Thou Learnt To Slash With Your Sord – Let's Play Kenseiden!

[magicpokey]

MagicPokey Plays - Kenseiden

Thanks for joining me on the first MagicPokey Plays, a Screenshot Let's Play series where I aim to show you some great video games you've probably never heard of before! Why Screenshot? Because I am not nearly as entertaining off the cuff as I am when I have time to write stuff down. Also, I think the LRR crew has video let's plays covered, what with their NEAR CONSTANT STREAMING of video games.

Here is how this is going to work for those of you who have never participated in an LP thread before: I will post regular (I'm shooting for 1-2 a week, no promises) updates about the game, providing commentary and information that I find interesting. You can talk about whatever you like (though, do at least make an effort to keep things slightly on topic) in the thread. I only ask that if you know this game, then please keep away from spoilers. Some of this games' charm comes from surprising you with new enemies and the like. Art, fanfiction, anything you want to contribute is welcome! I aim for this to be a celebration of an obscure game that I loved as a kid!

This post will be updated with links to each update as the LP progresses, you can find the updates in the Contents below.

So, let's get started!

First things first, I need to take a minor detour and talk about the Sega Master System (SMS).



The Master System was Sega's answer to the Nintendo Entertainment System. Compared to the NES, the SMS was faster, more powerful, capable of better graphics & sound, and sold like month-old milk. I think, at their peak, Sega had a whopping 8% share of the home console market in North America. Over the course of its lifetime, the SMS sold a grand total of 2 million units. Compare that to the NES which sold over 62 million units. Why do I bring all this up? Because I owned a Master System as a kid.

That's right, during the Console Wars I was a devoted Sega kid. I had a Master System, then a Genesis with the 32x and SegaCD naturally (and yes, I still have it, and I have a (burned) copy of Smoke and Mirrors). I even own a Saturn and Dreamcast. Until I was in my 20s, I only ever played Nintendo at friends houses. My love of video games is firmly rooted in my nostalgia for those halcyon days when I was young and didn't know any better! While most of you were playing Mario, I was playing Alex Kidd. While you were playing Zelda, I was playing Golvellius. And while you played Castlevania, I played Kenseiden.



Kenseiden – Developed in 1988 by Sega for their Master System - could easily be described as “Castlevania, but for Sega”. Take the horror theme, the punishing difficulty, and the platforming action of Castlevania and swap out all the Universal Monsters for Japanese Yokai (demons) and you have Kenseiden. The game never sold all that well (even for the SMS) but I owned it, I love it, and I'm gonna take you through it in all its 8-bit glory!

By the way, a word about the title: Kenseiden literally translates to “Sword Saint Legend”. How awesome is that?

This game is chock full of interesting tidbits and enemies that all draw inspiration from Japanese Folklore and mythology, mostly from the Sengoku Jidai (or “Warring States”) period of Japanese history. I will bust out my writing chops and go into detail in character as Hayato, the protagonist of Kenseiden, when we come across each new enemy, location or other point of interest.

**Note** This period of Japanese history is extremely interesting and well worth looking into! While this game definitely doesn't aim for too much historical accuracy, it is still a fascinating look into the mythology surrounding this crazy time. You should check Here for more historical info from some guys who might be familiar to some of you. Well worth the time.

**Note-The-Second** I am not a Japanese historian, and I do not speak Japanese very well. The information I am going to present here is from my own research. If any of you want to correct me on a translation or if I get a bit of mythology wrong, please feel free to share your insight!

**Note-Thirty-Three-&-1/3** Music. Kenseiden has AMAZING music! Making full use of the Master System advanced FM sound chip. I am working on a way to include music in the updates, but the first couple of updates will, sadly, have to be without music. Music should now be embedded in the updates! I wound up using Tindeck! When you see a Tindeck link, you should click the music to listen while you read, because this is probably some of the best 8 bit chiptunes you will ever hear. When I figure it out (any advice from you guys would be welcome!) I will do a special Music Update to catch up.

So, with all that in mind, let's move on to The updates already!

Part One - In Medias Res (Scroll down, duh!)
Part Two - Gonna Paint Yer Wagon (Wheel)
Part Three - Getting Real Tonya Harding Up In Here
Etc...

[magicpokey]

Part 1 - In Medias Res





Kenseiden takes place in 16th century Japan and has you take on the role of Hayato, a Wandering Samurai or Ronin.

The Place: 16th Century Japan. Evil warlocks have taken over your country. They've stolen the Sword of the Dragon king and the five Secret Scrolls from your family!

You are Hayato, a fearless Samurai Warrior. You must get back the sword and scrolls... and defeat the evil awaiting in the Black Castle!

It's more than a matter of honor. A country's fate depends on your success.

