Tengai Makyou II: Manjimaru

Overview

Tengai Makyou II: Manjimaru is the sequel to Tengai Makyou: Ziria, a turn-based RPG, that was developed by RED Company and was initially released for the PC-Engine CD in Japan by Hudson on March 26, 1992. The title was eventually remade in 2003 for the Gamecube and Playstation 2 which featured 3-denominational models/environments, full motion video for cutscenes, and an enhanced soundtrack. A port of the original PC-Engine version was also released for the Nintendo DS in 2006 that contained optional stylus controls as well as the enhanced soundtrack from the console remake. Finally, Manjimaru saw one last release in 2008 on the PlayStation Portable as part of a compilation package called the Tengai Makyou Collection.

Development

During the time of its release, Tengai Makyou II was thought to be the most expensive video game ever developed. The game's budget in 1992 was estimated to be 500 million yen, close to 4 million dollars at the time, which was much larger than the average development cost for an RPG of its era [1].

Censorship

The original PC Engine game featured a bloody cutscene in which a character has her arm violently ripped off and face slashed. This scene was modified in the Gamecube, Playstation 2, DS and PSP releases to show less violence. A CG where a female character's erect nipples had been slightly visible through her clothing was also altered in the ports and remakes.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack of the game was composed by Joe Hisaishi and Hirohiko Fukuda. The initial OST for the original title was released in Japan on February 1st, 1992. A remastered OST, used in both the Gamecube and Playstation 2 remakes, was released in the same territory on October 22nd, 2003.

Track Listing

Disc One

1. Title
2. Opening (Space)
3. Manjimaru's Theme
4. Taro's Theme
5. Kabuki's Theme
6. Kinu's Theme
7. L Map (General)
8. Walking Towards Ruin
9. The Attack of the Root
10. Steel Castle Theme
11. Murderous Intention
12. Boss Battle
13. L Map (Those Who Possess the Saintly Sword)
14. Machine Brute DEBEBE
15. Demon Animal
16. The Challenge Towards God
17. Ending

Disc Two

1. A Peaceful Village
2. Vigorous Castle Town
3. Requiem to a Family Killed By Eden
4. Tray's Theme and New Year's Day
5. A Hermit's Theme
6. Eden
7. Intellectual Calm
8. Miracle-working
9. Sacred Space
10. Fierce Battle
11. Desperate Struggle
12. There is no End to Battle
13. Advance During the Calm
14. Demon Lurking in the Darkness
15. Wicked Heart Worship
16. Into the Stomach of an Animal
17. The Premonition of a Desperate Struggle
18. Paradise of Evil
19. Me, an Easy Going Missionary
20. Gold, That's Life
21. Narcissist's Theme
22. Narcissist's Sword Dance
23. Great Foolishness
24. Highspeed Flight Vehicle
25. Lightweight Ground Vehicle
26. Midweight Ground Vehicle
27. Heavyweight Ground Vehicle
28. Submarine
29. A Stupid Vehicle
30. Saintly Sword is in My Hand
31. Dark History
32. Severe Women
33. Shopping Center
34. A Huge Ally Appears
35. Exceed a Friends Death
36. Separation With God
37. Armaments
38. Demon Lies Hidden in the Cave
39. Kill the Nunchaku Rogue
40. Manjimaru's Theme (Narration)
41. EXTRA 1
42. EXTRA 2
43. Jingle Collection

Sources

1. The Untold History of Japanese Games Volume 2 (Interview with Hiromasa Iwasaki, page 97).