Wikipedia

Deep Labyrinth

Deep Labyrinth[a]is a3Drole-playing video gamedeveloped by Interactive Brains formobile phonedevices and theNintendo DShandheld game system.

Deep Labyrinth
North American Nintendo DS box art
Developer(s)Interactive Brains
Publisher(s)
Writer(s)Masato Kato
Composer(s)Yasunori Mitsuda
Platform(s)Mobile phone,Nintendo DS
ReleaseMobile phone
Nintendo DS:
  • JP:March 23, 2006[3]
  • NA:August 15, 2006[2]
  • EU:February 9, 2007
  • AU:February 15, 2007
Genre(s)Role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

Plot

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Both versions of the game contain a campaign story where a man is unexpectedly warped into a labyrinth several stories tall while talking on his cell phone. Starting from the bottom, in the deeper of twobasementfloors, he quickly picks up a sword and shield and battles his way through every floor to the top, seeking the secrets of this mysterious place, answers to why he is trapped there and the identity of a mysterious girl whose soul is trapped in a crystal. Depending on how quickly the player is able to dispatch the finalBossat the top, he may or may not save this girl.

The Nintendo DS version has an extra, easier scenario intended forcasualplayers, in which the main protagonists are a boy and his petdog,named Shawn and Ace (Shou and Alf respectively in the Japanese version) respectively. One summer afternoon, Shawn goes for a drive with his parents and dog, Ace, but the family car suffers a flat tire in front of an abandoned mansion. Ace is upset by something inside the mansion and leaps out of the car to investigate. Shawn's parents follow Ace, but fail to return. As Shawn tentatively approaches the dilapidated structure, the entrance door swings open, and he's drawn into a magical vortex. Reunited with Ace, Shawn must travel into the heart of the Deep Labyrinth to rescue his parents.

The North American and Australian box art for the DS version depicts the original scenario, designated as the game's second chapter, titled "Wandering Soul", while the European and Japanese box art conversely shows the Shawn and Ace scenario, which is designated as the game's first chapter. While both stories do not connect,[4]they both have similar plot elements and appear to occur in the same Deep Labyrinth, as they both include a room called the "Parallel Labyrinth", which is a hard-to-reach bonus area containing dangerous enemies and special gear in the former story.

Gameplay

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Nintendo DS version

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From a first-person perspective, players must navigate through dungeons and environments in a 3-D world, battling enemies while searching for items, secret side areas and ways to unlock locked doors, whether with keys ormagical spells.Bothswordplayand sorcery are at the player's disposal, controlled using the Nintendo DS'stylusandtouch screen,and the more frequently a player uses either means of attack, the stronger it will become. Players can also useshieldsto block and reduce damage from enemy attacks, or evade them with quick steps viacircle strafingand an automatic lock-on system.

To cast magic spells, whose names areancient Greekwords (for instance,astrapefor thunder andiaomaifor healing), the player must trace outrunicKirie symbols across a 3 x 3 grid, using one unbroken stroke of the stylus over select squares in the grid. Spells costmanaand most spells must be learned either throughleveling upor from reading Kirie slates that will teach particular spells. Players can onlysavetheir progress by talking to certainnon-playable characters,and save points serve ascheckpoints;should the player fall in battle from losing allhealthor getting hit by a death spell, unsaved progress is forfeited and the player must reload a previously saved game.

Shawn and Ace's story also makes use of the microphone, in which the player must blow or scream to it in order to advance the story.[5]

Development

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Deep Labyrinthwas developed by Interactive Brains, withMasato Katowriting the game's scenario andYasunori Mitsudacomposing its music. The game is billed as the first3DRPG for Japanese mobile phones.[6][7][4]

Reception

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According to Nasaki Takeda,CEOandCTOof Interactive Brains, the mobile phone release ofDeep Labyrinthwas very popular, having been downloaded nearly 100,000 times prior to its North American DS launch.[4]

In Japan,Famitsugave the DS version a score of one eight and three sixes, for a total of 26 out of 40.[11]Elsewhere, though, the port received "mixed" reviews according to video gamereview aggregatorMetacritic.[8]

Notes

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  1. ^Japanese:ディープラビリンス,Hepburn:Dīpu Rabirinsu
  2. ^Three critics ofElectronic Gaming Monthlygave the DS version each a score of 2/10, 3/10, and 7.5/10.

