Houshin Engi (封神演義), launched 9/10/1998, developed and printed by Koei
Houshin Engi is the Japanese title of the sixteenth century Chinese language novel normally translated as Investiture of the Gods. It’s very loosely primarily based on the autumn of the Shang dynasty and the rise of the Zhou, however has lots of legendary and fantastical parts and lots of the characters are fictional. There was a preferred manga primarily based on the story operating in Shonen Bounce from 1996-2000, and I really feel prefer it was not a coincidence that Koei selected to carry out this recreation throughout the time. This recreation will not be primarily based on the manga — I can not discover sufficient detailed info on the novel’s plot to know for positive, however my impression is that this recreation can also be a really free adaptation of the novel and is usually an authentic story.
The sport got here out in 1998 after which there was a second model (“aizouban”) launched in 1999 with minor enhancements; I performed that model as a substitute.
The essential setup is identical because the novel — the final King of Shang has been bewitched by his concubine Daji. Daji was already recognized in historic information because the evil, sadistic girl who had brought about the downfall of the Shang dynasty, and after that was thought to have been an evil fox spirit. Within the novel, Daji is killed and changed with a fox spirit that then makes use of magic to manage the King, and that is how the sport works as effectively.
The principle hero character is Taikobou, a reputation for Jiang Ziya. He’s additionally a historic determine who assisted within the defeat of Shang, however in legend (and later within the novel) he turns into a Daoist apprentice of a Kunlun mountain grasp. Within the recreation, the grasp sends Taikobou to Earth to research a disturbance, which seems to be Daji’s enchantments.
The characters within the recreation are a mixture of historic figures and characters from the novel, and it’s potential there are characters authentic to the sport as effectively (I don’t have sufficient info to trace down every character and discover out).
The sport is split into 5 chapters and a complete of 53 maps. I consider that you simply play all 53 so as with no alternate paths. Between most maps you possibly can entry a “camp” the place you are able to do the standard equip/save/and so on, however you can too go to the Daoist retreats. This lets you do coaching battles for XP, but in addition to problem the varied Daoist masters in 1-on-1 fight to win gadgets. I haven’t managed to beat any of those but.
Every chapter begins with a small voiced sequence (it’s not truly animated, it’s nonetheless photos). Among the dialogue has voicing. One welcome characteristic is the furigana on the Chinese language phrases and names:
They seem each time the identify/phrase is used, which is useful in remembering the weird phrases.
I solely performed the primary 16 levels this week, so I’m not making very quick progress. The primary battle of chapter 3 (stage 17) requires you to separate your social gathering throughout two battles and use many of the characters, and I have to do a bit of coaching earlier than I can deal with the battles. The story thus far remains to be kind of within the early levels. Taikobo finds out that Daji is a fox spirit bewitching the king, and will get thrown in jail. There he meets Kouhiko, who was as soon as a follower of the king, however his spouse was killed by Daji’s machinations. After escaping, Taikobo and Kouhiko head to the Zhou lands to hunt assist in combating in opposition to Shang. Many of the levels thus far are simply gathering numerous allies who’ve their very own grudges in opposition to Shang, and being opposed by quite a few underlings of Daji, significantly the three ladies who serve beneath Daji. In the meantime Daji is being commanded herself by Tongtian Jiaozhu, a brother of Taikobo’s grasp.
One of many chief antagonists is Bunchu (Wen Zhong) who’s a kind of basic “honorable warrior who’s combating for the flawed facet”; in the intervening time he has been tricked into pondering that Taikobo is main an effort by the Daoists to overthrow Shang to allow them to rule as a substitute.
By the tip of chapter 2, we’ve reached Zhou and are attempting to get them to affix us, however first we’ve got to care for another enemies they’re combating.
The battle system has a smattering of typical options from completely different video games. There may be peak and going through. Turns are pace primarily based. There’s elemental compatibility (within the above screenshot it’s wooden vs fireplace, if one has a particular benefit the component will glow).
You get lots of characters and it might sound annoying at first since you’ll have 18 however will solely ship out 4 or 5 on a battle. Nonetheless, if one in every of them dies, Taikobo can herald one other one out of your inventory. (If Taikobo dies it’s recreation over).
Every character beneficial properties regular expertise, and likewise expertise in weapon and magic ranges. Every character has a most in every, with a * indicating max degree. You earn peaches after every stage that you should utilize to extend individuals’s maximums (and even allow them to use a brand new capability they’ll’t use). Every degree will grant a brand new energy in that kind of weapon or component.
There are additionally particular powers which are particular person to some characters, and likewise these magic shell gadgets that can be utilized with specific weapons to do further powers as effectively. So there’s lots of variability with every character, and so they do change noticeably as they degree, which is one thing I at all times admire in a recreation.
I’ll cease there for this week — I’m not even positive I’ll end this recreation by subsequent Saturday however we’ll see. I’ll write extra in regards to the talents and characters subsequent week.
