~Dezaemon~ a pioneering "dream-like" tool that successfully turned many players into game creators

• Dezaemon is a STG construction series by Athena where players create custom graphics, music, and stages.

• The system provides deep editing tools, including a 29,791-color graphics editor and an icon-based music composer.

• Users create their own stories and characters, while sample games like DAIOH GALE provide pre-made examples.

• It was praised for its high freedom and all-in-one suite, which was revolutionary for home consoles at the time.

• Significant problems include a high risk of save data loss and extreme weapon balance issues, particularly with lasers.

• Dezaemon+ for PlayStation added rotation effects but decreased the maximum number of stages from six to five.

• Subsequent titles like Dezaemon 2 added horizontal scrolling, while Dezaemon 3D allowed for 3D model creation.

• A hidden 1994 dev message revealed a secret data backup method using a custom-made cable for the joypad port.

• It is highly rated as a pioneering "dream-like" tool that successfully turned many players into game creators.