Depicted here is the game's take on a Japanese Warlock. Note the Samurai armor and sword. In the game proper the eyes and fire behind the figure glow with an ominous red light. Also making an appearance is Wanyudo a pretty well known Yokai who we will be seeing later.

So. Let's press that Start Button!

They have invaded my HOME! The foul Yokai, following the orders of their evil Warlock masters, have attacked my village and stolen my families' sacred Dragon Sword! The miserable demons also made off with several of our Hidensho, no doubt to wield these secret swordfighting techniques for themselves. THIS WILL NOT STAND! I am Hayato! and I WILL restore the honor of my family. Even if I have to journey into the heart of hell to do so!

We begin already in the shit no opening scene, no storyboards, it just dumps you right into the game from the word go. This is Hayato. He's cool. He starts the game knowing three basic sword attacks. A straight thrust, a low slash, and a crouching defensive posture that some enemies are stupid enough to walk into repeatedly unto death.

First off, I love the background! This game really shows off how vibrant and colorful the graphics could be on the Master System, while still keeping things dark and spooky. It looks like we are on the road on the outskirts of a traditional Japanese village, after the demon attack has left the place in ruins. Notice the bamboo forest in the background, the roadside lanterns and what I think is supposed to be a castle wall. The game doesn't tell you this until later, but this stage (and every other stage in the game) is supposed to represent one of the many Provinces of 16th century Japan. This stage is Higo Province which was located on Kyushu island in the south western corner of Japan.

You can see the stage name in the top right of the screen (along with my lives, score, and current health). So far, so standard. Though I do find it interesting that the American translation keeps the Japanese Kanji for stage names here and later in the map screen.

Nothing to do but press onward! As in most games of this generation, forward usually means left to right.



Running forward, Hayato meets the first enemy of the game, the Fire Demon.

This Yokai, known to my family as The Fire Demon poses little threat to a trained Samurai. Usually appearing in groups of five, these Yokai swoop at their victim from above in a predictable arc. Menacing, but stupid and weak, one swing from my blade is enough to destroy entire swathes of this foul demon. This Yokai is nearly mindless, and it will even unthinkingly impale itself on my outstretched blade as it swoops towards me from above...

The Fire Demon is your standard flaming skull, floating lazily through the air. Probably based on the JanJanbi or Kechibi which are mythological Yokai classified as Kaika (Atmospheric Ghost Lights) and claimed to be the flaming souls of the recently dead. The Kechibi, especially, is said to be a fireball with a human face or skull inside.

This game is full of flavor home-runs like this. Since most of Japan has been overrun by warlocks and demons, there are bound to be A LOT of restless dead hanging around. And we will see MANY of these Fire Demons on our journey.



Moving on, we come across these blue Squat Bugs. These enemies also serve as the first clue that you can walk on top of the wall in the background (you can jump from the ground to the top of a lantern and then to the wall).

This fast moving blue, insect-like demon is what my father called a Squat Bug. Small and easy to miss because of its speed, these yokai still pose little threat. Another mindless demon that will impale itself on a still blade without thinking...

Squat bugs will chase you down, and they move faster than you would think of a giant pill bug. Still, easily killed in one hit, and not very dangerous. probably based on the wingless larval form of the Cicada but that really is kind of a stretch. Though a later boss will probably support that theory.



A bit further on, we come across these guys. They don't show up in the manual and I always called them monkeys as a kid.

The Monkey Demon is an insult to my heritage! To the locals, this bouncing menace is said to be the demonic perversion of Sun Wukong the Monkey King, but I know better. Fast and capable of great leaps, this foe is still easily dispatched. This pot-bellied demon is nothing more than a perverted copy of the great Monkey King, and he can only wish to be as great as Sun Wukong...

Monkeys bounce all over the screen, usually in pairs. They will chase you down, but they cannot change direction in mid-leap, so their predictable arc makes them easy to kill. Its best to hop up onto a lantern or gravestone (such as in this image) to strike them as they land.

This enemy is almost certainly based off the Furi a monkey-like Yokai said to be capable of gliding like a flying squirrel (I guess bouncing is kind of like gliding?) over great distances. Interestingly, the legends around the Fūri claim it to be resistant to blades, which is emphatically NOT the case here.

Anyway, once we get past the monkeys, we come to the first real challenge for Hayato.





The Skeleton. I love how they claw their way from the ground and shamble towards you.

This demon is a walking Skeleton, animated by the darkest of magics to seek out the living and consume their flesh. A Dangerous, if slow, enemy, the Skeleton must be struck several times before its bones will once again lay at rest. Beware if it gets a hold on you, this Yokai is powerful and will gravely injure the unprepared...

The Skeleton represents a real ramp in difficulty for the first level of the game. Taking multiple (Four!) hits to kill while it slowly marches towards you can be a surprise to new players. Not to mention, that if it hits you, The Skeleton does about a fourth of your entire health bar in damage. Ouch!

