Natural Doctrine

The game is a tactical role-playing game based along the concept of natural selection.{{cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=September 10, 2013 |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2013/09/natural-doctrine-first-details-screenshots |title=Natural Doctrine first details and screenshots |website=Gematsu |access-date=April 27, 2023}} The game features single and multiplayer modes with versus and co-operative play, and is cross-play and cross-save compatible.{{cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=September 11, 2013 |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2013/09/famitsu-tidbits-yakuza-ishin-phantasy-star-nova-new-atelier-rorona-natural-doctrine-and-more |title=Famitsu tidbits: Yakuza: Ishin, Phantasy Star Nova, New Atelier Rorona, Natural Doctrine, and more |website=Gematsu |access-date=April 27, 2023}}

The game storyline is shown from the perspective of Geoff, the main protagonist, who is accompanied by two women named Vasily and Anka. Combat is based on a turn-based battle system, and a primary concept of gameplay is to have large numbers of allies and enemies simultaneously on a large size battlefield. Time can be controlled dynamically, and units can be controlled in a single space. Units in combat against one another form encampments, where units are able to return to camp at the end of the turn as long as the encampment isn't destroyed. Units are also able to hide behind objects.{{cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=September 24, 2013 |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2013/09/natural-doctrine-has-story-multiplayer-modes |title=Natural Doctrine has story and multiplayer modes |website=Gematsu |access-date=April 27, 2023}}

Outside of Feste, species such as minotaurs, goblins and orcs set up bases, and intend on attacking from them. The field is wide and arranged within grid limits. In multiplayer mode, players can play as non-human species.

The online mode features a card battle game, where players can compete against one another with their own formulated decks.{{cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=March 31, 2014 |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2014/03/form-your-own-deck-natural-doctrine-online-mode |title=Form your own deck in Natural Doctrine's online mode |website=Gematsu |access-date=April 27, 2023}}{{cite web |last=Yip |first=Spencer |date=March 31, 2014 |url=https://www.siliconera.com/natural-doctrines-online-mode-card-battling-game/ |title=Natural Doctrine's Online Mode Is A Card Battling Game |website=Siliconera |publisher=Gamurs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421062752/https://www.siliconera.com/2014/03/31/natural-doctrines-online-mode-card-battling-game/ |archive-date=April 21, 2016 |url-status=live |access-date=April 27, 2023}}

The setting is within a universe where humans fight other races with magic and swords. Within a world of chaos, humans built the fortress city Feste as their home, and fought against other species. The protagonist, Geoff, is a guard soldier set out to clear out goblin dens to grant access to resources important for humankind.

The game was announced at the SCEJA Press Conference in September 2013. It is the first title that is solely developed by Kadokawa.{{cite web |last=Phillips |first=Tom |date=September 9, 2013 |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/natural-doctrine-announced-for-playstation-4 |title=Natural Doctrine announced for PlayStation 4 |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=April 26, 2023}} The game was originally intended to be a release title for the PlayStation 4;{{cite web |last=Yip |first=Spencer |date=September 20, 2013 |url=https://www.siliconera.com/kadokawa-games-strategy-rpg-has-giant-golems/ |title=Kadokawa Games' Strategy RPG Has Giant Golems |website=Siliconera |publisher=Gamurs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006072048/https://www.siliconera.com/2013/09/20/kadokawa-games-strategy-rpg-has-giant-golems/ |archive-date=October 6, 2018 |url-status=live |access-date=April 26, 2023}} however, it was delayed twice, to April 2014.{{cite web |last=Cowan |first=Danny |date=December 27, 2013 |url=https://www.engadget.com/2013-12-27-natural-doctrine-to-miss-ps4-launch-in-japan-now-debuting-in-ma.html |title=Natural Doctrine to miss PS4 launch in Japan, now debuting in March |website=Engadget (Joystiq) |publisher=Yahoo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231010247/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/12/27/natural-doctrine-to-miss-ps4-launch-in-japan-now-debuting-in-ma |archive-date=December 31, 2013 |url-status=live |access-date=April 26, 2023}}{{cite web |last=Yip |first=Spencer |date=February 25, 2014 |url=https://www.siliconera.com/report-natural-doctrine-delayed-now-scheduled-april/ |title=Report: Natural Doctrine Delayed Again, Now Scheduled For April |website=Siliconera |publisher=Gamurs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209170400/https://www.siliconera.com/2014/02/25/report-natural-doctrine-delayed-now-scheduled-april/ |archive-date=February 9, 2019 |url-status=live |access-date=April 26, 2023}}

