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{{Infobox video game series
{{Infobox video game series
| title = Tengai Makyo
| title = Tengai Makyō
| image = File:Far East of Eden logo - circa Zirca 2010.png
| image = File:Far East of Eden logo - circa Zirca 2010.png
| caption =
| caption =
Line 11: Line 11:
}}
}}


{{nihongo|'''''Tengai Makyo'''''|天外魔境|'''Tengai Makyō'''|lit. "The [[Makyo|Realm of Demons]] Outside Heaven"}}, also known as '''''Far East of Eden''''', is a series of [[role-playing video game]]s released in [[Japan]] and [[Taiwan]]. The series was conceived by [[Oji Hiroi]] and developed by [[Red Entertainment|Red Company]], debuting on the [[TurboGrafx-16#TurboGrafx-CD|PC Engine CD-ROM² System]] in [[1989 in video gaming|1989]].<ref name="hg101_tengai" />
{{nihongo foot|'''''Tengai Makyō'''''|天外魔境|''Tengai Makyō''|lit. "The [[Makyo|Realm of Demons]] Outside Heaven"|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}}, also known as '''''Far East of Eden''''', is a series of [[role-playing video game]]s released in [[Japan]] and [[Taiwan]]. The series was conceived by [[Oji Hiroi]] and developed by [[Red Entertainment|Red Company]], debuting on the [[TurboGrafx-16#TurboGrafx-CD/CD-ROM²|PC Engine CD-ROM² System]] in [[1989 in video gaming|1989]].<ref name="hg101_tengai" />


The series became popular [[Video gaming in Japan|in Japan]], where it was one of the most popular RPG series during the [[History of video game consoles (fourth generation)|16-bit era]]{{cn|date=May 2020}}, along with [[Enix]]'s ''[[Dragon Quest]]'' and [[Square (video game company)|Squaresoft]]'s ''[[Final Fantasy]]''. Its success was partly because the original ''Tengai Makyou'' was the first RPG released for the new [[CD-ROM]] format, which it utilized to create a bigger game and introduce [[Voice acting|fully voiced]] animated [[cut scene]]s and [[Streaming audio in video games|CD music]] to the genre.{{cn|date=May 2020}}
The series became popular [[Video gaming in Japan|in Japan]], where it was one of the most popular RPG series during the [[History of video game consoles (fourth generation)|16-bit era]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/03/31/tengai-makyo-cancelled-for-gamecube?amp=1 | title=Tengai Makyo Cancelled for GameCube | date=31 March 2004 }}</ref> along with [[Enix]]'s ''[[Dragon Quest]]'' and [[Square (video game company)|Squaresoft]]'s ''[[Final Fantasy]]''. Its success was partly because the original ''Tengai Makyō'' was the first RPG released for the new [[CD-ROM]] format, which it utilized to create a bigger game and introduce [[Voice acting|fully voiced]] animated [[cut scene]]s and [[Streaming audio in video games|CD music]] to the genre.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}


Though originally intended to be only three games{{cn|date=May 2020}}, it has grown to encompass a number of remakes, [[gaiden]]s and genre spin-offs across a variety of platforms. Despite its relative popularity in Asian countries{{cn|date=May 2020}}, the series is largely unknown in other territories, with only one game released overseas.
The series grew to encompass a number of remakes, [[gaiden]]s and genre spin-offs across a variety of platforms. Despite selling over 2.2 million copies in Japan,<ref>{{Cite news |title=あの「天外魔境」シリーズの最新作が，ついに！ |url=http://www.4gamer.net/games/120/G012010/20100911002/ |publisher=[[Aetas (company)|Aetas]] |work=[[4Gamer.net]] |date=2010-09-13 |accessdate=2015-04-24|language=Japanese}}</ref> the series is largely unknown in other territories, with only one game released overseas.