The Skeleton is the next to last new enemy Hayato will face in this level. The rest of the level is more of the same, throwing these enemies at you in easily defeated patterns, until you come to the end of the level.



A bit farther along, more Fire Demons pop in from behind, though if you crouch and hold the attack button, Hayato will take up this defensive stance and the mindless Yokai will run into his sword and harmlessly kill themselves.



This screenshot caught me diring the flashing animation that happens when Hayato takes a hit, and this frame happened to have me invisible. You can see how much damage that Skeleton did in one hit, I was nearly at full health!



Just before the end of the stage, this Skeleton (who clawed its way up from behind me) drops a Hyotan (a Gourd of Life). This item drops from random enemies (I think its based on your score, but I'm not sure) and can be found hidden in nooks and crannies throughout the more intricate levels we will traverse in the future. The Hyotan will refill about a third of your total health bar, which can be a godsend in the later, longer stages of the game.

Once we collect out prize, it's time to press on. Soon enough we come to the end of the 'Castle Wall' and the background gives way to a thicker bamboo forest. I really like this symbolism. How the lanterns would stop and the road would move into the woods as you leave the safety of the village. And it's here where we meet the last new enemy of the Higo Province...



The fearsome Sickle & Chain Bandit. This guy spins his ball and chain around and dances back and forth just our of your reach. Darting forward to attack.

As I left the ruins of my home village behind me, I was attacked on the road by a bandit. He sputtered incoherently as he spun his ball and chain while brandishing a bloody sickle at me, though he was no match for my blade. He fell quickly, and I left his body on the roadside, to be consumed by the hungry Yokai. My blade is needed elsewhere. I must recover that which was taken from my family...

You have to time your strike to catch him JUST at the tip of your sword, or his long reach will hit you and interrupt your swing. Thankfully he backs off when he hits you so you don't get stun-locked, but it's still kind of annoying.



The bandit dispatched, it's time to move on to the end of the level! The first stage of Kenseiden is completely straightforward, serving as a decent introduction to the mechanics and some of the enemies you will face in the game. It's not THAT hard, but some of the enemy placement can catch new players unaware, especially just how HARD the Skeleton can hit you.

As you leave the stage, you are treated to the Map Screen, where you can choose what Province to journey to next...





As you can see, there is only one choice right now. Hayato must journey north to progress. that will not always be the case. As you leave each level, you can choose any of the adjacent Provinces to journey to, and the little animated hayato will walk slowly to your destination. It makes the whole thing feel more like a real QUEST than just a series of levels, you have an entire country to explore! I also like that the map is an actual map of Japan (albeit turned on its side).

That red castle, far to the east, is the final level of the game. Called the Black Magic Castle in the instruction book, it is where the final battle will take place. But it will be a while before Hayato is ready to battle the leader of the Warlocks.

Join us next time, as Hayato journeys to Chikuzen Province, to recover the first of the stolen Hidensho (Secret Scrolls) and face the mighty Fire Wheel Warlock in the very seat of his evil domain!

[magicpokey]

So, if anybody is reading this, I would appreciate some feedback. What do you like, what don't you like, that kind of thing. Anything you want to see more of, perhaps? As it stands I am looking to get the next update posted sometime tomorrow evening. So, until then, my friends!

[magicpokey]

Part 2 - Gonna Paint Yer Wagon (Wheel)

Welcome back to MagicPokey Plays - Kenseiden!

When last we left our hero, Hayato; he had defeated the first level in the Higo Province. Today he journeys north to the Chikuzen (Called Hizen once in the Instruction Book, for some reason) Province.



As you can see, we are still in the Western end of the map, and the only level available to us is directly north. These Yakoi aren't going to slay themselves, so let's mosey on to the Chikuzen Province

Like Higo Province, the Chikuzen Province is also located near the southwestern corner of modern day Japan, on the island of Kyushu. It is home to the famous (and breathtaking) Sumiyoshi-jinja Shinto shrine, from which this level drew much of it's artistic inspiration.


The Sumiyoshi-jinja shrine. Image courtesy of Wikipedia

You will notice the similarities in structure and use of colors as we move into the level itself. This kind of thing really lends a feel of authenticity to the game. Not to mention, it adds another layer of creepiness as we will see the Yakoi have overrun this once-beautiful shrine.

Let's get going!

I heard rumors that the dreaded Fire Wheel Warlock has made it's home in the once grand Sumiyoshi-jinja shrine. Rage at the desecration of such a sacred place boils the very blood in my veins! I swear by my ancestors, I will slay this demon and reclaim that which it has taken and perverted!

<--This music plays until Hayato reaches the boss of the level. Very upbeat and full of the promise of new adventure, IMHO. You can really hear how this game gave the SMS sound chip a workout.



