Digimon World
Encyclopedia
is a video game by Bandai
on the PlayStation, released in 1999, about the Digimon virtual pet
s. It was followed by various sequels released for the PlayStation and other platforms.
The storyline focuses on a human brought to File City on File Island by Jijimon to save the island. Digimon have been losing their memories and becoming feral
and the city has fallen into disarray. The goal of the player, who is represented by a young boy whose name is given as "Hiro/Hero" (this is a common Japanese naming convention for RPG protagonists), is to save the island by helping Digimon recover their memory and return to the city.
The PAL region
's variant cover art
features the seven initial chosen Digimon from Digimon Adventure
. The group includes Gomamon
, who is otherwise completely absent from this game.
The other main part of gameplay is battle. The player's partner Digimon fight the Digimon that have become aggressive due to a crisis on File Island. Partner Digimon begin the game with a few basic skills, but acquire more as they progress in levels through the game.
The more Digimon who you gain in your city will make training and various other aspects of the game much easier. Many will open shops and even sell items, some which will open mini-games you can play to gain rewards and items.
. Jijimon greets and asks him a few questions, the answers to which determine whether he begins with an Agumon or Gabumon
. His goal is to travel around File Island, locating all of the resident Digimon of File City who have turned feral and bring them back, raising Digimon partners in the process. He must train his Digimon and battle his way through all of Digimon World until the once sparsely populated city is flourishing with different Digimon from all of Digimon World. He must eventually go to Mount Infinity (the final location) to confront the antagonist, Analogman, and the mega Machinedramon, and save the Digital World from destruction.
(now Namco Bandai Games
) used an extensive marketing campaign to compete with Nintendo
's Pokémon
media franchise, specifically the video games Pokémon Red and Blue
. A promotional Digimon trading card was offered to the first 100,000 North American customers to purchase the game. The game was officially announced in conjunction with Digimon World 2 in May 2000, before either's release.
's Miguel Lopez gave the game a 5.1 out of 10, criticizing the uninteractive nature of most of the game and concluding that "Digimon World isn't for everyone – only dedicated Digimon fans or fans of the monster-raising genre need apply." IGN
's David Zdyrko offered a similar opinion, additionally praising the graphics and sound. By February 2000, the game had sold approximately 250,000 copies in Japan.
Bandai
is a Japanese toy making and video game company, as well as the producer of a large number of plastic model kits. It is the world's third-largest producer of toys . Some ex-Bandai group companies produce anime and tokusatsu programs...
on the PlayStation, released in 1999, about the Digimon virtual pet
Digimon virtual pet
The Digimon Virtual Pet was a toy released in 1997 by Bandai. What became a TV series, toyline, comics, trading card game, and video games, began as a Tamagotchi mainly for boys...
s. It was followed by various sequels released for the PlayStation and other platforms.
The storyline focuses on a human brought to File City on File Island by Jijimon to save the island. Digimon have been losing their memories and becoming feral
Feral
A feral organism is one that has changed from being domesticated to being wild or untamed. In the case of plants it is a movement from cultivated to uncultivated or controlled to volunteer. The introduction of feral animals or plants to their non-native regions, like any introduced species, may...
and the city has fallen into disarray. The goal of the player, who is represented by a young boy whose name is given as "Hiro/Hero" (this is a common Japanese naming convention for RPG protagonists), is to save the island by helping Digimon recover their memory and return to the city.
The PAL region
PAL region
The PAL region is a television publication territory which covers most of Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and most of Western Europe...
's variant cover art
Cover art
Cover art is the illustration or photograph on the outside of a published product such as a book , magazine, comic book, video game , DVD, CD, videotape, or music album. The art has a primarily commercial function, i.e...
features the seven initial chosen Digimon from Digimon Adventure
Digimon Adventure
is a Japanese animated television series created in 1999 by Toei Animation based on the Digimon virtual pet made by Bandai. It is the first series of the Digimon anime "metaseries"...
. The group includes Gomamon
Gomamon
Gomamon is a Digimon creature from the Japanese Digimon media franchise that comprises anime, manga, toys, video games, trading card games and other media."Gomamon" is the name that all members of this particular Digimon species share...
, who is otherwise completely absent from this game.
Gameplay
The gameplay revolves around raising a single Digimon from its Digitama form, hatching into a Fresh, up through In-Training, Rookie, Champion, and with work, Ultimate. A Digimon partner will die with age, and return to an egg eventually, so the player has to raise it again. To raise a Digimon partner, the player must train it, feed it, let it rest and take it to a bathroom.The other main part of gameplay is battle. The player's partner Digimon fight the Digimon that have become aggressive due to a crisis on File Island. Partner Digimon begin the game with a few basic skills, but acquire more as they progress in levels through the game.
The more Digimon who you gain in your city will make training and various other aspects of the game much easier. Many will open shops and even sell items, some which will open mini-games you can play to gain rewards and items.
Plot
The game revolves around a young boy named Hiro (the player can name the protagonist in the beginning of the game), the protagonist, who is drawn into the Digital World through his V-Pet deviceDigimon virtual pet
The Digimon Virtual Pet was a toy released in 1997 by Bandai. What became a TV series, toyline, comics, trading card game, and video games, began as a Tamagotchi mainly for boys...
. Jijimon greets and asks him a few questions, the answers to which determine whether he begins with an Agumon or Gabumon
Gabumon
Gabumon is a Digimon creature from the Japanese Digimon media franchise that comprises anime, manga, toys, video games, trading card games and other media...
. His goal is to travel around File Island, locating all of the resident Digimon of File City who have turned feral and bring them back, raising Digimon partners in the process. He must train his Digimon and battle his way through all of Digimon World until the once sparsely populated city is flourishing with different Digimon from all of Digimon World. He must eventually go to Mount Infinity (the final location) to confront the antagonist, Analogman, and the mega Machinedramon, and save the Digital World from destruction.
Development
Developer and publisher BandaiBandai
is a Japanese toy making and video game company, as well as the producer of a large number of plastic model kits. It is the world's third-largest producer of toys . Some ex-Bandai group companies produce anime and tokusatsu programs...
(now Namco Bandai Games
Namco Bandai Games
is an arcade, mobile and home video game developer and publisher based in Japan which is the product of a merger between the video game development divisions of Bandai and Namco. Namco Bandai Games is a wholly owned subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings and specializes in production and sales of...
) used an extensive marketing campaign to compete with Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
's Pokémon
Pokémon
is a media franchise published and owned by the video game company Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996. Originally released as a pair of interlinkable Game Boy role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, Pokémon has since become the second most successful and lucrative video...
media franchise, specifically the video games Pokémon Red and Blue
Pokémon Red and Blue
Pokémon Red Version and Blue Version, originally released in Japan as , are role-playing games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. They are the first installments to the Pokémon series. They were first released in Japan in 1996 as Red and Green, with Blue being...
. A promotional Digimon trading card was offered to the first 100,000 North American customers to purchase the game. The game was officially announced in conjunction with Digimon World 2 in May 2000, before either's release.
Reception
GameSpotGameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
's Miguel Lopez gave the game a 5.1 out of 10, criticizing the uninteractive nature of most of the game and concluding that "Digimon World isn't for everyone – only dedicated Digimon fans or fans of the monster-raising genre need apply." IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's David Zdyrko offered a similar opinion, additionally praising the graphics and sound. By February 2000, the game had sold approximately 250,000 copies in Japan.