View source for Tobal No. 1

{{Short description|1996 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}{{Infobox video game
| image = Tobal No. 1.jpg
| caption = North American cover art
| developer = [[DreamFactory (game company)|DreamFactory]]
| publisher = {{vgrelease|JP|[[Square (video game company)|Square]]|WW|[[Sony Computer Entertainment]]}}
| director = [[Seiichi Ishii]]
| producer = Koji Yamashita
| artist = [[Akira Toriyama]]
| composer = {{ubl|[[Masashi Hamauzu]]|[[Kenji Ito]]|Yasuhiro Kawakami|[[Noriko Matsueda]]|[[Yasunori Mitsuda]]|[[Junya Nakano]]|[[Ryuji Sasai]]|[[Yoko Shimomura]]|GUIDO{{efn|Hidenobu Otsuki and Hiroshi Hata; arrangement and additional composition}}}}

| engine = 
| released = {{vgrelease|JP|August 2, 1996|NA|October 31, 1996<ref>{{Cite web |date=1998-06-11 |title=Sony PlayStation Available Software sorted by Release Date @ www.vidgames.com |url=http://www.vidgames.com/ps/software/release.html#1995 |access-date=2023-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980611181118/http://www.vidgames.com/ps/software/release.html#1995 |archive-date=June 11, 1998 }}</ref>|PAL|January 10, 1997}}
| genre = [[Fighting game|Fighting]]
| modes = [[Single-player]], [[multiplayer]]
| platforms = [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]]
| title = Tobal No. 1
}}
{{Nihongo foot|'''''Tobal No. 1'''''|トバル ナンバーワン|Tobaru Nanbā Wan|group=lower-alpha|lead=yes}} is a 1996 [[fighting game]] developed by [[DreamFactory (game company)|DreamFactory]] and published by [[Square (video game company)|Square]] for the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]].<ref>{{cite web | author=Miller, Skyler | title=The History of Square | url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/hist_square/p2_01.html | website=[[GameSpot]] | access-date=2007-09-08 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071029172135/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/hist_square/p2_01.html | archive-date=2007-10-29 | url-status=live}}</ref>

The game's mechanics were designed with the aid of fighting game designer [[Seiichi Ishii]], who previously contributed to ''[[Virtua Fighter (video game)|Virtua Fighter]]'' and ''[[Tekken (video game)|Tekken]]'', while all the characters were designed by [[Akira Toriyama]].<ref>{{cite magazine|title=E3: Nintendo Rekindles Mario's Magic|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |issue=20|publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=August 1996 |pages=25–26|quote=... Square's ''Tobal No. 1'', which - despite matching the 60 fps speed of ''Tekken II'' - seemed a tad dull, despite Akira Toriyama's strong character designs.}}</ref> Packaged with both the North American and Japanese version of the game was a sampler disc featuring a pre-release [[playable demo]] of ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]'' and video previews of ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics]]'', ''[[Bushido Blade (video game)|Bushido Blade]]'', and ''[[SaGa Frontier]]''.<ref>{{cite web |author=John S. |date=March 2006 |title=Final Fantasy VII Demo Versions |url=http://www.ff7citadel.com/gameinfo/info_demos.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060622110458/http://www.ff7citadel.com/gameinfo/info_demos.shtml |archive-date=2006-06-22 |access-date=2006-09-06 |publisher=FF7Citadel ]}}</ref> 

''Tobal No. 1'' received a mainly positive reception and was commercially popular in Japan. It was a [[cult hit]] in North America. The 1997 sequel, ''[[Tobal 2]]'', was never released in North America and Europe.

