Tail Concerto
Encyclopedia
Tail Concerto is a 3D
anime-style
action-adventure
and platform game
developed by CyberConnect2
. It was published by Bandai
in Japan
on April 16, 1998 and by Atlus
in North America
on August 31, 1999. Bandai would later release it in France
in the same year. The game scenario revolves around a anthropomorphic canine
police officer
named Waffle Ryebread and his adventures while obtaining magical crystals for the purposes of an investigation into their use. The game was featured as a playable demo in original Japanese form on the "Winter '98" edition of the PlayStation Underground Jampack
disc series.
The series is the first of the Little Tail Bronx series, along with Mamoru-kun and Solatorobo: Red The Hunter.
involves controlling a semi-humanoid mecha
. The basic abilities of the mecha include jumping, hanging onto ledges, hovering, firing bubbles, and grabbing objects. In a single area of the game's world, the player is also given the ability to fly
with a jet pack
. Near the end of the game, the mecha's bubble-shooting ability is replaced with the ability to fire homing projectiles. Up until this point, bubbles are used in order to capture kittens; however, due to a change in the overall scenario, this task is no longer necessary - hence the replacement of the bubbles with the missiles.
dog-people and cat-people. Before the events of the game, the two races were said to have been at war
— a war in which the dog people were ultimately victorious. Despite their past altercations, the two races seem to be mostly at peace with each other during the events depicted in the game itself. Prairie consists of a floating archipelago
; due to this unique geographical configuration, its inhabitants mostly commute by way of airship
s. The game begins with the main character, Waffle Ryebread, getting a call from the chief of the police department which he works at. A gang
of cats, mostly kitten
s, are attacking the city of Resaca. He is instructed to investigate these attacks. Upon the player's arrival in Resaca, Waffle recognizes one of ringleaders of the cat gang as Alicia Priss, a childhood friend of his. Alicia has a hatred
for the dog-people, and is trying to find five magical crystals in order to secure what she believes is the liberty and pride of the cat-people. Waffle learns that the crystals could be used for destruction, so he starts an investigation into the crystals to prevent them from being used for anything harmful.
The opening theme to the Japanese version of the game, "For Little Tail," was fully vocalized by singer Kokia
. The opening theme was replaced in the western versions by a different instrumental
composition. The original, however, is retained in the French release of the game.
Tail Concerto features voice acting from talents such as Amanda Winn Lee and Lani Minella
. The French release of the game retains the Japanese dialogue.
In North America, the game was previewed by magazines with slightly more anticipation. By the time it was released, however, most of the hype had dissipated.
, CyberConnect2 is restricted from making a sequel by Bandai due to the relatively low sales. CyberConnect2 tried to pitch Tail Concerto 2 to Bandai in 2003 and 2004, but Bandai rejected the project because they believed the game wouldn't sell. However, the company did indirectly return to the world of Tail Concerto in 2005 when it designed the image character "Mamoru-kun" for Fukuoka Prefecture
's disaster-warning email
program of the same name. The promotional materials for the program reveal that Mamoru-kun and his friends live in the country of "Nipon," which, along with Tail Concerto's Prairie Kingdom, is part of a larger world called "Little Tail Bronx."
On June 28, 2007, CyberConnect2 released a promotional artwork
that could be easily related to the characters in the game, by the fact that there are humanoid figures that look like dogs sitting on robots, in a reference to the Tail Concerto world. The same artwork also showed the words "Nintendo DS - New Project - Coming Soon", causing speculation that a sequel to the original PlayStation game will be released to the Nintendo
DS
portable gaming system.
Present in the same piece of artwork is a character dressed in a costume that resembles the character Kite from the .hack
multimedia franchise. CyberConnect2 is well-known for its work on the .hack games, and the addition of this character to the promotional artwork could be a way to attract people's attention to the new title.
In another reference to the .hack franchise, the artwork also shows the words "To The World!!" right below the "New Project" section. The World is the name of the game in which all the events of the .hack franchise occur. Some websites also speculated that there could be a fusion of both the .hack and Tail Concerto franchises in the new DS
game.
On March 11, 2010, the promotional artwork was replaced with a countdown. the famous Japanese video game magazine, Famitsu, reveals Solatorobo: Red The Hunter on a March issue, as the game shares similar concepts, making it a Spiritual Sequel.