Atsushi Ii, previously known for directing Patapon, led the development team as director. Atsushi Ikariya, responsible for character designs for Fate/Zero, designed the characters alongside ufotable.{{cite web |last=Yip |first=Spencer |date=September 24, 2013 |url=https://www.siliconera.com/patapon-director-is-making-ps4-strategy-rpg-natural-doctrine-ufotable-making-characters/ |title=Patapon Director Is Making PS4 Strategy RPG Natural Doctrine, ufotable Characters |website=Siliconera |publisher=Gamurs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119010702/http://www.siliconera.com/2013/09/24/patapon-director-is-making-ps4-strategy-rpg-natural-doctrine-ufotable-making-characters/ |archive-date=November 19, 2018 |url-status=live |access-date=April 26, 2023}} The producers are Yoshimi Yasuda and Kensuke Tanaka.{{cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=September 26, 2013 |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2013/09/natural-doctrine-detailed-in-famitsu |title=Natural doctrine detailed in Famitsu |website=Gematsu |access-date=April 26, 2023}} The game's soundtrack was composed by Noriyuki Asakura, with the ending theme song being an arrangement of "The Court of the Crimson King" by King Crimson.{{cite web |last=Reese |first=Zack |date=September 26, 2013 |url=https://www.rpgsite.net/news/2591-natural-doctrine-gets-more-info-and-a-trailer |title=Natural Doctrine gets more info and a trailer |website=RPG Site |publisher=Mist Network}}{{cite web |date=September 26, 2013 |url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/232/G023272/20130926113/ |title=角川ゲームスが「KADOKAWA GAME STUDIO MEDIA BRIEFING 2013 AUTUMN」を開催。「艦これ改（仮）」および「NAtURAL DOCtRINE」が正式発表された会場の模様をレポート |language=ja |website=4Gamer.net |access-date=November 17, 2021}}

The game was localised by NIS America for the North American and PAL regional release in Q3 2014.{{cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=April 1, 2014 |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2014/04/natural-doctrine-coming-west-fall |title=Natural Doctrine coming west this fall |website=Gematsu |access-date=April 26, 2023}}{{cite web |last=Sahdev |first=Ishaan |date=April 1, 2014 |url=https://www.siliconera.com/nis-america-publish-natural-doctrine-ps3-ps4-vita/ |title=NIS America To Publish Natural Doctrine On PS3, PS4 And Vita |website=Siliconera |publisher=Gamurs |access-date=April 26, 2023}}

A major update released on July 10, 2014 added an easy mode to the game, following initial complaints by players in Japan that the game is too difficult. In addition, a more detailed tutorial is introduced, each level has strategy hints included, and the number of save checkpoints has been increased. The player can also speed up the actions of enemies. Three additional online co-op missions were included for all platforms, plus a set of extra hard missions for PlayStation 4 players.{{cite web |last=Yip |first=Spencer |date=July 6, 2014 |url=https://www.siliconera.com/natural-doctrine-levels-new-challenges-ps4/ |title=Natural Doctrine Levels Up With New Challenges For PS4 |website=Siliconera |publisher=Gamurs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924143650/http://www.siliconera.com/2014/07/06/natural-doctrine-levels-new-challenges-ps4/ |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |url-status=live |access-date=April 26, 2023}}

{{Video game reviews

| VITA = true

| PS3 = true

| PS4 = true

| na = true

| MC_VITA = 60/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/natural-doctrine/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-vita |title=Natural Doctrine for PlayStation Vita Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=Fandom |access-date=November 8, 2020}}

| MC_PS3 = 60/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/natural-doctrine/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3 |title=Natural Doctrine for PlayStation 3 Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=Fandom |access-date=April 27, 2023}}

| MC_PS4 = 53/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/natural-doctrine/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 |title=Natural Doctrine for PlayStation 4 Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=Fandom |access-date=November 8, 2020}}

| Destruct_PS4 = 5/10{{cite web |last=Burleson |first=Kyle MacGregor |date=October 6, 2014 |url=https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-natural-doctrine/ |title=Review: Natural Doctrine (PS4) |website=Destructoid |publisher=Gamurs |access-date=April 27, 2023}}

| EGM_PS4 = 5/10{{cite magazine |last=Fitch |first=Andrew |date=October 4, 2014 |url=https://egmnow.com/egm-review-natural-doctrine/ |title=Natural Doctrine review (PS4) |magazine=EGMNow |publisher=EGM Media, LLC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516083850/https://www.egmnow.com/articles/reviews/egm-review-natural-doctrine/ |archive-date=May 16, 2019 |url-status=live |access-date=April 27, 2023}}

| Fam_VITA = 30/40{{cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=April 1, 2014 |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2014/04/famitsu-review-scores-issue-1322 |title=Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1322 |website=Gematsu |access-date=April 27, 2023}}

| Fam_PS3 = 31/40

| Fam_PS4 = 31/40

| GI_PS4 = 6.5/10{{cite magazine |last=Reeves |first=Ben |date=October 23, 2014 |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/natural_doctrine/b/playstation4/archive/2014/10/23/natural-doctrine-review-game-informer.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024235814/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/natural_doctrine/b/playstation4/archive/2014/10/23/natural-doctrine-review-game-informer.aspx |url-status=live |archive-date=October 24, 2014 |title=Natural Doctrine Review (PS4) |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=GameStop |access-date=April 27, 2023}}

| GameRev_PS4 = 7/10{{cite web |last=Peterson |first=Blake |date=October 21, 2014 |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/65754-natural-doctrine-review |title=Natural Doctrine Review (PS4) |website=GameRevolution |publisher=CraveOnline |access-date=April 27, 2023}}

