Avalon Code
Encyclopedia
is a fantasy action role-playing game
for the Nintendo DS
released in Japan on November 1, 2008 and on March 10, 2009 in North America. The game was created by Matrix Software
.
The protagonist finds and befriends four helpful Spirits taking residence inside the Book. Throughout the journey, they learn about a plot to hasten the end of the world, as well as what happened to the Book's last Chosen One.
The main character of Avalon Code. They have been given the task of recording everything in the world using the Book of Prophecy, making them its new Chosen; as such, they become gifted with the ability to read ancient runes and use any weapon produced from the Book. At one point in the game, they are given the choice to join themselves with one of the four legendary Weapon Schools.
Yumil/Tia's past, including whether or not they have any living family members, is never really touched upon; however, it can be assumed that they continue to live on with the Spirits in the new world.
Rempo
The fire spirit with his arms sealed. He is the first book spirit the player comes across, initially acting as a guide for the hero. He is less mature than the others, becomes annoyed easily (as the target of the majority of his fellow spirit Ur's lectures), and doesn’t get along with Neaki. It is shown that, although Rempo normally resents Ur's big-brotherly ways, he and Ur will stand together to protect something valuable (namely, the Book of Prophecy).
Rempo has an affinity for explosions, and thus advises the hero to go with Haochy the inventor and the Bomb School.
All four Book Spirits are assumed to have been created at the same time.
Neaki
The ice spirit with her voice sealed. Mieli annoys her due to their contrasting personalities, but she does not hate her. Neaki can be described as a tsundere character, warming up to the hero over time. She also dislikes Rempo, whom she has a tendency to shove around when addressed by.
She advises the hero to ally with the Southern Flight School.
On an interesting note, when Neaki is sealed in the Book (in other words, when a different spirit is equipped as the player's guide), her image is similar to those on the Clow Cards in manga studio CLAMP's series, Cardcaptor Sakura
, specifically the card Watery. Ironically, the Clow Cards were used to seal helpful elemental spirits away, and were stored in an ancient book found by the titular Sakura.
Mieli
The forest spirit with her legs sealed. A cute, bubbly ditz, her personality contrasts with Neaki’s; in some ways she can be compared to the typical cheerful anime schoolgirl, hugging the others and commenting on the cuteness of some enemy types.
Mieli has a tendency to bring up the surrounding climate when summoned for advice by the hero. She likes the Hammer School.
Ur
The lightning spirit with his eyes sealed. He is very serious and usually acts as the mediator between the other spirits. Ur is the oldest of the four in terms of physical appearance.
He advocates the Sword School.
Ur is one of the most popular characters, in Japan and other regions in which the game was released alike, ranking number one in a Japanese popularity poll (which was conducted prior to the game's release in the United States, and can be found on the Japanese official Web site). He is voiced by Johnny Yong Bosch, an acclaimed voice actor who has worked on other RPGs in the past.
Each page shows the object's basic information, such as attack strength (for items), health points (for enemies) and personal likes, dislikes, and goals (for people).
In addition, everything that can be scanned has a Code - which is like DNA, but simpler. Its Code is in turn made up of many Codes, which are pieces of different shapes and sizes that fit into the object's grid somewhat like fitting pentominoes into a box. Creating different combinations of Codes, by adding and removing them, changes the object's title and sometimes has a major effect on the object. Changing titles to remove 'defective' Codes, as well as creating 'new' items, is a facet of gameplay used in many sidequests and occasionally within the story.
An example of Code manipulation is as follows: at one point in the adventure the player encounters a writer who has an illness, rendering him very weak. Once he is Code Scanned, the part of his code causing his ill health can be seen and removed, causing the writer's 'miraculous' recovery. The player can then attach the illness to an enemy's code to make every enemy of that particular species, everywhere in the world, weaker by a certain amount.
It would also work with a weapon, such as a sword that, when used, poisons any enemy it touches.
Each page in the Book of Prophecy has a value, and once the Book's entire value is reaches a certain level, it will level up. The Mental Map, the portion of an area where Codes are stored, will sometimes expand. In order to raise page values, besides Code manipulation, the player may do things such as examine points of interest on a map, give gifts to a friend, defeat many of a certain enemy, call on that Spirit for advice, or equip that weapon.