==Gameplay==
''Tobal No. 1'' has a tournament mode, [[multiplayer|two player]] versus mode, practice mode, and the unique quest mode, all of which utilize the same fighting system.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Tobal No. 1: A True 3-D Anime Fight-Fest|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=88 |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=November 1996 |pages=212–3}}</ref> The game runs at up to a smooth 60 [[Frame rate|frames per second]] due to its lack of textured polygons and reduced details which gave the game a distinctive look in comparison to other fighting games at the time.<ref name="IGN">{{cite web | author=IGN staff | year=1996 | title=Tobal No. 1 (review) | url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/150/150743p1.html | website=[[IGN]] | access-date=2007-08-13 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226102715/http://psx.ign.com/articles/150/150743p1.html | archive-date=2007-12-26 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Revolution">{{cite web | author=The Fan | title=Tobal No. 1 is amazing! | url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/oldsite/games/sony/tobal.htm | publisher=Game Revolution | access-date=2007-08-16 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930184426/http://www.gamerevolution.com/oldsite/games/sony/tobal.htm | archive-date=2007-09-30}}</ref> The game's controls allow full freedom of movement in the ring as long as the player faces the opponent. The player has the ability to dash and jump, and certain buttons execute high, medium, and low attacks for each character. ''Tobal No. 1'' also has a [[grappling]] and [[Blocking (martial arts)|blocking]] system, offering the player a variety of throws and counter moves.

The "Quest Mode" combines the game's fighting controls with three-dimensional dungeon exploration.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Tobal No. 1 |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=22 |publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|date=October 1996 |pages=86–87}}</ref> The player must advance down a number of floors, contend with traps, and engage in fights with a variety of enemies including the game's playable characters. Several items can be found, dropped by enemies, or bought using crystals. These items can be picked up, consumed, or thrown at enemies, and include foodstuffs that can restore the player's [[hit point|HP]] or potions that have a range of effects including raising the player's maximum health or bringing it down to 1 point. There is no way to save one's progress, and dying means starting over from the beginning. Defeating certain characters in this mode unlocks them as playable characters in the game's other modes.

==Plot==
''Tobal No. 1'' takes place in the year 2048 on a fictional planet called Tobal, which has large deposits of Molmoran, an ore that can be used as an energy source. The planet's 98th tournament is held to determine who has the rights to the ore. A number of humans and aliens compete for the title. The game's plot and character backstories are only explored in the instruction manual. All of the initial eight playable characters receive the same ending.

The game's immediately playable characters include Chuji Wu, Oliems, Epon, Hom, Fei Pusu, Mary Ivonskaya, Ill Goga, and Gren Kutz. [[Boss (video games)|Bosses]] include Nork, Mufu, and the emperor Udan. All bosses are unlockable after defeating them in Dungeon Mode except Nork. Instead, the game allows the player to select Snork (Small Nork), a pint-sized version of the very large character. There is also one secret fighter named Toriyama Robo (named for [[Akira Toriyama]]) who is unlockable if the player can complete the 30-floor Udan's Dungeon level in the quest mode.<ref>{{cite web | author=Rork, Bob | date=April 4, 1997 | title=Interview With Square's Hiromichi Tanaka | url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/062/062430p1.html | website=IGN | access-date=2009-01-13 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302040537/http://psx.ign.com/articles/062/062430p1.html | archive-date=March 2, 2012 | url-status=live}}</ref> Toriyama Robo is not seen at any point in the game except at the very end of the dungeon.