==Overview==
==Overview==

The main series is composed of three separate games within the land of 'Jipang' (a fictional [[feudal Japan]] using the name given by Italian merchant [[Marco Polo]]), each follows a descendant of the 'Fire Clan' and supporting cast in battles against a range of often comical villains. The stories of the games, though primarily of 'fantasy' fare, are inspired by and a parody of misconceptions about Japanese culture by Western societies.
The main series is composed of three separate games within the land of 'Jipang' (a fictional [[feudal Japan]] using the name given by Italian merchant [[Marco Polo]]), each follows a descendant of the 'Fire Clan' and supporting cast in battles against a range of often comical villains. The stories of the games, though primarily of 'fantasy' fare, are inspired by and a parody of misconceptions about Japanese culture by Western societies.


The first game ''Tengai Makyo: Ziria'', released for the [[TurboGrafx-16#TurboGrafx-CD|PC Engine CD-ROM² System]] in 1989, was notable as the first RPG released on [[CD-ROM]] and the first in the genre to feature animated [[cut scene]]s and voice acting. The plot and characters were inspired by the Japanese folk tale ''[[Jiraiya|Jiraiya Goketsu Monogatari]]'' (with the protagonist's name deliberately misspelled, per the fantastic theme). The music for the game was also composed by the [[Academy Award]] winning musician [[Ryuichi Sakamoto]].<ref name="hg101_tengai">{{cite web|last=Kalata|first=Kurt|title=Tengai Makyou: Ziria|url=http://hardcoregaming101.net/tengai/tengai.htm|work=Hardcore Gaming 101|accessdate=7 September 2011}}</ref>
The first game ''[[Tengai Makyō: Ziria]]'' (1989), released for the [[PC Engine CD-ROM²]] system, was notable as the first RPG released on [[CD-ROM]] and the first in the genre to feature animated [[cut scenes]] and [[voice acting]]. The plot and characters were inspired by the Japanese folk tale ''[[Jiraiya Goketsu Monogatari]]'' (with the protagonist's name deliberately misspelled, per the fantastic theme). The music for the game was also composed by the [[Academy Award]] winning musician [[Ryuichi Sakamoto]].<ref name="hg101_tengai">{{cite web|last=Kalata|first=Kurt|title=Tengai Makyou: Ziria|url=http://hardcoregaming101.net/tengai/tengai.htm|work=Hardcore Gaming 101|accessdate=7 September 2011}}</ref> The game was previewed in the November 1990 issue of ''[[Computer Gaming World]]''. The writer Roe R. Adams (also a co-developer for the ''[[Wizardry]]'' games) described it as "a truly gigantic game" that "seems to be about the size of 2 or 3 ''[[Ultima (series)|Ultimas]]'' put together." He suggested that, if "[[NEC]] can handle the mammoth translating job, ''Ziria'' could be the [[List of Game of the Year awards|game hit of 1991]]" unless, "of course, [[Nintendo]] counters with ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|Zelda III]]'' or ''[[Dragon Warrior III]]'', and [[Sega]] with ''[[Phantasy Star III]]''."<ref>{{citation|first=Roe R.|last=Adams|magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]]|date=November 1990|issue=76|pages=83–84 [84]|title=Westward Ho! (Toward Japan, That Is): An Overview of the Evolution of CRPGs on Dedicated Game Machines|quote=In Japan, there are currently 26 CD-ROM based games already available for this machine, including ''[[Ys I & II]]'' (scheduled for Christmas release in the U.S. on one disk) and a truly gigantic game, ''Ziria'', which seems to be about the size of 2 or 3 ''Ultimas'' put together. IF NEC can handle the mammoth translating job, Ziria could be the game hit of 1991 on the game machines (unless, of course, Nintendo counters with ''Zelda III'' or ''Dragon Warrior III'', and Sega with ''Phantasy Star III'').}}</ref>


