Shin Onigashima
Encyclopedia
, often simply referred to as , is a video game title developed by Nintendo EAD and Pax Softnica
and published by Nintendo
. It was first released on two disk cards for the Family Computer Disk System. The first disk was released on September 4, 1987, while the second disk was released September 30, 1987. The driving force behind the series, Tatsuya Hishida of Nintendo EAD, was responsible for directing the game, creating the characters, and crafting the story line.
The game is played by selecting commands which make the characters talk to, use, or examine various objects or characters. Progress is marked by changes in the illustrative image in the top-right corner of the screen. One of the most distinctive features of the game is the "Change Character" command, used to switch between the two main characters (Donbe, the boy, and Hikari, the girl). The characters can move through the story separately at times, and may be called upon to do tasks that the other main character cannot accomplish on their own. The use of this command in certain situations can trigger dialogue particular to each character, bringing out the peculiarities of each. This is essentially a form of zapping, but a similar command was implemented in EVE burst error.
The game also utilizes the Disk System's feature of being able to exchange game discs while the device is powered on. The game is divided into two discs, and the player must exchange disks while the Disk System is still powered on in order to activate the second disc (note: Disc 2 is not playable without the first). This format was also used in the game's sequel Yūyūki
and the Famicom Tantei Club
series.
Donbe
Hikari
Elderly couple
Ringo
Matsunosuke
Ohana
Ittaisan
Kintaro
Tengu
Hinoesama
Oni
Ankoku no Keshin (The Avatar of Darkness)
Otohime
and Princess Kaguya
. Most text-based adventure games of the time were written in the style of mystery novels, where the player had to solve a murder or crime of some sort, but Shin Onigashima's fairytale-like plot gave a much softer and accessible feel to the genre.
A remake of the game titled Heisei Shin Onigashima was released for the Super Famicom
in 1997 and 1998. It was also redone for the Game Boy Advance
as part of the Famicom Mini series
on August 4, 2004. The Virtual Console
release came on June 19, 2007. The game was never released outside of Japan.
, is regarded in equally high esteem, and the game is considered an undeniable success as Nintendo's first text-based adventure game.
unit. The game was broadcast via the St.GIGA
BS Satellite, and was downloadable within the BS-X menu from the . BS Shin Onigashima takes its plot from the original version of the game, but is presented from the viewpoint of the three helpers who join the protagonists during the game (the dog, monkey and pheasant). In-game music was transmitted via radio, and Ittaisan, the game's narrator, appears in-between chapters to sum up the storyline via SoundLink. The character of Ittaisan was voiced by Ichirō Nagai
. The Satellaview version was well received by fans.
The Super Famicom version uses the same command menu gameplay implemented in the Disk System version, but the "Change Character" command was not included due to time constraints. Satellaview games were only broadcast during a limited time period, and using the command would complicate the game to an unnecessary degree. New tweaks by the developers were to include platform-style action scenes, and to set time limits for choosing certain commands.
On December 1, 1997, BS Shin Onigashima was redone for a commercial release on the Nintendo Power
, as with the original Disk System version included as a bonus. Its popularity prompted a cartridge release on May 23, 1998. This version was also released in two cartridges, but unlike the Disk System release, it is possible to play the second cartridge without having finished the first one.
Ittaisan" are placed throughout the game, which allow the player to save. There are no time limits for choosing commands, and a golden buddha statue in the likeness of Mario
appears in the first chapter.
The original Disk System version is unlocked after all four chapters are completed. This was not a complete port of the original, as several changes were made to the text and in-game music. An opening demo of Donbe and Kintaro in a sumo match is added, and colors appear darker than the original.
series. Unlike the previous installations, the GBA version does not require changing between disks; the entire game is played on one cartridge. The game itself saw no major changes, but on-screen menus were fixed to accommodate the GBA. Load and save times were eliminated by the use of the faster cartridge, allowing the game to run without breaks.
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Daigasso! Band Brothers
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Jam with the Band
Captain Rainbow
Pax Softnica
is a Japanese video game developer founded in 1983 under the name Image Soft and based in Kanagawa, Japan. Pax Softnica developed strong ties with Nintendo, and was hired often as a subcontracted programmer to work with Nintendo EAD and Nintendo R&D1 on several games published on Nintendo consoles....
and published by 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....
