Grand Knights History
Encyclopedia
is a role-playing video game
developed by Vanillaware
and published by Marvelous Entertainment for the PlayStation Portable
handheld system.
world where players must take control of a group of up to four characters from three separate classes--knight, archer, or wizard--who must travel through various landscapes battling enemies and take part in the story. While knights specializes in close combat and melee weapons, archers are adept at ranged attacks with bows or guns while wizards can cast magic spells to attack enemies or aid allies. Each character can be customized in a number of ways, including appearance, voice, weapon specialty and magical spells, and may be organized in one of 20 separate fighting formations which affect their battle performance.
Depending on a player's choices, characters may learn specific skills and techniques which may further aid them in combat, which is carried out in a turn-based fashion where the character or enemy with the highest speed will attack first. Battle sequences take place on convex fighting area known as the "Battle Sphere Reel", which the game's camera pans across when party members or enemies take action. By outfitting characters in new weapons, armor, and ornaments, a player may increase a characters statistics which allow them to become stronger, as well as further affect their appearance. The story is advanced by taking part in quests which require the player to travel across the game world on a map with interconnected areas and towns. As players complete more quests, paths to new areas become available to explore.
Making use of the PlayStation Portable's PlayStation Network online function, players may battle each other in groups representing one of the game's three kingdoms. As each group wins battles against opposing factions, they expand their territory within the online environment, granting them access to rewards and a standing on community-based leaderboards. Winning groups may vote on which territory to attack next, and individual players may opt to have their characters controlled by artificial intelligence
rather than themselves manually.
world of Rystia, which is divided into three warring kingdoms: Logres, the Ancient Kingdom, ruled by King Fausel (voiced by Tomokazu Sugita
); Union, the Kingdom of Knights, ruled by King Leon (voiced by Daisuke Kishio
); and Avalon, the Kingdom of Magic, ruled by Queen Muse (voiced by Kikuko Inoue
). Players must align themselves to one of the three nations and advance the story by taking part in missions on behalf of their chosen country.
magazine and was originally planned for release by Marvelous Entertainment the following summer. In June 2011, the company released the first video preview as well as a new release date set for September. The game is the first title from Vanillaware since Muramasa: The Demon Blade
for the Nintendo Wii in 2009, and is the first traditional, turn-based role-playing game from the company, as well as the first developed for the PlayStation Portable.
Project director Tomohiko Deguchi explained that the game contains an art style similar to their previous projects, elaborating that "The 2D characters will be animated just like in our action games, and we're also challenging ourselves to build a new type of gameplay by fusing online and offline." The online mode was seen as a main component of the game, which Deguchi elaborated "Most RPGs up to now involve one person or a group of friends playing together, but we're trying to set up this new kind of game, a full-on war that all the users are connected together in. It's a war RPG where not just one player, not just a few people, but all of the players are drawn together as they fight." This decision prompted the game's publisher to set up an online infrastructure capable of allowing players on separate continents to play with each other.
The game features music from Hitoshi Sakimoto
and members of his music production company Basiscape, who previously provided the background themes for the Vanillaware titles Odin Sphere
, GrimGrimoire
, and Muramasa: The Demon Blade. Grand Knights Historys official television commercial theme song is "Navigation" by J-pop
artist fumika.
In a SiliconEra interview, Marvelous said they are looking into localizing the game, stating "We’re currently working on Grand Knights History, which has high expectations worldwide..."
magazine, based on individual reviews of 10, 9, 9, and 8. The magazine praised the title's "traditionally-Vanillaware graphics" and character animations as well as its online mode, stating that "The easy entry into online play is just as great, and raising characters to send to the battlefield is both innovative and very smooth in action. This game gets top marks in fun." It also garnered an 82.5 out of 100 average from Dengeki PlayStation
magazine based on four reviews of 90, 80, 80, and 80.
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...
developed by Vanillaware
Vanillaware
is a Japanese video game company development studio. Previously, they were known as Puraguru from 2002 until 2004, when they renamed as Vanillaware. The studio's past projects have specialized in 2D, or sprite-based, game design. They have garnered positive attention from fans and game media alike...
and published by Marvelous Entertainment for the PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
handheld system.
Gameplay
Grand Knights History is a traditional console role-playing game set in a fantasyFantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
world where players must take control of a group of up to four characters from three separate classes--knight, archer, or wizard--who must travel through various landscapes battling enemies and take part in the story. While knights specializes in close combat and melee weapons, archers are adept at ranged attacks with bows or guns while wizards can cast magic spells to attack enemies or aid allies. Each character can be customized in a number of ways, including appearance, voice, weapon specialty and magical spells, and may be organized in one of 20 separate fighting formations which affect their battle performance.
Depending on a player's choices, characters may learn specific skills and techniques which may further aid them in combat, which is carried out in a turn-based fashion where the character or enemy with the highest speed will attack first. Battle sequences take place on convex fighting area known as the "Battle Sphere Reel", which the game's camera pans across when party members or enemies take action. By outfitting characters in new weapons, armor, and ornaments, a player may increase a characters statistics which allow them to become stronger, as well as further affect their appearance. The story is advanced by taking part in quests which require the player to travel across the game world on a map with interconnected areas and towns. As players complete more quests, paths to new areas become available to explore.