The game was previewed in the November 1990 issue of ''[[Computer Gaming World]]''. The writer Roe R. Adams (also a co-developer for the ''[[Wizardry]]'' games) described it as "a truly gigantic game" that "seems to be about the size of 2 or 3 ''[[Ultima (series)|Ultimas]]'' put together." He suggested that, if "[[NEC]] can handle the mammoth translating job, ''Ziria'' could be the [[List of Game of the Year awards|game hit of 1991]]" unless, "of course, [[Nintendo]] counters with ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|Zelda III]]'' or ''[[Dragon Warrior III]]'', and [[Sega]] with ''[[Phantasy Star III]]''."<ref>{{citation|first=Roe R.|last=Adams|work=[[Computer Gaming World]]|date=November 1990|issue=76|pages=83–84 [84]|title=Westward Ho! (Toward Japan, That Is): An Overview of the Evolution of CRPGs on Dedicated Game Machines|quote=In Japan, there are currently 26 CD-ROM based games already available for this machine, including ''[[Ys I & II]]'' (scheduled for Christmas release in the U.S. on one disk) and a truly gigantic game, ''Ziria'', which seems to be about the size of 2 or 3 ''Ultimas'' put together. IF NEC can handle the mammoth translating job, Ziria could be the game hit of 1991 on the game machines (unless, of course, Nintendo counters with ''Zelda III'' or ''Dragon Warrior III'', and Sega with ''Phantasy Star III'').}}</ref> There were also plans to release the sequel ''[[Tengai Makyō II: Manjimaru]]'' (1992) in [[North America]], but due to the [[TurboGrafx-16]]'s failure in that market, no ''Tengai Makyou'' games would be released there up until ''[[Far East of Eden: Kabuki Klash]]'' (1995).<ref name="hg101_tengai"/>
The sequel ''[[Tengai Makyō II: Manjimaru]]'' (1992) was reportedly the [[List of most expensive video games to develop|most expensive game]] ever made up until that time;<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Tengai Makyou II (Ziria: Far East of Eden 2) |magazine=[[TurboPlay]] |date=1992 |issue=12 (April/May 1992) |page=19}}</ref> the game's lead programmer Hiromasa Iwasaki later revealed the development budget was about {{JPY|500 million}} ({{US$|4 million|long=no}} at the time, or {{US$|{{Inflation|US|4|1992|r=1}} million|long=no}} adjusted for inflation), making it possibly the first [[AAA game]] production on CD-ROM.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Szczepaniak |first1=John |title=The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers: Monochrome |date=November 2015 |publisher=SMG Szczepaniak |isbn=978-1518818745 |pages=85, 97–8 |quote=Flagship title for the updated PC-Engine CD-ROM, this was one of (if not ''the'') most expensive game of its day; think of it as Hudson's analogue to ''[[Shenmue]]''. (...) ''Tengai Makyou II'' was a ''really'' big project and perhaps also the first triple-A title on CD. (...) Because at that time, for Tengai Makyou II, we used almost (...) 500,000,000 yen (...) $4,000,000 (...) And perhaps the salaries of these people are not contained within this [original] 500 million figure. (...) So it's even more expensive!}}</ref> The music was composed by [[Joe Hisaishi]], known for composing soundtracks to [[Studio Ghibli]]'s [[anime]] films such as ''[[Castle in the Sky]]'' (1986), ''[[Princess Mononoke]]'' (1997) and ''[[Spirited Away]]'' (2001).<ref name="hg101_tengai"/> There were plans to release ''Tengai Makyō II'' in [[North America]], but due to the [[TurboGrafx-16]]'s failure in that market, no ''Tengai Makyō'' games would be released there up until ''[[Far East of Eden: Kabuki Klash]]'' (1995).<ref name="hg101_tengai"/>


==Creators==
==Creators==
The games are largely the creation of Hiroshi Adachi (under the nickname "[[Oji Hiroi]]") and Red Company (today [[Red Entertainment]]). Virtually all publishing tasks have been handled by [[Hudson Soft]].
The games are largely the creation of [[Oji Hiroi]] and Red Company (today [[Red Entertainment]]). Virtually all publishing tasks have been handled by [[Hudson Soft]].


