Seiken Densetsu
Seiken Densetsu (聖剣伝説 literally Holy Sword Legend) is a computer role-playing game series from Square Enix (formerly known as Square Co., Ltd.), created by Koichi Ishii. The series is known for its action-based battle system, as opposed to the traditional turn-based style adopted by most console role-playing games. The series began as a handheld gaiden ("side story") to Square's flagship franchise, Final Fantasy. Most Final Fantasy-inspired elements were dropped from the series starting with the second installment, however.
In Japan, Seiken Densetsu generally generates less profit than other traditional series such as Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and SaGa. Even so, the franchise has been reasonably successful, with Seiken Densetsu 2 managing to sell more than 1.5 million copies in Asia alone.
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Series overview
Seiken Densetsu: The Emergence of Excalibur
Square trademarked the title "Seiken Densetsu" as early as 1987, originally intending to use the name for a massive project under the leadership of Kazuhiko Aoki and intended for the Famicom Disk System. Early advertisements for Seiken Densetsu: The Emergence of Excalibur stated that the game, a traditional turn-based role-playing game, would consist of an unprecedented five floppy diskettes, making it the largest title developed for the Famicom up until that point. Although Square solicited preorders for the game, Kaoru Moriyama, a former Square employee, denies that the game ever progressed beyond early planning stages before management cancelled the project. In November 1987, people who had placed orders for the game were sent a letter informing them of the cancellation, urging them to consider placing an order of an upcoming Square role playing game in a similar vein: Final Fantasy.[1]
Final Fantasy Adventure
- Main article: Final Fantasy Adventure
In 1991, four years after the cancellation of The Emergence of Excalibur, Square resurrected the trademarked title for an unrelated game. Originally developed under the title Gemma Knights, Seiken Densetsu: Final Fantasy Gaiden (聖剣伝説 ～ファイナルファンタジー外伝～, known in North America as Final Fantasy Adventure, and as Mystic Quest in Europe), was released for the original Game Boy. Drawing many stylistic influences from the Final Fantasy series (and particularly from Final Fantasy III, the most recent game in the series at the time), it differed from that series in that it presented real-time, action-oriented battles, rather than the traditional turn-based battles of the Final Fantasy series.
Secret of Mana
- Main article: Secret of Mana
Seiken Densetsu 2 (聖剣伝説2, known in North America as Secret of Mana) was released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1993. It introduced the ring menu, which enabled prompt access to some features – most notably magic spells – which helped enhance the game's "real time" sensation. It is the best known game in the series, owing in part to its multiplayer features.
Seiken Densetsu 3
- Main article: Seiken Densetsu 3
Seiken Densetsu 3 (聖剣伝説3) was released for the Super Famicom (the Japanese version of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System) on September 30, 1995. It was never officially released outside of Japan, although an English language fan translation was released by Neill Corlett in 2000. Seiken Densetsu 3 introduced a degree of nonlinearity to the series, allowing players to choose a party from a total of six characters. A total of three distinct storylines are available.
Legend of Mana
- Main article: Legend of Mana
Seiken Densetsu: Legend of Mana (聖剣伝説 LEGEND OF MANA, released internationally as Legend of Mana) was released in 2000 for the Sony PlayStation. While featuring much of the same gameplay as its predecessors, it created a more expansive world with which the player could interact. Different areas of the game are represented using artifacts and placed by the player onto a world map (a small portion of the total map on which the player chooses to place his or her artifacts); different artifact placement allows the player to obtain different items, an idea later used in such games as Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. The player is also able to acquire temporary sidekicks (be they non-player characters, other players, or pets/golems) that can be bred, built, or sold; to create and temper weapons (both magical – depicted as musical instruments – and physical) and armor; and grow crops which can be sold or fed to pets. Contrary to popular belief, Legend of Mana is not Seiken Densetsu 4, hence it should be considered a gaiden to the numbered games in the series.
Sword of Mana
- Main article: Sword of Mana
Shin'yaku Seiken Densetsu (新約 聖剣伝説 lit, New Testament Holy Sword Legend, released internationally as Sword of Mana) is an heavily modified enhanced remake of the original Game Boy Seiken Densetsu, released for the Game Boy Advance in 2003. This was done in order to release the original Seiken Densetsu from its Final Fantasy roots and bring it more in line with the direction the series had taken with Seiken Densetsu 2. Hence, Sword of Mana is considered canon in the timeline of Seiken Densetsu, whereas Final Fantasy Adventure is no longer.
World of Mana
In 2005, Square Enix announced plans for a series of new games in the Seiken Densetsu series, to be released under the collective title of The World of Mana. So far, two titles have been announced.[2]
Seiken Densetsu 4
Seiken Densetsu 4 (聖剣伝説4) is a new game in the series, part of the The World of Mana Compilation. It has been confirmed to be released on the PlayStation 2. It currently has no release date.
Seiken Densetsu DS: Children of Mana
Seiken Densetsu DS: Children of Mana is a new game in the The World of Mana Compilation, being made for the Nintendo DS. It has a tentative release date of Winter 2006 in Japan.
See also
References
- ^ Chris Collette. "Elusions: Final Fantasy IV / Seiken Densetsu." LostLevels.org. November 2003. Last accessed on 14 October 2005.
- ^ Hirohiko Niizumi. "World of Mana spanning multiple platforms." GameSpot. 31 July 2005. Last accessed on 14 October 2005.
| Seiken Densetsu - Numbered Titles |
|---|
| Final Fantasy Adventure | Secret of Mana | Seiken Densetsu 3 | Seiken Densetsu 4 |
| Unnumbered Titles |
| Legend of Mana | Sword of Mana | World of Mana | Children of Mana |
| Recurring characters |
| Elemental Spirits | Rabitesde:Seiken Densetsu |