Sengoku Blade

{{about|a video game|the type of Japanese basket hat called Tengai|Komusō#Disguise_and_outfit}}

{{Infobox video game

|title = Sengoku Blade

|image = Sengoku_Blade.png

|caption = Japanese arcade flyer

|developer = Psikyo

|publisher = Psikyo
Taito (PS2)
Atlus (SAT)
Blue Bean Soft (Korea)
MOBIRIX (Mobile)

|released = Arcade{{vgrelease|JP|1996}}Saturn{{vgrelease|JP|November 22, 1996}}PlayStation 2{{vgrelease|JP|December 2, 2004}}Switch{{vgrelease|JP|March 29, 2018}}Windows{{vgrelease|WW|June 22, 2020}}PlayStation 4 and Xbox One{{vgrelease|WW|August 3, 2022}}

|genre = Shoot 'em up

|modes = Single player, co-op

|platforms = Arcade, Sega Saturn, PlayStation 2, iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

|director = Hiroshi Yamada
Naozumi Yorichika

|producer = Junichi Niwa
Shinsuke Nakamura

|designer = Wataru Yamazaki
Hyoue Ogawa
Hideyuki Oda
Yoko Tsukagoshi
Ikuya Yoshida

|programmer = Toshinori Sugita
Seiki "SSS" Sato
Shiori Saito
Yoshikazu Mori
Keisuke Takagi

|artist = Tsukasa Jun

|arcade system = Psikyo 1st Generation

|writer = Hiroshi Yamada

|composer = Masaki Izutani

}}

Sengoku Blade,{{efn|{{nihongo|Sengoku Blade|戦国ブレード｜Sengoku Burēdo}} fully titled Sengoku Blade: Sengoku Ace Episode II.}} also known as Tengai outside Japan, is a horizontally scrolling shoot 'em up video game released for arcade machines in 1996 by Psikyo as a sequel to their 1993 shooter Sengoku Ace. A home console version was also released for the Sega Saturn. The game was ported years later to the PlayStation 2, and again for iOS and Android devices and the Nintendo Switch, Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The game is set in a historical fantasy version of the Sengoku period of Japanese history, featuring demons, magic and steam-powered robotics.

Gameplay

File:Sengoku_blade_screenshot.png

Sengoku Blade is horizontal-scrolling shoot 'em up. The game takes place in an imaginative and futuristic version of feudal Japan featuring steam-powered machinery. The Saturn version provides an option to choose a difficulty level between 1 and 7, configure controls, and set the number of lives between 1 and 4.{{rp|6–7}}

The player may choose from five playable characters at the start and may unlocked two more.{{cite book | title=Sengoku Blade | type=instruction manual | edition=NTSC-J, Sega Saturn | publisher=Atluls | date=1996}}{{rp|10–11}} Items include a power-up to increase weapon power level, bombs, and bonus coins to increase score.{{rp|8–9}} Holding down the standard shot button can provide a more powerful shot.

If the player touches an enemy ship, their weapon power level will drop by one. The player will lose a life if they get hit by an enemy bullet. If all lives are lost, continues are provided. Once the game is beaten once, a second round will begin without the ability to use continues. Score rankings and other options can be saved to the system's memory.{{rp|8–9}}

Plot

= Story =

The game is set in the world where magic and technology co-exist. A militaristic cult Shinrano, scheming the resurrection of their dark god, has kidnapped the Shogun's daughter Princess Futsu (Futsuhime) for a sacrifice. A group of heroes sets out to stop this evil plot. The game features branching storyline and several different endings, depending on the characters chosen.

=Characters=

The characters were designed by the now-famous{{cite web|url=https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20110503_443993.html |title=人気絵師が勢ぞろいした「絵師100人展」が秋葉原UDXで開催 - GAME Watch |website=Game.watch.impress.co.jp |date=3 May 2011 |accessdate=2016-04-01}} Tsukasa Jun (at that time still an "underground" artist), based on the works of Hirofumi Nakamura in the original game. Tsukasa also returned to design the characters for the second sequel.

