Software:Devil Kings

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Devil Kings
North American cover art
Developer(s)Capcom
Publisher(s)Capcom
Director(s)Akitoshi Yokoyama
Makoto Yamamoto
Producer(s)Hiroyuki Kobayashi
Designer(s)Mitsuru Endo
Programmer(s)Yasuyuki Saito
Artist(s)Makoto Tsuchibayashi (character)
Hirokazu Yonezuka (background)
Hideaki Tanaka (visual effects)
Composer(s)Masayoshi Ishi
Marika Suzuki
SeriesSengoku Basara
EngineCRIWARE
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, PlayStation Network
ReleasePlayStation 2
  • JP: July 21, 2005
  • NA: October 11, 2005[1]
  • EU: February 3, 2006
  • AU: February 16, 2006[2]
PlayStation Network
  • JP: June 19, 2013
Genre(s)Hack and slash
Mode(s)Single-player

Devil Kings, known in Japan as Sengoku Basara (戦国BASARA), is a 2005 video game for the PlayStation 2, developed and published by Capcom. It is the first installment in the Sengoku Basara franchise. The game's theme song for the Japanese version is "Crosswise" by T.M.Revolution. The western version featured a prologue, along with an original piece, due to license restrictions. The game was followed by several sequels and an anime series, all of them using the original title and setting of Sengoku Basara only.

Story

Sengoku Basara takes place during the Sengoku period, or Warring States period, of feudal Japan during which Japan was split into many minor states battling over power and land. The game features two historical warlords as the main protagonists: Date Masamune and Sanada Yukimura.

Devil Kings' main character is Devil King (Oda Nobunaga in Sengoku Basara).

Gameplay

It is a hack and slash, action game similar in concept to Devil May Cry, Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors.

Some significant gameplay changes were made to the Western versions of the game. Four of the characters were made non-playable and various skills were removed or added. The difficulty levels were shifted to make the game more difficult (with the Japanese Normal becoming Easy and Japanese Hard becoming Normal, and Easy rewards 30% less EXP and no 3rd+ weapons while Normal keeps the Japanese Normal reward). The fighting system was also modified, adding an element called "Priming" (one of the characters special attack was made the priming attack, and used that attack to "Prime" enemies making them more susceptible to damage and allowing for higher combo chains).

Characters

  • Date Masamune (Azure Dragon): Kazuya Nakai[3]/Kirby Morrow[4]
  • Sanada Yukimura (Scorpio): Sōichirō Hoshi[3]/Andrew Francis[4]
  • Takeda Shingen (Red Minotaur): Tesshō Genda[3]/Mark Gibbon[4]
  • Sarutobi Sasuke (Talon): Takehito Koyasu[5]/David Orth[4]
  • Kasuga (Venus): Natsuko Kuwatani[5]/Venus Terzo[4]
  • Oda Nobunaga (Devil King): Norio Wakamoto[3]/Garry Chalk[4]
  • Nōhime (Lady Butterfly): Yurika Hino[3]/Kathleen Barr[4]
  • Mori Ranmaru (Hornet): Hiroki Shimowada[5]/Cathy Weseluck[4]
  • Akechi Mitsuhide (Reaper): Shō Hayami[5]/Peter Kelamis[4]
  • Uesugi Kenshin (Frost): Romi Park[5]/Alessandro Juliani[4]
  • Itsuki (Puff): Tomoko Kawakami[6]/Janyse Jaud[4]
  • Xavi (Q-Ball): Kōzō Shioya[6]/Lee Tockar[4]
  • Maeda Toshiie (Lark): Tomohiro Tsuboi[5]/Andrew Jackson[4]
  • Matsu (Bramble): Yūko Kaida[6]/Tabitha St. Germain[4]
  • Shimazu Yoshihiro (Zaan): Kenichi Ogata[6]/Paul Dobson[4]
  • Tokugawa Ieyasu (Irdene): Tōru Ōkawa[7]/Jason Michas[4]
  • Mōri Motonari (Kahz): Shigeru Nakahara[6]/Sam Vincent[4]
  • Chōsokabe Motochika (Arslan): Ryūzō Ishino[7]/Ian James Corlett[4]
  • Hōjō Ujimasa (Orwik): Tadashi Miyazawa[7]/Louis Chirillo[4]
  • Imagawa Yoshimoto (Muri): Kōzō Shioya[7]/Brian Drummond[4]
  • Honda Tadakatsu (Iron OX)

Localization

While releasing Sengoku Basara, Capcom attempted to appeal to the western audience, by removing all Sengoku and Japanese references in favor of a generic fantasy story vaguely connected with Capcom's hit franchise Devil May Cry (a DMC-type font was even used for the cover title of Devil Kings).

An extract from IGN interview with the game's producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi:[8]

Kobayashi: In Japan, Devil Kings is called Sengoku Basara, and it focuses on Japanese history but with a Capcom style, a Capcom flair to it. When we were making the game, we told ourselves, "What can we do to differentiate this to make this different from other hack and slash games?" And we decided the secret maybe lay in some other games Capcom has done. We said, "Let's give the characters a kind of Devil May Cry flair -- some really cool moves, like the kind of things you might see in Devil May Cry. Let's make the characters all vastly and distinctly different from one another, like in Street Fighter II." That's the Japanese version. Then, we said, "Okay, let's release it in North America and Europe -- what can we do to make it different again? What can we do to make it appeal to North American and European audiences?" After a few discussions, we decided not to have a game with samurais and ninjas in feudal Japan, but instead a game that was dark, slightly devilish, and had a fantasy setting to it, a game with a huge Devil May Cry feel to it. So then we said, "Okay, we'll make it dark." Call it Devil Kings. The main character will be a villain. We'll darken up the background, give more moves, more ability to power your character up, and things like that for the North American and European markets.
IGN: Plus it's not historically accurate?
Kobayashi: The Japanese version of the game is based on Japanese history. There are some fantasy elements that didn't actually happen, of course, but enough of it is there. With the North American and European versions, we've taken that element out entirely. Some of the backgrounds may retain that Japanese flair. Many of them don't and are brand new; many of the enemies are brand new; and it's no longer based around the idea of feudal Japan at all. That part of the game has now been changed to be darker.