This level begins with Hayato on the outer edge of the shrine. You can really see the similarities between the game and real life, especially in the style of the building, and even most of the colors used.



Moving forward, we can see a hole in the roof of the shrine, from which more Fire Demons swarm as we approach. As if the restless spirits of the very monks themselves have been perverted into attacking pilgrims.



We also come across our first new enemy for this update. The Spider.

The fearsome Giant Spider Demon lies in wait among the rafters of almost any building that has been corrupted by the foul Warlocks' power. Dropping down on unsuspecting travellers with terrifying speed to bite and inject their deadly venom. Many an unwary ronin has met his end at their fangs. All the same, they are rather frail, dying in a single blow from my blade. They rely on their speed and the element of surprise to turn the battle in their favor...

You might think this is just another generic Spider enemy, as was found in a LOT of games from this era. But even here the Kenseiden team hit a flavor home run. This Spider Demon is partly based off the Kumo Yokai which is supposedly a child-sized intelligent giant grey spider with red eyes. The Kumo Yokai eats the meat of its victims, and can even (supposedly) be tamed if you bring it offerings of fresh meat.

But there is another inspiration for this enemy. A much more creepy origin, if you ask me. The Huntsman Spider, or ashidakagumo. This real life, FOOT-WIDE spider doesn’t spin webs to catch its prey. Instead, it uses its lightning-fast legs to chase down its food, usually hiding in high places like rafters and trees to wait for prey to wander by so it can swing down and attack.

In this case, the real life spider scares me more than the thought of their Yokai inspiration. No thank you!



Skipping past the obvious doorway for now, and pressing to the right, there are more of those terrifying spiders. Soon enough we come across another new... uh... face. The Faceless Demon.

This human sized Yokai is known to my father as The Faceless Demon Dressed in tattered leather armor, this demon leaps about with GREAT prowess. I am SURE they have stolen the secrets of one of my families' Hidensho to grant this demon its jumping ability. This foe is tough and powerful, difficult to pin down and capable of summoning magical fireballs from its evil hands. A few solid strikes from my blade will destroy it, but it is easier (if more dangerous) to position myself underneath after the demon leaps into the air and catch it as it falls...

Tough and agile, this monster is hard to destroy, capable of jumping many times its own height and throwing fireballs in groups of three as it goes.

The Faceless Demon is most likely based on the Noppera Bo: A human shaped Yokai known for wiping away it face to scare humans. Throwing fireballs arent mentioned in the mythology, but I guess the thought of a mostly harmless faceless monk didnt translate too well to 8-bit video game logic.



Moving on, we come across YET ANOTHER new monster, the Hawk Demon.

This bird-like apparition is called a Hawk Demon. Difficult to pin down, though weak when struck with a blade, this Yokai swoops overhead and spits balls of fire down on unsuspecting victims...

The Hawk Demon is a real pain in the ass. He swoops by in groups, quickly launching volley after volley of fire at Hayato. Difficult to avoid and even harder to kill, I do not like this bird.

This enemy draws some inspiration from just being a generic bird enemy in video games, but some of its design (especially the firebreathing and hanging out over battlefields) is reminiscent of the Itsumade. Itsumade is a fire-breathing, bird-like monster that is said to appear in the night sky in places of trouble or disaster. Itsumade swoop over places of suffering and death, especially those places where little has been done to alleviate said suffering.

Granted, mythological Itsumade are said to be several feet long and have lizard bodies. But the behavior and habitat of this enemy is enough for me to call the Hawk Demon a video game interpretation of the dreaded Itsumade.



Past those flying bastards is the end of the stage. Modeled after the entry arch of the Sumiyoshi-jinja shrine, you can see the doors are closed. There is no escaping this level early. For Hayato: It is Victory... or Death.



So we head into the Shrine. As you can see, the walls are cracked and the paint is peeling, but the presence of stairs makes this an interesting new type of level.

All in all, this level is pretty straightforward, but some of the later shrine or castle levels are truly mazes.





Nowhere to go but up, with more Fire Demons spawning behind us as we climb. A little trick, if you jump over the crack in the wall in the second level, you can miss the Fire Demons and scurry up the stairs without taking a hit.



Of course, hayato is not a coward. No Yokai that desecrates this shrine deserves to live.



Up the stairs we come across another Faceless Demon and a statue of Buddah. this may look like a decoration set piece, but these statues house a secret.





Make your way to the Buddah's head (you can also jump to his outstretched hand) and press UP...



Aaaand... Voila! Secret room! This room contains a Hyotan which can go a long way to recovering from the upswing in difficulty from the enemies around here.




the doorway leads back outside, to this rotting platform. be careful of the hole in the floor down there, falling through it means certain death (and you just know the enemies will be placed in such a way to knock hayato into the hole if he isn't careful.