Players familiar with other games by Marvelous Entertainment producer Yoshifumi Hashimoto will likely compare the affection system featured in Avalon Code to that in games such as Natsume's Harvest Moon and Rune Factory series (although the protagonists of Avalon Code are too young for marriage). Most human non-player characters (NPCs) can be given gifts, and have differing tastes and aspirations. Avalon Code features a total of fourteen 'eligible' NPCs (seven girls to choose from if the player chooses the boy character, seven boys if the player character is female - in other words, five people and two Spirits apiece); two of them are 'secret' and were not listed in the game's instruction booklet.
Each character has one or more sidequests that the player can undertake at certain points in the story, in addition, which are mostly fetch quests or reveal a little of the character's backstory. These are accessed by raising that character's affection level, by doing things such as giving them presents.
Dungeons are fairly linear, and consist of many linked rooms in which the player must complete a specific task to advance (and determine that page's value). There are several types of goals, ranging from lighting torches to defeating enemies, and although there is an onscreen timer for each challenge room, the player may still complete the challenge and advance after running out of time with no penalty other than a low score. Most dungeons, naturally, end with a fight against a boss. Rooms and bosses may be replayed as many times as the player desires in order to achieve a better score and possibly hidden bonuses.
After defeating each monster boss, the player unlocks a new page in a special Book chapter. These pages contain questions about the new world, and the Codes that are inserted as answers will determine different aspects of it. The answers can be filled in differently as many times as the player wishes, yielding different results with different code combinations.
The opening theme, "deep forest", was sung by the up-and-coming Japanese pop musician Kana Yazumi
.
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
for the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
released in Japan on November 1, 2008 and on March 10, 2009 in North America. The game was created by Matrix Software
Matrix Software
is a Japanese video game development company located in Tokyo. Founded in July 1994 by former members of Climax Entertainment and Telenet Japan, the company has since created games for a number of systems beginning with their role-playing title Alundra in April 1997...
.
Story
The main character (a young boy whose default name is Yumil, or a young girl whose default name is Tia) has been having nightmares about the end of the world. They are told that they have been chosen by the powers-that-be; not to save the world: their job is to use a magic tome called the Book of Prophecy to record what is worth saving, so that information may be used to create the next world.The protagonist finds and befriends four helpful Spirits taking residence inside the Book. Throughout the journey, they learn about a plot to hasten the end of the world, as well as what happened to the Book's last Chosen One.
Characters
Yumil/TiaThe main character of Avalon Code. They have been given the task of recording everything in the world using the Book of Prophecy, making them its new Chosen; as such, they become gifted with the ability to read ancient runes and use any weapon produced from the Book. At one point in the game, they are given the choice to join themselves with one of the four legendary Weapon Schools.
Yumil/Tia's past, including whether or not they have any living family members, is never really touched upon; however, it can be assumed that they continue to live on with the Spirits in the new world.
Rempo
The fire spirit with his arms sealed. He is the first book spirit the player comes across, initially acting as a guide for the hero. He is less mature than the others, becomes annoyed easily (as the target of the majority of his fellow spirit Ur's lectures), and doesn’t get along with Neaki. It is shown that, although Rempo normally resents Ur's big-brotherly ways, he and Ur will stand together to protect something valuable (namely, the Book of Prophecy).
Rempo has an affinity for explosions, and thus advises the hero to go with Haochy the inventor and the Bomb School.
All four Book Spirits are assumed to have been created at the same time.
Neaki
The ice spirit with her voice sealed. Mieli annoys her due to their contrasting personalities, but she does not hate her. Neaki can be described as a tsundere character, warming up to the hero over time. She also dislikes Rempo, whom she has a tendency to shove around when addressed by.
She advises the hero to ally with the Southern Flight School.
On an interesting note, when Neaki is sealed in the Book (in other words, when a different spirit is equipped as the player's guide), her image is similar to those on the Clow Cards in manga studio CLAMP's series, Cardcaptor Sakura
Cardcaptor Sakura
, abbreviated as CCS and also known as Cardcaptors, is a Japanese shōjo manga series written and illustrated by the manga artist group Clamp. The manga was originally serialized monthly in Nakayoshi from the May 1996 until the June 2000 issue, and later published in 12 tankōbon volumes by Kodansha...
, specifically the card Watery. Ironically, the Clow Cards were used to seal helpful elemental spirits away, and were stored in an ancient book found by the titular Sakura.
