Dead of the Brain PC Engine English Fan Patch Released – Classic Horror Adventure Gets New Life

In a thrilling update for retro gaming fans and horror enthusiasts alike, the cult-classic title Dead of the Brain, developed by esteemed Japanese studio FairyTale and published by NEC, has seen a remarkable resurgence.

Originally launched in 1992 for the NEC PC-98, this gripping horror adventure was later ported across multiple platforms, including the MSX, FM-Towns, and the PC Engine Super CD-ROM².

Now, after more than two decades, the 1999 PC Engine version has received an English fan patch, dramatically improving accessibility for Western audiences. Dead of the Brain was initially part of FairyTale’s Nightmare Collection—an anthology of horror-themed adventure games that also featured a direct sequel and Marine Philt.

The game’s narrative follows Cole, an unsuspecting everyman thrust into chaos after his close friend, Doctor Cooger, unleashes a catastrophic zombie outbreak while experimenting with a serum designed to reanimate the dead.

Gameplay unfolds through classic point-and-click mechanics, with players choosing on-screen verbs to interact with the world and progress the story—a design approach that typified adventure games of the early ‘90s. This latest update comes courtesy of a dedicated fan translation team, spearheaded by community contributor David Shadoff.

Announced on Twitter, the English patch for Dead of the Brain’s PC Engine Super CD-ROM² release is now available, enabling a broader audience to experience one of the more obscure entries in Japan’s horror gaming history.

The translation can be downloaded from trusted sources such as romhacking.net and GitHub, both well-regarded in the retro gaming scene for hosting high-quality fan projects. Dead of the Brain’s legacy is cemented not only by its chilling narrative and innovative gameplay for its era but also for its journey across a variety of platforms.

Beyond the PC-98 and PC Engine, the game broadened its reach to MSX and FM-Towns hardware, reflecting its popularity among adventure game aficionados.

For those interested in revisiting the original PC-98 version, two separate English translation patches are also available, one released in 2019 and another as recently as this year.

These ongoing translation efforts underscore the game's enduring appeal and the retro community’s passion for preserving and localizing classic titles. With its new English patch, Dead of the Brain for PC Engine Super CD-ROM² stands as a testament to the collaborative spirit within the retro and fan translation communities, ensuring that this celebrated piece of Japan’s adventure gaming history remains accessible for future generations.

Interested players can download the patch today and immerse themselves in the chilling world of Cole, Doctor Cooger, and the relentless undead.

PC PC Engine English PC-98 Adventure retro gaming NEC PC Engine Super CD-ROM² Dead of the Brain FairyTale Super CD-ROM² Nightmare Collection MSX FM-Towns romhacking.net GitHub David Shadoff Doctor Cooger Cole Marine Philt