Culdcept
Encyclopedia
is a turn-based strategy
video game. It has drawn comparisons to other modern strategy titles, and also shares features with non-video games Monopoly
and Magic: The Gathering
. The first installment to reach North America was the expanded port of Culdcept Second
released for the Sony PlayStation 2
, the North American release was simply titled Culdcept. The first game was only released in Japan for the Sega Saturn
and PlayStation
, eventually it was ported to the Nintendo DS
as Culdcept DS.
Although the game is relatively intricate, it slowly nurtures the player through basic game concepts. By acting as an arbiter and automatically enforcing the rules, game complexity is kept to manageable levels. After enough sessions, players should be able to figure out various strategies and be able to effectively practice deck optimization
techniques.
In Story mode, players play through the minimal plot of the game, eventually unlocking new game boards and earning certain cards that are only available through story mode play.
In Versus mode, players can play other humans or a mixture of human and computer players (AIs), also all AIs. This mode is hampered somewhat by the fact that all human players must play on the same console, and hence can see each other's hands. While players can trade cards, this mechanic is limited to prevent exploitation, in that players can only receive a single copy of a card which they haven't already earned through gameplay. Additionally, moving data between memory cards can only be done from within the game, and only one copy of a saved character and associated constructed decks can exist at any given time (to prevent data cloning).
On PlayStation 2 or Nintendo DS, the "medal" system is a means to encourage players to construct some unusual decks, win some unique cards, and open up new optional boards. Once story mode is completed, the remaining challenge posed to the player is to collect various "medals" by meeting some easy and some more obscure gaming conditions through a combination of luck and deck design.
in that players roll a die (or two dice with certain spells) to move around on a game board. However, instead of buying the property and putting houses and hotels on it, players instead summon a creature to defend the property with cards—the Magic: The Gathering
aspect of the game. If an opponent lands on a property that one owns, the opponent either pays a toll, or can choose to attack the defending creature with one of their own in order to attempt to take over the property. Unlike Monopoly, this can result in one losing a piece of land after considerable investment.
There are four property colors that represent different terrain types, e.g. green = forest. The more a player invests in the property to "level it up" (ala adding houses or a hotel in Monopoly), the more the terrain flourishes (e.g. forests become more dense with trees). This then provides additional defense to creatures of the matching color type, and exacts a higher toll on opponents landing there. And as a player collects more lands of the same color (creating "chains") the tolls, as well of the land values, increase.
Culdcept also includes item cards that can be played during battle to help attack, defend or manipulate the battle in a number of other ways. Along with creature and item card are spell cards are also that cause other various effects to creatures, territories, and Cepters.
. Two expansions were released on the PlayStation
in 1999 and 2000 respectively. A sequel title Culdcept Second
was released on the Dreamcast in 2001, with an expansion of its own released on the PlayStation 2 the following year. The sequel was marketed in North America as Culdcept, and published by NEC Interchannel.
On April 6, 2006, it was announced that a new entry to the series, Culdcept Saga
, was in development. This new Xbox 360
title was released later that year in Japan, with a North American release on February 5, 2008. A Nintendo DS
version, Culdcept DS was released in Japan on October 16, 2008.
books based on the original Culdcept game. The manga for Culdcept is about an apprentice cepter named Najaran (with her worrywart talking staff, Goligan) who helps save the Culdcept, the book which the goddess Culdra had kept all the cards in until the War of the Gods. The manga was adapted by Shinya Kaneko and serialized in Japan by Kodansha
in Magazine Z, and collected in six bound volumes
. It is licensed in English by Tokyopop
.
Turn-based strategy
A turn-based strategy game is a strategy game where players take turns when playing...
video game. It has drawn comparisons to other modern strategy titles, and also shares features with non-video games Monopoly
Monopoly (game)
Marvin Gardens, the leading yellow property on the board shown, is actually a misspelling of the original location name, Marven Gardens. The misspelling was said to be introduced by Charles Todd and passed on when his home-made Monopoly board was copied by Charles Darrow and thence to Parker...
and Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering , also known as Magic, is the first collectible trading card game created by mathematics professor Richard Garfield and introduced in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast. Magic continues to thrive, with approximately twelve million players as of 2011...
. The first installment to reach North America was the expanded port of Culdcept Second
Culdcept Second
is a turn-based strategy video game for the Dreamcast. It is the sequel to the Saturn title Culdcept. An expansion for the game, Culdcept Second Expansion, was released for the PlayStation 2 on September 26, 2002. The expansion was marketed in North America as Culdcept, and published by NEC...
released for the Sony PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
, the North American release was simply titled Culdcept. The first game was only released in Japan for the Sega Saturn
Sega Saturn
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
and PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
, eventually it was ported to 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...
as Culdcept DS.