The series is purported to be based on a book entitled "Far East of Eden" written by a Paul Hieronymus Chada (typically written as P.H. Chada), who is presented as a 19th-century Smithsonian professor of oriental studies. The book and P.H. Chada do not exist, and 'P.H. Chada' is actually derived from 'Prince (Ouji) Hiroi Adachi'. This is part of how the setting is supposed based on the misconceptions Western societies held with regard to Japan in the past.
The series is purported to be based on a book entitled "Far East of Eden" written by a Paul Hieronymus Chada (typically written as P.H. Chada), who is presented as a 19th-century Smithsonian professor of oriental studies. The book and P.H. Chada do not exist, and 'P.H. Chada' is actually derived from 'Prince (Oji) Hiroi'. This is part of how the setting is supposed based on the misconceptions Western societies held with regard to Japan in the past. The person "Hiroshi Adachi" credited as creating the series is also fictional, with the roles he is credited for actually being performed by Hiroi. "Adachi"/"Chada" also had a personal website which was actually run by Hiroi.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www006.upp.so-net.ne.jp/ashi/ |title=あ氏の部屋|website=www006.upp.so-net.ne.jp |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126144025/http://www006.upp.so-net.ne.jp/ashi/ |archive-date=26 January 2021 |url-status=dead}}</ref>


Oji Hiroi and Red Company would later become known for creating the ''[[Sakura Wars]]'' series for the [[Sega Saturn]].<ref name="hg101_tengai"/>
Oji Hiroi and Red Company would later become known for creating the ''[[Sakura Wars]]'' series for the [[Sega Saturn]].<ref name="hg101_tengai"/> ''Sakura Wars'' adopted various elements from the series, including a pre-modern Japanese setting and the use of animated cutscenes and voice acting.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hetfeld |first1=Malindy |title=An introduction to Sakura Wars, the RPG series created to save the Sega Saturn |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-04-15-an-introduction-to-sakura-wars-the-rpg-series-created-to-save-the-sega-saturn |access-date=16 July 2021 |work=[[Eurogamer]] |date=15 April 2020}}</ref>


==Games==
==Games==
Entries in the franchise have been released for several different console and mobile platforms, including remakes for newer systems, such as the [[PlayStation Portable|PSP]] compilation ''Tengai Makyō Collection'', which contains the main four PC Engine titles.
; Main series
* ''[[Tengai Makyō: Ziria]]'' - (PC Engine CD-ROM² - June 30, 1989)
⚫
** ''[[Tengai Makyō: Ziria]]'' (iOS)
** ''[[Tengai Makyou Ziria: Haruka naru Jipang]]''- (Xbox 360 - March 23, 2006)
* ''[[Tengai Makyō II: Manjimaru]]'' - (PC Engine Super CD-ROM² - March 26, 1992)
** ''[[Tengai Makyō II: Manjimaru]]'' (PlayStation 2 - October 2, 2006)
** ''[[Tengai Makyō II: Manjimaru]]'' (Nintendo GameCube - Sept. 25, 2003)
** ''[[Tengai Makyō II: Manjimaru]]'' (Nintendo DS - March 9, 2006)
⚫
* ''[[Tengai Makyō: Daiyon no Mokushiroku]]'' (trans: 'The 4th Apocalypse') - (Sega Saturn - January 14, 1997)
** ''[[Tengai Makyō: Daiyon no Mokushiroku]]'' (PlayStation Portable - July 13, 2006)
* {{Nihongo|''[[Tengai Makyō III: Namida]]''|[[:ja:天外魔境III NAMIDA]]|}} - (PlayStation 2 - April 14, 2005)


