Software:MediEvil 2

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Not to be confused with Medieval II: Total War.
Short description: 2000 video game
MediEvil 2
European cover art
Developer(s)Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
Publisher(s)Sony Computer Entertainment
Director(s)James Shepherd
Producer(s)Andrew Kennedy
Artist(s)Jason Wilson
Writer(s)James Shepherd
Jim Sangster
Composer(s)Andrew Barnabas
Paul Arnold
SeriesMediEvil
Platform(s)PlayStation
Release
Genre(s)Action-adventure, hack and slash
Mode(s)Single-player

MediEvil 2 (stylised as MediEvil II in North America) is a 2000 action-adventure game developed and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It is the second instalment of the MediEvil series and a sequel to MediEvil. Taking place 500 years after the events of the first game, it follows series' protagonist Sir Daniel Fortesque's revival in Victorian-era London as he attempts to stop sorcerer Lord Palethorn and Jack the Ripper's plans to terrorise the city by raising the dead.

Following the positive reception of the first game, Sony Computer Entertainment commissioned SCE Cambridge Studio to make a sequel to MediEvil before the end of the PlayStation's lifespan. The original concepts for MediEvil 2 went through many transformations during development before the Cambridge team finally settled on making a sequel set during the Victorian Gothic revival, largely reminiscent of its predecessor.

The game received mostly positive reviews from critics upon release, with praise including slight improvements over its predecessor, such as artificial intelligence and graphical enhancements, but was criticised for lack of innovation from the original.

Gameplay

A still image from the second level of the game. MediEvil 2 features various locations in Victorian-era London

MediEvil 2 once again sees players in control of Sir Daniel Fortesque as he travels through several levels set in Victorian-era London to thwart the evil Palethorn and his undead army. Along with returning weapons and equipments such as swords and shields, Dan can now obtain more modern weaponry such as a pistol, a blunderbuss, and a gatling gun. MediEvil 2 adds a new feature that allows the player to select two weapons that Dan can toggle between in real-time. Like in the previous game, Dan can earn more weapons by finding the Chalice of Souls in each level, which is filled up by defeating enemies. Dan can also visit merchants known as Spivs for ammo and services, and speak with Winston the ghost to receive hints and save during longer levels. Collecting Life Bottles hidden in certain levels expands Dan's life meter, which can be replenished via Life Vials and Life Fountains. In the middle of the game, Dan unlocks the ability to place his head on a zombified hand to become Dan Hand, allowing him to explore areas that his normal body cannot while also being able to alternate control between them.[2][3]

Plot

The game's plot takes place in 1886, 500 years after Sir Daniel Fortesque's battle against the evil sorcerer Zarok in the previous game. In Kensington, a wealthy industrialist and sorcerer named Lord Palethorn discovers Zarok's spellbook and casts its spell of raising the dead over the city of London. However, the pages of the book soon scatter across London, and Palethorn gains a demon-like appearance as a result. The spell Palethorn casts once again resurrects Dan, whose body had been on display in a nearby museum. He is recruited by a professor named Hamilton Kift and his ghostly sidekick Winston Chapelmount (a play on Winston Churchill) to recover the pages of Zarok's spellbook and put a stop to Palethorn's plans. Along the way, they end up being joined by an ancient mummy princess named Kiya, whom Dan falls in love with.

When Kiya goes to Whitechapel alone to investigate psychic disturbances there, she is killed by Jack the Ripper. Broken-hearted, Dan abandons the quest against Palethorn and wanders into London's sewers, where he encounters the Mullocks, who worship a statue of Dan, and discovers a time machine that Kift had built years earlier. Collecting the parts to rebuild the time machine, Dan travels back in time to defeat Jack & save Kiya. Jack pleads with Dan to be spared, but he mercilessly shoots him dead. Dan then merges with his past self to gain golden "Super Armour", and returns to the battle. Dan collects the final pages and confronts Palethorn, who steals the page from him and offers Dan the choice of joining him, but Dan refuses, saying "I'll never join you!" Palethorn then assigns his two assistants, Mander and Dogman, to stop Dan from following him, but both are killed. Dan then goes after Palethorn. Palethorn uses the pages to summon a large blue demon. Dan manages to turn the demon against Palethorn, putting a stop to both of them. With his last breath, Palethorn drops a time bomb in a last-ditch effort to kill Dan, destroying his lair in the process. Dan escapes and decides to join Kiya in the afterlife as they return to their eternal rest. If the player has collected all the Chalices, Dan and Kiya instead go for a ride on the time machine which takes them back to the end of the first game, encountering Palethorn in a monstrous form similar to Zarok's.

