Saiyuki: Journey West

Last updated
Saiyuki: Journey West
Saiyuki Journey West cover.jpg
North American cover art
Developer Koei
Publisher Koei
Director Minoru Honda
Designer Minoru Honda
Artist Akihiro Yamada
Platform PlayStation
Release
  • JP: November 11, 1999
  • NA: August 13, 2001
Genre Tactical role-playing game
Mode Single player

Saiyuki: Journey West [a] is a tactical role-playing video game released for the Sony PlayStation by Koei. It is based loosely on the Chinese novel Journey to the West .

Contents

Plot

The game follows the basic outline of the Journey to the West's plot, in which the main character, a Buddhist practitioner named Sanzo, travels from China to India on a religious mission and has a variety of adventures along the way.

Gameplay

Sanzo can be played as either a male or a female character at the player's choice. Every character except Sanzo can transform into a monstrous form for a limited time. Instead of transforming, Sanzo has access to summon spells that each boost the party's stats in different ways for a number of rounds and allows him/her to use an extra spell at will. Furthermore, each character has a native element that powers their spells and weakens them to opposing elements.

Reception

The game received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. [1] Eric Bratcher of NextGen said that the game "won't dazzle your eyes, but with compelling characters, a unique setting and plot, and nice tactical depth, it's still a grand experience." [9] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 31 out of 40. [5] However, Four-Eyed Dragon of GamePro called it "an unsuccessful attempt to make a popular Chinese literary legend come alive." [12] [b]

The game was nominated for "Best Game No One Played" at GameSpot 's Best and Worst of 2001 Awards, which went to Victorious Boxers: Ippo's Road to Glory . [13] It was also a nominee at The Electric Playground 's 2001 Blister Awards for "PSX Game of the Year", but lost to Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past . [14]

Notes

  1. ↑ known in Japan as Journey to the West (西遊記, Saiyūki)
  2. ↑ GamePro gave the game 2/5 for graphics, 4/5 for sound, 3.5/5 for control, and 2.5/5 for fun factor.

References

  1. 1 2 "Saiyuki: Journey West". Metacritic . Fandom. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  2. ↑ Thompson, Jon. "Saiyuki: Journey West - Review". AllGame . All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  3. ↑ Mielke, James "Milkman" (September 2001). "Saiyuki: Journey West" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 146. Ziff Davis. p. 148. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  4. ↑ Tapia, James (September 24, 2001). "Saiyuki: Journey West". The Electric Playground . Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on August 17, 2002. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  5. 1 2 "プレイステーション - 西遊記". Famitsu (in Japanese). Vol. 915. Enterbrain. June 30, 2006. p. 22. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Saiyuki: Journey West". Game Informer . No. 100. FuncoLand. August 2001.
  7. ↑ Speer, Justin (August 24, 2001). "Saiyuki: Journey West Review [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006"]". GameSpot . Fandom. Archived from the original on October 5, 2001. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  8. ↑ Smith, David (August 29, 2001). "Saiyuki: Journey West". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  9. 1 2 Bratcher, Eric (October 2001). "Saiyuki: Journey West". NextGen . No. 82. Imagine Media. p. 81. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  10. ↑ Baker, Chris (August 2001). "Saiyuki: Journey West". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine . No. 47. Ziff Davis. p. 108. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  11. ↑ Koehler, Paul (2002). "Saiyuki: Journey West - Retroview". RPGamer. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on August 24, 2002. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  12. ↑ Four-Eyed Dragon (October 2001). "Saiyuki: Journey West Review for PlayStation on GamePro.com". GamePro . No. 157. IDG. Archived from the original on December 22, 2004. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  13. ↑ GameSpot staff (2002). "GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2001 (Best Game No One Played)". GameSpot. CNET. Archived from the original on June 11, 2002. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  14. ↑ EP staff (2002). "Blister Awards 2001 (Console Games 3)". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on July 13, 2003. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
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