| GSpot_PS4 = 4/10{{cite web |last=Clark |first=Justin |date=September 22, 2014 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/natural-doctrine-review/1900-6415880/ |title=Natural Doctrine Review (PS4) |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |access-date=April 27, 2023}}

| HCG_PS4 = 3/5{{cite magazine |last=Halestorm |first=Bradly |date=September 16, 2014 |url=https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-natural-doctrine/104479/ |title=Review: Natural Doctrine (PS4) |magazine=Hardcore Gamer |access-date=April 27, 2023}}

| IGN_PS4 = 2.8/10{{cite web |last=Magee |first=Jake |date=October 16, 2014 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/10/16/natural-doctrine-review |title=Natural Doctrine Review (PS4) |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=April 27, 2023}}

| JXV_VITA = 13/20{{cite web |author=Didjane01 |date=November 10, 2014 |url=https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0002/00020118-natural-doctrine-test.htm |title=Test: Natural Doctrine |language=fr |website=Jeuxvideo.com |publisher=Webedia |access-date=April 27, 2023}}

| JXV_PS3 = 13/20

| JXV_PS4 = 13/20

| OPMAU_PS3 = 60%{{cite magazine |title=Natural Doctrine (PS3) |magazine=PlayStation Official Magazine – Australia |publisher=Future Australia |date=December 2014 |page=78}}

| PSQ_PS4 = 7/10{{cite web |last=Tarrant |first=Ben |date=November 6, 2014 |url=https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/natural_doctrine |title=Natural Doctrine Review (PS4) |website=Push Square |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=April 27, 2023}}

| RPG_PS4 = 4/5{{cite web |last=Apps |first=Michael |date=September 23, 2014 |url=https://archive.rpgamer.com/games/natdoc/natdoc/reviews/natdocstrev1.html |title=Natural Doctrine - Review (PS4) |website=RPGamer |publisher=CraveOnline |access-date=April 27, 2023}}

| RPGFan_PS4 = 75%{{cite web |last=Meyerink |first=Stephen |date=September 30, 2014 |url=https://www.rpgfan.com/review/natural-doctrine/ |title=NAtURAL DOCtRINE (PS4) |website=RPGFan |publisher=Emerald Shield Media LLC |access-date=April 27, 2023}}

| rev1 = The Digital Fix

| rev1_PS4 = 7/10{{cite web |last=Shayler |first=Darrell |date=December 2, 2014 |url=http://gaming.thedigitalfix.com/content/id/2708/natural-doctrine.html |title=Natural Doctrine (PS4) |website=The Digital Fix |publisher=Poisonous Monkey |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224121522/http://gaming.thedigitalfix.com/content/id/2708/natural-doctrine.html |archive-date=December 24, 2014 |access-date=April 27, 2023}}

}}

The game received "mixed" reviews on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of one seven and three eights for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 versions, and one six and three eights for the PlayStation Vita version.

Heath Hindman of PlayStation LifeStyle commented that although the mechanics of the Japanese PlayStation 4 import were interesting, the user interface and level design required additional improvement, and the pacing of the game felt slower than it should.{{cite web |last=Hindman |first=Heath |date=May 7, 2014 |url=https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/review/313603-natural-doctrine-review-ps4-import/ |title=Natural Doctrine Review (PS4 Import) |website=PlayStation LifeStyle |publisher=Evolve Media |access-date=April 27, 2023}} Hardcore Gamer called it "punishing, unfair at times and hell-bent on funneling players through a narrow corridor that leaves little-to-no room for tactical experimentation."

The game sold relatively few units within the first week of release in Japan,{{cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=April 9, 2014 |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2014/04/media-create-sales-33114-4614 |title=Media Create Sales: 3/31/14 – 4/6/14 |website=Gematsu |access-date=April 27, 2023}} with only 18,000 physical retail units sold across the three separate platforms that week.{{cite magazine |date=April 10, 2014 |url=https://dengekionline.com/elem/000/000/836/836821/ |title=【週間ソフト販売ランキング TOP50】3DS『マリオパーティ アイランドツアー』が発売3週目で1位を獲得！（3月31日～4月6日）|language=ja |magazine=Dengeki PlayStation |publisher=ASCII Media Works}} As of July 2014, the game sold over 50,000 units across the three platforms.

{{clear}}

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20140704073720/http://www.n-doctrine.com/index.html}} {{in lang|ja}}
• {{official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20141018055158/http://nisamerica.com/games/natural_doctrine/home.html}} {{in lang|en}}
• {{moby game|id=/73499/natural-doctrine/}}

{{Ufotable}}

Category:2014 video games

Category:Fantasy video games

Category:Kadokawa Shoten games

Category:NIS America games

Category:PlayStation 3 games

Category:PlayStation 4 games

Category:PlayStation Vita games

Category:Tactical role-playing video games

Category:Video games developed in Japan

Category:Video games scored by Noriyuki Asakura

Category:Video games with cross-platform play