For players outside of Japan, the PC-98 and PC-88 computer series represent a vast library of largely unexplored gaming history. Among its more infamous titles is FairyTale's 1992 adventure game, Dead of the Brain, a zombie outbreak narrative that marked the developer's first step into the horror genre after previously working in erotica. This classic has now been brought back to modern platforms via Steam, complete with its first official English localization.
In Dead of the Brain, players control Cole, who is drawn into a dangerous experiment by Dr. Cooger. Cooger has developed a formula capable of reviving the dead. The initial test subject, a house cat, turns feral and attacks a police officer. As Cole and Cooger attempt to manage the fallout of their scientific perversion, the formula spreads, leading to a city overrun by grotesque ghouls. The gameplay involves point-and-click mechanics alongside shooting elements as players work to uncover a conspiracy.
The game draws clear inspiration from horror staples such as George Romero's Living Dead series and Brian Yuzna's Re-Animator films. The new localization reportedly brings a tongue-in-cheek tone, with characters seemingly aware of horror tropes and forced to play them out, echoing the spirit of The Return of the Living Dead.
Published by FAKKU, a company known for its long-running hentai platform, this release highlights FAKKU's initiative to bring non-pornographic retro Japanese games to contemporary hardware. To comply with Steam's content guidelines and avoid a stricter rating, FAKKU removed some racier sequences. However, these can be unlocked by players through a free patch available on the game's official homepage. FAKKU also has plans to publish the 1992 RPG Dengeki Nurse in the future.
This release of Dead of the Brain follows a trend of classic horror titles receiving modern updates. Earlier this year, the FMV game The Dark Eye became available on Steam, and the Ecstatica games were remastered this week. These re-releases offer a chance for players to experience cult retro games on current systems.