The Untold Legacy of The Black Onyx: Roger Dean and Henk Rogers’ Unreleased RPG ‘Onyx’

The Untold Legacy of The Black Onyx: Roger Dean and Henk Rogers’ Unreleased RPG ‘Onyx’ Japan’s rich role-playing game (RPG) tradition traces its origins to a pioneering title: The Black Onyx.

Developed by Henk Rogers and released in 1984, The Black Onyx introduced Japanese audiences to a genre that, until then, had been largely unknown in the country.

This landmark release laid the groundwork for now-legendary RPG series like Hydlide, Dragon Quest, and Final Fantasy, forever shaping the gaming landscape in Japan.

Despite being developed by an American, The Black Onyx was never released stateside, though its influence in Japan was profound. Recently, acclaimed artist Roger Dean—renowned for his distinctive artwork and logo design for The Black Onyx—shared insights into plans for a major follow-up project in an interview with spillhistorie.no.

According to Dean, there were advanced discussions and initial development for a more ambitious title called Onyx, which was intended to see a global release. Dean, who oversaw the visual direction, described Onyx as a much grander version of The Black Onyx, stating that he assembled the creative team responsible for story, music, landscapes, and overall packaging.

“My role was to bring together the content team and oversee the packaging—from the narrative, to the music, to the artistic vision," Dean explained.

He noted that development efforts began in 1995, with the aim of creating a truly international RPG experience. A description in Dean’s book, Dragon’s Dream, highlights how Onyx was conceived as a huge RPG adventure encompassing multiple countries, characters, temples, and cities.

The ambitious scope even included collaboration with Animatek—a Russian animation company co-founded by Henk Rogers, Alexei Paginoff, and Vladimir Pahilko.

One notable technological aim was the development of a custom software engine called Worldbuilder, designed to create immersive virtual environments.

There were even plans to include a virtual reality component, well ahead of its time. Unfortunately, the project never reached a playable state.

Dean reflected, “Although the overall concept was in place, many gameplay elements remained incomplete, with significant gaps remaining in development.” Innovation, however, was at the heart of Onyx.

Dean recounted how authentic martial arts techniques were incorporated through motion capture—a first for the era.

Having practiced Japanese kendo and learned medieval European swordplay, Dean worked with his sensei to bring legitimate combat movements into the game.

"We recorded genuine techniques through motion capture, creating convincing, realistic sword fights viewable from any angle," he shared. Onyx also introduced a unique gameplay structure Henk Rogers termed ‘Track and Field.’ Characters could either follow a pre-scripted route ('Track')—showcasing cinematic narrative elements viewable from multiple perspectives—or freely explore certain environments (‘Field’), offering genuine player agency during key moments.

"This allowed for seamless blending between narrative-driven scenes and open, interactive sections," Dean said. Elements of Onyx’s early development and artwork can be found in Dean’s book Dragon’s Dream.

Regrettably, Dean noted that while the vision was groundbreaking, the technology of the time was insufficient.

The project would have required up to 24 CDs per episode, and even the arrival of DVDs would have only marginally reduced this hurdle. Despite the game's cancellation, traces of its creative DNA persist.

Dean revealed that some of the original music composed for Onyx has been repurposed in Henk Rogers’ latest book and audiobook projects.

The remarkable soundtrack was a collaborative effort with renowned musicians: Youth (Martin Glover) of The Orb, orchestral artist Jaz Coleman of Killing Joke and Prague Symphony Orchestra fame, and Steve Howe of Yes.

Dean praised their work, saying, "Even as standalone music, it remains exceptional and deserving of release." While Onyx was never completed, its bold ideas and technical ambition continue to resonate.

Rogers retains the game rights, Dean owns the artwork, and the possibility of a revival—however distant—remains an ongoing topic among its creators.

As Dean mused, “It was a real shame the project never materialized—its design would still be innovative today.”

Japan Henk Rogers RPG Roger Dean The Black Onyx Black Onyx Onyx Hydlide Dragon Quest Final Fantasy Animatek Dragon’s Dream Alexei Paginoff Vladimir Pahilko Worldbuilder Youth Martin Glover Jaz Coleman Killing Joke Prague Symphony Orchestra The Orb Paul McCartney Steve Howe Yes