==Development and release==
''Tobal No. 1'' was developed by Japanese studio [[DreamFactory (game company)|DreamFactory]], which was established as a subsidiary of publisher [[Square (video game company)|Square]] to create that company's first [[fighting game]] and its first release for the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]].<ref name="GameFan4-10">{{cite magazine | author=Des Barres, Nick | date=October 1996 | title=''Tobal No. 1'' | url=https://archive.org/details/GamefanVolume4Issue10/page/n89/mode/2up | magazine=[[GameFan]] | publisher=Metropolis Media | volume=4 | issue=10 | pages=86–9 | issn=1092-7212}}</ref><ref name="Jugemu">{{cite magazine | author=''Jugemu'' staff | date=July 1996 | title=鳥山キャラクターで格闘ゲームの新境地を拓くTOBAL No.1
 | trans-title=''Tobal No.1'' breaks new ground in fighting games with Toriyama characters | url=https://archive.org/details/jugemu-magazine-1996-07-july-600dpi-ozidual/Jugemu%201996%2007/page/17/mode/1up | magazine=[[:ja:じゅげむ (ゲーム雑誌)|Jugemu]] | publisher=[[Media Factory]] | issue=15 | page=17 | language=ja}}</ref> DreamFactory was founded in November 1995 and consisted of 17 members, all of whom had worked on other [[3D computer graphics|3D polygonal]] fighting games.<ref name="GameOn">{{cite magazine | author=Yoshida Toshifumi | date=November 1996 | title=Dreaming in 3D: Exclusive Interview | url=https://archive.org/details/GameOnUSA/Game_On_USA_07/page/n7/mode/2up | magazine=Game On! USA | publisher=[[Viz Media|Viz Communications]] | volume=1 | issue=7 |  pages=6–7 | issn=1087-8505}}</ref> The company's chairman and the director of ''Tobal No. 1'', [[Seiichi Ishii]], had himself helped pioneer 3D [[arcade game|arcade]] fighting games as a designer on ''[[Virtua Fighter (video game)|Virtua Fighter]]'' for [[Sega]] and the first two ''[[Tekken]]'' titles for [[Namco]].<ref name="UGP">{{cite magazine | author=''Ultra Game Players'' staff | date=October 1996 | title=''Tobal'': The next step in fighting games? | url=https://archive.org/details/ultra-game-players-issue-89-october-1996/page/60/mode/1up | magazine=[[Game Players|Ultra Game Players]] | publisher=[[Future US|Imagine Media]] | page=60 | issue=89 | issn=1087-2779}}</ref><ref name="NextGen">{{cite magazine | author=''Next Generation'' staff | date=October 1996 | title=ng alphas: An interview with Seiichi Ishii | url=https://archive.org/details/next-generation-24-dec-1996/NEXT%20Generation%2022%20Oct%201996/page/n51/mode/1up | magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] | publisher=[[Future US|Imagine Media]] | issue=22 | page=88 | issn=1078-9693}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | author=Kurokawa Fumio | date=December 16, 2017 | title=ビデオゲームの語り部たち 第2部：「バーチャファイター」のプロトタイプに込められた石井精一氏の人生 | trans-title=Video Game Storytellers Part 2: The Life of Seiichi Ishii and the Prototype of ''Virtua Fighter'' | url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/999/G999905/20171213118/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718093901/https://www.4gamer.net/games/999/G999905/20171213118/ | archivedate=July 18, 2024 | website=[[4Gamer.net]] | language=ja | accessdate=July 22, 2024}}</ref> Toru Ikebuchi was the lead [[game programmer|programmer]] on ''Tobal No. 1'', a role he previously served on ''Virtua Fighter''.<ref>{{cite web | author=Provost, Hugo | date=September 13, 2017 | title=''Tobal No. 1'' | url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/tobal-no-1/amp/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104062539/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/tobal-no-1/amp/ | archive-date=January 4, 2024 | website=[[Hardcore Gaming 101]] | accessdate=July 23, 2024}}</ref> Square executive [[Hironobu Sakaguchi]] signed on as a supervisor.<ref>{{cite web | author=Mr. Katou | date=March 9, 2020 | title=【特集】『FF7』体験版を同梱していた初代PS格ゲー『トバル No.1』をガチレビュー……この「やりごたえ」は今も色褪せない！| trans-title=[Feature] A serious review of the original PS fighting game ''Tobal No.1'', which came bundled with the ''FF7'' demo version... This "challenge" remains as strong as ever! | url=https://www.gamespark.jp/article/2020/03/09/97360.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506145304/https://www.gamespark.jp/article/2020/03/09/97360.html | archive-date=May 6, 2024 | website=Game*Spark | language=ja | accessdate=July 24, 2024}}</ref>

