Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki
| Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki franchise 東京魔人學園伝奇 | |
|---|---|
| Genre(s) | Supernatural, Adventure, Role-playing video game |
| Developer(s) | Main series Shout! Design Works Related works Now Production |
| Publisher(s) | Main series Asmik Ace Marvelous Entertainment Related works Asmik Ace Marvelous Entertainment Atlus Arc System Works |
| Creator(s) | Shuuhou Imai |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, WonderSwan, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, i-mode |
| First release | Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Kenpūchō June 18, 1998 |
| Latest release | Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters 2014 |
Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki (東京魔人學園伝奇, lit. "Tokyo Wizard Academy Fantasy"),[1][2][3][4] colloquially also known as Tokyo Majin Gakuen (東京魔人學園, lit. "Tokyo Wizard Academy"),[5][6][7] is a Japanese media franchise primarily focused on video games, with branches into other media such as manga, anime, light novels and audio dramas. Though no game in the franchise has been released outside Japan, an anime based thereupon and two related games – Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters and [8] – have.
The franchise began June 16, 1998 with the release of the PlayStation game Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Kenpūchō. Series director Shuuhou Imai (今井秋芳) calls the unifying style of the franchise and its related works "young adult supernatural school fantasy" (學園ジュヴナイル伝奇, gakuen juvunairu denki)[6] – i.e., entries all center on students fighting the supernatural (typically demonic creatures from Japanese folk lore and Shinto).
Beyond the franchise itself, there are also several video games considered linked to it through style, setting, or systems.[9][10]
Video games[]
Many video games have been released in or adjacent to the Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki franchise, connected not only in name, but often in themes and systems as well. Nearly all of the games present their narrative through visual novel-like story segments, while the non-expository gameplay segments vary considerably in nature.
Perhaps the most iconic idiosyncrasy that unites most all titles under the wider Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki umbrella is the so-called emotion input system (感情入力システム, kanjō nyūryoku shisutemu). During story segments, the game will occasionally prompt the player for a directional input into a cross-like interface. Each vertex of the cross corresponds to an emotion (or, in some cases, one of the five senses), and depending on the player's choice (inaction is also an option), their relationship with the character being spoken to may improve, worsen, or remain unchanged. Through this method, the player may gain (or fail to gain) extra party members, access (or irreversibly miss) special story scenes, or affect which ending they eventually reach.
Main series[]
The games in the main series share gameplay consisting of a mix of the aforementioned visual novel-like story segments, and of tactical RPG battles. The characters are students who must do battle with demonic creatures based in Japanese folk lore and Shinto. Between battles are story segments, in which the player nurtures the relationships between the protagonist and various characters.
Excluding remakes and expansions, only two main games have been released, with a third having been announced but ultimately canceled.
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
Original release date(s):
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Release years by system: 1997—PlayStation 2008—Nintendo DS 2012—PlayStation Network |
| Notes:
Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Kenpūchō (東京魔人學園剣風帖, lit. "Tokyo Wizard Academy: Blade Gale Book") is the progenitor of the franchise. It is the foundation of the present-day Hito no Shō (人之章, lit. "Chapter of Mankind") setting, upon which many works would eventually be based.
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Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Oboro-Kitan Original release date(s):
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Release years by system: 1999—PlayStation 2008—Nintendo DS 2012—PlayStation Network |
| Notes:
Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Oboro-Kitan (東京魔人學園朧綺譚, lit. "Tokyo Wizard Academy: Hazy Beautiful Tales") is a fan disc that provides extra content for Kenpūchō. Its content is also featured in the Nintendo DS remake of Kenpūchō.
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Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Gehōchō Original release date(s):
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Release years by system: 2002—PlayStation 2012—PlayStation Network |
| Notes:
The second main entry in the franchise. Assuming the form of a jidaigeki – a story set in ancient Japan. Focusing on the ancestors of the characters of Kenpūchō, it acts as a prequel, and is the foundation of the historic Ten no Shō (天之章, lit. "Chapter of Heaven") setting.
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Original release date(s):
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Release years by system: 2004—PlayStation 2 |
| Notes:
An expanded remake of Gehōchō for the PlayStation 2.