Making use of the PlayStation Portable's PlayStation Network online function, players may battle each other in groups representing one of the game's three kingdoms. As each group wins battles against opposing factions, they expand their territory within the online environment, granting them access to rewards and a standing on community-based leaderboards. Winning groups may vote on which territory to attack next, and individual players may opt to have their characters controlled by artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
rather than themselves manually.
Plot
Grand Knights History is a set in the fantasyFantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
world of Rystia, which is divided into three warring kingdoms: Logres, the Ancient Kingdom, ruled by King Fausel (voiced by Tomokazu Sugita
Tomokazu Sugita
is a Japanese voice actor employed by Atomic Monkey. Best known for his role as Gintoki in Gintama, he also voices Kyon in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. He is also one of the three hosts on the radio show Bururaji promoting the videogame Blazblue which is produced and released on Nico Nico...
); Union, the Kingdom of Knights, ruled by King Leon (voiced by Daisuke Kishio
Daisuke Kishio
is a male Japanese voice actor. He is a member of Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society . Kishio changed his given name from 大輔 to だいすけ on June 1, 2007 with the pronunciation and romanization remaining the same....
); and Avalon, the Kingdom of Magic, ruled by Queen Muse (voiced by Kikuko Inoue
Kikuko Inoue
is a popular Japanese voice actress and singer. She has been part of the singing groups DoCo and Goddess Family Club, among others, and is the manager of her voice-acting company, Office Anemone. Inoue tends to play the "perfect girlfriend" or "motherly" role in many series, but she has also played...
). Players must align themselves to one of the three nations and advance the story by taking part in missions on behalf of their chosen country.
Development
Grand Knights History was first announced in a March 2011 issue of FamitsuFamitsu
is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Enterbrain, Inc. and Tokuma. Currently, there are five Famitsū magazines: Shūkan Famitsū, Famitsū PS3 + PSP, Famitsū Xbox 360, Famitsū Wii+DS, and Famitsū Wave DVD...
magazine and was originally planned for release by Marvelous Entertainment the following summer. In June 2011, the company released the first video preview as well as a new release date set for September. The game is the first title from Vanillaware since Muramasa: The Demon Blade
Muramasa: The Demon Blade
Muramasa: The Demon Blade, known in Japan as is an action role playing game developed by Vanillaware and published by Marvelous Entertainment in Japan, Rising Star Games in Europe, and Ignition Entertainment in North America for the Wii...
for the Nintendo Wii in 2009, and is the first traditional, turn-based role-playing game from the company, as well as the first developed for the PlayStation Portable.
Project director Tomohiko Deguchi explained that the game contains an art style similar to their previous projects, elaborating that "The 2D characters will be animated just like in our action games, and we're also challenging ourselves to build a new type of gameplay by fusing online and offline." The online mode was seen as a main component of the game, which Deguchi elaborated "Most RPGs up to now involve one person or a group of friends playing together, but we're trying to set up this new kind of game, a full-on war that all the users are connected together in. It's a war RPG where not just one player, not just a few people, but all of the players are drawn together as they fight." This decision prompted the game's publisher to set up an online infrastructure capable of allowing players on separate continents to play with each other.
The game features music from Hitoshi Sakimoto
Hitoshi Sakimoto
is a Japanese video game composer and arranger. He is best known for scoring the games Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy XII, though he has composed soundtracks for over 70 games and arranged music for more than 40 others. He began playing music and video games in elementary school, and began...
and members of his music production company Basiscape, who previously provided the background themes for the Vanillaware titles Odin Sphere
Odin Sphere
is a 2D fantasy action RPG video game. Developed by Vanillaware and localized and published by Atlus for the PlayStation 2 in 2007, it tells the interlocking stories of five different protagonists. Odin Sphere is considered a spiritual successor to an Atlus game titled Princess Crown and takes some...
, GrimGrimoire
GrimGrimoire
is a real-time strategy video game from Vanillaware and Nippon Ichi for the PlayStation 2.-Plot:Lillet Blan is a young magician admitted to a prestigious magic school, the Tower of Silver Star. Though she attends normal classes for the first four days and meets the various professors and students,...
, and Muramasa: The Demon Blade. Grand Knights Historys official television commercial theme song is "Navigation" by J-pop
J-pop
, an abbreviation for Japanese pop, is a musical genre that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in 1960s music, such as The Beatles, and replaced kayōkyoku in the Japanese music scene...
artist fumika.
In a SiliconEra interview, Marvelous said they are looking into localizing the game, stating "We’re currently working on Grand Knights History, which has high expectations worldwide..."
Reception
Grand Knights History received a 36 out of 40 possible score from Japanese Famitsu WeeklyFamitsu
is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Enterbrain, Inc. and Tokuma. Currently, there are five Famitsū magazines: Shūkan Famitsū, Famitsū PS3 + PSP, Famitsū Xbox 360, Famitsū Wii+DS, and Famitsū Wave DVD...
magazine, based on individual reviews of 10, 9, 9, and 8. The magazine praised the title's "traditionally-Vanillaware graphics" and character animations as well as its online mode, stating that "The easy entry into online play is just as great, and raising characters to send to the battlefield is both innovative and very smooth in action. This game gets top marks in fun." It also garnered an 82.5 out of 100 average from Dengeki PlayStation
Dengeki PlayStation
is a Japanese gaming magazine published by ASCII Media Works . The magazine originally featured information pertaining to PlayStation video games, but since then has also incorporated information from PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Portable games...
magazine based on four reviews of 90, 80, 80, and 80.