Emurasoft, Inc. announced that ShadowFlare: Episode One is available for free as of today. Originally released on October 8 of last year, Episode One was priced at $14.99, as were Episodes Two and Three. The company hopes to expand ShadowFlare's player base by offering the introductory episode free of charge. "The reaction to ShadowFlare by those who have bought it and played it has been great so we are eager to introduce as many people to it as possible," said Yutaka Emura, president of Emurasoft. Current players will also benefit since Emurasoft will offer anyone who has purchased Episode One a free license key for Episode Four, which is due sometime in February.

ShadowFlare is an action/role-playing shareware game that was released by Denyusha Co., Ltd. in Kyoto, Japan October in 2001. Following its release, ShadowFlare became a craze among Japanese gamers. In ShadowFlare, players take on the roles of mercenaries battling against creatures bent on human extinction. As players adventure through dungeons and remote cities, their fighting skills grow, and eventually they choose their own destiny as a warrior, wizard, or hunter.