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Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Teisenchō Cancellation date:[11]
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Proposed system release: 2008—Nintendo DS |
| Notes:
Announced for the Nintendo DS on July 22, 2008,[12] Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Teisenchō (東京魔人學園帝戰帖, lit. "Tokyo Wizard Academy: Imperial War Book") was declared canceled in 2010.[4] The script for the game's first chapter was made public with a 2013 DVD, and in 2018 provided to Famitsu by director Shuuhou Imai. In this manuscript, it is revealed that the game was slated to take place in Japan's Imperial capital in 1943, between the events of Kenpūchō and Gehōchō, and was to start in Manchuria.[13] In a 2018 interview with the same magazine, Imai stated that he still hopes to one day bring the world Teisenchō's story.[4]
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Spin-offs[]
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
Original release date(s):[14]
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Release years by system: 2000—WonderSwan[14] 2004—Game Boy Advance[15] |
| Notes:
Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Fuju Hōroku (東京魔人學園符咒封録, lit. "Tokyo Wizard Academy: Sealed Spell Chronicle") is a digital collectible card game spin-off to Kenpūchō for portable consoles. It replaces the game's tactical RPG systems with card-based battles, while retaining its visual novel elements. In release order, it is the second standalone game in the franchise.
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Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Gunseiden Original release date(s):[16]
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Release years by system: 2007—i-mode[16] |
| Notes:
Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Gunseiden (東京魔人學園群星伝, lit. "Tokyo Wizard Academy: Star Cluster Legend") is a fighting game for Japanese i-mode feature phones, developed and published by Marvelous Entertainment. The game features characters from Kenpūchō fighting each other.[17]
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Related[]
A number of games not officially part of the franchise, but which are considered linked to it[9][10] through systems, setting, or Shuuhou Imai's influence, have also been released. Kowloon High-School Chronicle and Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters were directed by Imai. The Tenshō Gakuen series and Tokyo Mono Hara Shi, however, borrow systems and themes from Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki (and, in the latter case, Kowloon High-School Chronicle), but share little to no production staff with the franchise.
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
Tenshō Gakuen: Gensōroku Original release date(s):
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Release years by system: 2004—PlayStation 2 |
| Notes:
Developed by the Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki franchise's original publisher Asmik Ace – after Marvelous Entertainment obtained the publishing rights, without the input of Shuuhou Imai – Tenshō Gakuen: Gensōroku is a hybrid of visual novel and tactical RPG highly reminiscent of the main series of Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki games.
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Kowloon High-School Chronicle Original release date(s):[8]
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Release years by system: 2004—PlayStation 2 2006—PlayStation 2 (re:charge) JP: 2020; NA: 2021—Nintendo Switch |
| Notes:
Kowloon High-School Chronicle (九龍妖魔學園紀, Kūron Yōma Gakuen Ki, lit. "Kowloon Spirit Academy Chronicle") is one of only two Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki-adjacent games to be released outside Japan. An expanded edition bearing the subtitle re:charge also followed the game's original release. Over a decade later, the game received a remastered edition on Nintendo Switch by the name Kowloon Yōma Gakuen Ki: ORIGIN OF ADVENTURE, which was eventually translated and released in North America as Kowloon High-School Chronicle.[8] Inspired by films such as Indiana Jones and The Mummy,[6] the game mixes visual novel segments with first-person dungeon crawling RPG gameplay. Unlike typical dungeon crawlers, puzzle elements feature prominently in the dungeons.
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Tenshō Gakuen: Gekkōroku Original release date(s):
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Release years by system: 2006—PlayStation 2 |
| Notes:
The sequel to Tenshō Gakuen: Gensōroku.
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Original release date(s):
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Release years by system: 2010—PlayStation Portable |
| Notes:
Tokyo Mono Hara Shi is a spiritual successor to Kowloon High-School Chronicle in that it carries over most of the game's systems, in both visual novel and dungeon crawling modes. It is, however, unrelated by setting, and staff-wise only the character designer worked on both games.
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Original release date(s): Original version Daybreak Special Gigs |
Release years by system: Original version 2014—PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 3 Daybreak Special Gigs 2015—PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 2017—Microsoft Windows |
| Notes:
Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters (魔都紅色幽撃隊, Mato Kurenai Yūgekitai, lit. "Demon Capital Crimson Ghost-Fighting Squad"), along with its later expanded edition Daybreak Special Gigs, is the first game adjacent to the franchise to be released outside Japan. It carries over many elements from Kowloon High-School Chronicle's visual novel segments, but foregoes dungeon crawling for a battle system reminiscent of a board game.
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Anime[]
In 2007, the anime Tokyo Majin (Japanese: 東京魔人學園剣風帖龖, Hepburn: Tokyo Majin Gakuen Kenpūchō Tō, lit. "Tokyo Wizard Academy: Blade Gale Book – Dragon's Flight") was broadcast in Japan. The same year, it was localized into English by ADV Films, becoming the franchise's first entry to be released outside Japan. It is a loose adaptation of the first game, Kenpūchō, though due to the absence of creative influence from series director Shuuhou Imai, it significantly differs from the original work.
Other media[]
In a media mix marketing strategy, tangential works in other media have also been produced. This includes:
- The light novel series Sōryūhen (双龍変).
- The audio dramas Taimajin (退魔陣), Gekkōden (月紅伝), Kōryūsai (黄龍祭), Yōkitan (妖鬼譚), and Kagerō (陽炎).