Tricky spider. I'm not falling for that!...

Get it?...

FALLING?!...

im so sorry

Anyway!



This faceless Demon has knocked me into that pit more times than I can remember, but if you position yourself like I am here, he will fall on your sword and die harmlessly.



Up on the far right platform is a doorway back inside, but I want to take a second and admire the view from this balcony. Blood red moon, pitch black sky, dark blue whispy clouds. A perfect setting for a night of Demon slaying. Once again, I have to hand it to the design team for Kenseiden. Bravo, sirs.



Back inside the shrine, we fight another Faceless Demon on our way to the third floor.



Annoyingly, he reappears when you climb the stairs, but if you are quick you can avoid him.

By the way, Hayato the mighty Samurai, on a blood-fueled quest for vengance against LITERAL DEMONS... climbs stairs like a 1950s Japanese housewife, head down and feet shuffling. You can't even draw your sword on a staircase without jumping. Avoid combat on stairs if at all possible.



At the top of the stairs we see another Sickle & Chain Bandit. Same strategy as before and he goes down without much fuss.

There is also another Buddah statue here, complete with it's own secret room and life restoring Hyotan. I don't need the health but if you are low I don't recommend skipping it (though it will mean facing the Bandit again when you come back out) since we are entering the home stretch before the first boss of the game.



Back outside we come to another platforming section. And before you ask, yes. You will instantly die if you fall down the gaping hole in the floor here. Thankfully there are not a lot of enemies here to trip you up. Though this will NOT be true in future levels. Really, the entire first two levels is kind of Easy Mode, except for maybe the boss at the end, but don't let your guard down.







Above Hayato, here, is the first instance of what is probably the most important powerup in the game. The Katana.

At first, my heart raced as I spotted what looked like the sacred Sword of The Dragon King embedded in the wood of the desecrated shrine! But it is nothing more than a fake made from foul Yokai magics, seeking to copy the most powerful blade ever produced. A fool's errand, the godly Dragon Sword cannot be reproduced. ESPECIALLY by dark magic. Still, this is a fine blade, sharper and sturdier than my own... I shall wield this replica blade to destroy the very abominations that produced it. Though, I think I will keep my own trusty sword by my side. You never know when Yakoi magic will suddenly dissappear...

The Katana is a straight weapon upgrade. Doubling the damage you deal with each swing of your sword. This can be devastating once we learn some of the later secret blade skills from the Hidensho.

You can carry the Katana with you from Province to Province, but if you die you restart with your original sword. I cannot stress enough how essential having this powerup is to playing Kenseiden. The most dangerous enemies in the game (barring the Warlocks) don't kill you through damage, they kill you through knocking you into pits or spikes (which means instant death) or lava (slows movement, drains health FAST). Being able to kill the bigger foes in two hits (as opposed to four) gives them less time to get close enough to strike you. Having the Katana makes it that much safer to fight when near a dangerous floor.

Anyway...



Back inside, we face yet another Chain Demon, guarding the stairs to the first Warlock Hayato will face on his quest.



Moving up the stairs, Hayato prepares to face his greatest challenge yet...



Say hello to Wanyudo: The Fire Wheel Warlock

<---This BAD ASS boss battle theme plays for all the Warlocks save one.



-----WAYNUDO: The Fire Wheel Warlock-----

Waynudo is a famous Japanese demon that is believed to guard the gates of hell. He is said to take the form of a burning oxcart wheel bearing the tormented face of a man. Various folklore purports him as the condemned soul of a tyrant daimyo (Japanese fudal lord or clan leader) who, in life, was known for having his victims drawn on the back of an oxcart. He is said to guard the gates of Hell, and to wander back and forth along the road between this world and the underworld, scaring people as he passes and stealing the souls of anyone who gets too close in order to bring them to Hell with him.

In Kenseiden, Waynudo stands guard over the entire rest of the game. Being the only Warlock you MUST defeat to progress, it could be said that his inclusion here symbolizes Hayato's descent into hell itself on his quest to free his land from the evil of the Warlocks.

And yes, you CAN skip the other Warlocks and make a beeline for the Black Magic castle after Waynudo is defeated. But I wouldnt recommend it. Each Warlock is hiding a powerful Hidensho, each of which contains new and more devastating sword techniques. Not to mention that one of the Warlocks is holding the Sacred Sword of The Dragon King. Hayato would not stop until this land is purged of the evil that is ALL the Warlocks AND the Yokai they command.

And neither will we.



Waynudo will fly back and forth across the screen, dropping clouds of fireballs on you from above. These fires WILL STICK TO THE GROUND and you can be easily stun-locked by stepping into them.



