Princess Minerva

{{Infobox video game

| image = Princess Minerva cover.jpg

| developer = Riverhillsoft

| publisher = Riverhillsoft
Vic Tokai Corporation (SNES)

| director = Kōji Ikemoto

| producer = Rika Suzuki
Kazuhiro Okazaki

| designer = Junji Shigematsu

| artist = Ran Ishida
Fumio Matsumoto
Osamu Inoue

| writer = Kō Maisaka

| genre = RPG

| platforms = NEC PC-9801, PC Engine, Super Famicom

| released = 1992 (PC-98)
March 25, 1994 (PCE)
June 23, 1995 (SNES)

}}

{{nihongo|Princess Minerva|プリンセス・ミネルバ|Purinsesu Mineruba}} is a role-playing video game developed and published by Riverhillsoft for the NEC PC-9801 in 1992 in Japan only. An original video animation by Group TAC was originally released by Toho in May 1995 in Japan; it was later released also in the United States. The extended franchise also includes a manga series, an illustrated serial novel, and other media.

Development

Princess Minerva was developed by Riverhillsoft and published by Riverhillsoft and Vic Tokai Corporation for the NEC PC-9801,{{cite web|url=http://retroblues.sakura.ne.jp/regeokiba/riverhill_soft/riverhillsoft.htm|title=RIVERHILL SOFT [リバーヒルソフト]|publisher=Retroblues.sakura.ne.jp|access-date=26 November 2014}} PC Engine{{cite web|url=http://gamedic.jpn.org/museum/tirasi/pce_rpg/|title=Q['VRNV PCGW@[vCOQ['V|author=p.ink|publisher=Gamedic.jpn.org|access-date=26 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106214911/http://gamedic.jpn.org/museum/tirasi/pce_rpg/|archive-date=6 January 2015|url-status=dead}} and Super Famicom.{{cite web|url=http://www.famicom.biz/all/htmls/4966550595037.html|title=ץ󥻥ߥͥ|publisher=Famicom.biz|access-date=26 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150428004620/http://www.famicom.biz/all/htmls/4966550595037.html|archive-date=2015-04-28|url-status=dead}}

Story

In the game, the evil sorceress Dynastar (ダイナスター) (voiced by Yōko Matsuoka) challenges Princess Minerva (voiced by Miki Itou), threatening to kidnap all the girls in the world and turn them into monsters. Minerva leaves with her eight personal female bodyguards to defeat Dynastar and her six also female demon generals. The game starts when all their weapons, armor and money gets stolen.

Release

Princess Minerva was released for the PC Engine on March 25, 1994,{{Cite web|url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=7728|title=プリンセス･ミネルバ [PCエンジン] / ファミ通.com|website=www.famitsu.com|access-date=2018-08-21}} and the Super Famicom on June 23, 1995.{{Cite web|url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=17871|title=プリンセス･ミネルバ [スーパーファミコン] / ファミ通.com|website=www.famitsu.com|access-date=2018-08-21}}

A five-issue shounen manga series and a nine-volume illustrated serial novel were also released, written by the game's writer Maisaka Kou and published by ASCII comix and Shueisha, respectively, during the 1990s.{{cite book|url=http://book.douban.com/subject/5999113/|title=プリンセス・ミネルバ 01|series=プリンセス・ミネルバ (コミック) |date=21 September 1993 |publisher=Book.douban.com|isbn=9784756108388 |access-date=26 November 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141126085610/http://book.douban.com/subject/5999113/|archive-date=2014-11-26|url-status=live}}{{cite book|url=http://book.douban.com/subject/5390870/|title=陽炎のエラン|series=プリンセス・ミネルバ |date=October 1994 |publisher=Book.douban.com|isbn=9784086131568 |access-date=26 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305161711/https://book.douban.com/subject/5390870/|archive-date=2016-03-05|url-status=live}}{{cite book|url=http://book.douban.com/subject/5999124/|title=プリンセス・ミネルバ 05|series=プリンセス・ミネルバ (コミック) |date=22 September 1995 |publisher=Book.douban.com|isbn=9784756111678 |access-date=26 November 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141126085614/http://book.douban.com/subject/5999124/|archive-date=2014-11-26|url-status=live}}{{cite book|url=http://book.douban.com/subject/5390908/|title=ムナリーの帰還|series=プリンセス・ミネルバ |date=February 1996 |publisher=Book.douban.com|isbn=9784086132084 |access-date=26 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306113247/https://book.douban.com/subject/5390908/|archive-date=2016-03-06|url-status=live}} An original soundtrack / drama CD compilation was released by Futureland in 1995.{{cite web|url=http://kawaidb.s60.xrea.com/db/view_track.php?id=0123|title=Library|publisher=Kawaidb.s60.xrea.com|access-date=26 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221743/http://kawaidb.s60.xrea.com/db/view_track.php?id=0123|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}} Other released included a regular original soundtrack{{cite web|url=http://www.suruga-ya.jp/product/detail/121014267001|title=プリンセスミネルバオリジナル・サウンドCD ～スペシャル・トラック～ - 中古 - アニメシングルCD - 通販ショップの駿河屋|publisher=Suruga-ya.jp|access-date=26 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202003031/http://www.suruga-ya.jp/product/detail/121014267001|archive-date=2014-12-02|url-status=live}} and a CD collection of graphics.{{cite web|url=http://www.suruga-ya.jp/product/detail/121014392001|title=CDグラフィックスコレクションプリンセス・ミネルバ - 中古 - アニメシングルCD - 通販ショップの駿河屋|publisher=Suruga-ya.jp|access-date=26 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202003045/http://www.suruga-ya.jp/product/detail/121014392001|archive-date=2014-12-02|url-status=live}}

