Xin Qigai Wangzi (also known by its English translation, Beggar Prince) is a 1996 role-playing game originally developed for the Sega Genesis by Taiwanese studio C&E Inc. Based on Mark Twain’s classic novel The Prince and the Pauper, the game follows a selfish prince who switches places with a beggar, only to uncover a sinister plot against his kingdom. This is the original Chinese, unlicensed version of the 32-megabit RPG that would later become famous as one of the first new Genesis games commercially released in North America during the 2000s retro revival.
How to Play
As a traditional top-down RPG, you will explore towns, talk to NPCs to gather information, and fight enemies in turn-based combat. To play in your browser, use the standard Sega Genesis controls: map the directional pad to your arrow keys, with Z, X, and C corresponding to the A, B, and C buttons. Press Enter for Start to access your menus and inventory.
Tips
- Talk to everyone: Like most classic RPGs, progressing the story requires finding specific NPCs and exhausting their dialogue to trigger the next event.
- Grind early: Combat can be challenging if you rush the main story. Spend some time fighting enemies near the first town to build up your level and afford better equipment before venturing into tougher areas.
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