Dead of the Brain Returns
International fans have long treated the PC‑88 and PC‑98 computers as a hidden trove of quirky titles. Thousands of games sit behind an unusual interface, and fan translators have only begun to explore this library. One of the most notorious entries is FairyTale’s 1992 adventure “Dead of the Brain,” a zombie‑themed game that marked the developer’s first foray into horror from the adult market. Funnily enough, that seems to be a similar case as the publisher, who brought this lurid classic back to life this weekend.
In the game, Cole and Dr. Cooger are reminiscent of classic buddy duos. A late‑night call leads Cooger to reveal a serum that revives the dead. After testing it on his cat — which then turns feral and kills a police officer — the duo tries to hide their unethical experiment. The glowing formula spreads, turning the city into a breeding ground for oozing ghouls, and players must point, click, and shoot to uncover a bizarre conspiracy.
The title draws clear inspiration from George Romero’s “Living Dead” series and Brian Yuzna’s “Re‑Animator,” but its newly localized script gives the story a tongue‑in‑cheek feel. Like “Return of the Living Dead,” the young cast is aware of the genre’s clichés yet has no choice but to play them out.
Originally released in 1992, “Dead of the Brain” was FairyTale’s first horror effort after a catalog of erotic games. It spawned a sequel and a spin‑off called the “Nightmare Collection.” The recent port is published by FAKKU, a well‑known hentai platform that has launched a program to bring non‑pornographic retro Japanese games to modern hardware. FAKKU noted they trimmed some of the racier scenes to avoid a stricter Steam rating, but the removed content can be unlocked with a free patch available with a free patch available on their homepage. The company also plans to release the 1992 RPG “Dengeki Nurse” Dengeki Nurse.
Beyond “Dead of the Brain,” 2024 has been a busy year for retro horror revivals. Ecstatica’s games have been remastered on Steam, and the FMV oddity “The Dark Eye” (renamed for this release) finally reached modern audiences. These efforts show that the appetite for nostalgic scares remains strong.