Enigma (1998 video game)
{{Short description|1998 adventure video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Enigma
| image = Enigma cover.png
| developer = Omega Force
| publisher = Koei
| platforms = PlayStation
| released = {{vgrelease|JP|April 2, 1998}}
| genre = Action-adventure
| modes = Single-player
| director = Kazuta Imamura
| producer = Tatsuya Yazaki
| writer = Kageki Shimodo
| caption = Japanese box art
}}
{{Nihongo foot|Enigma|エニグマ|Eniguma|group=lower-alpha|lead=yes}} is an action-adventure video game developed by Omega Force and published by Koei for the PlayStation. Set in 1920, the game features three playable characters from England, Japan, and America, who travel the world solving puzzles in various ruins and temples. The game was never released outside of Japan.
Gameplay
Enigma is a single player adventure game with three selectable characters.{{Cite magazine|date=July 1998|title=Jogo Rapido: Enigma|magazine=Acao Games|language=PT|location=Brazil|publisher=Editora Abril|issue=129|page=9}}
Development and release
The game was developed by Omega Force, who had previously developed Dynasty Warriors. During this period, Koei was attempting to branch out from the strategy game genre that they were known for. They produced several games such as the shooting game Winback, the fighting game Dynasty Warriors, as well as Enigma, an adventure game.{{Cite magazine|date=October 1998|title=All Format Previews: Winback|magazine=Gamers' Republic|issue=5|page=58}} The game was directed by Kazuta Imamura, while Tatsuya Yazaki served as the producer, and Kageki Shimodo wrote the story.[http://raido.moe/staff/ps1/ps1_enigma.html End Credits] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125225330/http://raido.moe/staff/ps1/ps1_enigma.html |date=2018-11-25 }}, Enigma, Koei 1998 When the game was announced in June 1997 at E3, development was expected to take 9 months, and there was initial plans to localize the game for English markets. At the time, a PlayStation version was confirmed, but there were also the possibility of versions for the Nintendo 64, or Personal Computer as well.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/06/21/e3-koei-to-make-games-for-n64|title=E3: KOEI to Make Games for N64|author=IGN Staff|date=1997-06-20|website=IGN|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125225330/https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/06/21/e3-koei-to-make-games-for-n64|archive-date=2018-11-25|url-status=live}} A spokesperson for Koei at the time described the game as like "Indiana Jones but with a twist of Resident Evil".{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/06/27/dynasty-warriors-palace-chat-transcription|title=Dynasty Warriors Palace Chat Transcription|author=IGN Staff|date=1997-06-26|website=IGN|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125225330/https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/06/27/dynasty-warriors-palace-chat-transcription|archive-date=2018-11-25|url-status=live}} The spokesperson also said it was possible that the game could outsell the recently released game Final Fantasy 7.
The game was later shown at the Tokyo Game Show Spring 1998.{{Cite magazine|date=May 1998|title=Messebericht: Tokyo Game Show Spring 98|magazine=VideoGames|language=de|pages=12}} It was part of over 200 PlayStation games shown at the show, compared to just 16 for the Nintendo 64.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/02/10/tokyo-game-show-march-bow-to-playstation|title=Tokyo Game Show March: Bow to PlayStation|author=IGN Staff|date=1998-02-09|website=IGN|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125225330/https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/02/10/tokyo-game-show-march-bow-to-playstation|archive-date=2018-11-25|url-status=live}}
Enigma was released on April 2, 1998 for the Sony PlayStation in Japan and was published by Koei.{{Cite web|url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?a=page_h_title&title_id=17024|title=エニグマ [PS] / ファミ通.com|website=www.famitsu.com|access-date=2018-11-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125225331/https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?a=page_h_title&title_id=17024|archive-date=2018-11-25|url-status=live}} A 127-page guidebook was published by Koei titled Enigma Hyper Guidebook.{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/675353753|title=Eniguma haipā gaidobukku|last=W-Force|date=1998|publisher=光栄|isbn=4877195866|oclc=675353753}}
The game has never been released outside of Japan, nor has it been released on the PlayStation's Game Archives in Japan either.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
|rev1=Super GamePower
|rev2=Joypad|rev2Score=5/10
|rev3=Consoles+
|rev3Score=88/100{{Cite magazine|date=June 1998|title=Enigma|magazine=Consoles +|issue=77}}
|rev4=Acao Games|rev4Score=9/10}}
Famitsu gave it a score of 25 out of 40. A reviewer noted that the viewpoint and control scheme is very similar to Resident Evil.
Brazilian magazine Super GamePower gave it a score of 3.8/5.{{Cite magazine|last=Kamikaze|first=Marcello|date=June 1998|title=P.Station: Enigma|magazine=Super GamePower|language=PT|publisher=Nova Cultural|page=27}}
Joypad gave it a 5/10.{{Cite magazine|date=June 1998|title=Zoom: Enigma|magazine=Joypad|language=FR|issue=76|page=80}}
Brazilian magazine Ação Games gave it 9.10, praising the graphics, gameplay, and challenge.
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}