Software:Kingdom of Paradise

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Short description: 2005 video game

"Key of Heaven" redirects here. For the metaphorical keys of Saint Peter, see Keys of Heaven.
Key of Heaven
Developer(s)Climax Entertainment[lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s)Sony Computer Entertainment
Platform(s)PlayStation Portable
Release
  • JP: July 21, 2005
  • NA: November 15, 2005
  • EU: March 24, 2006
  • AU: March 30, 2006
Genre(s)Action role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

Kingdom of Paradise, released as Tenchi no Mon (天地の門) in Japan and Key of Heaven in Europe, is an action role-playing video game developed by Climax Entertainment and published by Sony for the PlayStation Portable in 2005. It was re-released as a PlayStation Network title for PS4 and PS5 in September 20, 2022. A prequel is available in Japan, Korea, and China called Tenchi no Mon 2: Busōden.

Heavily influenced by Asian culture in general, and Chinese Wuxia fantasy in particular, the game contains clans named after the Ssu Ling. The fifth clan is named Kirin and is not part of the group.

Story

The story of this game takes place in an almost feudal China, which is simulated through the fictitious world of Ouka. The continent of Ouka is separated into five divisions: Northern (Genbu), Eastern (Seiryu), Southern (Suzaku) Western (Byakko) and Central (Kirin). Each of the five divisions has a Clan Lord, clan disciples, a particular style of Chi and sword fighting and a sacred sword. It is later revealed that each sword – except the Kirin Sacred Sword – controls one of the Four Gods of Ouka. There is also reference to the continent of Seima, which is said to be somewhere over the sea to the west of Ouka. Nobody who has ever tried to find Seima has returned. Three hundred years previously there is said to have been the Seima-Ouka war, in which the Clan Lords of Ouka prevailed. However, nobody was alive three hundred years ago to recount the mysterious events of the war – except the Kirin Lord Gikyo and the Seiman twins, Lu Yan and Li Yin (who are over three hundred years old but look deceptively young in the game because they "are able to sustain [them]selves on the chi of the yin and yang moons" as told by Gikyo. Their very names are references to yin and yang – Lu Yan representing the righteous Yang while Li Yin is the mischievous Yin side). The Forbidden Poem, written by Lu Yan and Li Yin, speaks of the war, reading:

Five great gates of Ouka be,

Name them here for all to see;
Seiryu, Byakko and Genbu
Kirin and Suzaku be there too;
At Heaven’s gate twin keys you need;
At Earth’s gates, bows the Divine Steed;
The soul is born as the Yang moon whirls
The body is born as the Yin moon twirls
The twin moons make a mighty hum

From the watery moon, it doth come.

The main character, Shinbu, has been exiled from his clan, the Seiryu, after looking at the Ancient Monument, which holds the secrets of the Seiryu Chi Arts. The surviving disciple named Sui Lin tracks down Shinbu to tell him that their clan was destroyed, and they're the only two survivors. They also later discover that their sacred sword has been stolen (as, later on, the other three clans'). On a quest to find out who destroyed their clan, Shinbu and Sui Lin go to warn the three other clans that the ruling Kirin clan is rising in power and plans to steal each clan's sacred sword, each containing unimaginable power, to overthrow them all.

A note of dynasty here, every sixteen years, the clans' power change hands. Last time it was the Suzaku rule, so the ruling clan is the Kirin. As with the complementary cycle, the rule of clans goes in the said cycle.

Gameplay

Gameplay is based around a system called Bugei scrolls. Each Bugei scroll uses Kenpu tiles to make a series of martial arts maneuvers (Up to a limit of 10 by using a Freestyle Bugei). Players collect Bugei and Kenpu as they progress through the game; Bugei is mostly found in cinematic sequences, while Kenpu is won from battles and hidden in pots, chests, and other breakable objects.

Shinbu also uses a form of magic called Chi Arts which the player learns from a sacred stone in each clan's temple, and uses it in battle. The player holds down the square button to charge chi and presses it again to use it, usually causing large amounts of damage. As the player's chi arts become stronger, they can eventually wipe out most enemies in 1 or 2 hits.

Players gain levels (up to level 20) by defeating enemies. Upon gaining a level, the player's Mind, Technique, and Body attributes raise depending on how the player fought battles prior to each level up. For example, if a player uses nothing but Chi Arts, his Mind attribute will raise more than the other two (Up to a total of 200).

