all music from the first five games in the series.[9] The set includes the first-ever soundtrack release of the original Breath of Fire, as well as the first complete soundtrack releases for Breath of Fire II and Breath of Fire III, which had previously only received single-disc selections during their original printings, with a total of 307 tracks from all five titles.[11] Capcom produced a limited run of only 2000 copies of the boxset, which was distributed on their online store e-Capcom, as well as special retailers, and included a 28-page booklet featuring art from the series.[11]

Reception

[edit]
Review scores and sales
Game First-year sales
(Japan only) 		Famitsu GameRankings Metacritic
Breath of Fire
—
—
70%[12]
79% (GBA Re-release)[13]
Breath of Fire II
350,000[14]
—
76%[15]
81% (GBA Re-release)[16]
Breath of Fire III
425,000[17]
28 / 40[18]
74%[19]
—
Breath of Fire IV
334,000[20]
31 / 40[21]
82%[22]
83%[23]
Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter
140,073[24]
32 / 40[25]
78%[26]
78%[27]

As of the fifth game in the series, the Breath of Fire franchise has sold a total of 3.2 million units worldwide, with Capcom calling it their "best known and most successful role-playing game."[28] Sales of each successive title continued on an upward slope which peaked at the PlayStation entries in the series, with the fifth game, Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter on the PlayStation 2, representing a significant dip.[29] Each title received mostly positive reviews from aggregate review websites GameRankings and Metacritic, with critics such as Gamasutra finding each game to be good, but largely formulaic, calling the franchise "always solid, if not particularly ambitious".[3] The series has routinely been compared to Square Enix's popular Final Fantasy games, with GameSpot stating that "Though the Breath of Fire games have never been as well received as bigger RPG names like Final Fantasy, the series indicates that Capcom is definitely learning something about the fine art of RPG development."[30]

In May 2009, nearly seven years after the release of the latest game, Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter, readers of Japanese Famitsu magazine voted the series 6th in the publication's survey of the Top 50 Most Wanted Game Sequels.[31] IGN would later name Breath of Fire the 4th greatest Capcom franchise of all time in June 2010, stating that "Though the Breath of Fire games evolved across the SNES to the PlayStation 2, the core held steadfast to Japanese RPG formulas – something that many gamers still celebrate."[32]

Series future

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In a December 2008 interview with gaming website 1UP.com, Capcom's Head of Research and Development Keiji Inafune stated the Breath of Fire series would be put on hiatus due to the company's lack of staff and an increasingly competitive role-playing game market: "There are currently no plans on making a new Breath of Fire game. Apart from that, regarding RPG titles, they are very popular in Japan, but only certain RPG titles sell so Capcom doesn't really need to even consider making these titles as an option."[33] Capcom USA Vice President of Strategic Planning Chris Svensson stated on the company's official message boards in June 2009 that the series remains a "resting IP".[34] Other companies such as Camelot Software Planning have expressed interest in developing a title for the series if Capcom remained unwilling to do so.[35]

Appearances in other media

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Breath of Fire would later be featured in Archie Comics' Worlds Unite crossover event as one of several Capcom and Sega guest franchises appearing in the company's Sonic the Hedgehog and Mega Man titles.[36]