The project was conceived by DreamFactory staff as a result of their dissatisfaction with the state of the fighting games and they wished to make their own with the features that they always wanted.<ref name="GameOn"/> Ishii felt that 3D fighting games at the time had not reached the caliber of their 2D counterparts and that additional features like a Quest Mode were needed to evolve the genre.<ref name="NextGen"/><ref name="UGP"/> As ''Tobal No. 1'' was designed specifically for the PlayStation rather than arcades, the Quest Mode was planned from the start with the single-player consumer in mind.<ref name="GameOn"/> Motion designer Masahiro Onoguchi said that while it was initially designed as a simple bonus, the Quest Mode grew in scale and complexity as it received more input from staff.<ref name="ThePlayStation">{{cite magazine | author=''The PlayStation'' staff | date=August 9, 1996 | title=開発スタッフリレーインタビューTAKE.6 | trans-title=Development Staff Relay Interview Take 6 | url=https://archive.org/details/the-play-station-volume-33/The%20PlayStation%20Volume%2033/page/52/mode/2up | magazine=[[:ja:ザ・プレイステーション|The PlayStation]] | publisher=[[SB Creative]] | issue=33 | pages=52–3 | language=ja}}</ref> Ishii commented that the user's 360-degree control of a character in 3D environments is what best separates ''Tobal No. 1'' from its contemporaries. The interface was set up so that repeatedly pushing the attack buttons could yield visually-appealing combinations for new players. More experienced players could utilize the 3D arenas to perform grapples and throws from the side of or behind an opponent, something that was not seen in previous fighting games.<ref name="Jugemu"/><ref name="GameOn "/><ref name="NextGen"/> The omission of blood in ''Tobal No. 1'' was intended to increase its appeal in foreign markets while its lack of [[texture mapping]] and subsequent use of [[Gouraud shading]] yielded superior [[display resolution]], lighting, and [[frame rate]]s over its competitors.<ref name="Jugemu"/><ref name="NextGen"/>

The characters of ''Tobal No. 1'' were designed by [[Akira Toriyama]], best known for the [[manga]] series ''[[Dragon Ball]]'' and other games such as the ''[[Dragon Quest]]'' series and Square's own ''[[Chrono Trigger]]''.<ref name="GameFan4-10"/> Square's relationship with Toriyama was one in which the two parties had a single, initial meeting to discuss a game project and then the artist would submit his designs to the company sometime later.<ref>{{cite web | author=Rork, Bob | date=April 5, 1997 | title=Interview With Square's Hiromichi Tanaka | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/04/05/interview-with-squares-hiromichi-tanaka | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231126012349/https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/04/05/interview-with-squares-hiromichi-tanaka | archive-date=November 26, 2023 | website=[[IGN]] | accessdate=July 22, 2024}}</ref> Prior to DreamFactory opening, Ishii desired to collaborate with Toriyama in order to utilize popular characters such as [[Trunks (Dragon Ball)|Trunks]] from ''Dragon Ball''. The team even proposed a fighting game using the cast of ''Chrono Trigger'', but Toriyama offered to create an original roster instead.<ref name="Jugemu"/><ref>{{cite web | author=Kurokawa Fumio | date=December 17, 2017 | title=セガ，ナムコ，ドリームファクトリー……「バーチャファイター」以降，さまざまな環境に身を置いた石井精一氏の足跡　ビデオゲームの語り部たち：第38部 | trans-title=Sega, Namco, Dream Factory... The footsteps of Seiichi Ishii, who has worked in various environments since ''Virtua Fighter'' Video Game Storytellers: Part 38 | url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/999/G999905/20240705060/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240724054933/https://www.4gamer.net/games/999/G999905/20240705060/ | archive-date=July 24, 2024 | website=[[4Gamer.net]] | language=ja | accessdate=July 22, 2024}}</ref> He also contributed a basic story and world which were fleshed out by the developer.<ref name="GameOn"/><ref name="Tobal1VJump">{{cite book | author=Shueisha staff | date=September 3, 1996 | title=Tobal No.1 Part 1 Playing Manual | series=[[V Jump|V Jump Books]] | publisher=[[Shueisha]] | language=ja | pages=5–7 | isbn=978-4-08-108040-3}}</ref> Toriyama illustrated the fighters so that they could be easily expressed in 3D and gave them [[body proportions]] so that their movements appeared natural.<ref name="Tobal1Perfect">{{cite book | author=Shueisha staff | date=October 1, 1996 | title=Tobal No. 1 Part 2 The Perfect | series=[[V Jump|V Jump Books]] | publisher=[[Shueisha]] | language=ja | page=14 | isbn=978-4-08-108041-0}}</ref> They were additionally given distinct physical attributes to account for a variety of situations like smaller characters defeating larger ones and matches against non-human opponents.<ref name="Tobal2VJump">{{cite book | author=Shueisha staff | date=June 3, 1997 | title=Tobal 2 Playing Manual | series=[[V Jump|V Jump Books]] | publisher=[[Shueisha]] | language=ja | page=88 | isbn=978-4-08-108050-2}}</ref>

