is a 1995
role-playing video game developed by
Produce! and published by
Enix
was a Japanese video game publisher that produced video games, anime and manga. Enix is known for publishing the ''Dragon Quest'' series of role-playing video games.
The company was founded by Yasuhiro Fukushima on September 22, 1975, as . Th ...
for the
Super Famicom
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), commonly shortened to Super NES or Super Nintendo, is a Fourth generation of video game consoles, 16-bit home video game console developed by Nintendo that was released in 1990 in Japan and South ...
. The video game was only released in Japan. ''Mystic Ark'' has strong similarities to the games ''
The 7th Saga
''The 7th Saga'' is a turn-based role-playing video game developed by Produce! and published by Enix for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1993. The game made innovative use of a radar system during gameplay. It featured 7 playable char ...
''
and ''
Brain Lord'', also developed by Produce and distributed by Enix. The game was being localized for a North American release under the title ''7th Saga II'',
but the release was cancelled.
Gameplay
The game plays mostly as a standard
Japanese role-playing game
While the early history and distinctive traits of role-playing video games (RPGs) in East Asia come from Japan, many have also been developed in South Korea and in China.
Japanese role-playing games Japanese computer role-playing games
O ...
. The player controls the main character from an overhead perspective as the player traverses many worlds with towns and dungeons. The game features random battles that when the player wins will receive experience points that when accumulated will allow the player to reach the next level of experience.
When certain levels of experience have been gained the player will learn spells or techniques. The unique feature of the gameplay is that when the player receives two certain arks, the power ark and the wisdom ark, the player is then allowed to pick two partners of their liking that are located within the temple as figurines.
Plot
The game's plot involves one of two characters that the player can choose, Remeer or Ferris. The chosen hero awakens in a temple, on an unknown island. As the player explores the temple, it is discovered that, in order to make it home, he/she must travel to different worlds that lie within the temple and find the different arks that lie within each world. When the player retrieves all the arks, he/she is given access to the final area of the temple, to face the final boss and finally return home.
Each different world has its own specific storyline, involving Miriene the witch, Reeshine the grappler, Lux the
tetujin, Kamiwoo the ogre, Meisia the priestess and Tokio the ninja. As such, the game plays out more of an anthology of stories with the temple tying the story as a whole together.
Audio
''Mystic Arks music was composed by
Akihiko Mori
born 1966, was a Japanese video game music composer who worked for Copya System Ltd. He was later a member of Mint Co., Ltd. where he worked with other composers. Mori unfortunately died of stomach cancer on January 8, 1998.
His works
Game Boy ...
. The game featured 30 tracks of music and was released on 2 discs with the game's original music and with arranged versions of certain tracks.
Sequel
A sequel titled ''Mystic Ark: Maboroshi Gekijo'' (まぼろし劇場; "Theatre of Illusions") was released for the
PlayStation in 1999. Akihiro Yamada returned as the character designer.
Despite the original game being a role-playing video game, the sequel was an adventure game instead.
References
External links
* {{MobyGames, id=/mystic-ark
''Mystic Ark''at
GameFAQs
1995 video games
Enix games
Fantasy video games
Japan-exclusive video games
Produce! games
Single-player video games
Square Enix franchises
Super Nintendo Entertainment System games
Super Nintendo Entertainment System-only games
Video games developed in Japan
Video games featuring female protagonists