REVIEW: Tengai Makyō: Ziria

[esteban]

Every time I read a review or see "new" (to me) screenshots, I say to myself, "I gotta play TM: Ziria! Forget about all the other games out there, this is the one I have to focus on!"

Then, the next thing I know, a year has passed me by and all I've managed to do is beat Faxanadu for the thousandth time and Golvellius (SMS) for the hundredth time. Perhaps I only have room for ARPG's in my heart...

[termis]

Thanks for the comments.  I like writing these reviews not only to share with you all, but to remind myself what I thought of them when I look at them years down the line!  At this rate, it's unlikely that I'll play most of these (at least the RPGs) ever again once I finish them (bar the truly exceptional ones), so it's interesting when I look at my own reviews down the line.

Anyway, I do look forward to playing the sequels, but I just can't fathom the thought of sinking another 60+ hours in another game any time soon.  Something short/sweet, but don't know what that'll be just yet...

[Necromancer]

Thanks for another lovely review, Termis.  One of these days I hope to actually put 'em to use.

[ParanoiaDragon]

They did try to revive the series with Ziria on the 360, & IIRC, someone(maybe Gaijinworks) was trying to bring it over.  I would've dusted off my 360 to play it in english!  Though, I did just pick up both Manji Maru & Namida recently, though haven't checked either out yet.  Mainly got them just to collect them.  I'd like to pick up the PSP Tengai collection as well as Apocalypse (also on PSP).  There's also the DS version of Manji Maru, though, it seems kind of pointless to pick that up if I get the PSP collection, but I still might.

[shubibiman]

Ryuichi Sakamoto composed one of the 3 redbook tunes.

[Black Tiger]

They did try to revive the series with Ziria on the 360, & IIRC, someone(maybe Gaijinworks) was trying to bring it over.  I would've dusted off my 360 to play it in english!  Though, I did just pick up both Manji Maru & Namida recently, though haven't checked either out yet.  Mainly got them just to collect them.  I'd like to pick up the PSP Tengai collection as well as Apocalypse (also on PSP).  There's also the DS version of Manji Maru, though, it seems kind of pointless to pick that up if I get the PSP collection, but I still might.

I've had Ziria 360 for a while, but still need to get a Japanese system to play. Unfortunately, it's not one of the region free games. Namida is probably the second hardest Tengai Makyou RPG to navigate if you aren't fluent in Japanese. Very cool for PS2 though, even if it's too "modern" in it's style. The Apocalypse IV is very well done on PSP.It's a pixel-for-pixel port, so you get a better view of dungeons whenever it is as wide as the screen. There is also some nice new portrait art in-game and it's all on a single UMD. The original is on 2 discs and requires swapping them in-game, which won't work if you're using a cart to unlock the region. The DS Manjimaru is a mash of the Gamecube/PS2 and PCE versions. I believe that the PSP version just emulates the actual PCE game. I recommend playing a faithful version of TMII before trying the GC/PS2/DS versions.

I would really like to find a complete copy of the CD-ROM2 version of Ziria with the spine and all for around $20, but it's surprisingly hard to find complete.

It comes with a foam insert for the second disc tray spot. The back insert/cover of the case is actually an iridescent sticker.

Does anyone have scans of the SD clay figures? I actually rather like the big-googly eyed sprites in this game!

Here ya go-

[Keranu]

Hah! Not exactly the best sculpting, but cool nonetheless! I like the lawn.

Ryuichi Sakamoto composed one of the 3 redbook tunes.

Sweetness, I gotta hear that!

[ParanoiaDragon]

Yeah, I recall hearing the DS version was a mashup.  Ofcoarse, if only that game made it to the States, I would've picked that one up for sure.  I'll probably never play thru a single one of the games, knowing my lack of time.  I've played thru a few untranslated RPG's BITD, but, I just haven't had the time as I get older.

[NightWolve]

Dave Shadoff was in the #mednafen chan a couple of hours ago and I remembered to ask him about the translation project for this game.

<NightWolve> Dave, wasn't there a serious Ziria project ?
<dshadoff__> yeah
<NightWolve> http://www.pcenginefx.com/forums/index.php?topic=11520.0
<dshadoff__> we extracted part of the text
<NightWolve> I was telling them about it there, but I couldn't remember details.
<NightWolve> What happened ?
<dshadoff__> well, EsperKnight found a translator
<dshadoff__> can't remember whether it was SamIAm or another guy who goes by the handle "Tom"
<Arkhan> Tom goes by Tom.
<NightWolve> ah, I've seen them.
<Arkhan> Tomaitheous, Malducii, thats Tom.
<dshadoff__> not that Tom
<NightWolve> Well, he's the super hacker.
<dshadoff__> right, not translator
<dshadoff__> but while the original extract seemed nominally complete, it wasn't clean enough
<dshadoff__> so Esperknight went back for a cleaner extract
<dshadoff__> he thinks he's got it now too
<dshadoff__> the hacking looks not so bad to do either
<NightWolve> Ah, so the project is alive here and there.
<dshadoff__> and the cinemas alreayd have subtitles
<NightWolve> Amidst other projects those guys are working on.
<dshadoff__> yup
<NightWolve> I know he's had a lot on his plate.
<NightWolve> LOX II.
<dshadoff__> yeah that one is still in roughly the same condition as several months ago
<dshadoff__> great progress, small blip, then big pause
<NightWolve> cool

So EsperKnight is on the case. He's also working on Legend of Xanadu II.