The [[boss (video games)|boss]] Nork was not considered for being playable as his massive size ruined the game's balance, so a small version (Snork) was used instead. The game originally only had two bosses as Mufu was one of the eight initially selectable characters. Gren was created by Toriyama when Ishii requested a rival for Chuji. Once Gren joined the roster, Mufu was made into a boss.<ref name="GameOn"/> Chuji and Gren have the exact same age, height, and weight to reflect their rivalry.<ref name="Tobal2VJump"/> Varying degrees of [[motion capture]] were used for the character models. Although much of the data was taken from action film actors and martial artists, the robotic animation of Hom was captured directly from motion designer Hitoshi Matsuda.<ref name="ThePlayStation"/> Onoguchi explained that the team preferred the slower, more predictable attack movements of the actors over the martial artists, which were too fast to translate well to the game's mechanics.<ref name="ThePlayStation"/>

Square released ''Tobal No. 1'' in Japan on August 2, 1996.<ref>{{cite web | author=Kawachi | date=August 2, 2023 | title=『トバル No.1』が発売された日。鳥山明がキャラデザの格ゲー。スクエニ新社長・桐生隆司氏が印象に残っているゲームとして挙げたことでも話題に【今日は何の日？】 | trans-title=The day ''Tobal No.1'' was released. It is a fighting game with character designs by Akira Toriyama. It was also mentioned by the new president of Square Enix, Takashi Kiryu, as one of the most memorable games. [What today's date?] | url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/amp/202308/02311639.php | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801172120/https://www.famitsu.com/news/amp/202308/02311639.php | archive-date=August 1, 2023 | website=[[Famitsu]] | publisher=[[Kadokawa Corporation|Kadokawa Game Linkage]] | language=ja | accessdate=July 27, 2024}}</ref> It was the first game made available from the publisher's [[DigiCube]] label for Japanese convenience stores.<ref name="GameFan4-10"/> [[Sony Interactive Entertainment|Sony Computer Entertainment]] picked up the distribution rights for the international release. Due to its stark contrast in graphics to other fighting games and because Toriyama's art style was not yet as well recognized outside Japan, Ishii said that there were plans to alter the game's characters "so it had a different feel and look to it" for the overseas localization. However, that there was no time to make the changes.<ref name="GameOn"/> ''Tobal No. 1'' launched in North America on October 31, 1996 and in Europe on January 10, 1997. All versions of the game were packaged with an extra disc containing a playable [[game demo|demo]] of Square's PlayStation [[role-playing video game]] ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]'', a title that was highly anticipated at the time. The disc also had video previews of other upcoming Square releases for the console including ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics]]'', ''[[Bushido Blade (video game)|Bushido Blade]]'', and ''[[SaGa Frontier]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine | author=''Play'' staff | date=October 1996 | title=Big in Japan Feature: ''Final Fantasy VII'' | url=https://archive.org/details/play-012/page/n23/mode/2up | magazine=Play | publisher=[[Paragon Publishing]] | issue=12 | pages=24–5 | issn=1358-9474}}</ref>

