Software:Shikigami no Shiro

From HandWiki
Short description: 2001 video game
Shikigami no Shiro
Japanese PS2 cover art
Developer(s)Alfa System
Publisher(s)Arcade
Taito
XS Games
MediaQuest
Sourcenext
Platform(s)Arcade, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Windows
ReleaseArcade
Xbox
  • JP: March 14, 2002
PlayStation 2
  • JP: June 27, 2002
  • NA: March 19, 2003
  • EU: 2003
Windows
  • JP: August 8, 2002
  • WW: June 16, 2017
(EX)
Xbox
  • JP: December 19, 2002
(Evolution)
PlayStation 2
  • JP: July 29, 2004
(Re-release)
Genre(s)Scrolling shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade systemTaito G-NET

Shikigami no Shiro (式神の城, lit. Castle of Shikigami), released in North America and Europe under the title of Mobile Light Force 2 and in some PAL regions as MLF2 - Mobile Light Force 2, is a 2001 shoot 'em up developed by Alfa System and is the first game in the Shikigami no Shiro series. It was originally released as an arcade game and later ported to the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Microsoft Windows. The game was titled Shikigami no Shiro Evolution (式神の城 Evolution) for its revised version for Xbox, which was then ported to Windows as Shikigami no Shiro EX (式神の城 EX).

When localized, publisher XS Games re-titled the game as a sequel to Mobile Light Force, but in reality the games are unrelated. Mobile Light Force is known as Gunbird in Japan, and was not developed by Alfa System.

In 2017, Degica Games localized the series, with the first game released on Microsoft Windows via Steam on June 16 as Castle of Shikigami.[1]

Gameplay

When holding down the attack button, the player moves at slower speed, and all on-screen items are automatically retrieved. The player character is invulnerable when a special attack is in effect. When the player character is close to an enemy bullet, the points gained from destroying enemies and retrieving items is multiplied by a factor based on the distance between the bullet and the player character's center. The closer they are to the bullet, the higher the scoring. When destroying enemy in shikigami mode, the multiplier also applies to the number of items dropped by enemy and all items dropped by the enemy are automatically retrieved.

The Xbox release adds Practice mode, Gallery, and Replay mode, while the PlayStation 2 release adds Practice mode, Gallery, and Side Story modes. Windows includes I.R. mode and vertical screen layout from the arcade game. The North American and European releases of the game removed the screen rotation mode and all in-game plot.

Plot

In July 2005, a string of serial murders take place in Tokyo. All the victims are female and killed by external injury. The killings take place within 20 hours. On July 21, the 31st victim is found. The police force classify the case as special crime #568, and begin to seek investigators from occult sources. On July 23, there is a 32nd victim.

Characters

Playable characters:

  • Kohtarou Kuga (玖珂 光太郎, Kuga Koutarou)
  • Sayo Yuuki (結城 小夜, Yuuki Sayo)
  • Gennojo Hyuga (日向 玄乃丈, Hyuuga Gennoujou)
  • Fumiko Odette Vanstein (ふみこ・オゼット・ヴァンシュタイン, Fumiko Ozetto Vanshutain)
  • Daejeong Kim (金 大正, Kimu Dejon)
  • ???? (Tagami, from Elemental Gearbolt)

Bosses:

  • Miyoko Aku (悪 美代子, Aku Miyoko) (Stage 1)
  • Fujishima Juu (醜 藤島, Juu Fujishima) (Stage 2)
  • Hiroshi Aku (悪 浩志, Aku Hiroshi) (Stage 3)
  • Bauman Aku (悪 バウマン, Aku Bauman) (Stage 4)
  • Shoujo (少女, Shoujo) (Stage 5)
  • Zanryuu Shinen (残留 思念, Zanryuu Shinen) (Stage 5-3)

Shikigami no Shiro Evolution

Shikigami no Shiro Evolution was released in two separate versions, a red (紅, kurenai) version which included a database containing character gallery, trailers, and unused voices, and a blue (藍, ai) version which included developer videos. Both versions have improved enemy AI, new characters, a vertical screen mode, and the new Evolution Mode game mode.

Manga

A comic version was written by Tooru Zekuu (aka Shinji Takano) and illustrated by Yuuna Takanagi, serialized in the monthly Magazine Z. Three volumes were published under Kodansha's Magazine Z KC label.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
PS2Xbox
AllGameStarStar[2]N/A
EdgeN/A7/10[3]
GameSpot6.8/10[4]N/A
GameSpyStarStarStar[5]N/A
OPM (US)StarStarStarHalf star[6]N/A

In Japan, Game Machine listed Shikigami no Shiro on their November 1, 2001 issue as being the fourth most-successful arcade game of the month.[7]

The PlayStation 2 version received "mixed" reviews according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Castle of Shikigami 式神の城 on Steam" (in en). http://store.steampowered.com/app/582980/Castle_of_Shikigami/. 
  2. ↑ Marriott, Scott Alan. "Mobile Light Force 2 - Review". AllGame. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=42774&tab=review. Retrieved October 5, 2015. 
  3. ↑ Edge staff (June 2002). "Shikigami no Shiro (Xbox)". Edge (111). 
  4. ↑ Winegarner, Tyler (May 2, 2003). "Mobile Light Force 2 Review". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mobile-light-force-2-review/1900-6026152/. Retrieved October 27, 2014. 
  5. ↑ Meston, Zach (May 10, 2003). "GameSpy: Mobile Light Force 2". GameSpy. http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/mobile-light-force-2/5854p1.html. Retrieved October 5, 2015. 
  6. ↑ Kennedy, Sam (June 2003). "Mobile Light Force 2". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine: 105. http://www.playstationmagazine.com/article2/0,2053,1493922,00.asp. Retrieved October 5, 2015. 
  7. ↑ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software)". Game Machine (Amusement Press, Inc.) (645): 17. 1 November 2001. 
  8. ↑ "Mobile Light Force 2 for PlayStation 2 Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/castle-of-shikigami/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. Retrieved October 5, 2015. 

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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