These alterations were regarded as unpopular, as the Devil Kings version was a critical and commercial failure, and no more Sengoku Basara games were brought to North America and Europe until the release of Sengoku Basara in the fall of 2010.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic64/100[9]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Edge6/10[10]
EGM6.33/10[11]
Eurogamer7/10[12]
Famitsu31/40[13]
Game Informer6.5/10[14]
GameSpot7.5/10[15]
GameSpyStarStarStarHalf star[16]
GameZone6.7/10[17]
IGN5.9/10[18]
OPM (US)StarHalf star[19]
The Sydney Morning HeraldStarStarStar[20]

The westernized version (Devil Kings) received "mixed or average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[9]

The Japanese version was met with "generally favorable" reviews from fans, critics, and consumers. Fans of the franchise seem to have given the Japanese version positive reviews and the westernized version negative reviews with one stating, "While Sengoku Basara was considered a cult classic among fans and gamers, Devil Kings was considered a terrible localization of a good game that should've been left unchanged for its western releases." The game received an 8/8/7/8 for a total of 31/40 from weekly Japanese video game magazine, Famitsu.[13] The game was later re-released under the PlayStation 2 the Best label (which means it is a best-seller in Japan). The game sold a total of 88,711 units during its first week on sale in Japan and was the top-selling game of the week.[21] The game has sold a total of 232,589 units in Japan.[22]

Sequels

The first two sequels, Sengoku Basara 2 and Sengoku Basara 2 Heroes, were released in Japan for the PS2 in 2006–2007, followed by two spin-off games. The next main game in the series, Sengoku Basara 3, was announced for the PlayStation 3 and Wii and released on July 29, 2010 in Japan.[citation needed] It was released in North America and Europe as Sengoku Basara Samurai Heroes in October 2010.

See also

  • Sengoku Basara (anime)

References

  1. ↑ "Press Releases". 2005-12-24. http://www.capcom.com/news/news.xpml?prid=550047. 
  2. ↑ Jastrzab, Jeremy (February 5, 2006). "Updated Australian Release Lists 6/2/06". Archived from the original on September 16, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060916052718/http://www.palgn.com.au/article.php?title=Updated+Australian+Release+Lists+6%2F2%2F06&id=3854. Retrieved September 1, 2019. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Capcom. 戦国BASARA. Capcom. Scene: Ending credits, 1:15:56 in, VOICE ACTORS. 
  4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 "Devil Kings (2005 Video Game)". https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/video-games/Devil-Kings/. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Capcom. 戦国BASARA. Capcom. Scene: Ending credits, 1:16:01 in, VOICE ACTORS. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Capcom. 戦国BASARA. Capcom. Scene: Ending credits, 1:16:06 in, VOICE ACTORS. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Capcom. 戦国BASARA. Capcom. Scene: Ending credits, 1:16:11 in, VOICE ACTORS. 
  8. ↑ Cheng, Justin (May 18, 2005). "E3 2005: Hiroyuki Kobayashi Interview". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/05/19/e3-2005-hiroyuki-kobayashi-interview. Retrieved September 1, 2019. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Devil Kings for PlayStation 2 Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/devil-kings/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. Retrieved September 1, 2019. 
  10. ↑ Edge staff (October 2005). "Devil Kings". Edge (Future plc) (154). 
  11. ↑ EGM staff (November 2005). "Devil Kings". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (197): 146. 
  12. ↑ Carroll, Martyn (February 2, 2006). "Devil Kings". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_devilkings_ps2. Retrieved September 1, 2019. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "戦国BASARA [PS2"] (in Japanese). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=320&redirect=no. Retrieved September 1, 2019. 
  14. ↑ Reiner, Andrew (November 2005). "Devil Kings". Game Informer (GameStop) (151): 161. 
  15. ↑ Mueller, Greg (October 11, 2005). "Devil Kings Review". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/devil-kings-review/1900-6135475/. Retrieved September 1, 2019. 
  16. ↑ Leeper, Justin (October 12, 2005). "GameSpy: Devil Kings". IGN Entertainment. http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/devil-kings/657968p1.html. Retrieved September 1, 2019. 
  17. ↑ Aceinet (October 24, 2005). "Devil Kings - PS2 - Review". Archived from the original on October 5, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081005005933/http://ps2.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r26868.htm. Retrieved September 2, 2019. 
  18. ↑ Roper, Chris (October 14, 2005). "Devil Kings". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/10/15/devil-kings. Retrieved September 1, 2019. 
  19. ↑ "Devil Kings". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis): 117. November 2005. 
  20. ↑ Hill, Jason (February 16, 2006). "Devil Kings". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/devil-kings-20060216-gdmz18.html. Retrieved September 1, 2019. 
  21. ↑ "Sengoku Basara". https://salesdatabase.net/games/378/. 
  22. ↑ "Sengoku Basara". https://salesdatabase.net/search/Sengoku%2BBasara/. 
  • (in Japanese) Official Sengoku Basara website
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
  • No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.

Template:Atari



  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
  • No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.

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