Was Hagane a rental-only release?

[Kid Fenris]

I looked up some background info on Hudson Soft's Hagane for the Super NES, which Wikipedia claims was available in the U.S. only at Blockbuster Video. Now, Wikipedia is what it is, and that tidbit about Hagane isn't sourced. Someone mentioned the rental thing in a thread last year, but there's no conclusive word on it.

The evidence for Hagane being rental-only: it's apparently very hard to find. The few copies on eBay run around $100 for a loose cart, and someone wants $2000 for a sealed game.

The evidence against: Hagane was advertised and reviewed in magazines a lot for a rental-only release. Many writeups, Wikipedia included, have other questionable Hagane facts. For example, they put the game's U.S. release in 1994 even though magazines didn't review or run ads for it until 1995.

So let's hear it. Does anyone remember buying Hagane (the Final Confict!) brand new at retail back in the mid-1990s? Or did Hudson, after advertising the game, get cold feet and ship it only to rental stores?

[Jack7]

from what i understand it was just a Blockbuster renal game. however the nintendo age list
http://www.nintendoage.com/forum/mes...threadid=32832
has question marks next to it. so i dont know now

[Gamereviewgod]

My copy has no stickers on it anywhere, box, cart, or manual. Rentals almost have to have some ID on them, and I know I wouldn't have pulled them off. Hell, I didn't even know this was all that rare until about 6 months ago when someone told me.

That said, I remember very well renting this one at the video store where I worked, a subsidiary of Movie Gallery, so it couldn't have been just Blockbuster.

[badinsults]

I found a review of Hagane in the August 24th, 1995 edition of the Windsor Star (a Canadian newspaper), with a price of $72.99.

Company: Hudson Soft

Cost: $72.99

Type: action

System: SNES

Difficulty: very hard

Control: good

Graphics & sound: great

Replay value: average

Overall rating: good

Hagane is a magical Ninja of the Fuma clan. The Fuma clan is a group of Ninjas and magic users sworn to protect the Holy Grail. The other clan in the game is called Koma clan and just like Fuma they too are Ninjas and magic users. This may get a little confusing, but the Koma clan is planning to attack and take the Holy Grail. As Hagane, it is your job to fight your way through the different stages and defeat the Koma clan before they have a chance to attack. At your disposal you have your regular attacks using the sword, as well as shurikans, bombs and a chain. When in tight situations you can call upon a magical Ninja just like in the Shinobi games for the Genesis.

I suppose it suggests that it was at least on sale in Canada.

[Bighab]

I remember seeing it about 10-12 years ago around town used at Microplay's or other Mom n Pop used video games stores. I clearly remember picking it up and saying "nah!"

[jonebone]

This game is a lot of hype don't buy into the "rarity". At least 12-15 sealed copies sold last year and I lost count. It went from a $300 sealed game in 2010 to $2,000+ over night in Spring 2011. Then it cooled off with sales in the $1k-$1.5k range, but there have been a bunch of them to surface. There's some case fresh copies out there being hoarded for sure.

[tom]

Euopean release = yes. 4 on ebay.de at the mo.