Shikigami no Shiro

Shikigami no Shiro (式神の城, lit. Castle of Shikigami), released in North America and Europe under the title of Mobile Light Force 2 and in some PAL regions as MLF2 - Mobile Light Force 2, is a 2001 shoot 'em up developed by Alfa System and is the first game in the Shikigami no Shiro series. It was originally released as an arcade game and later ported to the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Microsoft Windows. The game was titled Shikigami no Shiro Evolution (式神の城 Evolution) for its revised version for Xbox, which was then ported to Windows as Shikigami no Shiro EX (式神の城 EX).

Japanese PS2 cover art
Developer(s)Alfa System
Publisher(s)Arcade
Taito Corporation
PlayStation 2
XS Games
Xbox
Mediaquest
Windows
Sourcenext
Platform(s)Arcade, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Windows 98
ReleaseArcade
Xbox
  • JP: March 14, 2002
PlayStation 2
  • JP: June 27, 2002
  • NA: March 19, 2003
  • EU: 2003
Windows
  • JP: August 8, 2002
  • WW: June 16, 2017
(EX)
Xbox
  • JP: December 19, 2002
(Evolution)
PlayStation 2
  • JP: July 29, 2004
(Re-release)
Genre(s)Scrolling shooter
Arcade systemTaito G-NET

When localized, publisher XS Games re-titled the game as a sequel to Mobile Light Force, but in reality the games are unrelated. Mobile Light Force is known as Gunbird in Japan, and was not developed by Alfa System.

On May 8, 2017, Degica Games announced that they are localizing the series on their Twitter account. The first game was later released on Microsoft Windows via Steam on June 16 as Castle of Shikigami.[1]

Gameplay

When holding down the attack button, the player moves at slower speed, and all on-screen items are automatically retrieved. The player character is invulnerable when a special attack is in effect. When the player character is close to an enemy bullet, the points gained from destroying enemies and retrieving items is multiplied by a factor based on the distance between the bullet and the player character's center. The closer they are to the bullet, the higher the scoring. When destroying enemy in shikigami mode, the multiplier also applies to the number of items dropped by enemy and all items dropped by the enemy are automatically retrieved.

The Xbox release adds Practice mode, Gallery, and Replay mode, while the PlayStation 2 release adds Practice mode, Gallery, and Side Story modes. Windows includes I.R. mode and vertical screen layout from the arcade game. The North American and European releases of the game removed the screen rotation mode and all in-game plot.

Plot

In July 2005, a string of serial murders take place in Tokyo. All the victims are female and killed by external injury. The killings take place within 20 hours. On July 21, the 31st victim is found. The police force classify the case as special crime #568, and begin to seek investigators from occult sources. On July 23, there is a 32nd victim.

Characters

Playable characters:

  • Kohtarou Kuga (玖珂 光太郎, Kuga Koutarou)
  • Sayo Yuuki (結城 小夜, Yuuki Sayo)
  • Gennojo Hyuga (日向 玄乃丈, Hyuuga Gennoujou)
  • Fumiko Odette Vanstein (ふみこ・オゼット・ヴァンシュタイン, Fumiko Ozetto Vanshutain)
  • Daejeong Kim (金 大正, Kimu Dejon)
  • ???? (Tagami, from Elemental Gearbolt)

Bosses:

  • Miyoko Aku (悪 美代子, Aku Miyoko) (Stage 1)
  • Fujishima Juu (醜 藤島, Juu Fujishima) (Stage 2)
  • Hiroshi Aku (悪 浩志, Aku Hiroshi) (Stage 3)
  • Bauman Aku (悪 バウマン, Aku Bauman) (Stage 4)
  • Shoujo (少女, Shoujo) (Stage 5)
  • Zanryuu Shinen (残留 思念, Zanryuu Shinen) (Stage 5-3)

Shikigami no Shiro Evolution

Shikigami no Shiro Evolution was released in two separate versions, a red (紅, kurenai) version which included a database containing character gallery, trailers, and unused voices, and a blue (藍, ai) version which included developer videos. Both versions have improved enemy AI, new characters, a vertical screen mode, and the new Evolution Mode game mode.

Manga

A comic version was written by Tooru Zekuu (aka Shinji Takano) and illustrated by Yuuna Takanagi, serialized in the monthly Magazine Z. Three volumes were published under Kodansha's Magazine Z KC label.

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Shikigami no Shiro on their November 1, 2001 issue as being the fourth most-successful arcade game of the year.[10]

The PlayStation 2 version received "mixed" reviews according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[3]

References
  1. "Castle of Shikigami 式神の城 on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 2017-06-15.
  2. "Mobile Light Force 2 for PlayStation 2". GameRankings. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  3. "Mobile Light Force 2 for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  4. Marriott, Scott Alan. "Mobile Light Force 2 - Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 17, 2014. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  5. Edge staff (June 2002). "Shikigami no Shiro (Xbox)". Edge (111).
  6. Winegarner, Tyler (May 2, 2003). "Mobile Light Force 2 Review". GameSpot. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  7. Meston, Zach (May 10, 2003). "GameSpy: Mobile Light Force 2". GameSpy. Archived from the original on December 16, 2005. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  8. Kennedy, Sam (June 2003). "Mobile Light Force 2". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine: 105. Archived from the original on May 25, 2004. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  9. Miller, Skyler (June 10, 2003). "'Mobile Light Force 2' (PS2) Review". X-Play. Archived from the original on June 15, 2003. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  10. "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 645. Amusement Press, Inc. 1 November 2001. p. 17.
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