{| class="wikitable"
; Other games
|-
* ''[[Tengai Makyō: Fuun Kabukiden]]'' - (PC Engine Super CD-ROM² - July 10, 1993)
! Year !! Title !! Genre !! Original Platform
* ''[[Bomberman '94|Tengai Makyō: Deden no Den]]'' - (PC Engine Super CD-ROM² - 1994) (based on [[Bomberman '94]]<ref>[https://www.giantbomb.com/tengai-makyou-deden-no-den/3030-44005/ Tengai Makyou: Deden no Den]</ref>)
|-
* ''[[Far East of Eden Zero|Tengai Makyō Zero]]'' - (Super Famicom - December 22, 1995)
* ''[[Kabuki Klash|Tengai Makyō Shin Den]]'' - (ARCADE, NeoGeo - July 28, 1995 (NeoGeo), December 8, 1995 (NeoGeo CD))
| 1989 || ''[[Tengai Makyō: Ziria]]'' || RPG || PC Engine CD
|-
⚫
* ''[[Tengai Makyou: Dennou Karakuri Kakutouden]]'' - (PC-FX - July 28, 1995)
* ''[[Tengai Makyō: Kabuki Ittou Ryoudan]]'' - (PC Engine Arcade CD-ROM² - February 24, 1995)
| 1992 || ''[[Tengai Makyō II: Manji Maru]]'' || RPG || PC Engine CD
|-
⚫
* ''[[Oriental Blue: Ao no Tengai]]'' - (Game Boy Advance - October 24, 2003)
* ''[[Tengai Makyō Mobile]]'' - (iPhone)
| 1993 || ''[[Tengai Makyō: Fuun Kabukiden]]'' || RPG || PC Engine CD
|-
|1994 || ''[[Bomberman '94#Demos|Tengai Makyō: Deden no Den]]'' (promo) || Maze || PC Engine CD
|-
| 1995 || ''[[Tengai Makyō: Kabuki Ittou Ryoudan]]'' || Fighting || PC Engine CD
|-
| 1995 || ''[[Far East of Eden: Kabuki Klash]]'' || Fighting || NeoGeo
|-
⚫
| 1995 || ''[[Tengai Makyō: Dennou Karakuri Kakutouden]]'' || {{abr|FMV|Full Motion Video}} fighting || PC-FX
|-
| 1995 || ''[[Tengai Makyō Zero]]'' || RPG || Super Famicom
|-
⚫
| 1997 || ''[[Tengai Makyō: Daiyon no Mokushiroku]]'' || RPG || Sega Saturn
|-
⚫
| 2003 || ''[[Oriental Blue: Ao no Tengai]]'' || RPG || Game Boy Advance
|-
|2003
|[[Tengai Makyō II: Manji Maru|''Tengai Makyō II: Manji Maru'' ''(remake)'']]
|RPG
|GameCube, PlayStation 2
|-
⚫
| 2004 || ''[[Tengai Makyō Mobile]]'' || RPG || iPhone
|-
| 2005 || ''Tengai Makyō III: Namida'' || RPG || PlayStation 2
|}


; Canceled games
=== Canceled games ===
* ''Oriental Blue'' (Nintendo 64 DD)<ref>{{cite web |title=Oriental Blue, Nintendo 64 unreleased game |url=https://www.nintendo64ever.com/Nintendo-64-Game-Oriental-Blue-Unreleased,670.html}}</ref>
* ''Untitled Tengai Makyo action/slash-em-up''
⚫
* ''Tengai Makyō: Jipang Seven'' (browser-based game)<ref>[http://jipang7.gamecomplex.jp/ Tengai Makyō: Jipang Seven cancellation notice]</ref>
* ''Oriental Blue'' (Nintendo 64 DD)
⚫
* ''[[Tengai Makyō: Jipang Seven]]'' (Browser based game)<ref>[http://jipang7.gamecomplex.jp/ Tengai Makyō: Jipang Seven cancellation notice]</ref>