Development

After the success of the first MediEvil, Sony Computer Entertainment commissioned their Cambridge unit to develop a sequel that would be released before the end of the PlayStation's lifespan. Chris Sorrell, who previously served as director of the first game, was not involved in development,[4] so the project was handed over to James Shepherd instead.[5][6]

According to Shepherd, the original plot for MediEvil 2 had previous antagonist Zarok being held prisoner in the Tower of London and Sir Daniel Fortesque's objective would be to free him, but this idea was eventually dropped due it being considered identical to a "B-movie twist ending".[6]

The Cambridge studio believed it would not be difficult to make a sequel to the first MediEvil, considering that the ending of its predecessor would give the team an opportunity to set the next game in a different time period. Shepherd settled on MediEvil 2 being set in the Victorian era, the birthplace of the Neo-Gothic revival.[6] Shepherd considered the hardest part of the development was deciding how to make the game better than its predecessor by incorporating humorous elements in the game. To achieve this, the Cambridge studio re-coded a majority of its core technology, which Shepherd considered arguably similar to "starting from scratch".[6] Various features cut from the previous game were added into MediEvil 2, such as playable characters and levels that featured puzzles.[5] By the time the game reached beta status the game offered larger levels, improved NPC logic, and additional moves for the protagonist.[6]

A remastered version of the game was released for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in January 2025.[7]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings79%[8]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Consoles +95%[10]
EGM7/10[11][lower-alpha 1]
Game Informer7.75/10[12]
GameFan95%[13]
GameRevolutionB+[14]
GameSpot7.6/10[15]
IGN8.4/10[2]
Jeuxvideo.com18/20[16]
Next GenerationStarStarStar[17]
OPM (US)StarStarStarHalf star[18]

MediEvil 2 received favourable reviews, albeit less than its predecessor, according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[8] The game was mostly praised for its rich detailed graphics but was criticised by many reviewers for its bad camera angles, easy difficulty, and similarity to the first game. However, Doug Trueman of NextGen called the game "a formulaic and agreeable way to pass the time."[17]

IGN's Douglass C. Perry praised the graphical advancements of the game, noting that the sharper details drew out a more "sophisticated feel" to the story. Perry noted that the new addition of cutscenes created a better sense of continuity and story, reconstructing the game into a more controlled, broader world.[2] Shawn Sparks of GameRevolution similarly praised the improved graphics, noting that smooth frame rates and sharper graphics brought out the original PlayStation's power, despite nearing the end of its lifespan. Sparks hailed the graphics as "eye candy" and reported that the levels were "a joy to explore."[14]

Perry noted the game's "plain wide confusion" in level layouts would cause frustration for players, and was several times found without direction in the larger levels.[2] Sparks also described similar concerns with the confusing level layout.[14] Perry disliked the fixed camera positioning throughout the game and outlined that the camera was "good, not great" and only a small improvement to its predecessor.[2] Daily Radar's Stephen Frost praised the game's improved artificial intelligence and harder difficulty in comparison to the first game, summarising that MediEvil 2 was "better, not perfect," although he thought that the game was still lacking in innovation.[3] GamePro summed up their review by saying, "It's true that some hardcore action/adventure purists might not be able to get past MediEvil's comical look, but they'd be missing out on some topnotch gameplay. MediEvil II is good enough to wake the dead."[19][lower-alpha 2]

At the 2000 BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards, MediEvil 2 won the best console game category.[20] MediEvil 2 also nominated for "10th Annual GamePro Readers' Choice Awards" for "Best Adventure Game of The Year", but lost to Shenmue for Sega Dreamcast.[21][22]

Notes

  1. ↑ In Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of the game, one critic gave it 7/10, two gave it each a score of 6.5/10, and another gave it 8/10.
  2. ↑ GamePro gave the game two 4.5/5 scores for graphics and fun factor, 5/5 for sound, and 4/5 for control.