Tengai (Tengai Kano) (ターボ坊主天外) - a Buddhist warrior-monk from the previous game, who has become the main character in the sequel. Voiced by Shōzō Iizuka.
Miko / Koyori (Koyori Togashi) (富樫こより) - a busty Shinto shrine maiden. She has become the series' symbol and a fan favourite due to her increased sex appeal in comparison to the original game. Voiced by Maria Kawamura.
Junis Hayate (ユーニス) - a spunky 12-year-old ninja girl with a pet lemur-like animal named Socrates. She is the younger sister of Jane from Sengoku Ace (who had disappeared at the end of the previous game, but Junis believes that she is alive and imprisoned at the Evil Castle). Voiced by Hiroko Kasahara.
Sho / Shoma (Shoumaru) (翔丸) - a young swordsman ninja who is in love with the kidnapped Princess Futsu and feels some crush with Koyori.{{cite web|url=https://www.vgmuseum.com/end/arcade/c/tetsm.htm |title=Ending for Tengai-Sho, Miko Team(Arcade) |publisher=Vgmuseum.com |accessdate=2013-09-11}} He wants revenge for the death of his mother and sisters.{{cite web|url=https://longrangebullet.namakoteam.com/tsukasa/contrib-games.html |title=long range bullet: Tsukasa Jun: Game Contributions |publisher=Longrangebullet.namakoteam.com |date=2004-04-29 |accessdate=2013-09-11}} During the game, it is revealed that his father is the lord of evil, Kiyatsu (the final boss of the game). Voiced by Takehito Koyasu.
Katana / Hagane (ハガネ) - a samurai robot attempting recover its human body. Katana is really a swordswoman called Hagane and during his ending with Junis, she reveals her first name: Kirie. Voiced by Hōchū Ōtsuka.
Flush (Flash) / Ayin (Shine-Ain) / Kain / Aine (閃光のアイン) - a one-eyed archer samurai from the previous game, now as a secret character, he is looking for his sister Asuka again. Voiced by Norio Wakamoto.

Release

Originally released for the arcades in 1996, Sengoku Blade was first ported to the Sega Saturn on November 22 of that same year. This version was released as a two-disc double set, including a bonus omake CD-ROM which featured hundreds of Sengoku Ace series artworks (including the official art, guest art, and fan art from a contest by Psikyo), and now is rare and expensive to obtain.{{cite web|url=http://www.meristation.com.mx/pc/reportaje/juegos-ocultos-y-olvidados-vol-10/2025847/58 |title=Reportaje Juegos Ocultos y Olvidados, Vol 10 PC |website=MeriStation.com.mx |date=2014-11-30 |accessdate=2016-04-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131062836/http://www.meristation.com.mx/pc/reportaje/juegos-ocultos-y-olvidados-vol-10/2025847/58 |archive-date=2016-01-31}} Exclusive for the Saturn conversion was the implementation of voices during the brief cut scenes, and the addition of Marion from the Gunbird series as a bonus hidden character.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA8-3qNLdqY |title=Sengoku Blade Koyori & Marion translated dialogues (Sega Saturn) |publisher=YouTube |date=2010-12-29 |accessdate=2013-09-11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426175715/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA8-3qNLdqY |archive-date=2016-04-26}}

In 2004, the game was also ported to PlayStation 2 as part of the Psikyo Shooting Collection Vol. 2: Sengoku Ace & Sengoku Blade by Taito, which was re-released one year later as a budget-range title. The Japanese release contains both Sengoku Ace and Sengoku Blade, but in Europe the two games were sold separately.{{cite web |url=http://www.arcade-gear.com/Games/Sengoku_Blade/Sengoku_Blade.htm |title=Sengoku Blade |publisher=Arcade Gear |accessdate=2014-05-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140131101156/http://www.arcade-gear.com/Games/Sengoku_Blade/Sengoku_Blade.htm |archive-date=2014-01-31}} In 2014, the game was released internationally for iOS and Android mobile devices in Japanese, English and Korean.{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2014/06/14/arcade-shoot-em-tengai-reappears-smartphones/ |title=Arcade Shoot-Em-Up Tengai Reappears For Smartphones |publisher=Siliconera |date=2014-06-14 |accessdate=2016-04-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913133401/http://www.siliconera.com/2014/06/14/arcade-shoot-em-tengai-reappears-smartphones/ |archive-date=2016-09-13}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gamecast-blog.com/archives/65795098.html?_f=jp |title=戦国ブレードがせっかく移植されたのに、おっぱいが見えないだけで騒ぐゲーマーの見苦しさ - iPhoneゲーマーな日々 |website=Gamecast-blog.com |date=2014-06-05 |accessdate=2016-04-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916011809/http://www.gamecast-blog.com/archives/65795098.html?_f=jp |archive-date=2016-09-16}} It was also released for the Nintendo Switch in 2018.