===Music===
The music in ''Tobal No. 1'' was composed by eight of Square's composers: [[Yasunori Mitsuda]], Yasuhiro Kawakami, [[Ryuji Sasai]], [[Masashi Hamauzu]], [[Junya Nakano]], [[Kenji Ito]], [[Noriko Matsueda]], and [[Yoko Shimomura]]. Music production and synth programming was handled by Mitsuda, while arrangement work was handled by GUIDO (Hidenobu Otsuki and Hiroshi Hata), with a few tracks being composed and arranged by Mitsuda and GUIDO together. The trio closely worked together for a month in a studio creating final arrangements.<ref>{{cite news |title=Yasunori Mitsuda – 2003 Composer Interview |url=https://shmuplations.com/yasunorimitsuda/ |access-date=2 July 2023 |work=Game Hihyou |publisher=Shmuplations |date=2003}}</ref>

Unlike the common themes of [[techno]] and [[rock and roll|rock]] found in other fighting games, ''Tobal No. 1'' contains a complete mixture of sound, varying [[instrumental]] and [[electronic music]], with styles ranging in [[hip hop]], [[Ambient music|ambient]], 1980s [[Groove (music)|groove]], [[jazz]], and [[Latin American music|Latino]], attributed to the diversity of the composers' styles.<ref>{{cite web | author=Page, Adam | title=Tobal No. 1 Original Soundtrack | url=http://altpop.com/stc/reviews/tobost.htm | publisher=Soundtrack Central | access-date=2007-08-16 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202165201/http://altpop.com/stc/reviews/tobost.htm | archive-date=2007-02-02 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Chudah">{{cite web | title=Tobal No. 1 Original Sound Track (review) | url=http://www.chudahs-corner.com/reviews/index.php?catalog=SSCX-10001 | publisher=Chudah's Corner.com | access-date=2007-08-16 | url-status=usurped | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927203653/http://www.chudahs-corner.com/reviews/index.php?catalog=SSCX-10001 | archive-date=2007-09-27}}</ref> Mitsuda feels that GUIDO's arrangements helped to bring a sense of totality to otherwise disparate songs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mitsuda |first=Yasunori |title=TOBAL No.1 Original Soundtrack |url=https://www.procyon-studio.co.jp/library/detail/006.html |website=PROCYON STUDIO}}</ref> The soundtrack was released by [[DigiCube]] in Japan on August 21, 1996 and contains 21 tracks found in the game, including one unreleased track. The album was arranged by GUIDO, who later released their own 7-track remix disc, ''Tobal No. 1 Remixes Electrical Indian''.<ref name="Chudah"/>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| GR = 83%<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/199027-tobal-no-1/index.html |title=Tobal No. 1 for PlayStation |website=[[GameRankings]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=2019-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043135/https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/199027-tobal-no-1/index.html |archive-date=2019-03-06 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| EGM = 8.375/10<ref name="EGM90"/>
| GI = 9/10<ref>{{cite news | title=Tobal No. 1 | work=Game Informer #42 | publisher=Sunrise Publications | page=13 | date=October 1996 }}</ref>
| GP = 9/10<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Burchill|first=Roger|date=November 1996|url=https://archive.org/details/Ultra_Game_Players_90_November_1996_U/page/n97/mode/2up|title=Tobal No. 1|magazine=[[Ultra Game Players]]|issue=90|page=99|accessdate=June 5, 2021}}</ref>
| GameFan = 93/100{{efn|In ''GameFan''{{'}}s review, three critics scored ''Tobal No. 1'' differently: 98, 94, and 88.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_4_Issue_11/page/n13/mode/2up|title=Viewpoint|magazine=[[GameFan]]|volume=4|number=11|date=October 1996|pages=12, 14, 16, 18|accessdate=June 5, 2021}}</ref>}}
| GameRev = B+
| GSpot = 7.4/10<ref name="GSrev"/>
| Hyper = 91%<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Toose|first=Dan|date=February 1997|url=https://archive.org/details/hyper-040/page/46/mode/2up|title=Tobal No. 1|magazine=[[Hyper (magazine)|Hyper]]|issue=40|pages=46–47|accessdate=June 5, 2021}}</ref>
| IGN = 8.7/10<ref name="IGN"/>
| MF = 85%<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Ulf|date=January 1997|url=https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File%3AMegaFun_DE_1997-01.pdf&page=56|title=Tobal No. 1|language=de|magazine=[[:de:Mega Fun|Mega Fun]]|page=72|accessdate=June 5, 2021}}</ref>
| NGen = 4/5<ref name="NGen24"/>
| OPMAU = 9/10<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/official-australian-playstation-magazine-2-summer-1997/page/38/mode/2up|title=Tobal No. 1|magazine=[[PlayStation Official Magazine – Australia]]|issue=2|date=Summer 1997|pages=38–39|accessdate=June 5, 2021}}</ref>
| Play = 94%<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/play-012/page/n43/mode/2up|title=Tobal No. 1|magazine=[[Play (UK magazine)|Play]]|issue=12|date=October 1996|pages=44–47|accessdate=June 5, 2021}}</ref>
| SJ = 93/100<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/Superjuegos_057_faltan_2_hojas_0finales/page/n29/mode/2up?q=%22Tobal+No+1%22|title=Tobal No. 1|language=es|magazine=[[:es:Superjuegos|SuperJuegos]]|issue=57|pages=30–34|accessdate=June 5, 2021}}</ref>
| VGS = 75%<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/video-games-de-1997-02/page/86/mode/2up|title=Tobal No. 1|language=de|magazine=[[:de:Video Games]]|date=February 1997|page=87|accessdate=June 5, 2021}}</ref>
| Fam = 31/40<ref name="fam">{{Cite web |title=ソ フ ト 売 上 デ ー タ PLAYSTATION |url=http://gamedatamuseum.web.fc2.com/ps.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110922085800/http://gamedatamuseum.web.fc2.com/ps.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-09-22 |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=Game Data Museum}}</ref>
}}

