Kenshin Dragon Quest
Encyclopedia
is an all-in-one television game created by Square Enix
, based on the Dragon Quest
video game series that connects to a person's television
set and does not require a separate video game console
. "Kenshin" is the Japanese
word for "Swordmaster" (literally, "Sword God").
In order to play, the player uses a toy sword
as their game controller
to walk (by pointing forward), to fight off monsters, defend with your shield, cast spells, and for every other input needed by the system. Slashing the sword in different directions (horizontal, diagonal, vertical) by the player will cause different effects and damage to enemies encountered in the game world. The game's ROM
is located on an item that resembles a shield
. To save a game in process, the person must use a memory card
that looks like a book
, which is inserted into the shield.
This game is classified as Adventure, and not a traditional Role-playing game
. This is because most of the game is set on a predetermined path that you can only travel in one direction, with few exceptions of side paths. Enemy encounters are set at predetermined locations and formations. This is in contrast to a Role-playing game focusing on dungeon crawling and open exploration.
The monsters encountered are the standard variety from Dragon Quest titles, including slimes, moles and skeleton knights. There are special bosses that reside at the end of each chapter. As the player builds up successful attacks and blocks with their shield, they build up a super meter. When this is completed, the player is enabled to unleash a powerful attack.
. The quest explores areas similar to the main storyline from Dragon Quest. The main quest goals are saving Princess Laura and defeating the evil King Dragon, all while using the Sword of Roto.
The quest is broken into eight chapters that take you throughout all of the locations in Alefgard, many being the same as in Dragon Quest. Eventually, the hero will put together the same rainbow bridge as in Dragon Quest, before he makes his way into the final castle, where he faces off against the King Dragon. The game includes a few mini-games, including a Slime Crisis game that would later be seen in Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors
.
for the Wii
console, which uses the Wii Remote
as a control instead of a sword. The game's XaviX processor and sensor technologies were also used in other standalone video games, including Tiger Electronics'
The Lord of the Rings: Warrior of Middle Earth in 2003 and Star Wars Saga Edition Lightsaber Battle Game.
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
, based on the Dragon Quest
Dragon Quest
, published as Dragon Warrior in North America until 2005,Due to the inconsistent usage by sources since Square Enix obtained the naming rights to Dragon Quest in North America. Dragon Quest has been used by sources to refer to games released solely under the Dragon Warrior titles...
video game series that connects to a person's television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
set and does not require a separate video game console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
. "Kenshin" is the Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
word for "Swordmaster" (literally, "Sword God").
Gameplay and features
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
as their game controller
Game controller
A game controller is a device used with games or entertainment systems used to control a playable character or object, or otherwise provide input in a computer game. A controller is typically connected to a game console or computer by means of a wire, cord or nowadays, by means of wireless connection...
to walk (by pointing forward), to fight off monsters, defend with your shield, cast spells, and for every other input needed by the system. Slashing the sword in different directions (horizontal, diagonal, vertical) by the player will cause different effects and damage to enemies encountered in the game world. The game's ROM
Read-only memory
Read-only memory is a class of storage medium used in computers and other electronic devices. Data stored in ROM cannot be modified, or can be modified only slowly or with difficulty, so it is mainly used to distribute firmware .In its strictest sense, ROM refers only...
is located on an item that resembles a shield
Shield
A shield is a type of personal armor, meant to intercept attacks, either by stopping projectiles such as arrows or redirecting a hit from a sword, mace or battle axe to the side of the shield-bearer....
. To save a game in process, the person must use a memory card
Memory card
A memory card or flash card is an electronic flash memory data storage device used for storing digital information. They are commonly used in many electronic devices, including digital cameras, mobile phones, laptop computers, MP3 players, and video game consoles...
that looks like a book
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
, which is inserted into the shield.
This game is classified as Adventure, and not a traditional Role-playing game
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...
