For years, the game was impenetrable to non-Japanese speakers. It is a text-heavy SRPG; without understanding the story and the complex menu instructions, the game is nearly impossible to beat.
The ruling resulted in a fine for Enterbrain, but crucially, the game was not pulled from shelves. However, the legal pressure created a chilling effect. Tear Ring Saga never saw a Western localization, and the sequel, Berwick Saga , took a drastically different visual approach. This lawsuit is why the game remains obscure outside of Japan—and why the search for an English ROM is the only way for most fans to play it. tear ring saga english rom