- The manga Tokyo Requiem (妖都鎮魂歌).
- The radio dramas Gakkyū Nikki (学級日誌, lit. "Class Diary"), based on the anime, and Tokyo Majin Gakuen Hōsōbu (東京魔人學園放送部, lit. "Tokyo Wizard Academy Broadcast Club") – the latter being web radio, later collected on DVD.
References[]
- ^ Shout! Design Works (July 13, 2000). 〜東京魔人學園伝奇 人之章〜 東京魔人學園剣風帖繪巻 [Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki: Mankind Chapter – Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki Kenpūchō Emaki] (PlayStation) (in Japanese). Asmik Ace.
- ^ "東京魔人學園伝奇 誕生伍周年記念" [Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki 5-Year Anniversary] (in Japanese). Marvelous Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 6, 2007.
- ^ "東京魔人學園伝奇 誕生伍周年記念" [Tokyo Majin Gakuen Denki 10-Year Anniversary] (in Japanese). Marvelous Entertainment. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "『東京魔人學園剣風帖』発売から20年、今井秋芳監督が語る『魔人』の歩み。「『帝戰帖』を、いつの日かお届けしたい」" [20 Years after the Release of Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Kenpūchō, Director Shuuhou Imai Speaks on the Path of the Majin. "Someday, I Want to Bring You Teisenchō"] (in Japanese). Marvelous Entertainment. December 3, 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ "あの名作學園ジュヴナイル伝奇がNintendo Switchに蘇る！ 『九龍妖魔學園紀 ORIGIN OF ADVENTURE』が、6月4日に発売決定。予約受付開始！" [The Famed Young Adult School Fantasy Returns to Nintendo Switch! Kowloon High-School Chronicle ORIGIN OF ADVENTURE to Be Released on June 4th. Preorders Open!] (in Japanese). Nintendo. February 6, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "『九龍妖魔學園紀 ORIGIN OF ADVENTURE』インタビュー【後編】。今井秋芳監督が語る『九龍』開発秘話や続編構想、そして『東京魔人學園』最新作" [Kowloon High-School Chronicle ORIGIN OF ADVENTURE Interview (Part 2). Director Shuuhou Imai Reveals Details of Kowloon Development and Ponders a Sequel, as Well as a Continuation to the Tokyo Majin Gakuen Series] (in Japanese). Famitsu. May 8, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ "『魔都紅色幽撃隊』レビュー。『東京魔人學園』＆今井秋芳監督ファンが"學園ジュヴナイル伝奇"最新作としての出来を評価" [Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters Review. Fans of Tokyo Majin Gakuen and Shuuhou Imai Anticipate Game as Newest Work in the "Young Adult School Fantasy" Mold] (in Japanese). Dengeki Online. April 4, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Kowloon High-School Chronicle". Nintendo. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "転生學園幻蒼録" [Tenshō Gakuen Gensōroku] (in Japanese). Softbank Games. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "妄想力旺盛な人ほどプレイすべし！ 16年の時を経て蘇える『九龍妖魔學園紀 ORIGIN OF ADVENTURE』はやっぱり神ゲーだった" [Play This if You Have a Wild Imagination! Returning After 16 Years, Kowloon High-School Chronicle Proves It Is a Legendary Game] (in Japanese). WHAT's IN? tokyo. June 18, 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
- ^ "NDS用アドベンチャーゲーム「東京魔人學園帝戰帖」は発売中止に" [DS Adventure Game Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Teisenchō Canceled] (in Japanese). 4Gamer.net. July 1, 2010. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
- ^ "『東京魔人學園帝戰帖』が発表" [Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Teisenchō Announced] (in Japanese). Famitsu. July 22, 2008. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
- ^ "『東京魔人學園帝戰帖』発売が待たれる3部作最終作、その第壱話のシナリオを特別公開！ 時は1943年、主人公の物語は満洲から始まる" [Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Teisenchō – The Awaited Third and Final Entry: The First Chapter's Script, Revealed! The Protagonist's Story Starts in Manchuria, 1943] (in Japanese). Famitsu. December 3, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Shout! Design Works homepage" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 23, 2000.
- ^ "東京魔人學園 符咒封録" [Tokyo Majin Gakuen Fuju Hōroku]. Amazon.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "東京魔人學園群星伝" [Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Gunseiden] (in Japanese). Retrieved February 14, 2021.
- ^ "マーベラス、iモード用サイト「マーベラスモバイルGAMES」開設 「東京魔人學園群星伝」など3タイトルと3本のFlash ゲームを配信開始" [Marvelous Founds i-mode Site Marvelous Games. Three Flash Games Including Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Gunseiden Now Available] (in Japanese). GAME Watch. July 8, 2008. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
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