Upon release in Japan, ''Tobal No. 1'' topped the Japanese sales charts.<ref name="CVG185">{{cite magazine |title=News: ''Final Fantasy VII'' Takes Japan By Storm! |magazine=[[Computer and Video Games]] |date=12 March 1997 |issue=185 (April 1997) |pages=8–9 |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_and_Video_Games_Issue_185_1997-04_EMAP_Images_GB/page/n7/mode/2up}}</ref> ''Tobal No. 1'' became the [[1996 in video games#Japan 2|ninth best-selling home video game of 1996 in Japan]], where it sold 752,000 copies that year.<ref name="Dengeki">{{cite magazine |title=1996年のコンシューマーゲームソフトの売上 |trans-title=1996 Consumer Game Software Sales |magazine=[[Dengeki Oh]] |publisher=[[MediaWorks (publisher)|MediaWorks]] |lang=ja |url=http://www.rnac.ne.jp/~zangel/1996.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010921045056/http://www.rnac.ne.jp/~zangel/1996.htm |archive-date=21 September 2001 |access-date=16 September 2021}}</ref> The strong sales have been attributed to the inclusion of the ''Final Fantasy VII'' demo disc, a highly anticipated title at the time.<ref name="CVG185"/><ref>{{cite web | author=Alex Fraioli and Sam Kennedy | date=December 2, 2005 | title=Dragon Quest vs. America | url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3146024&did=1 | website=[[1UP.com]] | access-date=2006-09-06 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728073625/http://www.1up.com/features/dragon-quest-america | archive-date=July 28, 2012 }}</ref> The game is cited as a [[cult hit]] in North America, where it did not sell as well.<ref name="IGN2">{{cite web | author=IGN staff | date=November 23, 2004 | title=Dirty Dozen: Revival of the Fittest | url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/568/568493p1.html | website=IGN | access-date=2007-09-08 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531235941/http://ps2.ign.com/articles/568/568493p1.html | archive-date=May 31, 2012 | url-status=live }}</ref> It sold 99,183 copies in the United States,<ref>{{cite web |title=PS1 US Sales from 1995-2003 |url=http://www.gamepilgrimage.com/Ps1ussales.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050520021742/http://www.gamepilgrimage.com/Ps1ussales.htm |url-status=live |archive-date=May 20, 2005 |website=Game Pilgrimage |publisher=[[NPD Group]] |access-date=18 October 2020}}</ref> bringing total sales to {{formatnum:{{#expr:752000+99183}}|}} copies in Japan and the United States.