Gameplay
In Culdcept, the player takes on the role of a Cepter. Cepters are beings that have the ability to use magical cards to summon creatures, cast spells, and perform various other feats of wizardry. As players advance through the game, they earn additional cards that they can use to create customised "books" (decks of 50 cards) with which to better defeat their foes.Although the game is relatively intricate, it slowly nurtures the player through basic game concepts. By acting as an arbiter and automatically enforcing the rules, game complexity is kept to manageable levels. After enough sessions, players should be able to figure out various strategies and be able to effectively practice deck optimization
Deck optimization
The term deck optimization refers to iteratively improving a play deck in a collectible card game. This is usually done through test or trial play sessions, during which the deck's performance is evaluated. After observation and consideration, changes are made to the deck, and its new...
techniques.
Modes
There are two modes of play:In Story mode, players play through the minimal plot of the game, eventually unlocking new game boards and earning certain cards that are only available through story mode play.
In Versus mode, players can play other humans or a mixture of human and computer players (AIs), also all AIs. This mode is hampered somewhat by the fact that all human players must play on the same console, and hence can see each other's hands. While players can trade cards, this mechanic is limited to prevent exploitation, in that players can only receive a single copy of a card which they haven't already earned through gameplay. Additionally, moving data between memory cards can only be done from within the game, and only one copy of a saved character and associated constructed decks can exist at any given time (to prevent data cloning).
On PlayStation 2 or Nintendo DS, the "medal" system is a means to encourage players to construct some unusual decks, win some unique cards, and open up new optional boards. Once story mode is completed, the remaining challenge posed to the player is to collect various "medals" by meeting some easy and some more obscure gaming conditions through a combination of luck and deck design.
Mechanics
Gameplay resembles MonopolyMonopoly (game)
Marvin Gardens, the leading yellow property on the board shown, is actually a misspelling of the original location name, Marven Gardens. The misspelling was said to be introduced by Charles Todd and passed on when his home-made Monopoly board was copied by Charles Darrow and thence to Parker...
in that players roll a die (or two dice with certain spells) to move around on a game board. However, instead of buying the property and putting houses and hotels on it, players instead summon a creature to defend the property with cards—the Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering , also known as Magic, is the first collectible trading card game created by mathematics professor Richard Garfield and introduced in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast. Magic continues to thrive, with approximately twelve million players as of 2011...
aspect of the game. If an opponent lands on a property that one owns, the opponent either pays a toll, or can choose to attack the defending creature with one of their own in order to attempt to take over the property. Unlike Monopoly, this can result in one losing a piece of land after considerable investment.
There are four property colors that represent different terrain types, e.g. green = forest. The more a player invests in the property to "level it up" (ala adding houses or a hotel in Monopoly), the more the terrain flourishes (e.g. forests become more dense with trees). This then provides additional defense to creatures of the matching color type, and exacts a higher toll on opponents landing there. And as a player collects more lands of the same color (creating "chains") the tolls, as well of the land values, increase.
Culdcept also includes item cards that can be played during battle to help attack, defend or manipulate the battle in a number of other ways. Along with creature and item card are spell cards are also that cause other various effects to creatures, territories, and Cepters.
Related products
Culdcept is the first in a series of games by OmiyaSoft, originally released for the Sega SaturnSega Saturn
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
. Two expansions were released on the PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
in 1999 and 2000 respectively. A sequel title Culdcept Second
Culdcept Second
is a turn-based strategy video game for the Dreamcast. It is the sequel to the Saturn title Culdcept. An expansion for the game, Culdcept Second Expansion, was released for the PlayStation 2 on September 26, 2002. The expansion was marketed in North America as Culdcept, and published by NEC...
was released on the Dreamcast in 2001, with an expansion of its own released on the PlayStation 2 the following year. The sequel was marketed in North America as Culdcept, and published by NEC Interchannel.
On April 6, 2006, it was announced that a new entry to the series, Culdcept Saga
Culdcept Saga
Culdcept Saga has sold 27,960 copies in Japan as of November 30, 2008. Culdcept Saga generally received scores in the "fair" range from the gaming press, with scores from unofficial player reviews being somewhat higher....
, was in development. This new Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
title was released later that year in Japan, with a North American release on February 5, 2008. A 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...
version, Culdcept DS was released in Japan on October 16, 2008.
Manga
Also available are a series of mangaManga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
books based on the original Culdcept game. The manga for Culdcept is about an apprentice cepter named Najaran (with her worrywart talking staff, Goligan) who helps save the Culdcept, the book which the goddess Culdra had kept all the cards in until the War of the Gods. The manga was adapted by Shinya Kaneko and serialized in Japan by Kodansha
Kodansha
, the largest Japanese publisher, produces the manga magazines Nakayoshi, Afternoon, Evening, and Weekly Shonen Magazine, as well as more literary magazines such as Gunzō, Shūkan Gendai, and the Japanese dictionary Nihongo Daijiten. The company has its headquarters in Bunkyō, Tokyo...
in Magazine Z, and collected in six bound volumes
Tankobon
, with a literal meaning close to "independently appearing book", is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series , though the manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series...
. It is licensed in English by Tokyopop
Tokyopop
Tokyopop, styled TOKYOPOP, and formerly known as Mixx, is a distributor, licensor, and publisher of anime, manga, manhwa, and Western manga-style works. The existing German publishing division produces German translations of licensed Japanese properties and original English-language manga, as well...
.