Check is one of the many survival horror games that time has forgotten. It’s also one of the most unique survival horror games of the 2000s.
With the much-anticipated release shadow of tree DLC for the top games of 2022 Eldon Ringall eyes are on the Japanese studio from softwareKnown for its incredibly difficult fantasy games “Soulslikes”. The studio is an incredible success story that has rapidly developed a fan base over the past fifteen years that will defend its games to the death. However, many people weren’t talking about FromSoftware’s games until they exploded. Demon’s Souls. Historical survival horror game is just such a game Check. similar to cult classic Rose Rule, Check Sold second hand at ridiculously high prices. What makes this game so unique besides who developed it?
forward Demon’s Soulsand the meteoric rise of “Souls-like” games, FromSoftware has tried its hand at just about every game genre you can think of. Their first game was a 1994 role-playing game King’s Stadiumand then expanded to other genres such as shooting games (armored core) to children’s games (Cookies and Cream Adventure). They’ve primarily focused on building a broad franchise, never shying away from making sequels that elaborate on the mechanics of their predecessors. in this regard, Check is unique – a completely new survival horror game that differs mechanically from classic games, e.g. Resident Evil 2 and silent Hill. associate producer Atsushi Taniguchi and art director Iwai NozomiKuon began production in 2003, by which time they had completed lost kingdom 2. The aim was to create a new approach to horror, using a traditional Japanese setting and being influenced by kaidan (a style of Japanese ghost stories set in the distant past).
According to reports, the production process was not easy. While details are sparse, the schedule is clearly busy and development of the game itself has been difficult, with a number of non-specific production issues. The game features a card-based combat system that is mechanically similar to FromSoftware’s previous games. lost kingdom. Some mechanics, such as the “storm” mechanic, were introduced late in development, which made the game more difficult to create. The budget for this game isn’t entirely known, but I can easily assume it was pretty tight and the schedule was strict. the title of the game, Checkhas a dual meaning that can be translated as “nine evils” and “eternity”, which complements the theme and story of the game. The game’s narrative was ultimately left unresolved, as Taniguchi wanted to make a sequel.
Check The story takes place in real life during the Heian period in Japan. From 794 to 1185, this period of Japanese history was noted for its peace and the first emergence of the country’s national identity. Many great works of art and writing were produced during this period, including the invention of Japan’s two writing styles, katakana and hiragana, and there were more women than ever in positions of power. This period is also famous for its ghost stories and myths, and is often regarded as one of the most important periods in Japanese history for mysticism and religion. This is reflected in the game’s story, which focuses squarely on the concepts of resurrection, curses, and the conspiracy of onmyoji (or exorcists, as Western audiences might call them).
The gameplay is Check This is one of its most fascinating aspects. Due to the setting, regular survival horror guns and weapons are not available. Instead, there’s a fixed weapon depending on the playable character – one holds a knife, one holds a fan, and one holds a polearm. There are also a series of spell cards that can create slugs or summon allied creatures. If you run too much in the game you will absolutely get wiped out by monsters, so stealth is key. When running low on health or energy, the character may fall into a stun effect, which can be cured through various items found in the manor. Additionally, the game utilized the traditional fixed third-person perspective and tank controls common in survival horror games of the time. The gameplay of Kuon is shown below.
story Check Revolving around the titular Kuon ritual, the ritual is quite complex and requires some explanation. The game is set in the fictional Fujiwara Estate in Kyoto. There are two magical mulberry trees planted near the manor. Silkworms grow under the mulberry trees, which can bring the dead back to life. Resurrection can only be maintained through physical fusion with other living beings. Our opponent’s goal is to experiment with this process, performing nine resurrections to create a new, potentially immortal being. What follows is a nightmarish haunted manor filled with monsters, a web of lies and mystery and attempts to survive.
Taniguchi wanted to have a major female character to contrast with other horror games of the time. Our dual protagonists and playable characters are Sakuya in training as an onmyoji, and Uzuki, a young wealthy girl whose father Ashiya Michitoshi serves as the story’s main villain. Doman is a particularly interesting aspect of the game, being based on a real-world historical figure. As an ambitious onmyoji, he was obsessed with the Kyūon ritual. Every important character is connected to Doman in some way, and he is the center of the story. There’s also a third unlockable playable character, Abe Seimei, another onmyoji master and Doman’s infamous rival. There are many complex narrative parts throughout the game, and messages are often conveyed in subtle and easy-to-miss ways, a hallmark of FromSoftware to this day. Uzuki is a particularly heartbreaking character, her pain throughout the story seems never-ending, and her character goes to dark places that reflect the attitudes toward women during the Heian period in Japan. Sakuya, in stark contrast, is more capable and confident, and acts as a force of nature that greatly advances the narrative. Abe Seimei is also an interesting character, with less moral integrity than our two protagonists, but more selfish and ruthless.
The game was released in the United States in 2004 Agtechand then FromSoftware’s usual distribution partners. The original Japanese dubbing is retained in the game, and you can choose between Japanese dubbing or English dubbing. Originally planned for publication in the UK digital clowneventually released by the company in Europe in 2006 noble. Its release received mixed reviews from critics, who criticized elements of the game but praised the aesthetics and story. The overseas releases of these games were quite limited, which directly contributed to their scarcity and value today. Combine that with the game’s unique story and setting, and you’ve got a lot of people interested in this rare game. , causing the value of second-hand copies to be artificially inflated.
I found similar games Check charming. Unique art projects can easily be overlooked, and by the time viewers become interested in them, it’s already too late. It may be rough in some ways, but it has a completely unique approach to survival horror, even at a time when the genre was going through a lot of experimentation, and that alone earns it a memorable place in the history of the genre . It’s another good game that makes a case for preserving old games and ensuring their survival in the modern era, and the huge demand for used games should ideally show the company that people are interested in the game. With FromSoftware finding new success, all eyes are on their next Souls-like game and how it will shake up their usual formula. some DNA Kuon’s The story and background are based on Ax: Shadow Dies Twicehailed as perhaps the most difficult Soulslike the studio has ever produced. Whatever their next project is, deep down I hope it returns to survival horror, or to Check itself.