Between August 26 - September 2, 2020, an online survey was held for Teppen players, one of the questions featured asked which Capcom characters or series the community would like to see, Breath of Fire was one of the options players could select, and it was also possible to type in specific names within the question.[37][38] On July 1, 2021, Breath of Fire was added to Teppen via its Dragons of War expansion. Nina was added as a skin for the playable character Jill Valentine, she is voiced by Abby Trott (English) and Kyoko Hikami (Japanese).[39] Her theme song is a remix of the soundtrack titled "Battle for Tomorrow" from Breath of Fire III. In addition, the card pack features multiple characters, enemies and concepts from Breath of Fire.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ In Japanese: ブレスオブファイア (Buresu obu Faia)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ DeRienzo, David. "Breath of Fire". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on May 1, 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
  2. ^ "Breath of Fire series". MobyGames. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  3. ^ a b Kalata, Kurt (2008-03-19). "A Japanese RPG Prime: The Esstential 20". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
  4. ^ "CAPCOM | Game Series Sales". www.capcom.co.jp. 31 March 2023.
  5. ^ Takakazu, Kitamura (2003-08-04). カプコン、携帯ゲームを3キャリアで同時配信。「ブレス オブ 大富豪」、「ソリティア ファイター」 (in Japanese). GameWatch. Retrieved 2010-06-30.
  6. ^ ブレスオブファイア』や『ロックマン2』が続々とアプリに！ (in Japanese). Famitsu. 2005-10-14. Retrieved 2010-06-30.
  7. ^ 『バイオ』、『デビル』、『大魔界村』など！ カプコンの11月の配信タイトルが明らかに (in Japanese). Famitsu. 2007-11-01. Retrieved 2010-06-30.
  8. ^ Fuminori, Hidaka (2008-11-04). "モバイルゲームレビュー「ブレスオブファイアIV 妖精たちと光のカギ」" (in Japanese). GameWatch.
  9. ^ a b Strange, Derek (2006-09-25). "RPGFan Soundtracks - Breath of Fire OST Special Box". RPGFan. Archived from the original on 2009-02-10. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  10. ^ Holtzworth, Christopher (2003-01-08). "RPGFan Soundtracks - Breath of Fire V: Dragon Quarter OST". RPGFan. Archived from the original on 2009-12-30. Retrieved 2010-06-25.
  11. ^ a b "ブレス オブ ファイア I～V オリジナル・サウンドトラック スペシャルボックス" (in Japanese). Tanomi.com. 2007. Archived from the original on 2010-06-29. Retrieved 2010-07-05.
  12. ^ "Breath of Fire for SNES - GameRankings". GameRankings. 2002. Retrieved 2016-05-11.
  13. ^ "Breath of Fire". Metacritic.
  14. ^ "Enterbrain Software Sales Data". Weekly Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain, Inc. 1995-01-05.
  15. ^ "Breath of Fire II for SNES - GameRankings". GameRankings. 2002. Archived from the original on 2012-09-22. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  16. ^ "Breath of Fire II". Metacritic.
  17. ^ "MagicBox Top-Selling Console Games for 1997 (Japan)". MagicBox. Archived from the original on 2007-02-18. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
  18. ^ "New Games Cross Review". Weekly Famitsu (in Japanese). No. 457. Enterbrain, Inc. 1997-09-15. p. 25.
  19. ^ "Breath of Fire III Reviews". GameRankings. Retrieved 2008-10-15.[permanent dead link‍]
  20. ^ "Best Selling Titles of 2000 (Japan)". MagicBox. Archived from the original on 2020-07-26. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
  21. ^ "New Games Cross Review". Weekly Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain, Inc. 2000-04-26. p. 25.
  22. ^ "Breath of Fire IV Reviews". GameRankings. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
  23. ^ "Breath of Fire IV (psx) reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 2012-09-12. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
  24. ^ "GID 927 - Breath of Fire V: Dragon Quarter - PS2 - Garaph". Garaph.info. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
  25. ^ プレイステーション2 - ブレスオブ ファイアV ドラゴンクォーター. Weekly Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.81. 30 June 2006.
  26. ^ "Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter for PlayStation 2 Reviews". GameRankings. 2003. Retrieved 2010-06-15.
  27. ^ "Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter (ps2) reviews". Metacritic. 2003. Retrieved 2010-06-15.[permanent dead link‍]
  28. ^ "CAPCOM / Total Sales Units". Capcom. Archived from the original on 2014-03-27. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
  29. ^ Jeremy Dunham; Ivan Sulic & Ed Lewis (2004-07-14). "Dirty Dozen: Hidden Gems". IGN. Retrieved 2010-06-22.
  30. ^ Shoemaker, Brad (2000-11-28). "Breath of Fire IV Review for PlayStation". GameSpot. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
  31. ^ Bennett, Colette (2009-05-04). "Famitsu lists most wanted sequels of all time in survey". Destructoid. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
  32. ^ "Top 5 Capcom Series". IGN. 2010-06-01. Archived from the original on 2010-06-19. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
  33. ^ Mielke, James (2008-12-19). "Keiji Inafune Talks Mega Man Revivals, Strider Possibilites". 1UP.com. Retrieved 2010-07-05.[permanent dead link‍]
  34. ^ Svensson, Chris (2009-06-17). "Ask Capcom: Breath of Fire 5". Capcom-Unity. Archived from the original on 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
  35. ^ Riley, Adam (2008-06-26). "C3 News :: Camelot Considering Breath of Fire RPG Revival". Cubed3.com. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
  36. ^ "Capcom and Sega Join Forces for Worlds Unite Comic Book Crossover - IGN". 26 February 2015 – via www.ign.com.
  37. ^ "User Surveys | Teppen -Official Site-". teppenthegame.com. 26 August 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  38. ^ "TEPPEN User Survey". Archived from the original on 2020-08-26. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  39. ^ "Credit | Teppen -Official Site-". teppenthegame.com. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
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