[termis]

The Apocalypse IV is very well done on... ...The original is on 2 discs and requires swapping them in-game, which won't work if you're using a cart to unlock the region.

Just a random side question -- so it TM4 doesn't make you save before you swap over to the second disc?  (Not that it really matters for me as I've put in a switch, but just curious)

Dave Shadoff was in the #mednafen chan a couple of hours ago and I remembered to ask him about the translation project for this game.

<NightWolve> Dave, wasn't there a serious Ziria project ?
<dshadoff__> yeah
...
<NightWolve> Ah, so the project is alive here and there.
...
<dshadoff__> yup

Yeah, I remember seeing some pics here and there posted here (I distinctly remember the "Chinese take-out font").  I did at one point thought "Hmm... Maybe I can wait till they finish the translation to start the series", but we all know how long these hobby projects can take...  

[SamIAm]

So EsperKnight is on the case. He's also working on Legend of Xanadu II.

...and still making progress on Xanadu II. Just last night, he emailed me the latest dump that has as much of the script in it as we've ever gotten. It's still going.

[Black Tiger]

The Apocalypse IV is very well done on... ...The original is on 2 discs and requires swapping them in-game, which won't work if you're using a cart to unlock the region.

Just a random side question -- so it TM4 doesn't make you save before you swap over to the second disc?  (Not that it really matters for me as I've put in a switch, but just curious)

I bought it when it came out and was using the "Sega Key" or whatever EB sold at the time. The game brings up a disc swapping screen and after sawpping discs, the game would freeze abd I'd lose my orogress from my last save up to that point.

I went back to the local import store I bought the game for $180 from, explained the situation and asked if I could load my save file on their modded display Saturn, play through to the next disc and save again. They're were totally cool with it as they were preoccupued with the last Romance if the Three Kingdoms 3D fighter for PSX. I had to play a little further to get to the next save point and then transfered the file to by backup cart. I later had them mod my system so it wouldn't an issue for any future import RPGs.

While the Netlink was still going strong, there was a page where people could post game saves. I made sure to post the save at the beginning if disc two so that no one else would have the probkem I did.

[RegalSin]

The manual has photos of the SD clay figures that the in-game graphics are based on.

I don't really get you, if your talking about the over screen characters, that is what over screen characters look like in most rpg games. The only other imagery of what the characters could have looked like is from the save screen.

Their are tons of hand drawn imagery in the game cut scenes, and instructional booklet, so I still do not understand. Unless you probably meant for, characters to look like action/display figures in their full comical/animated form, that is something else.

Earthbound, Phantasy Star, secret of mana II, and some other games also have clay figures made for them. So I do not understand.

I could imagine the costs to get super duper exprienced artists and make a whole toy line, instead of hiring somebody to make a diarama, featuring the characters. They would have also have them pose in various ways as well.

[nectarsis]

The manual has photos of the SD clay figures that the in-game graphics are based on.

I don't really get you, if your talking about the over screen characters, that is what over screen characters look like in most rpg games. The only other imagery of what the characters could have looked like is from the save screen.

Their are tons of hand drawn imagery in the game cut scenes, and instructional booklet, so I still do not understand. Unless you probably meant for, characters to look like action/display figures in their full comical/animated form, that is something else.

Earthbound, Phantasy Star, secret of mana II, and some other games also have clay figures made for them. So I do not understand.

I could imagine the costs to get super duper exprienced artists and make a whole toy line, instead of hiring somebody to make a diarama, featuring the characters. They would have also have them pose in various ways as well.

    Try looking up a few posts

[Black Tiger]

The manual has photos of the SD clay figures that the in-game graphics are based on.

I don't really get you, if your talking about the over screen characters, that is what over screen characters look like in most rpg games. The only other imagery of what the characters could have looked like is from the save screen.

Their are tons of hand drawn imagery in the game cut scenes, and instructional booklet, so I still do not understand. Unless you probably meant for, characters to look like action/display figures in their full comical/animated form, that is something else.

Earthbound, Phantasy Star, secret of mana II, and some other games also have clay figures made for them. So I do not understand.

I could imagine the costs to get super duper exprienced artists and make a whole toy line, instead of hiring somebody to make a diarama, featuring the characters. They would have also have them pose in various ways as well.

The characters aren't simply SD style and some clay models were made to mimic them, the clay models are the pre-rendered art that the overhead sprites are made from. It's the same as how Treasure Hunter G doesn't simply have simplified sprites 'just like every RPG' and some cgi was made based on them. They are based on the pre-rendered cgi. Earthbound, Phantasy Star, and SD3 don't have sprites and backgrounds based on clay figures like Clay Fighter.

Ziria was all set to look very similar to Samurai Spirits RPG, as you can see in .




But in the end, they made the maps and sprites look like those clay models instead. The visual style isn't simply crude/dirty RPG art, it's actually trying to depict a specific style... which was ditched in all future TM/FEOE games.