Wikipedia

Jeanne d'Arc(video game)

Jeanne d'Arc[b]is atacticalrole-playingvideo gamedeveloped byLevel-5and published bySony Computer Entertainmentfor thePlayStation Portable.The game was released in Japan on November 22, 2006 and North America on August 21, 2007.Jeanne d'Arcwas Level-5's first role-playing video game of this kind, as well as the studio's first production for the PSP. The title's narrative makes use of various fantasy elements, and is loosely based on the story ofJoan of Arcand her struggles against the English occupation of France during theHundred Years' Warin the early 15th century.

Jeanne d'Arc
Developer(s)Level-5[a]
Publisher(s)Sony Computer Entertainment
Director(s)Ken Motomura
Producer(s)Akihiro Hino
Nao Higo
Kentaro Motomura
Writer(s)Makiko Oochi
Junichi Ishikawa
Composer(s)Takeshi Inoue
Platform(s)PlayStation Portable
Release
Genre(s)Tactical role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

The game met with positive reviews upon release, with praise directed at the storyline and historic significance of its events.

On July 16, 2024, the game was re-released forPlayStation 4andPlayStation 5.[4]This version also serves as the game's first release in European regions.[5]

Gameplay

The player controls Jeanne and her party, moving them between major cities and features on a semi-historical map of France. Most new locations will lead to cutscenes and battles. Select points on the map are cities, allowing the player to shop for improved weapons, armor, and skills; other locations offer skirmish matches not part of the main story but allowing the player to improve their characters through battle.

Each character and enemy has an affinity to one of three phases; Sol, Luna and Stella, each which have strengths and weaknesses against the other phases, in a manner similar torock, paper, scissors.For example, Sol is stronger against Stella, but weaker against Luna. Each character also has a number of skill slots; skill gems that can be purchased, won in battle, or produced by combining other gems together. These skills can improve a character's stats or bestow offensive, defensive, or recovery skills.

The battle system isturn-based.Prior to battle, the player can manage character equipment and abilities, and then select which characters to bring into battle. On each turn, for each character, the player can move and then perform an action such as attacking, using items or skills; each action awards a number of experience points to the character. Attacks can be met with counterattacks, and the facing of the attack will also influence how much damage is done. Unique to the game is the creation of a "Burning Aura" which forms on the space immediately behind the target of the attack; a second character can move into that space and strike for extra damage, or if a character is already in that space, the Aura will move with that character and increase the power of the attack on that turn only. Burning Auras disappear after one turn.

Once the player has moved all their characters, the enemy turn proceeds in the same manner. When an ally is targeted, all nearby allies one space away from the targeted ally or anyone already supporting them, participate in a "Unified Guard" that can reduce the chance of a hit or reduce the damage taken. This guard also applies to any counterattacks made during the offensive part of the player's turn.

Unique to Jeanne and selected other party members is the use of a magical armband that can be infused with gems. Each gem on the armband can be used once per battle, and only after acquiring an amount of power gems from battle, allows the character to become much more powerful. For example, Jeanne's first transformation gives her a higher attack value, and while in this form, she gains another turn immediately after killing any foe. Transformations are limited to a few turns and the character reverts to their normal form once the effect is over.

Most battles have a required victory condition, such as defeating all foes or to move the party to specific spaces on the map. There are also specialized defeats, such as letting Jeanne fall in battle, or by failing to meet the victory conditions within a fixed number of turns. Upon winning the battle, all characters in the party gain some experience, and additional spoils of war can be obtained.

Plot

A screenshot from early on in the English translation of the game, with the grid clearly detailed.

The game's story is based on a fictionalized period of war between humans anddemons.Unable to defeat the demons through combat, five prominent human generals craft five powerful armlets and use their power to banish the demons back to their realm. Many years pass, the unity engendered by the war is lost, and France and England engage in theHundred Years' Warfor control of France's wealth and territories. TheDuke of Bedford,regent of England and one of the five original heroes, makes a pact with the leader of the demons, letting him possess his nephew Henry VI in exchange for providing the English with demon soldiers.

The main story begins whenDomrémy,a small village in theLorraine regionof France, is burned to the ground by English troops, leaving only three survivors: a village girl,Jeanne,and her friends Roger and Liane. Guided by avoice from the heavensand wielding one of the five armlets which bestows powerful abilities upon her, Jeanne sets out to build an army and save her country from the English.