References

  1. ↑ "MediEvil II Hits The Streets". Game Informer (FuncoLand). 9 May 2000. http://www.gameinformer.com/news/news_story.cfm?NEWS_ID=1945. Retrieved 18 January 2021. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Perry, Douglass C. (22 May 2000). "Medievil II [sic"]. Imagine Publishing. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/05/23/medievil-ii. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Stephen, Frost (2000). "MediEvil II". Imagine Media. http://www.dailyradar.com/reviews/game_review_687.html. 
  4. ↑ MediEvil 2 Manual. SCE Cambridge. 2000. p. 28. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "MediEvil developers Q&A". ProBoards. 24 December 2012. http://www.sirdanielfortesque.proboards.com/thread/775. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Strohm, Axel (15 December 1999). "MediEvil 2 Director Interviewed [date mislabeled as "February 24, 2000""]. Red Ventures. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/medievil-2-director-interviewed/1100-2447317/. 
  7. ↑ Michel, Adam (January 15, 2025). "PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for January: God of War Ragnarök, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, Atlas Fallen: Reign of Sand, and more". Sony. https://blog.playstation.com/2025/01/15/playstation-plus-game-catalog-for-january-god-of-war-ragnarok-like-a-dragon-gaiden-the-man-who-erased-his-name-atlas-fallen-reign-of-sand-and-more/. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "MediEvil II for PlayStation". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/197893-medievil-ii/index.html. 
  9. ↑ Chick, Tom (2 June 2000). MediEvil II. CNET. http://gamecenter.com/Consoles/Sony/Medievil2/. Retrieved 17 May 2022. 
  10. ↑ Kael (April 2000). "MediEvil 2" (in fr). Consoles + (99): 104–7. 
  11. ↑ Smith, Shawn; Johnston, Chris; Boyer, Crispin; Davison, John (May 2000). "MediEvil 2". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (130): 150. https://retrocdn.net/images/9/91/EGM_US_130.pdf. Retrieved 17 May 2022. 
  12. ↑ McNamara, Andy; Fitzloff, Jay; Reiner, Andrew (May 2000). "MediEvil II". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (85). https://www.gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=4742. Retrieved 18 January 2021. 
  13. ↑ Higgins, Geoff "The Judge" (June 2000). "MediEvil II". GameFan (Shinno Media) 8 (6): 56. https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_8_Issue_06/page/n57/mode/2up. Retrieved 18 January 2021. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Sparks, Shawn (June 2000). "MediEvil II Review". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/34019-medievil-ii-review. 
  15. ↑ Fielder, Joe (24 May 2000). "MediEvil II Review". Red Ventures. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/medievil-ii-review/1900-2576496/. 
  16. ↑ Kornifex (14 April 2000). "Test: Medievil 2 [sic"] (in fr). Webedia. https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00000603_test.htm. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Trueman, Doug (June 2000). "MediEvil II". NextGen (Imagine Media) (66): 100. https://archive.org/details/NextGen66Jun2000/page/n101/mode/2up. Retrieved 17 January 2021. 
  18. ↑ Rybicki, Joe (May 2000). "MediEvil II". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis) 3 (8): 87. https://archive.org/details/Official_U.S._Playstation_Magazine_Issue_32_May_2000/page/n85/mode/2up. Retrieved 18 January 2021. 
  19. ↑ Bro Buzz (June 2000). "MediEvil II". GamePro (IDG) (141): 118. https://retrocdn.net/images/a/a5/GamePro_US_141.pdf. Retrieved 17 May 2022. 
  20. ↑ "Interactive - Games - Console in 2000". http://awards.bafta.org/award/2000/interactive/games-console-award. 
  21. ↑ "10th Annual GamePro Readers' Choice Awards". GamePro (International Data Group) (149): 40–41. February 2001. 
  22. ↑ "A Perfect 10". GamePro (International Data Group) (154): 56–57. July 2001. 
  • 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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