Throughout the game, players also collect various accessories that they can equip to increase their attributes. In addition to this, players can purchase other swords, which may or may not do more damage than Shinbu's Ginmei Sword, or they can upgrade the Ginmei sword by taking it to a blacksmith. However, certain enemies, as emphasized all over Ouka, can only be hurt by the Ginmei Sword, such as clan gods along with other enemies.

Elements

Chi arts is what Shinbu acquires as he progresses through the story. The Chi Arts system is a complementary and rival system. The rival system is formed as a star while the complementary is formed into a circle. Shinbu can also use Chi Arts when he buys a Level 1 chi art charm. The Chi Arts system is used to defeat certain enemies very quickly. The five elements are wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Wood defeats earth, but weak against metal. Fire is strong against metal, but weak against water. Earth triumphs over water but cowers wood. Metal defeats wood, but is poorly fared against fire. Water is strong against fire, but will be weak against earth. The complementary system is only used in bugei scrolls. It must go in a clockwise circle or it is not a cycle. Complementary elements can also charge an attack, making the final attack in the combo the most devastating finisher.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic72/100[2]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Edge4/10[3]
EGM6.67/10[4]
Eurogamer6/10[5]
Famitsu26/40[6]
Game Informer6.75/10[7]
GameRevolutionC[8]
GameSpot8/10[9]
GameSpyStarStarStarHalf star[10]
GameTrailers8.8/10[11]
GameZone8/10[12]
IGN7.8/10[13]
OPM (US)StarStarStarStar[14]
RPGamer1.5/5[15]

The game received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[2] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of one seven, two sixes, and one seven for a total of 26 out of 40.[6]

Notes

  1. ↑ Additional work by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan[1]

References

  1. ↑ "JAPANスタジオ作品一覧 2005年～2003年" (in ja). Sony Interactive Entertainment. 2021. https://www.playstation.com/ja-jp/corporate/playstation-studios/japan-studio/history-2003-2005/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Kingdom of Paradise for PSP Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/kingdom-of-paradise/critic-reviews/?platform=psp. 
  3. ↑ Edge staff (March 2006). "Key of Heaven". Edge (Future plc) (160): 94. 
  4. ↑ Frank, Jenn; Nutt, Christian; Bettenhausen, Shane (January 2006). "Kingdom of Paradise". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (199): 128. http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3134883&did=2. Retrieved September 24, 2021. 
  5. ↑ Parkin, Simon (March 20, 2006). "Key of Heaven". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_keyofheaven_psp. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Famitsu Scores". NeoGaf LLC. July 13, 2005. https://www.neogaf.com/threads/famitsu-scores.55100/. 
  7. ↑ Juba, Joe (January 2006). "Kingdom of Paradise". Game Informer (GameStop) (153): 156. http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/B3DA56C4-65B7-4027-B179-A9174A1B5465.htm. Retrieved September 24, 2021. 
  8. ↑ Ferris, Duke (November 16, 2005). "Kingdom of Paradise". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/36207-kingdom-of-parad-review. 
  9. ↑ Kasavin, Greg (November 15, 2005). "Kingdom of Paradise Review". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/kingdom-of-paradise-review/1900-6139895/. 
  10. ↑ Leeper, Justin (November 20, 2005). "GameSpy: Kingdom of Paradise". IGN Entertainment. http://psp.gamespy.com/playstation-portable/heaven-key-earth-gate/668068p1.html. 
  11. ↑ "Kingdom of Paradise". Viacom. December 14, 2005. http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/5jt1po/kingdom-of-paradise--review. 
  12. ↑ Lafferty, Michael (November 15, 2005). "Kingdom of Paradise - PSP - Review". https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/kingdom_of_paradise_psp_review/. 
  13. ↑ Castro, Juan (November 9, 2005). "Kingdom of Paradise". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/11/09/kingdom-of-paradise. 
  14. ↑ Nutt, Christian (January 2006). "Kingdom of Paradise". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis) (100): 104. http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3146345&did=3. Retrieved September 24, 2021. 
  15. ↑ Young, Billy (2005). "Kingdom of Paradise". CraveOnline. https://archive.rpgamer.com/games/other/psp/tenchi/reviews/kingofparastrev1.html. 
  16. ↑ McCarroll, John (December 7, 2005). "Kingdom of Paradise". Emerald Shield Media LLC. https://www.rpgfan.com/review/kingdom-of-paradise/. 
  • 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. 
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