In 2018, the Super Famicom version got a fan translation into the English language.{{Cite news|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/12/super_famicom_wars_and_princess_minerva_translated_to_english|title='Super Famicom Wars' And 'Princess Minerva' Translated to English|date=2017-12-26|work=Nintendo Life|access-date=2018-08-21|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130101800/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/12/super_famicom_wars_and_princess_minerva_translated_to_english|archive-date=2018-01-30|url-status=live}}

Reception

On release, Famicom Tsūshin scored the PC Engine version a 21 out of 40 score, and the Super Famicom version of the game a 23 out of 40.NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: プリンセスミネルバ. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.341. Pg.29. 30 June 1995.

Anime

{{Infobox animanga/Header

| name =

| image =

| caption =

| ja_kanji = プリンセス・ミネルバ

| ja_romaji = Purinsesu Mineruba

| genre =

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

| type = OVA

| director = Yoshihiro Yamaguchi

| producer = Masako Fukuyo
Hiroshi Kanemasa

| writer = Hideki Sonoda

| music = Kenji Kawai

| studio = Group TAC

| licensee = {{English anime licensee|NA=ADV Films}}

| released = May 1, 1995

| runtime = 43 min

}}

The original video animation Princess Minerva was produced by Group TAC was released by Toho in May 1995 in Japan.{{cite web|url=http://www.suruga-ya.jp/product/detail/122003664000|title=プリンセスミネルバ - 新品 - LD - 通販ショップの駿河屋|publisher=Suruga-ya.jp|access-date=26 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202003019/http://www.suruga-ya.jp/product/detail/122003664000|archive-date=2014-12-02|url-status=live}} It was released by A.D. Vision in the United States in September 1995 and then again in 1998.

The OAV serves as a prequel to the game, telling how Minerva assembled her team of the most beautiful and powerful women warriors, and how she first run into Dynastar who tried to kidnap her and her friends.{{cite web|url=http://anime.tanuki.pl/strony/anime/1223-princess-minerva/rec/1260|title=Tanuki-Anime|work=Tanuki Anime|access-date=26 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905141443/http://anime.tanuki.pl/strony/anime/1223-princess-minerva/rec/1260|archive-date=2014-09-05|url-status=live}}

Dave Halverson gave the anime version a rating of C.{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/Gamers_Republic_No._03_1998-08_Millennum_Publications_US#page/n95/mode/2up/|title=Gamers Republic - No. 03 (1998-08) (Millennum Publications) (US)|date=August 1998|access-date=26 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409221507/https://archive.org/stream/Gamers_Republic_No._03_1998-08_Millennum_Publications_US#page/n95/mode/2up/|archive-date=2016-04-09|url-status=live}} Chris Beveridge of Mania.com gave it a B−.{{cite web|url=http://www.mania.com/princess-minerva_article_111299.html|title=Princess Minerva|publisher=Mania.com|access-date=26 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212064205/http://www.mania.com/princess-minerva_article_111299.html|archive-date=2008-12-12|url-status=dead}}