References

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  1. ^abInteractive Brains staff.ディープラビリンス công thức サイト[Deep LabyrinthOfficial Site].Interactive Brains(in Japanese). Archived fromthe originalon June 7, 2015.RetrievedMay 13,2012.
  2. ^Caldwell, Patrick (August 14, 2006)."Shippin' Out 8/14-18:Dirge of Cerberus,Ninety-Nine Nights".GameSpot.Fandom.Archivedfrom the original on November 12, 2023.RetrievedDecember 14,2024.
  3. ^Famitsustaff (March 20, 2006).『ディープラビリンス』 phát bán kỷ niệm, quang điền khang điển thị サイン sẽ thật thi quyết định!![Commemorating the release ofDeep Labyrinth,Mr. Yasunori Mitsuda decision implementation autograph session!].Famitsu(in Japanese).Enterbrain.Archived fromthe originalon November 11, 2023.RetrievedDecember 14,2024.
  4. ^abcYip, Spencer (July 6, 2006)."From cell phone game to DS title, the story of Deep Labyrinth".Siliconera.Gamurs.Archivedfrom the original on February 21, 2019.RetrievedDecember 14,2024.
  5. ^kinesis (July 25, 2006).Deep Labyrinth.YouTube.Google.Archivedfrom the original on December 22, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 26,2019.
  6. ^Riley, Adam (April 2, 2006)."Nintendo Exclusive | C3 Interviews Interactive Brains About Deep Labyrinth".Cubed3.Archived fromthe originalon April 20, 2006.RetrievedMay 14,2012.
  7. ^Ferguson, Jason (2006)."Interviews: Deep Labyrinth".Just RPG.Archived fromthe originalon November 5, 2006.RetrievedJanuary 3,2016.
  8. ^ab"Deep Labyrinth".Metacritic.Fandom.Archivedfrom the original on November 30, 2024.RetrievedDecember 14,2024.
  9. ^Edge staff (November 2006). "Deep Labyrinth".Edge.No. 168.Future plc.p. 89.
  10. ^Sewart, Greg; Frechette, Jay; Parish, Jeremy (September 2006)."Deep Labyrinth"(PDF).Electronic Gaming Monthly.No. 207. Ziff Davis. p. 106.Archived(PDF)from the original on May 30, 2024.RetrievedDecember 14,2024.
  11. ^abFreund, Josh (March 15, 2006)."Latest Famitsu reviews - Yggdra Union, Ace Combat Zero, more".GamesAreFun.Archived fromthe originalon March 20, 2006.RetrievedJanuary 3,2016.
  12. ^Juba, Joe (October 2006)."Deep Labyrinth".Game Informer.No. 162.GameStop.p. 114.RetrievedDecember 14,2024.
  13. ^Buffa, Chris (October 16, 2006)."Deep Labyrinth Review [score is never labeled in the website itself]".GameDaily.Gigex, Inc. Archived fromthe originalon November 11, 2006.RetrievedDecember 14,2024.
  14. ^Kasavin, Greg (August 17, 2006)."Deep Labyrinth Review".GameSpot.Fandom.Archivedfrom the original on November 11, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 3,2016.
  15. ^Speer, Justin (August 18, 2006)."GameSpy: Deep Labyrinth".GameSpy.IGN Entertainment.Archivedfrom the original on June 12, 2007.RetrievedDecember 14,2024.
  16. ^Bozon, Mark (August 16, 2006)."Deep Labyrinth Review".IGN.Ziff Davis.Archivedfrom the original on November 11, 2023.RetrievedDecember 14,2024.
  17. ^"Deep Labyrinth".Nintendo Power.Vol. 208.Nintendo of America.October 2006. p. 87.
  18. ^Stone, Cortney (August 8, 2006)."Deep Labyrinth - Staff Review".RPGamer.CraveOnline.Archivedfrom the original on October 20, 2006.RetrievedDecember 14,2024.
  19. ^McCarroll, John (August 16, 2006)."Deep Labyrinth".RPGFan.Emerald Shield Media LLC.Archivedfrom the original on December 7, 2021.RetrievedDecember 14,2024.
  20. ^Smith, D.F. (August 16, 2006)."Deep Labyrinth".X-Play.G4 Media.Archived fromthe originalon September 1, 2006.RetrievedJanuary 3,2016.
  21. ^Aranda, Ramon (September 11, 2006)."Deep Labyrinth (DS) Review".411Mania.Archived fromthe originalon March 4, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 3,2016.
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