. It was first released on two disk cards for the Family Computer Disk System. The first disk was released on September 4, 1987, while the second disk was released September 30, 1987. The driving force behind the series, Tatsuya Hishida of Nintendo EAD, was responsible for directing the game, creating the characters, and crafting the story line.
Gameplay
The game also utilizes the Disk System's feature of being able to exchange game discs while the device is powered on. The game is divided into two discs, and the player must exchange disks while the Disk System is still powered on in order to activate the second disc (note: Disc 2 is not playable without the first). This format was also used in the game's sequel Yūyūki
Yuyuki
, often simply titled as , is a text-based adventure video game title developed by Nintendo EAD and Pax Softnica and published by Nintendo exclusively in Japan for the Family Computer Disk System...
and the Famicom Tantei Club
Famicom Tantei Club: Kieta Kōkeisha
is a text-based adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Family Computer Disk System on April 27, 1988 and June 14, 1988. The game was ported to the Game Boy Advance in the Famicom Mini series as a single cartridge in 2004, and became available on the Virtual Console in 2007 for...
series.
Plot
Once upon a time, there was an elderly couple living in Nagakushi village, a small village located far up in the mountains. The couple had no children, until one day, they were entrusted with the care of an infant boy and girl, as prophesied in a dream. The years went by, and when the two children were 8 years old, there was a terrible occurrence in the western capital. An evil dragon suddenly appeared in the city, turning humans into Oni; devils that suck away the souls of other humans. The Oni advanced as far as Nagakushi village, stealing away the souls of the elderly couple. Fortunately the two children were left unharmed, and they set out on a quest to save their adopted parents, not realizing that this adventure would reveal the secret of their true origins...Characters
The two protagonists are listed with their default names.Donbe
- A small boy resembling a cavemanCave dwellerA cave dweller is a human being who inhabits a cave or the area beneath the overhanging rocks of a cliff.- Prehistory :Some prehistoric humans were cave dwellers, but most were not. Such early cave dwellers, as well as other prehistoric peoples, are also called cave men...
with long blue hair that obstructs his eyes, and a teal robe. He was born from a rice bowl floating down the river. Not the most intelligent of children, but wields massive strength for his age. On the second disc, he undergoes an age change, looking more like a young teenager.
Hikari
- A little girl born from a glittering bamboo tree. Smart and resourceful, but physically weak. Acts as Donbe's older sister.
Elderly couple
- The old man and old woman who raised Donbe and Hikari. Their souls were later stolen by the evil Oni.
Ringo
- A dog that was waiting for Donbe at the foot of the bridge. Loyal and obedient.
Matsunosuke
- A monkey that joins the group at Kikaigamori Forest. Boisterous and sometimes disobedient.
Ohana
- A pheasant bird that joins the group at Shiraishi Spring. As the final member of the group, it uses its abilities to ferry the group over to Onigashima.
Ittaisan
- The narrator of the game. Appears as a merchant from a neighboring town within the storyline.
Kintaro
- A mysterious English-speaking boy wearing sunglasses and a red haramakiHaramakiHaramaki is a type chest armour worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan and their retainers.-Description:Haramaki were originally constructed with the same materials as the o-yoroi but designed for foot soldiers to use as opposed to the o-yoroi which was for mounted warfare...
. Guides the group along their adventure.
Tengu
- An odd-ball tenguTenguare a class of supernatural creatures found in Japanese folklore, art, theater, and literature. They are one of the best known yōkai and are sometimes worshipped as Shinto kami...
who was hiding out in the oni fortress. He takes a liking to the two protagonists, and follows along with the group to Onigashima.
Hinoesama
- A god-like being who appears before the protagonists as a star. Hinoesama reveals the evil forces behind the terrible events occurring throughout the world, and entrusts the protagonists with the task of restoring order.
Oni
- Evil monsters that steal the souls of humans to give to the dragon. They are actually humans whose souls have been stolen by other oni.
Ankoku no Keshin (The Avatar of Darkness)
- An evil creature from the world of darkness. Appears in the form of a dragon to eat the souls of humans.
Otohime
- The legendary hero that sealed the Avatar of Darkness into a treasure box ages ago. She is also the princess of the Ryukyujin; a tribe living deep beneath the seas.
Development
As indicated by the game's subtitle, the game borrows heavily from traditional Japanese fairytales such as MomotarōMomotaro
is a popular hero from Japanese folklore. His name literally means Peach Tarō; as Tarō is a common Japanese boy's name, it is often translated as Peach Boy...
and Princess Kaguya
The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter
, also known as , is a 10th century Japanese folktale. It is considered the oldest extant Japanese narrative and an early example of proto-science fiction....