. This is because most of the game is set on a predetermined path that you can only travel in one direction, with few exceptions of side paths. Enemy encounters are set at predetermined locations and formations. This is in contrast to a Role-playing game focusing on dungeon crawling and open exploration.
The monsters encountered are the standard variety from Dragon Quest titles, including slimes, moles and skeleton knights. There are special bosses that reside at the end of each chapter. As the player builds up successful attacks and blocks with their shield, they build up a super meter. When this is completed, the player is enabled to unleash a powerful attack.
Characters
- Hero, the protagonistProtagonistA protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
and a descendant of Roto (localized as Erdrick in Dragon Warrior for the NESNintendo Entertainment SystemThe Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
and Loto in Dragon Warrior for Game Boy ColorGame Boy ColorThe is Nintendo's successor to the 8-bit Game Boy handheld game console, and was released on October 21, 1998 in Japan, November 19, 1998 in North America, November 23, 1998 in Europe and November 27, 1998 in the United Kingdom. It features a color screen and is slightly thicker and taller than...
). This is the only character the player controls throughout the game by using the sword.
- Princess Laura, a Princess and damsel in distressDamsel in distressThe subject of the damsel in distress, or persecuted maiden, is a classic theme in world literature, art, and film. She is usually a beautiful young woman placed in a dire predicament by a villain or monster and who requires a hero to achieve her rescue. She has become a stock character of fiction,...
that was taken by the King Dragon. She is being guarded by a Dragon inside of the Marshy Cave.
- King Dragon, the main antagonistAntagonistAn antagonist is a character, group of characters, or institution, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend...
that the Hero must face in the final battle.
- Medal King, proprietor of a shop that allows players to cash in mini-medals found throughout the game for different items.
Story
Kenshin Dragon Quest: Yomigaerishi Densetsu no Ken takes place in the world of Alefgard, the same world as the first Dragon QuestDragon Warrior
Dragon Warrior, known as in Japan, is the first role-playing video game in the Dragon Quest media franchise. It was developed by Chunsoft for the Nintendo Entertainment System and published by Enix in Japan in 1986...
. The quest explores areas similar to the main storyline from Dragon Quest. The main quest goals are saving Princess Laura and defeating the evil King Dragon, all while using the Sword of Roto.
The quest is broken into eight chapters that take you throughout all of the locations in Alefgard, many being the same as in Dragon Quest. Eventually, the hero will put together the same rainbow bridge as in Dragon Quest, before he makes his way into the final castle, where he faces off against the King Dragon. The game includes a few mini-games, including a Slime Crisis game that would later be seen in Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors
Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors
is a first-person adventure game by Square Enix exclusive to Nintendo's Wii game console. The game is a spin-off from the Dragon Quest series.-Battle system:...
.
Reception
Over 300,000 pre-orders of Kenshin Dragon Quest: Yomigaerishi Densetsu no Ken were made prior to the game's release in Japan. By the close of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2004, more than half a million units of the game were shipped in Japan. The game was presented with a Special Award at the 8th Annual CESA Game Awards in 2004.Legacy
Kenshin's spiritual sequel is Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of MirrorsDragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors
is a first-person adventure game by Square Enix exclusive to Nintendo's Wii game console. The game is a spin-off from the Dragon Quest series.-Battle system:...
for the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
console, which uses the Wii Remote
Wii Remote
The , also known as the Wiimote, is the primary controller for Nintendo's Wii console. A main feature of the Wii Remote is its motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact with and manipulate items on screen via gesture recognition and pointing through the use of accelerometer and...
as a control instead of a sword. The game's XaviX processor and sensor technologies were also used in other standalone video games, including Tiger Electronics'
Tiger Electronics
Tiger Electronics is an American toy manufacturer, best known for its handheld LCD games, the Furby, and Giga Pets. When Tiger was an independent company, Tiger Electronics Inc., its headquarters were in Vernon Hills, Illinois....
The Lord of the Rings: Warrior of Middle Earth in 2003 and Star Wars Saga Edition Lightsaber Battle Game.