Cosmology of Kyoto
Cosmology of Kyoto | |
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Cosmology of Kyoto (京都千年物語, Kyoto Sennen Monogatari, lit. "Kyoto Thousand-Year Story") is an
It is a game where the player, from a
Gameplay
The game is controlled by
The game uses
Plot
The game is set in the medieval city of Kyoto around the year 1000, during the Heian period of Japanese history. The game lacks an overall plot, but it instead presents fragmented narratives in a non-linear manner, as the player character encounters various non-player characters while wandering the city. These narratives are cross-referenced to an encyclopedia, providing background information as the narratives progress and as the player comes across various characters and locations, with various stories and related information appearing at distinct locations.[8]
Many of the characters in the game are based on real-life characters from the city and their appearances in the game are often loosely based on tales from the
Development
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The game was authored using
Reception
Upon release in North America, the game received wide critical acclaim. However, it was not a commercial success in North America, attracting only a devoted
Critical reception
In September 1994, a review by film critic Roger Ebert was published in Wired magazine, where he stated the "richness is almost overwhelming", noting "the resources of this game are limitless", that "no two players would have the same experience" and that he had barely "begun to scratch the surface" of the city despite exploring for two weeks. He stated it was "the most beguiling computer game I have encountered, a seamless blend of information, adventure, humor, and imagination" with "the gruesome side-by-side with the divine." He praised the "hauntingly effective" widescreen graphics, the "vivid facial characteristics" of the characters (describing them as "a cross" between "medieval Japanese art" and "modern Japanimation"), and the voices "filled with personality". He concluded it to be "a wonderful game" where there "is the sense, illusory but seductive, that one could wander this world indefinitely."[10] Later in 2010, he mentioned it in a column on whether video games can be art. After previously arguing that video games are categorically not art, he stated, "In my actual experience, I have played Cosmology of Kyoto, which I enormously enjoyed, and Myst, for which I lacked the patience."[11] Cosmology of Kyoto is the only video game that Ebert is known to have reviewed and enjoyed.[6] In October 1994, Los Angeles Times published a review by David Coller, who described it as an "adventure-cultural-historical game" that is "graphically violent at times," but a "cerebral game" that "in no way resembles Doom or Rebel Assault", stating "you have to throw away your Western ideas about game play". He stated he could not find an ending "even after many hours of play" but praised the graphics and soundscape as "beautiful" and concluded it to be "truly unsettling." Stone Bridge Press founder Peter Goodman also praised the game, stating he had "never gotten to the end of it" but "it sure is beautiful", which Coller agreed with.[4]
In issue 218 (June 1995) of
Retrospective reception
Retrospectively, the game has also been critically well received. In 2008,
See also
- Shin Onigashima (1987)
- Otogirisō (1992)
- Kamaitachi no Yoru(1994)
References
- ^ a b c d Cosmology of Kyoto, Visual Novel Database
- ^ a b c d e Cosmology of Kyoto at MobyGames
- ^ Person, Chris (June 29, 2012). "Here's How You Can Play Roger Ebert's Favorite Video Game". Kotaku. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e David Coller (October 30, 1994), CD-ROM REVIEW : The Endless Cosmology of Kyoto, Los Angeles Times
- ^ a b Jenn Frank (November 24, 2008), No, but seriously, what makes a horror game scary? Archived 2014-11-29 at the Wayback Machine, Infinite Lives
- ^ a b c d e Ryan McSwain (March 19, 2011), Cosmology of Kyoto, Hardcore Gaming 101
- ^ a b c d e f Rolston, Ken; Murphy, Paul; Cook, David (June 1995). "Eye of the Monitor". Dragon (218): 59–64.
- ^ a b AUUG Conference Proceedings, September 1995, pages 398-399
- ^ Salvador, Phil (2021-10-30). "Hands-on with Macromedia Director in ScummVM". The Obscuritory. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
- ^ Roger Ebert, Cosmology of Kyoto Review, Wired, September 1994
- ^ "Okay, kids, play on my lawn". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 2010-08-11.
- ^ Chris Person (6/27/2012), The Video Game Roger Ebert Loved, Kotaku
- ^ "Hellboy Director Talks Gaming – Edge Magazine". Next-gen.biz. 2008-08-26. Archived from the original on 2010-08-12. Retrieved 2011-10-27.