. Most text-based adventure games of the time were written in the style of mystery novels, where the player had to solve a murder or crime of some sort, but Shin Onigashima's fairytale-like plot gave a much softer and accessible feel to the genre.
A remake of the game titled Heisei Shin Onigashima was released for the Super Famicom
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
in 1997 and 1998. It was also redone for the Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
as part of the Famicom Mini series
Classic NES Series
The Classic NES Series in North America are a series of Game Boy Advance games that were originally released on the Nintendo Entertainment System emulated on the Game Boy Advance...
on August 4, 2004. The Virtual Console
Virtual console
A virtual console – also known as a virtual terminal – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some operating systems such as UnixWare, Linux, and BSD, in which the system console of the computer can be used to switch between...
release came on June 19, 2007. The game was never released outside of Japan.
Reception
The game's difficulty is rather high, as very few hints are given in solving mysteries, and many circumstances can lead to the "game over" screen. Even so, the game's warm graphics and plot consisting of numerous interwoven Japanese fairytales was positively received by fans and critics alike. The in-game music, written by Koji KondoKoji Kondo
is a Japanese video game composer and sound director who has been employed at Nintendo since 1984. He is best known for scoring numerous titles in the Mario and The Legend of Zelda series.-Early life:...
, is regarded in equally high esteem, and the game is considered an undeniable success as Nintendo's first text-based adventure game.
Super Famicom version
Nine years after the release of the Disk System version, (also known as ) was released on September 29, 1996, for the Super Famicom's SatellaviewSatellaview
The is a satellite modem add-on for Nintendo's Super Famicom system that was released in Japan in 1995. Available for pre-release orders as early as February 13, 1995, the Satellaview retailed for between ¥14,000 and 18,000 and came bundled with the BS-X Game Pak and an 8M Memory Pak.The...
unit. The game was broadcast via the St.GIGA
St.GIGA
is the name of a defunct satellite radio company that was formed as a subsidiary of satellite television company WOWOW and later became semi-independent, forming a keiretsu with its parent. Using the BS network to broadcast digital radio via direct broadcast satellite as a test on November 30,...
BS Satellite, and was downloadable within the BS-X menu from the . BS Shin Onigashima takes its plot from the original version of the game, but is presented from the viewpoint of the three helpers who join the protagonists during the game (the dog, monkey and pheasant). In-game music was transmitted via radio, and Ittaisan, the game's narrator, appears in-between chapters to sum up the storyline via SoundLink. The character of Ittaisan was voiced by Ichirō Nagai
Ichiro Nagai
is a male seiyū from Ikeda, Osaka Prefecture. He was formerly represented by Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society, but is now represented by Aoni Production.-Television animation:*Akuma-kun *Bikkuriman...
. The Satellaview version was well received by fans.
The Super Famicom version uses the same command menu gameplay implemented in the Disk System version, but the "Change Character" command was not included due to time constraints. Satellaview games were only broadcast during a limited time period, and using the command would complicate the game to an unnecessary degree. New tweaks by the developers were to include platform-style action scenes, and to set time limits for choosing certain commands.
On December 1, 1997, BS Shin Onigashima was redone for a commercial release on the Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power (cartridge)
The flash RAM cartridge was a Japan-only peripheral produced by Nintendo for the Super Famicom and the Game Boy, which allowed owners to download Super Famicom/Game Boy games onto a special flash memory cartridge for less than what the full cartridge would have cost.During the days of the Family...
, as with the original Disk System version included as a bonus. Its popularity prompted a cartridge release on May 23, 1998. This version was also released in two cartridges, but unlike the Disk System release, it is possible to play the second cartridge without having finished the first one.
Changes
The Satellaview broadcast was divided into four chapters, and in the Super Famicom release, the first two chapters make up the first disk, and the latter two make up the second. "JizoKsitigarbha
Ksitigarbha is a bodhisattva primarily revered in East Asian Buddhism, usually depicted as a Buddhist monk in the Orient. The name may be translated as "Earth Treasury", "Earth Store", "Earth Matrix", or "Earth Womb"...
Ittaisan" are placed throughout the game, which allow the player to save. There are no time limits for choosing commands, and a golden buddha statue in the likeness of Mario
Mario
is a fictional character in his video game series, created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Serving as Nintendo's mascot and the main protagonist of the series, Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his creation...
appears in the first chapter.