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
anime-style
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
action-adventure
Action-adventure game
An action-adventure game is a video game that combines elements of the adventure game genre with various action game elements. It is perhaps the broadest and most diverse genre in gaming, and can include many games which might better be categorized under narrow genres...
and platform game
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
developed by CyberConnect2
CyberConnect2
is a video game development studio mostly known for its work on the .hack series, along with a series of fighting games based on the Naruto franchise....
. It was published by Bandai
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...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
on April 16, 1998 and by Atlus
Atlus
is a Japanese computer and video game developer, publisher, and distributor based in Tokyo, Japan, best known for developing the console role-playing game franchise Megami Tensei. The first Megami Tensei was a Nintendo Entertainment System video game published by Namco based on a trilogy of...
in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
on August 31, 1999. Bandai would later release it in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in the same year. The game scenario revolves around a anthropomorphic canine
Canine
Canine may refer to:* Domestic dog* Animals belonging to the family Canidae, or the sub-family Caninae* Canine tooth* Ralph Canine, American soldier and government administrator* A character in Glenn Martin, DDS...
police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
named Waffle Ryebread and his adventures while obtaining magical crystals for the purposes of an investigation into their use. The game was featured as a playable demo in original Japanese form on the "Winter '98" edition of the PlayStation Underground Jampack
Jampack
Jampack is a demo series from Sony to advertise and preview upcoming games through demos or featurettes. Often, it has previewed many popular games from the PlayStation 2's lifespan, ranging from SSX Tricky and Final Fantasy X to Need for Speed Underground and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3. They also...
disc series.
The series is the first of the Little Tail Bronx series, along with Mamoru-kun and Solatorobo: Red The Hunter.
Gameplay
The majority of the gameplayGameplay
Gameplay is the specific way in which players interact with a game, and in particular with video games. Gameplay is the pattern defined through the game rules, connection between player and the game, challenges and overcoming them, plot and player's connection with it...
involves controlling a semi-humanoid mecha
Mecha
A mech , is a science fiction term for a large walking bipedal tank or robot, including ones on treads and animal shapes.-Characteristics:...
. The basic abilities of the mecha include jumping, hanging onto ledges, hovering, firing bubbles, and grabbing objects. In a single area of the game's world, the player is also given the ability to fly
Flight
Flight is the process by which an object moves either through an atmosphere or beyond it by generating lift or propulsive thrust, or aerostatically using buoyancy, or by simple ballistic movement....
with a jet pack
Jet pack
Jet pack, rocket belt, rocket pack, and similar names are various types of devices, usually worn on the back, that are propelled by jets of escaping gases so as to allow a single user to fly....
. Near the end of the game, the mecha's bubble-shooting ability is replaced with the ability to fire homing projectiles. Up until this point, bubbles are used in order to capture kittens; however, due to a change in the overall scenario, this task is no longer necessary - hence the replacement of the bubbles with the missiles.
Plot and setting
Prairie, the world in which the game takes place, is inhabited by anthropomorphicAnthropomorphism
Anthropomorphism is any attribution of human characteristics to animals, non-living things, phenomena, material states, objects or abstract concepts, such as organizations, governments, spirits or deities. The term was coined in the mid 1700s...
dog-people and cat-people. Before the events of the game, the two races were said to have been at war
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
— a war in which the dog people were ultimately victorious. Despite their past altercations, the two races seem to be mostly at peace with each other during the events depicted in the game itself. Prairie consists of a floating archipelago
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
; due to this unique geographical configuration, its inhabitants mostly commute by way of airship
Airship
An airship or dirigible is a type of aerostat or "lighter-than-air aircraft" that can be steered and propelled through the air using rudders and propellers or other thrust mechanisms...
s. The game begins with the main character, Waffle Ryebread, getting a call from the chief of the police department which he works at. A gang
Gang
A gang is a group of people who, through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage, share a common identity. In current usage it typically denotes a criminal organization or else a criminal affiliation. In early usage, the word gang referred to a group of workmen...
of cats, mostly kitten
Kitten
A kitten is a juvenile domesticated cat.The young of big cats are called cubs rather than kittens. Either term may be used for the young of smaller wild felids such as ocelots, caracals, and lynx, but "kitten" is usually more common for these species....
s, are attacking the city of Resaca. He is instructed to investigate these attacks. Upon the player's arrival in Resaca, Waffle recognizes one of ringleaders of the cat gang as Alicia Priss, a childhood friend of his. Alicia has a hatred
Hatred
Hatred is a deep and emotional extreme dislike, directed against a certain object or class of objects. The objects of such hatred can vary widely, from inanimate objects to animals, oneself or other people, entire groups of people, people in general, existence, or the whole world...
for the dog-people, and is trying to find five magical crystals in order to secure what she believes is the liberty and pride of the cat-people. Waffle learns that the crystals could be used for destruction, so he starts an investigation into the crystals to prevent them from being used for anything harmful.
