Play Aretha II - Ariel no Fushigi na Tabi Online

Aretha II: Ariel no Fushigi na Tabi came out in 1995 for the Super Nintendo, developed by Japan Art Media. It's one of those lesser-known JRPGs from the system's later years, when developers were really pushing what the hardware could do with more detailed sprites and deeper mechanics. The game builds on the first Aretha title but stands on its own as a solid, if somewhat obscure, entry in the 16-bit RPG library.

You play as Princess Ariel, traveling through a world where adventurers have started disappearing. The game uses a first-person perspective for exploration and combat, moving screen by screen through towns, fields, and dungeons. You fight monsters in turn-based battles, and defeated enemies sometimes drop souls that you can use to craft new armor; different sets actually change your stats and abilities in meaningful ways. The pacing is deliberate, and some dungeons can feel long, but there's a real sense of discovery as you slowly uncover what's behind the vanishings. It feels thoughtful and immersive, especially when you're experimenting with gear to tackle tougher areas.