The game's manga adaptation was published on August 4, 1996.{{cite web|url=http://www.interq.or.jp/cool/mira/book/book01.html |title=刃−Ｙａｉｂａ− |publisher=Interq.or.jp |accessdate=2014-05-04 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106204712/http://www.interq.or.jp/cool/mira/book/book01.html |archive-date=2015-11-06}} The game's original soundtrack was released by Pony Canyon and Scitron on May 17, 1996.{{cite web|url=http://vgmdb.net/album/3317 |title=PCCB-00216 | Sengoku Blade |publisher=VGMdb |accessdate=2013-09-11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109133215/http://vgmdb.net/album/3317 |archive-date=2013-11-09}} Several PVC figures were also released for Koyori and Junis,{{cite web|url=http://myfigurecollection.net/encyclopedia/9556_koyori |title=Koyori ‹ Characters ‹ Encyclopedia - MyFigureCollection.net (Tsuki-board.net) |publisher=MyFigureCollection.net |accessdate=2016-04-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107092607/http://myfigurecollection.net/encyclopedia/9556_koyori |archive-date=2016-11-07}}{{cite web|url=http://myfigurecollection.net/encyclopedia/44595_junis |title=Junis ‹ Characters ‹ Encyclopedia - MyFigureCollection.net (Tsuki-board.net) |publisher=MyFigureCollection.net |date=2012-12-31 |accessdate=2016-04-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107092605/http://myfigurecollection.net/encyclopedia/44595_junis |archive-date=2016-11-07}} as well as for the demon-ninja villainess Kaen (火燕{{cite web|url=http://www19.atwiki.jp/femaleenemey/pages/149.html |title=ゲームのおにゃのこ敵@ wiki - 戦国ブレード |publisher=9.atwiki.jp |date=1980-01-01 |accessdate=2016-04-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107093423/http://www19.atwiki.jp/femaleenemey/pages/149.html |archive-date=2016-11-07}}){{cite web|url=http://calamel.jp/go/item/42257697 |title=彩京戦国ブレード 1/6 「火燕」岡山フィギュア新品の通販 | カラメル |publisher=Calamel.jp |accessdate=2016-04-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107092947/http://calamel.jp/go/item/42257697 |archive-date=2016-11-07}} who has become one of the game's most popular characters.{{cite web|url=http://gamaboy.ken-shin.net/1121-/1170-ML-Sengoku/sengoku.htm |title=ロングソード連合プレイ日記聞き取りレビュー2014 回答者：MLさん戦国ブレード（サターン）弱小チームには参加をご遠慮していただきましょうか、ねぇ？カナディアンマンさんにスペシャルマンさん |publisher=Gamaboy.ken-shin.net |accessdate=2016-04-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107094805/http://gamaboy.ken-shin.net/1121-/1170-ML-Sengoku/sengoku.htm |archive-date=2016-11-07}}{{cite web|url=https://www.digiket.com/work/show/_data/ID=ITM0070003/ |title=年齢認証確認 |publisher=DiGiket.com |accessdate=2016-04-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107092544/http://www.digiket.com/work/show/_data/ID%3DITM0070003/ |archive-date=2016-11-07}}

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Sengoku Blade on their June 1, 1996 issue as being the thirteenth most-successful arcade game of the month.{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software)|magazine=Game Machine|issue=519|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=1 June 1996|page=21|lang=ja}}

In a gamesTM retrospective, Sengoku Blade was found to be a simple but enjoyable shooter and given a score of 8 out of 10. They praised the unique graphical style and detail and compared the game favorably to Psikyo's earlier shooter Gunbird.{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/gamesTM027/GTM_027_eMag#page/n134/mode/1up/ |title=gamesTM 27 |accessdate=2014-05-04 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410212716/https://archive.org/stream/gamesTM027/GTM_027_eMag |archive-date=2016-04-10}} In 1997, the Japanese Sega Saturn Magazine ranked the game's Koyori as the 47th best female character on the platform.{{cite magazine|magazine=Sega Saturn Magazine (Japan)|date=1997-07-25|issue=25/1997|page=129|title=ゲーム美少女50名ベストランキング!!}} The Saturn version has become a collector's item.

Sequel

Sengoku Blade was followed by Sengoku Cannon: Sengoku Ace Episode III, released for the PlayStation Portable in 2005.

Notes

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20070206142100/http://www.taito.co.jp/d3/cp/sengoku/ Psikyo Shooting Collection Vol. 2: Sengoku Ace & Sengoku Blade official website] {{in lang|ja}}
[https://ec.nintendo.com/JP/ja/titles/70010000008263 Sengoku Blade for Nintendo Switch official website] {{in lang|ja}}
[https://www.mobygames.com/game/ps2/psikyo-shooting-collection-vol-2-sengoku-ace-sengoku-blade Psikyo Shooting Collection Vol. 2: Sengoku Ace & Sengoku Blade] at MobyGames
[https://www.giantbomb.com/sengoku-blade-sengoku-ace-episode-ii/61-30541/ Sengoku Blade] at Giant Bomb

Category:1996 video games

Category:Android (operating system) games

Category:Arcade video games

Category:City Connection franchises

Category:Cooperative video games

Category:Horizontally scrolling shooters

Category:IOS games

Category:Mobirix games

Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games

Category:Nintendo Switch games

Category:PlayStation 4 games

Category:Psikyo games