Mieli
The forest spirit with her legs sealed. A cute, bubbly ditz, her personality contrasts with Neaki’s; in some ways she can be compared to the typical cheerful anime schoolgirl, hugging the others and commenting on the cuteness of some enemy types.
Mieli has a tendency to bring up the surrounding climate when summoned for advice by the hero. She likes the Hammer School.
Ur
The lightning spirit with his eyes sealed. He is very serious and usually acts as the mediator between the other spirits. Ur is the oldest of the four in terms of physical appearance.
He advocates the Sword School.
Ur is one of the most popular characters, in Japan and other regions in which the game was released alike, ranking number one in a Japanese popularity poll (which was conducted prior to the game's release in the United States, and can be found on the Japanese official Web site). He is voiced by Johnny Yong Bosch, an acclaimed voice actor who has worked on other RPGs in the past.
Gameplay
The plot, as well as the gameplay, revolves around the Book of Prophecy and the touch-sensitive lower screen of the DS. To record a person, monster, plant or weapon in its pages, the player performs a "Code Scan", which is done by hitting the target to be scanned with the Book itself.Each page shows the object's basic information, such as attack strength (for items), health points (for enemies) and personal likes, dislikes, and goals (for people).
In addition, everything that can be scanned has a Code - which is like DNA, but simpler. Its Code is in turn made up of many Codes, which are pieces of different shapes and sizes that fit into the object's grid somewhat like fitting pentominoes into a box. Creating different combinations of Codes, by adding and removing them, changes the object's title and sometimes has a major effect on the object. Changing titles to remove 'defective' Codes, as well as creating 'new' items, is a facet of gameplay used in many sidequests and occasionally within the story.
An example of Code manipulation is as follows: at one point in the adventure the player encounters a writer who has an illness, rendering him very weak. Once he is Code Scanned, the part of his code causing his ill health can be seen and removed, causing the writer's 'miraculous' recovery. The player can then attach the illness to an enemy's code to make every enemy of that particular species, everywhere in the world, weaker by a certain amount.
It would also work with a weapon, such as a sword that, when used, poisons any enemy it touches.
Each page in the Book of Prophecy has a value, and once the Book's entire value is reaches a certain level, it will level up. The Mental Map, the portion of an area where Codes are stored, will sometimes expand. In order to raise page values, besides Code manipulation, the player may do things such as examine points of interest on a map, give gifts to a friend, defeat many of a certain enemy, call on that Spirit for advice, or equip that weapon.
Players familiar with other games by Marvelous Entertainment producer Yoshifumi Hashimoto will likely compare the affection system featured in Avalon Code to that in games such as Natsume's Harvest Moon and Rune Factory series (although the protagonists of Avalon Code are too young for marriage). Most human non-player characters (NPCs) can be given gifts, and have differing tastes and aspirations. Avalon Code features a total of fourteen 'eligible' NPCs (seven girls to choose from if the player chooses the boy character, seven boys if the player character is female - in other words, five people and two Spirits apiece); two of them are 'secret' and were not listed in the game's instruction booklet.
Each character has one or more sidequests that the player can undertake at certain points in the story, in addition, which are mostly fetch quests or reveal a little of the character's backstory. These are accessed by raising that character's affection level, by doing things such as giving them presents.
Dungeons are fairly linear, and consist of many linked rooms in which the player must complete a specific task to advance (and determine that page's value). There are several types of goals, ranging from lighting torches to defeating enemies, and although there is an onscreen timer for each challenge room, the player may still complete the challenge and advance after running out of time with no penalty other than a low score. Most dungeons, naturally, end with a fight against a boss. Rooms and bosses may be replayed as many times as the player desires in order to achieve a better score and possibly hidden bonuses.
After defeating each monster boss, the player unlocks a new page in a special Book chapter. These pages contain questions about the new world, and the Codes that are inserted as answers will determine different aspects of it. The answers can be filled in differently as many times as the player wishes, yielding different results with different code combinations.
Development
Avalon Code's character design and a majority of the game's artwork was done by the Japanese artist HACCAN.The opening theme, "deep forest", was sung by the up-and-coming Japanese pop musician Kana Yazumi
Kana Yazumi
, is a popular Japanese female singer-songwriter. Her second single "Be Strong" was used as the first opening theme of anime series Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple.- Singles :* "Fall"...
.