You COULD spend this fight jumping around like a fool, running back and forth and striking Waynudo when the opportunity arises, but there's a much easier way of fighting him. Position yourself in the far right corner like so...



Squat down and turn around in place (you can only do this while squatting, otherwise you will step to the left, ruining your position for the fight)...



You are now in a perfect position to hit Waynudo as he flies into your little corner of the screen. If you time it JUST right you can hit him twice on each pass. If you do, he flashes for a moment when struck, so he won't damage you as he passes through your body.

You WILL still have to deal with his fireballs, but since you have your back to the wall, they only stun you, not knock you out of position. You can jump after they land to avoid them if they land at your feet.



Soon enough the battle is over. With one last mighty thrust of your blade, the vile Waynudo is vanquished in a massive explosion!

The FOUL Waynudo has been slain! His burning form will forever sear my memories as he streaks across my minds eye, but I can rest easy knowing this VILE Warlock will never again harm an innocent soul! Rejoice! My Ancestors smile upon me this day! Along with the destruction of the evil Waynudo, I have also recovered the first of the five stolen Hidensho! Truly, this is a day to be remembered! Though I fear my quest will only get harder from here...

We have recovered out first Hidensho! To collect the secret scroll, merely step over it.



Engrish Ahoy! We have apparently LEARNT the art of jumping high, just like the Faceless Demons we faced all throughout this shrine! This ability is extremely useful (if a bit anticlimactic) because some of the later platforming sections REQUIRE you to possess the ability to jump farther than you can when the game starts.

To perform the high jump, simply hold UP while jumping.



After Waynudo is defeated, Hayato is dumped here, on the outskirts of the shrine at the beginning of the level. The formerly sealed door is open now, but there is one more thing to do here before journeying onward.




TAKE THAT, you flying BASTARDS!



Through the open gates is the end of the level. Taking us back to...



The map screen! You can see that Hayato now has several choices as to where to journey next!

Join us next time, as Hayato bashes his head repeatedly into some arrows!

[magicpokey]

Alrighty! First things first, the next update will be going up either tomorrow (Monday) night or early Tuesday morning. Sorry, I lied. Next update will be Wednesday night or Thursday morning. Life gets in the way of these things. Until then (if anyone is following this) why not let me know what you think so far? Anything you want to see more of? Less of?

Also: It has been, rather politely, brought to my attention that the screenshots I have been using are, well, terrible. I have done a bit of behind the scenes tinkering and the quality of the screenshots will be MUCH improved going forward. Through the wizardry of multi-modal reflection sorting* the screenshots will not only be bigger and more clear, they will also be SIGNIFICANTLY smaller in size, meaning easier on Dial Up and Data Caps. So, until tomorrow, my friends!

*(not really, this is a Star Trek joke)

[magicpokey]

Woop Woop! New Update! Not that anybody is reading this...
I'll just continue talking to myself in a corner... No, really...

Part 3 - Getting Real Tonya Harding Up In Here

Welcome back to MagicPokey Plays - Kenseiden!

When last we left our hero, Hayato; He had vanquished the evil Wanyudo (The Fire Wheel Warlock) and freed the Sumiyoshi-jinja shrine from the vile power of the Yokai. Today Hayato is journeying east to the Iyo Province on the island of Shikoku



As you can see, we have two choices as to where to journey next. Well, three if you count going back to the first level, which you CAN do. You can replay every level in the game (except the final level: Edo Province and the Black Magic Castle) as many times as you want, though once a Warlock is beaten the boss battle room becomes an empty room with an exit.

We are heading to the southern island today, for reasons that will become clear in a later update.





We arrive in Iyo Province and are greeted immediately by a skeleton, easy enough. As you can see, we seem to be in the wilderness, making our way up a hill or cliff. This level is probably loosely based on the Kochi Castle which is a Hirayamashiro (Hilltop Fort) that still exists on top of present day Otakasa Hill in the Kochi Prefecture. Built between 1601 and 1611, the area around the hill at this time was extremely swampy, due to the influx of alluvial sediments from the Kagami River. Which gives us the origin of the swampy, wilderness setting for this level.



Moving forward, we come across our first new enemy for this level, the Skull Fire Demon.

This disturbing Yokai is called a Skull Fire. Not because it resembles a burning skull (no the Fire Demon takes, THAT, particular prize) but because the presence of this Yokai is rumored to cause great fever within nearby people. They are easily vanquished, undulating as they bounce slowly towards their prey, they can be destroyed in one swing from any blade. Not much of a threat on my quest...

