Soukaigi
Encyclopedia
is an action role-playing game
developed by Yuke's and published by Square
(now Square Enix
) for the Sony
PlayStation video game console
. It was released in 1998 in Japan, but was not released in other territories.
This game features character designs by manga
-artist Natsuki Sumeragi
and a musical score by Hiroki Kikuta
.
, as well as in other areas of Japan, has killed 14 percent of the nation's population. The explosions have caused several fireballs to unite into a gigantic pillar of fire 150 kilometers in height and 10 kilometers in width. Stone pillars known as "Gallan" have also appeared throughout Japan, and ghostly demigod
s known as "Yorigami" have taken claim to the now ruined country.
The day of the explosions, a high school student in Noborito
named Mizuho Mikanagi, along with four of her friends, takes on the task of saving Japan.
Using all these skills you need to destroy all the Red crystals while not being killed by the various monsters that will try to kill you
, best known for his work in other games such as Secret of Mana
and Seiken Densetsu 3
. The score uses a mix of progressive rock
and ethnic
sounds. It was recorded using only live instruments. It contains two vocal tracks, "Quake" and "Lovely Strains", the latter sang by Japanese actress Kotomi Kyono
. The track "Angel's Fear Again" may be a reference to another of Kikuta's pieces from Secret of Mana called "Angel's Fear".
gave Sōkaigi a 5.6 out of 10 ("mediocre"), complimenting its character design
s and framerate, but criticizing its graphics, sound effects, and lengthy cut scenes.
Action role-playing game
Action role-playing games form a loosely defined sub-genre of role-playing video games that incorporate elements of action or action-adventure games, emphasizing real-time action where the player has direct control over characters, instead of turn-based or menu-based combat...
developed by Yuke's and published by Square
Square Co.
was a Japanese video game company founded in September 1983 by Masafumi Miyamoto. It merged with Enix in 2003 and became part of Square Enix...
(now Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
) for the Sony
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...
PlayStation video game console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
. It was released in 1998 in Japan, but was not released in other territories.
This game features character designs by manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
-artist Natsuki Sumeragi
Natsuki Sumeragi
is a female Japanese manga artist. She graduated from Ritsumeikan University with a degree in Japanese literature. She is famous for portraying Chinese and Korean history in her works. She currently lives in Kyoto.- Games :, character design...
and a musical score by Hiroki Kikuta
Hiroki Kikuta
is a Japanese video game composer and game designer. His major works are Secret of Mana, Seiken Densetsu 3, Soukaigi, and Koudelka, for which he also acted as producer and concept designer. He has composed music for seven other games, and worked as a concept designer in addition to composer for the...
.
Story
Sōkaigi takes place in December 1998. An explosion on Mount FujiMount Fuji
is the highest mountain in Japan at . An active stratovolcano that last erupted in 1707–08, Mount Fuji lies about south-west of Tokyo, and can be seen from there on a clear day. Mount Fuji's exceptionally symmetrical cone is a well-known symbol of Japan and it is frequently depicted in art and...
, as well as in other areas of Japan, has killed 14 percent of the nation's population. The explosions have caused several fireballs to unite into a gigantic pillar of fire 150 kilometers in height and 10 kilometers in width. Stone pillars known as "Gallan" have also appeared throughout Japan, and ghostly demigod
Demigod
The term "demigod" , meaning "half-god", is commonly used to describe mythological figures whose one parent was a god and whose other parent was human; as such, demigods are human-god hybrids...
s known as "Yorigami" have taken claim to the now ruined country.
The day of the explosions, a high school student in Noborito
Noborito
is a neighborhood located in Tama-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan just across the southwestern border of Tokyo metropolis on the Tama River approximately 18 minutes south of Shinjuku on the Odakyu Odawara Line Express....
named Mizuho Mikanagi, along with four of her friends, takes on the task of saving Japan.