The original Disk System version is unlocked after all four chapters are completed. This was not a complete port of the original, as several changes were made to the text and in-game music. An opening demo of Donbe and Kintaro in a sumo match is added, and colors appear darker than the original.
Game Boy Advance version
Famicom Mukashibanashi Shin Onigashima was released for the Game Boy Advance on August 10, 2004 as part of the Famicom Mini: Disk System selectionClassic NES Series
The Classic NES Series in North America are a series of Game Boy Advance games that were originally released on the Nintendo Entertainment System emulated on the Game Boy Advance...
series. Unlike the previous installations, the GBA version does not require changing between disks; the entire game is played on one cartridge. The game itself saw no major changes, but on-screen menus were fixed to accommodate the GBA. Load and save times were eliminated by the use of the faster cartridge, allowing the game to run without breaks.
Appearances in other media
Kirby's Dream Land 3Kirby's Dream Land 3
Kirby's Dream Land 3, known as in Japan, is the fifth platformer video game starring Kirby. Specifically, it is the third game under the Kirby's Dream Land name. Although the first two games were largely unrelated, Dream Land 3 features many similar characters to Dream Land 2...
- Donbe and Hikari appear as guest characters on Sand Canyon and level 4 and Grass Land level 4.
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Melee, known in Japan as , often abbreviated as SSBM or simply as Melee, is a crossover fighting game released for the Nintendo GameCube shortly after its launch in . It is the successor to the Nintendo 64 game Super Smash Bros., and the predecessor to the Wii game Super Smash...
- Donbe and Hikari appear as a fully 3D collectible trophy.
Daigasso! Band Brothers
Daigasso! Band Brothers
is a music video game published and developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. It was released in Japan on December 2, 2004 as a launch game for the Nintendo DS. The game features multiple songs, which include classical music, television themes, and video game music. The game...
- The song "Yamahe no Michi" from Shin Onigashima is available on the Request Selection cartridge.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Super Smash Bros. Brawl, known in Japan as , often abbreviated as SSBB or simply as Brawl, is the third installment in the Super Smash Bros. series of crossover fighting games, developed by an ad hoc development team consisting of Sora, Game Arts and staff from other developers, and published by...
- "Shin Onigashima" is a selectable song on the Ice ClimberIce Climberis a vertical platform video game developed and published by Nintendo for release on the Nintendo Famicom in Japan and the Nintendo Entertainment System in North America in 1985...
"Summit" stage. The song combines the title theme, "Chapter 1 - At Home" and "Chapter 4 - Neighboring Village" parts of Shin Onigashima. The song was arranged by Masafumi TakadaMasafumi Takadais a Japanese video game music composer. His most notable work is the soundtrack composition for the three video games killer7, God Hand and No More Heroes...
of Grasshopper ManufactureGrasshopper ManufactureGrasshopper Manufacture, Inc. is a Japanese video game development house founded on March 30, 1998 in Suginami, Japan. Grasshopper gained mainstream attention in 2005 for the Nintendo GameCube and PlayStation 2 game Killer7...
. - Young Donbe artwork also appears as a collectible sticker.
Jam with the Band
- The song "Onigashima Medley" is pre-installed in the European version.
Captain Rainbow
Captain Rainbow
is a video game developed by Skip Ltd. and published by Nintendo for the Wii. The game was released exclusively in Japan on August 28, 2008.The game puts players in the role of Nick, an ordinary guy whose alter ego "Captain★Rainbow", was once a popular TV superhero. In order to regain his...
- Hikari appears as one of the forgotten Nintendo characters on Mimin Island.
See also
- YūyūkiYuyuki, often simply titled as , is a text-based adventure video game title developed by Nintendo EAD and Pax Softnica and published by Nintendo exclusively in Japan for the Family Computer Disk System...
- Time Twist: Rekishi no Katasumi de...Time Twist: Rekishi no Katasumi de...is a text-based adventure game developed by Pax Softnica under Nintendo EAD and published by Nintendo for the Family Computer Disk System in 1991. The game was never released outside of Japan....
- Famicom Bunko: Hajimari no MoriFamicom Bunko: Hajimari no Moriis a text-based adventure game developed by Pax Softnica and published by Nintendo released only in Japan for the Super Famicom. It was released only on the Nintendo Power cartridge rewriting service, which ended on February 28, 2007.-Background:...