The instruction booklet calls this guy a Skull Fire, and you would wonder why when the Fire Demon is LITERALLY a flying, flaming skull. I believe this enemy to be based off the Me-Kurabe, part of a Japanese folk legend about Taira no Kiyomori a Japanese military leader who died of an extremely high fever which, supposedly, caused him to see many otherworldy things. Including the, Me-kurabe ("Skull Staring Contest"). Me-kurabe are ghostly skulls with fleshy eyes that bounce and roll around before forming a huge pile and staring accusingly at a guilty person until they either stare down the Yokai or confess their crimes. This would explain why they are called a Skull Fire in the manual, since the legend around them involves a fatal fever so high that they had to let the body cool for several hours after death before they could attend to it.





Ignoring the stairs for now, we move right and come to the level exit (after dispatching that Monkey Demon, of course) The exit is closed off, which can only mean one thing: Hayato will be facing another Warlock in this level!





Backtracking, we climb the stairs and encounter the next new enemy on our tour of Iyo Province. The Spike Pole Crusher

This one-eyed Yokai is called a Spike Pole Crusher. Said to be the minions of the mighty warlord Benkei, these creatures spin their spiked poles for defence while summoning ghostly fire to attack. It is best to keep your distance until you are ready to move in quickly and strike, lest you get burned by the fire...

The Spike Pole Crusher is almost certainly inspired by the Hitotsume-nyudo ("One-eyed priest"), a human-like Yokai that is said to sometimes kill and eat humans. One folk tale of this creature describes it as a reincarnation of a particularly fierce abbot of Enryaku-ji (A monastery located in Kyoto), renowned for his strict discipline. In life he was known for expelling lazy monks from his temple and driving them from the monastery with the threat of fire. He saw the world as growing increasingly secular and wicked, and he constantly lamented and criticized the corruption and sin of the monks of his day. After his death, it is said he was reincarnated into a yokai to continue punishing the wicked and impious.

In the game, these guys serve as almost an honor guard for certain Warlocks, often appearing in castles or just outside a Warlocks lair. The similarity in weapon to the Benkei Warlock is probably not a coincidence, either.



you can fight this Spike pole Crusher but he is just going to reappear as you climb the platforms to the left of the stairs.





When I moved past him, he wandered off screen. Sometimes an enemy AI will bug out and cause them to jump or run off screen. You don't hear me complaining. Just past these stairs, however, is one of the most dangerous enemies in the game.






The Stretch Worm.

The Stretch Worm flattens it's body to hide, then springs up in place to hurl fireballs at travellers. Immobile on their own, they like to nest near cliff edges to scare or drive unwary people to fall to their doom. One or two good strikes from my blade is enough to dispatch this Yokai...

As the diary says, these guys never actually move. But they are usually placed on the edge of a platform, in a perfect position to pop up as you jump and knock you into a nearby pit (given Hayato's almost comically long damage animation)

Probably based partly on the Giant Centipede (or Scolopendra Gigantea), and partly on the Omukade (a giant centipede yokai).

Scolopendra Gigantea is an ABSURDLY large and venomous centipede that symbolizes evil in Japan. While the Omukade was said to be a mountain-dwelling giant centipede Yokai capable of besting even dragons in combat and impossible to kill when in it's hiding place. This behavior is analogous to the enemy in the game flattening itself back out after launching its' fireballs because you cannot harm it during the lowest point of it's "shrinking" animation.

We could go straight up the ladder, but if we venture slightly off the path here we will be rewarded.



Moving right takes us to more platforms and YET ANOTHER new enemy. The Jackal Lizard.

the Jackal Lizard is a blue, animal-like Yokai that lives near cliffs and mountains, leaping at prey with ferocity and surprising speed. Difficult to fight due to its small stature and speed, but frail when your blade is well timed...

These guys are another in the 'more dangerous than it should be' class of enemies, because of their tendency to knock you into pits with their jumping attack.

The Jackal Lizard was probably loosely inspired by the Kappa, a water dwelling yokai said to be the size of a small human yet as strong as a man. I say this because of the Jackal lizard's reptilian appearance, his tendency to appear in levels with water features (there is a massive waterfall later in this level), and the light purple section on it's forehead which could be said to resemble the water dish on a typical Kappa head. It is a cool-looking enemy and can be dangerous around pits and platforms, but, honestly, this is the enemy inspiration I am least sure about. So if any of you have any ideas for this beast's inspiration, please feel free to say so in the thread!





Here we come to the end of this little side area and we find another Lizard Jackal along with ANOTHER new enemy (The Hideous-Faced Snake) AND a new powerup (The Inro)! All sorts of goodies out here!



First, we kill the Jackal Lizard to get a closer look at our new foe, the Hideous Faced Snake

The Hideous Faced Snake demon is a small Yokai that screams with the voice of an anguished woman as it charges you. Weak, yet capable of freezing a weak-willed man in place with fear, this Yokai is not to be underestimated...

