Summary
A composer turned game creator pleased fans of the 1990s NBC sitcomFrasier, as they created and uploaded the gameFrasier Fantasyonto 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 fusedFrasierwithFinal Fantasy,which was made a few years prior, and thanked them for the idea.
The release ofFrasier Fantasylined up with the launch of the Paramount+Frasierrevival series, which began airing in October 2023. TheFrasierrevival 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 theFrasierrevival will play out, that has not stopped fans of the original show from paying tribute toFrasier.
Created by Edward La Barbera, the gameFrasier Fantasyis 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 Fantasycan also be played on a Game Boy emulator, a flash cartridge, oran Analogue Pocket console. On Twitter, La Barbara stated that he was inspired to makeFrasier Fantasyafter 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 forFrasier Fantasyin the style ofFinal Fantasyartist Yoshitaka Amano.
With gameplayelements inspired by Game Boy RPGssuch asPokemon Red and BluetheSaGaseries,Frasier Fantasyhas 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 andreferences to fan-favoriteFrasierepisodes and momentswhile playingFrasier Fantasy. Only time will tell how successful the fan project will be.
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