== Other media ==
== Other media ==
A two-episode [[Original video animation|OVA]] titled {{nihongo foot|''Tengai Makyō Ziria Oboro-hen''|天外魔境 自来也おぼろ変|group=lower-alpha}} was made in 1990.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tengai Makyō: Ziria Oboro-hen (OAV) |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=15258 |website=Anime News Network |access-date=11 September 2021}}</ref>
* {{nihongo||天外魔境 自来也おぼろ変|Tengai Makyō Jiraia Oboro Hen}} (OVA)
* The event of ''Tengai Makyō: Ziria'', was adapted by the manga as part for the Hudson characters titled {{nihongo|Hudson Makyou|ハドソン魔境|}} by Minori Shobo on 1992.


''Tengai Makyō'' was also included in the two volumes of the 1992 manga anthology {{nihongo foot|''Hudson Makyō''|ハドソン魔境|group=lower-alpha}} by Minori Shobo, which featured stories about different Hudson franchises.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hudson Makyou |url=http://randomhoohaas.flyingomelette.com/bomb/book/hudmakyo/}}</ref>
== Reception ==


''Tengai Makyō II'' protagonist Manjimaru Sengoku appears as a playable character in the 2003 crossover fighting game ''[[DreamMix TV World Fighters]]''.
The series sold over 2.2 million copies.<ref>{{Cite news |title=あの「天外魔境」シリーズの最新作が，ついに！ |url=http://www.4gamer.net/games/120/G012010/20100911002/ |publisher=[[Aetas (company)|Aetas]] |work=[[4Gamer.net]] |date=2010-09-13 |accessdate=2015-04-24}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}


==References==
==References==
Line 73: Line 89:
* [http://hardcoregaming101.net/tengai/tengai.htm Hardcore Gaming 101's Tengai Makyō Page]
* [http://hardcoregaming101.net/tengai/tengai.htm Hardcore Gaming 101's Tengai Makyō Page]
* {{moby game|id=-group/tengai-maky-far-east-of-eden-series|name=''Tengai Makyō/Far East of Eden'' series}}
* {{moby game|id=-group/tengai-maky-far-east-of-eden-series|name=''Tengai Makyō/Far East of Eden'' series}}
* {{ann|anime|15258|Tengai Makyō: Ziria Oboro-hen}}
* {{anime News Network|anime|15258|Tengai Makyō: Ziria Oboro-hen}}
* [https://red-entertainment.co.jp/en/gallery/cat02/392.html Tengai Makyō | Red Entertainment Official site English]
* [https://red-entertainment.co.jp/en/gallery/cat02/392.html Tengai Makyō | Red Entertainment Official site English]


Line 79: Line 95:
{{Konami franchises}}
{{Konami franchises}}


⚫
[[Category:Hudson Soft games]]
[[Category:Konami franchises]]
[[Category:Konami franchises]]
[[Category:Oji Hiroi]]
[[Category:Oji Hiroi]]
[[Category:Red Entertainment games]]
[[Category:Red Entertainment games]]
[[Category:Role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Tengai Makyo| ]]
[[Category:Video game franchises]]
[[Category:Video game franchises]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
⚫
[[Category:Tengai Makyo| ]]

Latest revision as of 15:10, 22 November 2024

Tengai Makyō
Genre(s)Role-playing
Developer(s)Red Company
Hudson Soft
Publisher(s)Hudson Soft
Creator(s)Oji Hiroi

Tengai Makyō[a], also known as Far East of Eden, is a series of role-playing video games released in Japan and Taiwan. The series was conceived by Oji Hiroi and developed by Red Company, debuting on the PC Engine CD-ROM² System in 1989.[1]

The series became popular in Japan, where it was one of the most popular RPG series during the 16-bit era,[2] along with Enix's Dragon Quest and Squaresoft's Final Fantasy. Its success was partly because the original Tengai Makyō was the first RPG released for the new CD-ROM format, which it utilized to create a bigger game and introduce fully voiced animated cut scenes and CD music to the genre.[citation needed]

The series grew to encompass a number of remakes, gaidens and genre spin-offs across a variety of platforms. Despite selling over 2.2 million copies in Japan,[3] the series is largely unknown in other territories, with only one game released overseas.

