Progenitor (English Patched) NEC PC-98

This is one of Koei's more obscure titles that got lost in the 90s. It's a sandbox style Space Opera simulation RPG. Complete with space battles, trading/bartering, space exploration, and plenty of strategy elements. This game can be compared to another series from Koei called Uncharted Waters but taking place in a sci-fi distant future space setting. Something to note about the game cover is that it was done by the artist Noriyoshi Ohrai who a decade earlier had worked on the well received theatrical release posters for the Japanese release of the Star Wars movies and some of the Godzilla movies as well.

More in-depth info about the history of this game and different aspects about it can be found here

Translation Credits:

Released by: BNK
Language: English
Status: Fully Translated (minus a few graphics that weren't able to be edited, like a few labels)
Patch Version: Not numbered
Date: 30 March 2026

Source and details: https://romhack.ing/database/content/entry/wE3wXKn-RHW8lcesg7lG_g/

2026-03-30 changes:

"I've now translated the remaining text, though I still lack context for some of the scenarios.
But I've done my best based on the characters / profile pictures of the speakers involved and the dialogue itself, so hopefully none of them are out of place."

An English translated copy of the manual is included in the download. Giving it a read is recommended for the best experience.

As with most games of this simulation genre for PC the game is mostly control by the Mouse (if using NP21W press F12 to capture the mouse)

I highly recommend the emulator Neko Project 21/W for playing on Windows. It's the most feature complete emulator for the NEC PC-9801 and is in active development receiving frequent updates. Use this guide for help on how to obtain and configure the emulator.

It can also play fine using the Neko Project II Kai core in RetroArch. Just make sure you have all the PC-98 bios files in the System folder. (C:\RetroArch-Win64\system if using default install location on Windows) I shared them in this comment.

To play in NP21/W you must insert the Boot Disk into FDD1 and the .hdi into IDE #0 and then reset the emulator.

To play in RetroArch using the Neko Project II Kai core you must choose to Start Core instead of Load Content. Press the key/button you have assigned to L2 then with the menu that appears find and put the Boot Disk into FDD slot 1 and the .hdi into Harddisk IDE slot 1 then restart the core and it'll play.