The game received mostly positive reviews. ''[[Famitsu]]'' magazine gave a score of 31 out of 40.<ref name="fam"/> A ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' critic said that it "establishes itself as a major player in an established genre ... with its innovative gameplay and unique graphic approach." He especially praised the control interface, the deep counter system, the unrestricted 3D movement, and the intuitive controls for all of these elements. His one criticism was that the opponent AI is too simplistic to make single-player anywhere near as enjoyable as the multiplayer mode.<ref name="NGen24">{{cite magazine|title=Tobal No. 1|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=24|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|date=December 1996|page=262}}</ref> Bruised Lee of ''[[GamePro]]'' was less enthusiastic about the controls, saying they take time to master. He concluded the game is outclassed by competition such as ''[[Tekken 2]]'' and ''[[Virtua Fighter 2]]'', but is still worth trying due to its unique style of animation and quest mode.<ref name="GPro100">{{cite magazine|title=ProReview PlayStation: Tobal No. 1|magazine=[[GamePro]] |issue=100|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |date=January 1997|page=104}}</ref> The four reviewers of ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' also said the controls take getting used to, but highly praised the animation and 3D gameplay. They regarded the battle mode as the highlight but said the quest mode and ''Final Fantasy VII'' demo were nice bonuses which add to the game's value-for-money.<ref name="EGM90">{{cite magazine |title=Review Crew: Tobal No. 1|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |issue=90|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=January 1997|page=72}}</ref> [[IGN]] noted the game's unique graphical representation and free-ranging controls—it ran at 60 frames per second and in 640x480 resolution.<ref name="IGN"/> ''[[GameSpot]]'' admired the variety of fighting styles in the game's normal mode, but found the same controls worked sluggishly in the unique Quest Mode.<ref name="GSrev">{{cite web | author=GameSpot staff | date=December 1, 1996 | title=Tobal No. 1 (review) | url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps/action/tobalno1/review.html | website=GameSpot | access-date=August 16, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929223806/http://www.gamespot.com/ps/action/tobalno1/review.html | archive-date=September 29, 2007 | url-status=live }}</ref> [[Game Revolution]] found the blocking system to be confusing but called the game's quest mode the "most innovative feature since—well, bosses."<ref name="Revolution"/>

==Sequel==
The game's sequel, ''[[Tobal 2]]'', was released in 1997 for the PlayStation in Japan. A mobile phone version, titled ''Tobal M'', was released in Japan on December 12, 2007.<ref name="Mobile">{{cite web| author=Square Enix staff| title=TOBAL M| url=http://www.square-enix.co.jp/mobile/sem/tobal/| publisher=[[Square Enix]]| access-date=June 7, 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603105953/http://www.square-enix.co.jp/mobile/sem/tobal/| archive-date=June 3, 2009| url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Dissidia Final Fantasy]], a later fighting game
* [[List of Square Enix video game franchises]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.square-enix.com/jp/archive/tobal1/ ''Tobal No. 1''] at Square-Enix.com
* {{MobyGames | /3717/tobal-no1/ }}
* {{MusicBrainz release group|name=Tobal No.1|mbid=aad1bee1-65d8-3425-860c-79904f935f56}}

{{Akira Toriyama}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tobal 1}}
[[Category:1996 video games]]
[[Category:3D fighting games]]
[[Category:Akira Toriyama]]
[[Category:DreamFactory games]]
[[Category:Fiction set in 2048]]
[[Category:Martial arts video games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:PlayStation (console) games]]
[[Category:PlayStation (console)-only games]]
[[Category:Science fantasy video games]]
[[Category:Sony Interactive Entertainment games]]
[[Category:Square (video game company) games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Video games directed by Seiichi Ishii]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Junya Nakano]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Kenji Ito]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Masashi Hamauzu]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Noriko Matsueda]]
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[[Category:Video games scored by Yasuhiro Kawakami]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Yasunori Mitsuda]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Yoko Shimomura]]
[[Category:Video games set in the 2040s]]
[[Category:Video games set on fictional planets]]
[[Category:Video games featuring artwork by Akira Toriyama]]