Overview

[edit]

The main series is composed of three separate games within the land of 'Jipang' (a fictional feudal Japan using the name given by Italian merchant Marco Polo), each follows a descendant of the 'Fire Clan' and supporting cast in battles against a range of often comical villains. The stories of the games, though primarily of 'fantasy' fare, are inspired by and a parody of misconceptions about Japanese culture by Western societies.

The first game Tengai Makyō: Ziria (1989), released for the PC Engine CD-ROM² system, was notable as the first RPG released on CD-ROM and the first in the genre to feature animated cut scenes and voice acting. The plot and characters were inspired by the Japanese folk tale Jiraiya Goketsu Monogatari (with the protagonist's name deliberately misspelled, per the fantastic theme). The music for the game was also composed by the Academy Award winning musician Ryuichi Sakamoto.[1] The game was previewed in the November 1990 issue of Computer Gaming World. The writer Roe R. Adams (also a co-developer for the Wizardry games) described it as "a truly gigantic game" that "seems to be about the size of 2 or 3 Ultimas put together." He suggested that, if "NEC can handle the mammoth translating job, Ziria could be the game hit of 1991" unless, "of course, Nintendo counters with Zelda III or Dragon Warrior III, and Sega with Phantasy Star III."[4]

The sequel Tengai Makyō II: Manjimaru (1992) was reportedly the most expensive game ever made up until that time;[5] the game's lead programmer Hiromasa Iwasaki later revealed the development budget was about ¥500 million ($4 million at the time, or $8.7 million adjusted for inflation), making it possibly the first AAA game production on CD-ROM.[6] The music was composed by Joe Hisaishi, known for composing soundtracks to Studio Ghibli's anime films such as Castle in the Sky (1986), Princess Mononoke (1997) and Spirited Away (2001).[1] There were plans to release Tengai Makyō II in North America, but due to the TurboGrafx-16's failure in that market, no Tengai Makyō games would be released there up until Far East of Eden: Kabuki Klash (1995).[1]

Creators

[edit]

The games are largely the creation of Oji Hiroi and Red Company (today Red Entertainment). Virtually all publishing tasks have been handled by Hudson Soft.

The series is purported to be based on a book entitled "Far East of Eden" written by a Paul Hieronymus Chada (typically written as P.H. Chada), who is presented as a 19th-century Smithsonian professor of oriental studies. The book and P.H. Chada do not exist, and 'P.H. Chada' is actually derived from 'Prince (Oji) Hiroi'. This is part of how the setting is supposed based on the misconceptions Western societies held with regard to Japan in the past. The person "Hiroshi Adachi" credited as creating the series is also fictional, with the roles he is credited for actually being performed by Hiroi. "Adachi"/"Chada" also had a personal website which was actually run by Hiroi.[7]

Oji Hiroi and Red Company would later become known for creating the Sakura Wars series for the Sega Saturn.[1] Sakura Wars adopted various elements from the series, including a pre-modern Japanese setting and the use of animated cutscenes and voice acting.[8]

Games

[edit]

Entries in the franchise have been released for several different console and mobile platforms, including remakes for newer systems, such as the PSP compilation Tengai Makyō Collection, which contains the main four PC Engine titles.