Development

Jeanne d'Arcwas developed byLevel-5,a company that had previously developed a number of traditionalrole-playing video gameswith theDark Cloudseries,Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King,andRogue Galaxy.Jeanne d'Arcwas the company's first project on the PSP handheld.[6]The team chose to make the game a tactical RPG "[...] so that players new to the genre will still be able to play the game, while veteran strategy game players will find this game both nostalgic and entertaining."[7]The development team also wanted to create an enjoyable game for all players despite some of them having no knowledge of the historical events on which it is based.[7]

The most important aspect of the North American localization ofJeanne d'Arcwas itsvoice-overs.A number of French actors and actresses, as well as North American actors speaking with French accents, auditioned for the game's audio. Ultimately, American actors using mild French accents were chosen for the main roles while individuals with authentic French accents were used in some of the game's supporting characters.[7]A Frenchvocal coachwas on hand to assure proper pronunciation and accents.[7][8]Voice actressKari Wahlgrenwas approached specifically for the lead role in the English version of the game.[8]

Reception

Jeanne d'Arcreceived "generally favorable reviews" according to thereview aggregationwebsiteMetacritic.[9]IGNsaid, "Extremely deep gameplay. Balanced tactical strategy and fast paced action with rich game mechanics. An intriguing twist on a well known tale. These three statements only scratch the surface of the game."[19]1UPsaid, "A gaggle of inferior strategy-RPG options sporting higher asking prices already litters the PSP's substandard role-playing pool, so this fully competent, polished game should be an instant no-brainer for fans of the genre."[23]In Japan,Famitsugave it a score of one ten, two eights, and one seven, for a total of 33 out of 40.[12]

Jeanne d'Arcsold approximately 45,387 copies during its first week of sale in Japan.[24]The game was listed as the 190th-best-selling game in the country in 2006 byFamitsuwith 68,013 copies sold by the end of the year.[25]Jeanne d'Arcwas re-released as part of Sony's "The Best"range of budget titles in Japan on July 5, 2007.[26]The game has since become available as a downloadable title from thePlayStation Networkin both Japan and North America.[27][28]

Jeanne d'Arcwas listed by IGN as "Game of the Month" for August 2007.[29]In 2011, the website also listed it at #21 among their top 25 best PSP games.[30]GameTrailersmade it a nominee for "Best PSP Game" despite not releasing a video review for it. They even said of it, "Passing this one up would be a true act of heresy."[31]

During the11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards,theAcademy of Interactive Arts & SciencesnominatedJeanne d'Arcfor "Handheld Game of the Year"and"Role-Playing Game of the Year",which was ultimately awarded toThe Legend of Zelda: Phantom HourglassandMass Effect,respectively.[32]