Gameplay
Sōkaigi plays from a third-person perspective with a camera that stays behind you. X performs attacks, and may be held to use green orbs to perform more powerful ones. Square uses a dash, which can be used in the air or attacked from Triangle makes your character jump Circle allows your character to use cards to cast magic spells. Double tapping Left, right, or back you will perform a short jump.Using all these skills you need to destroy all the Red crystals while not being killed by the various monsters that will try to kill you
Cast
| Character | Voice Actor (Japanese) |
|---|---|
| Mizuho Mikanagi | Kotomi Kyono Kotomi Kyono Kotomi Kyono is a Japanese actress and occasional J-Pop singer... |
| Naoya Mabui | Kōichi Tōchika |
| Hifumi Sudou | Yuri Amano Yuri Amano is a Japanese voice actor. She was born .- Films :* Soreike! Anpanman: Baikinman no Gyakushuu , Akachanman* Mobile Suit Gundam F91 , Jessica* Tobé! Kujira no Peek... |
| Azusa Kotohira | Ikue Ohtani |
| Daiki Yashima | Akio Ōtsuka |
| Yato Saegami | Takehito Koyasu Takehito Koyasu is a Japanese voice actor.-Career:Koyasu is part of the voice actor quartet Weiß consisting of Weiß Kreuz voice castmates Shinichiro Miki, Tomokazu Seki, and Yuuki Hiro... |
| Kaname Gabu | Kōichi Yamadera Koichi Yamadera is a Japanese voice actor, actor, tarento, narrator, master of ceremonies and impressionist from Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture. He graduated from Tohoku Gakuin University's economics school, and is currently affiliated with Across Entertainment. Before that, he was affiliated with the Tokyo Actor's... |
| Kahaku | Michio Hazama Michio Hazama is a Japanese voice actor.-Television animation:*Anne of Green Gables *Game Center Arashi *Master Keaton *Monster *Star of the Giants *The Super Dimension Fortress Macross is a Japanese voice actor.-Television animation:*Anne of Green Gables (Narrator)*Game Center Arashi (Burashi Ishino)*Master... |
| Yanron | Ken'yū Horiuchi |
| Infu | Shinobu Adachi Shinobu Adachi is a female Japanese voice actor.- Television :* The Wonderful Adventures of Nils , Gacho* Maicching Machiko-sensei , Hiromi* Urusei Yatsura * Yume no Hoshi no Button Nose , Prince Flower... |
| Princess Nami | Hiroko Kasahara Hiroko Kasahara Hiroko Kasahara is a popular seiyū and J-pop singer.She sang the ending theme song of the PlayStation 2 RPG, Shadow Hearts, titled Ending Theme ~ Shadow Hearts, and the ending theme of the PC and Playstation 2 visual novel Ever17: the Out of Infinity, titled Aqua Stripe- Notable voice roles :*... |
| Sae Tateshina | Yō Inoue |
| Minami | Mayumi Tanaka Mayumi Tanaka is a Japanese voice actress from Tokyo currently affiliated with Aoni Production.She is best known for the roles of Ryuunosuke Fujinami in Urusei Yatsura, Pazu in Laputa: Castle in the Sky, Monkey D. Luffy in One Piece, Krillin, Yajirobe and Uranai Baba in Dragon Ball... |
| Shuuzou Azuma | Takkou Ishimori |
| Hisagi Shiosato | Junko Takeuchi Junko Takeuchi is a Japanese voice actress employed by Love Live.Taking a well-trod path by many voice actresses, she often voices young male characters with generally very quirky and goofy personalities... |
| Kongou | Kōji Takahashi Koji Takahashi is a Japanese actor. He was born in Tōkamachi, Niigata, in 1935, and attended Niigata Prefectural Tōkamachi High School and later Toyo University.-Career:... |
| Yorigami | Yūji Mitsuya Yuji Mitsuya is a Japanese actor, voice actor, and sound supervisor from Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture who is affiliated with Bring Up. He graduated from Meiji University.... |
Music
The soundtrack for Sōkaigi was composed by Hiroki KikutaHiroki Kikuta
is a Japanese video game composer and game designer. His major works are Secret of Mana, Seiken Densetsu 3, Soukaigi, and Koudelka, for which he also acted as producer and concept designer. He has composed music for seven other games, and worked as a concept designer in addition to composer for the...
, best known for his work in other games such as Secret of Mana
Secret of Mana
Secret of Mana is an action role-playing game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System developed and published by Square in 1993. The game was re-released for the Wii's Virtual Console in 2008, and was ported to Japanese mobile phones in 2009...
and Seiken Densetsu 3
Seiken Densetsu 3
is an action role-playing game developed and published by Square for Nintendo's Super Famicom as a part of the Mana series.The game features three lengthy main plotlines, six different characters, each with their own storylines, and a wide range of classes to choose from, which provides each...
. The score uses a mix of progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
and ethnic
Traditional music
Traditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...
sounds. It was recorded using only live instruments. It contains two vocal tracks, "Quake" and "Lovely Strains", the latter sang by Japanese actress Kotomi Kyono
Kotomi Kyono
Kotomi Kyono is a Japanese actress and occasional J-Pop singer...
. The track "Angel's Fear Again" may be a reference to another of Kikuta's pieces from Secret of Mana called "Angel's Fear".
| Soukaigi Original Soundtrack tracklist |
|---|
Disc 1 (50:57)
|
Reception
GameSpotGameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
gave Sōkaigi a 5.6 out of 10 ("mediocre"), complimenting its character design
Character design
Character design may refer to:* Characterisation, the process of conveying information about characters* Character creation, the process of defining a game character...
s and framerate, but criticizing its graphics, sound effects, and lengthy cut scenes.