Year Title Genre Original Platform
1989 Tengai Makyō: Ziria RPG PC Engine CD
1992 Tengai Makyō II: Manji Maru RPG PC Engine CD
1993 Tengai Makyō: Fuun Kabukiden RPG PC Engine CD
1994 Tengai Makyō: Deden no Den (promo) Maze PC Engine CD
1995 Tengai Makyō: Kabuki Ittou Ryoudan Fighting PC Engine CD
1995 Far East of Eden: Kabuki Klash Fighting NeoGeo
1995 Tengai Makyō: Dennou Karakuri Kakutouden FMV fighting PC-FX
1995 Tengai Makyō Zero RPG Super Famicom
1997 Tengai Makyō: Daiyon no Mokushiroku RPG Sega Saturn
2003 Oriental Blue: Ao no Tengai RPG Game Boy Advance
2003 Tengai Makyō II: Manji Maru (remake) RPG GameCube, PlayStation 2
2004 Tengai Makyō Mobile RPG iPhone
2005 Tengai Makyō III: Namida RPG PlayStation 2

Canceled games

[edit]
  • Oriental Blue (Nintendo 64 DD)[9]
  • Tengai Makyō: Jipang Seven (browser-based game)[10]

Other media

[edit]

A two-episode OVA titled Tengai Makyō Ziria Oboro-hen[b] was made in 1990.[11]

Tengai Makyō was also included in the two volumes of the 1992 manga anthology Hudson Makyō[c] by Minori Shobo, which featured stories about different Hudson franchises.[12]

Tengai Makyō II protagonist Manjimaru Sengoku appears as a playable character in the 2003 crossover fighting game DreamMix TV World Fighters.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Japanese: 天外魔境, Hepburn: Tengai Makyō, lit. "The Realm of Demons Outside Heaven"
  2. ^ 天外魔境 自来也おぼろ変
  3. ^ ハドソン魔境

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Kalata, Kurt. "Tengai Makyou: Ziria". Hardcore Gaming 101. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  2. ^ "Tengai Makyo Cancelled for GameCube". 31 March 2004.
  3. ^ "あの「天外魔境」シリーズの最新作が，ついに！". 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). Aetas. 2010-09-13. Retrieved 2015-04-24.
  4. ^ Adams, Roe R. (November 1990), "Westward Ho! (Toward Japan, That Is): An Overview of the Evolution of CRPGs on Dedicated Game Machines", Computer Gaming World, no. 76, pp. 83–84 [84], In Japan, there are currently 26 CD-ROM based games already available for this machine, including Ys I & II (scheduled for Christmas release in the U.S. on one disk) and a truly gigantic game, Ziria, which seems to be about the size of 2 or 3 Ultimas put together. IF NEC can handle the mammoth translating job, Ziria could be the game hit of 1991 on the game machines (unless, of course, Nintendo counters with Zelda III or Dragon Warrior III, and Sega with Phantasy Star III).
  5. ^ "Tengai Makyou II (Ziria: Far East of Eden 2)". TurboPlay. No. 12 (April/May 1992). 1992. p. 19.
  6. ^ Szczepaniak, John (November 2015). The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers: Monochrome. SMG Szczepaniak. pp. 85, 97–8. ISBN 978-1518818745. Flagship title for the updated PC-Engine CD-ROM, this was one of (if not the) most expensive game of its day; think of it as Hudson's analogue to Shenmue. (...) Tengai Makyou II was a really big project and perhaps also the first triple-A title on CD. (...) Because at that time, for Tengai Makyou II, we used almost (...) 500,000,000 yen (...) $4,000,000 (...) And perhaps the salaries of these people are not contained within this [original] 500 million figure. (...) So it's even more expensive!
  7. ^ "あ氏の部屋". www006.upp.so-net.ne.jp. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  8. ^ Hetfeld, Malindy (15 April 2020). "An introduction to Sakura Wars, the RPG series created to save the Sega Saturn". Eurogamer. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Oriental Blue, Nintendo 64 unreleased game".
  10. ^ Tengai Makyō: Jipang Seven cancellation notice
  11. ^ "Tengai Makyō: Ziria Oboro-hen (OAV)". Anime News Network. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  12. ^ "Hudson Makyou".
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