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The late 16-bit era was a golden age for the strategy RPG genre, particularly on the Super Famicom. Amidst the giants of the era, Masaya—the video game division of NCS—released a compelling and often overlooked title titled Power of the Hired. Released exclusively in Japan in late 1994, the game (known locally as パワーオブザハイアード) offered a distinct take on tactical combat. While many of its contemporaries focused on massive armies or standard turn-based tropes, Power of the Hired leaned into a smaller, more intimate group of heroes who relied on mystical summoning and elemental synergy to survive. For fans of deep strategy and challenging scenarios, it remains a fascinating relic of Masaya's experimental period in the mid-90s.
Power of the Hired places players in control of a band of four heroes. Unlike many RPGs of the time that featured fixed protagonists with rigid backstories, this title allows players to name their heroes, providing a sense of personal investment in the party's survival. The narrative is framed around a world under siege, where the protagonists find themselves facing overwhelming waves of enemies.
The setting is classic high fantasy, but it is defined by a sense of urgency and desperation. Rather than a grand quest across a vast continent, the story is told through a series of intense tactical scenarios. The heroes are effectively "hired" hands or defenders thrust into high-stakes situations where the environment is often as much of a threat as the enemy soldiers. Whether defending a position or escaping a collapsing structure, the world feels lived-in and dangerous, emphasizing the "power" required to overcome impossible odds.
The core of Power of the Hired is its unique tactical system, which differentiates it from standard grid-based strategy games. The party consists of four main characters, but the weight of the strategy rests on the primary character’s ability to summon creatures. These summoned entities act as a front line, protecting the human party members from the relentless enemy AI.
One of the most innovative features is the elemental composition system. When the leader summons a specific creature, the magic of the entire party shifts to match the element of that summon. This requires players to constantly adapt their strategy based on enemy weaknesses. If you are facing ice-based foes, summoning a fire-aligned creature doesn't just provide a powerful ally; it fundamentally alters the offensive capabilities of your human casters.
Furthermore, the game is known for its high-pressure scenarios. Missions are rarely simple "defeat all enemies" affairs. For example, one famous scenario involves the party being trapped on a burning bridge. Players must navigate the battlefield and clear enemies quickly enough to vacate the bridge before it collapses, adding a layer of environmental puzzle-solving to the tactical combat. This mix of summoning management, elemental shifting, and timed objectives makes every turn critical.
This game was originally released as a specialized title for the Japanese market on the Super Famicom. Because it was never officially localized for Western audiences, it remains a prized item for collectors of Japanese imports and enthusiasts of 16-bit strategy games.
Within the history of Masaya and NCS, Power of the Hired occupies a niche but respected space. Masaya is perhaps best known for the Langrisser series, and while Power of the Hired never achieved the same level of brand recognition or spawned a long-running franchise, its DNA is visible in the developer's commitment to tactical depth and high-quality sprite work.
The game's legacy is mostly kept alive today by the retro gaming community and fan-translation projects, which have sought to make the game's mechanics and story accessible to non-Japanese speakers. It stands as a testament to the creativity found in the twilight years of the Super Famicom, showcasing how developers were still finding new ways to iterate on the SRPG formula even as 32-bit consoles were beginning to emerge.