Summary
- A composer turned game creator released Frasier Fantasy, a game that pays tribute to the 1990s sitcom Frasier with gameplay inspired by Game Boy RPGs.
- The idea for the game originated from a fan's box art concept that combined Frasier with Final Fantasy, and the creator thanked them for the inspiration.
- Frasier Fantasy can be played on itch.io or on a Game Boy emulator or Analogue Pocket console, and features turn-based battles and references to fan-favorite Frasier moments.
A composer turned game creator pleased fans of the 1990s NBC sitcom Frasier, as they created and uploaded the game Frasier Fantasy onto the popular indie game service itch.io and shared their work on social media. The game's creator credited the idea to another fan's box art concept that fused Frasier with Final Fantasy, which was made a few years prior, and thanked them for the idea.
The release of Frasier Fantasy lined up with the launch of the Paramount+ Frasier revival series, which began airing in October 2023. The Frasier revival was ordered by Paramount in October 2022, nearly two decades after the conclusion of the original show's run on NBC. With Kelsey Grammer returning to the role of the titular radio psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane, the new series sees the newly divorced doctor trying to reconnect with his son following the death of his father, Martin Crane. While it remains to be seen how the Frasier revival will play out, that has not stopped fans of the original show from paying tribute to Frasier.
Created by Edward La Barbera, the game Frasier Fantasy is currently available on itch.io and can be played in any up-to-date web browser. The game can also be downloaded via the itch.io desktop app. Alternatively, Frasier Fantasy can also be played on a Game Boy emulator, a flash cartridge, or an Analogue Pocket console. On Twitter, La Barbara stated that he was inspired to make Frasier Fantasy after seeing some box art created by Twitter user 400facts a few years prior. The box art itself was inspired by Game Boy games of the early 1990s, with show references littered throughout the box. La Barbera also commissioned artist Heroic Effort to create a logo for Frasier Fantasy in the style of Final Fantasy artist Yoshitaka Amano.
With gameplay elements inspired by Game Boy RPGs such as Pokemon Red and Blue the SaGa series, Frasier Fantasy has players assume the role of Frasier himself as he takes part in turn-based battles, some staring contests with Eddie the dog, and comes face-to-face with his ex-wife Lilith. The game starts with Frasier wanting to throw a dinner party but has a list of things to do including his radio show first.
Though the gameplay is basic at first glance, fans will notice plenty of callbacks and references to fan-favorite Frasier episodes and moments while playing Frasier Fantasy. Only time will tell how successful the fan project will be.
Source: itch.io