Audio
Tail Concertos background music was composed by Chikayo Fukuda and Seizo Nakata, who would later again collaborate on the .hack//Infection soundtrack and again on Solatorobo: Red The Hunter.The opening theme to the Japanese version of the game, "For Little Tail," was fully vocalized by singer Kokia
Kokia (singer)
is a Japanese singer-songwriter, who performs under the stage name Kokia . She is best known for her songs and "The Power of Smile." She is also recognised for her numerous contributions to anime/game soundtracks, the most notable being "Ai no Melody/Chōwa Oto " for the film...
. The opening theme was replaced in the western versions by a different instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
composition. The original, however, is retained in the French release of the game.
Tail Concerto features voice acting from talents such as Amanda Winn Lee and Lani Minella
Lani Minella
Lani Minella is a voice actress who has voiced in over 500 computer and video games as well as several TV and anime series. She is best known for voicing Nancy Drew, Millie Strathorn, Loulou the Parrot and Freddie in the Nancy Drew computer games, Ivy Valentine in the Soulcalibur video game...
. The French release of the game retains the Japanese dialogue.
Reception
Tail Concerto was published in June 1998 by Bandai in Japan to little fanfare.In North America, the game was previewed by magazines with slightly more anticipation. By the time it was released, however, most of the hype had dissipated.
Sequel
According to an interview by Christian Nutt of GameSpyGameSpy
GameSpy Industries, Inc., known simply as GameSpy, is a division of IGN Entertainment, which operates a network of game websites and provides online video game-related services and software. GameSpy dates back to the 1996 release of an internet Quake server search program named QSpy. The current...
, CyberConnect2 is restricted from making a sequel by Bandai due to the relatively low sales. CyberConnect2 tried to pitch Tail Concerto 2 to Bandai in 2003 and 2004, but Bandai rejected the project because they believed the game wouldn't sell. However, the company did indirectly return to the world of Tail Concerto in 2005 when it designed the image character "Mamoru-kun" for Fukuoka Prefecture
Fukuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....
's disaster-warning email
Email
Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...
program of the same name. The promotional materials for the program reveal that Mamoru-kun and his friends live in the country of "Nipon," which, along with Tail Concerto's Prairie Kingdom, is part of a larger world called "Little Tail Bronx."
On June 28, 2007, CyberConnect2 released a promotional artwork
Work of art
A work of art, artwork, art piece, or art object is an aesthetic item or artistic creation.The term "a work of art" can apply to:*an example of fine art, such as a painting or sculpture*a fine work of architecture or landscape design...
that could be easily related to the characters in the game, by the fact that there are humanoid figures that look like dogs sitting on robots, in a reference to the Tail Concerto world. The same artwork also showed the words "Nintendo DS - New Project - Coming Soon", causing speculation that a sequel to the original PlayStation game will be released to the 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....
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...
portable gaming system.
Present in the same piece of artwork is a character dressed in a costume that resembles the character Kite from the .hack
.hack
.hack is a Japanese multimedia franchise that encompasses two projects; Project .hack and .hack Conglomerate. Both projects were primarily created/developed by CyberConnect2, and published by Bandai...
multimedia franchise. CyberConnect2 is well-known for its work on the .hack games, and the addition of this character to the promotional artwork could be a way to attract people's attention to the new title.
In another reference to the .hack franchise, the artwork also shows the words "To The World!!" right below the "New Project" section. The World is the name of the game in which all the events of the .hack franchise occur. Some websites also speculated that there could be a fusion of both the .hack and Tail Concerto franchises in the new 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...
game.
On March 11, 2010, the promotional artwork was replaced with a countdown. the famous Japanese video game magazine, Famitsu, reveals Solatorobo: Red The Hunter on a March issue, as the game shares similar concepts, making it a Spiritual Sequel.
External links
- Tail Concerto at IMDB.
- Tail Concerto at IGNIGNIGN 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...
.