Notes

  1. ^Additional work byJapan Studio.[3]
  2. ^ジャンヌ・ダルク(Jannu Daruku)in Japanese

References

  1. ^"Jeanne d' Arc Now Available".IGN.August 21, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon March 29, 2012.RetrievedMay 13,2011.
  2. ^Chế phẩm tình báo một lãm[List of Products] (in Japanese).Level-5.Archivedfrom the original on February 26, 2021.RetrievedMay 13,2011.
  3. ^"JAPANスタジオ tác phẩm một lãm 2007 năm ～2006 năm"[List of Japan Studio works 2007–2006] (in Japanese).Sony Interactive Entertainment.2021. Archived fromthe originalon February 25, 2021.RetrievedMarch 1,2021.
  4. ^Michel, Adam (July 10, 2024)."PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for July: Remnant II, Crisis Core – Final Fantasy VII – Reunion, and more".PlayStation.Blog.RetrievedJuly 17,2024.
  5. ^PlayStation UK (July 10, 2024)."PS: Yep that means the excellent tactical RPG Jeanne d'Arc will finally be available in Europe, woo. Originally released on the PSP, it'll be enhanced on PS5 & PS4 with up-rendering, rewind, quick save, and custom video filters".Twitter.RetrievedJuly 17,2024.
  6. ^Spencer (July 20, 2006)."Joan of Arc coming to the PSP?".Siliconera.Archivedfrom the original on January 8, 2010.RetrievedMay 14,2011.
  7. ^abcdRPG Land (2007)."RPG LAND INTERVIEW: Level 5".RPG Land. Archived fromthe originalon August 3, 2008.RetrievedMay 25,2009.
  8. ^abMiller, Greg (July 29, 2007)."SDCC 07: The Voice of Jeanne d'Arc Speaks".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on July 17, 2017.RetrievedJuly 18,2017.
  9. ^ab"Jeanne d'Arc for PSP Reviews".Metacritic.Archivedfrom the original on March 3, 2018.RetrievedJanuary 19,2008.
  10. ^EGM staff (September 2007). "Jeanne d'Arc".Electronic Gaming Monthly.No. 219.Ziff Davis.p. 97.
  11. ^Parkin, Simon (October 4, 2007)."Jeanne D'Arc".Eurogamer.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2017.RetrievedJuly 18,2017.
  12. ^ab"Collection of every PSP-game reviewed in Famitsu".NeoGAF.August 27, 2006.Archivedfrom the original on October 19, 2017.RetrievedJuly 18,2017.
  13. ^Kato, Matthew (September 2007)."Jeanne D'Arc".Game Informer.No. 173. Archived fromthe originalon February 28, 2008.RetrievedJuly 18,2017.
  14. ^SonOfTheShiningPath (September 2007)."Jeanne D'Arc".GamePro.No. 228.IDG.p. 97. Archived fromthe originalon January 15, 2008.RetrievedJuly 18,2017.
  15. ^JoeBlow (September 21, 2007)."Jeanne D'Arc Review".Game Revolution.Archivedfrom the original on October 9, 2015.RetrievedJuly 18,2017.
  16. ^VanOrd, Kevin (August 20, 2007)."Jeanne d'Arc Review".GameSpot.Archivedfrom the original on October 19, 2017.RetrievedJuly 18,2017.
  17. ^Joynt, Patrick (August 10, 2007)."Reviews: Jeanne d'Arc".GameSpy.Archivedfrom the original on September 3, 2011.RetrievedMay 13,2011.
  18. ^Lafferty, Michael (August 13, 2007)."Jeanne d'Arc - PSP - Review".GameZone.Archivedfrom the original on October 5, 2008.RetrievedJuly 18,2017.
  19. ^abHaynes, Jeff (August 13, 2017)."Jeanne d'Arc Review".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on July 16, 2017.RetrievedJuly 18,2017.
  20. ^"Review: Jeanne d'Arc".PSM.Future US.September 2007. p. 74.
  21. ^Mastrapa, Gus (August 20, 2007)."Jeanne D'Arc".The A.V. Club.Archivedfrom the original on November 6, 2007.RetrievedJuly 18,2017.
  22. ^Herold, Charles (August 30, 2007)."A Brilliant Shooter, Slowed by a Lackluster Narrative".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2017.RetrievedJuly 18,2017.
  23. ^Bettenhausen, Shane (August 21, 2007)."Jeanne D'Arc".1UP.Archived fromthe originalon July 25, 2012.RetrievedMay 13,2011.
  24. ^Jenkins, David (December 1, 2006)."Sega's Love and Berry Tops Busy Japanese Game Charts".Gamasutra.Archived fromthe originalon May 10, 2011.RetrievedMay 13,2011.
  25. ^"GEIMIN.NET／2006 năm テレビゲームソフト bán り thượng げTOP500 ( メディアクリエイト bản )"(in Japanese). Geimin.net. August 26, 2007.Archivedfrom the original on December 14, 2007.RetrievedAugust 2,2009.
  26. ^Spencer (June 7, 2007)."Sony rolling out more" best "games in July".Siliconera.Archivedfrom the original on October 13, 2012.RetrievedMay 13,2011.
  27. ^Spencer (November 6, 2008)."Even PSP Greatest Hits Games Get Re-released On Japan's PlayStation Store".Siliconera.Archivedfrom the original on February 16, 2011.RetrievedMay 13,2011.
  28. ^Spencer (July 16, 2009)."Japan Gets It's [sic] First Wave Of First Party UMD Legacy RPGs".Siliconera.Archivedfrom the original on November 21, 2010.RetrievedMay 13,2011.
  29. ^Miller, Greg (August 31, 2007)."Game of the Month: August 2007".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on April 4, 2018.RetrievedJuly 18,2017.
  30. ^IGN PlayStation Team (December 18, 2011)."The Top 25 PSP Games (Page 5)".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on July 10, 2017.RetrievedJuly 18,2017.
  31. ^1Cmanny1 (December 27, 2007)."[GameTrailers] Game of the year [awards 2007] best PSP game".YouTube.Archivedfrom the original on December 19, 2021.RetrievedJuly 18,2017.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  32. ^"D.I.C.E. Award By Video Game Details Jeanne d'Arc".interactive.org.Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.RetrievedNovember 8,2023.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jeanne_d%27Arc_(video_game)&oldid=1255115470"