The Hideous Faced Snake (yes, it is actually called that in the manual) is small and slow until it spots you, at which point it rears its head, bares its fangs and charges you as fast as it can. It is smaller than a Squat Bug and you must duck to attack it. Be warned, however, that it will slip right under your defensive posture and cause damage (and knockback).

This enemy is Kenseiden's representation of the Nure onna (translated as "wet woman"). A vampiric, snake-like Yokai described as having a hideous head of a woman and the body of a serpent. They have long black hair and their name comes from the fact that they always appear wet. Legend has it they inhabit the area around rivers and other bodies of water, using guile and trickery to lure people in close so they can attack and drink the blood of their prey.

Once the Snake is dealt with, we are free to collect the Inro (Medicine Case). the Inro is the other REALLY important powerup to have in Kenseiden, because it acts like a fairy-inna-bottle from Legend of Zelda. Healing you to full when you take fatal damage. This is great because it basically DOUBLES your life total, and this stacks with other upgrades that we will see later that make us more resistant to damage AND increase the size of our life bar. All in all you can OCTUPLE your starting health if you get all the upgrades and carry an Inro.

I call this the second most important powerup because extra health does nothing if you are knocked into a pit, and most of this games' danger comes from tricky enemy placement that is designed to do just that. Really useful for boss fights, though!



Heading back to the stairs, we see the Stretch Worm is back, but if we hurry up the stairs we can avoid the fireballs. Honestly, it's not worth the risk to fight this one. notice the Snake in the grass down below? Yeah, if you stay to fight this Stretch Worm, you may get knocked off the platform, where the snake can then stun-lock you right into the pit. It's a very Castlevania-esque risk/reward kind of situation that pops up a lot in Kenseiden.




Heading up the stairs takes us to this screen, with another Stretch Worm and a choice to either go right or further up. This one is a trick, though. If you noticed, UP has been associated with progressing so far this level, so you might want to go right first to see if there are any secret goodies to be had. But this time it's reversed. If you go right first you will be taken to the next part of the level, and may well never come back here. But if you go UP first...



...The stairs take you to this small screen with a Spike Pole Crusher (here showing off the attack animation he uses when he gets close to you) and another new powerup, The Kokeshi ("Wooden Doll")

The Kokeshi is simple enough, collecting it gives Hayato one extra life. Rare and usually out of the way, still worth it to track down though, as having more lives is always a better option.




Coming back down the stairs has a surprise for us, YET ANOTHER new enemy! The Boar Lizard.

This reptillian, flying Yokai is called a Boar Lizard. This Yokai usually attacks in pairs, so they can work together to box in their prey. They soar through the air and attack with razor sharp claws. Their tough hide is resistant to blades, requiring several strikes from even the BEST swords to destroy...

The Boar Lizard always looked like a western style dragon to me, but that couldnt be firther from it's real inspiration.

The Ushi Oni (or "Ox Demon") is a curious Yokai that is known to have MANY different morphologies. Sometimes looking like a spider with an ox head, sometimes like a cat with a terrifying bovine skull, sometimes even a boars head on a demonic lizards body. It is not the Boar Lizards' appearance that makes me think this is based on the Ushi Oni, but it's behavior.

Ushi Oni is said to live near water, and the Boar Lizard is only found on levels with water. The yokai is also exceedingly cruel and violent. It can commonly be found lurking around and attacking those who draw close to their lair, while the boar lizard initially appears out of reach before descending or ascending to attack the player. Also, a common feature of the Ushi Oni is that they work in groups or with other Yokai, including Nure Onna (the Hideous Faced Snake) and these two enemies are almost always found on the same levels. Ushi Oni are also said to be tough and hard to injure, same as the Boar Lizard. While the appearance isn't all THAT close, the behavior and habitat are right on for the Boar Lizard being a representation the Ushi Oni.

Anyway, after killing both of the flying Yokai, Hayato presses on to the right and comes across a series of platforms over a pit. Tricky to manage with enemies flying about.






Oh yeah, did I forget to mention the GIANT BOULDERS that constantly fall from the sky? Damaging hayato and knocking him off platforms if he gets hit?

Yeah. I never claimed Kenseiden was easy.




Anyway, across the platforms is another set of stairs and a Stretch Worm that is there to punish you for missing the long jump to the ledge. While at the top of the stairs we find a literal Snake in the grass. Notice the Hideous Faced Snake sneaking around in the tall grass. She's hard to spot in game, but it can be a surprise when her head rears up to charge you seemingly out of nowhere.



Another snake in Striking pose, this one goes down with no trouble.

Remember the platforms with the falling boulders from a few screens ago? Yeah. Get ready to do it again across a rickety bridge spanning a giant waterfall. This time being chased by Jackal lizards and snakes. Fun times.






I want to take a moment here to mention the waterfall. First off, the animation is GORGEOUS and I will be showing it off in the boss fight video. Also, the sound design is impeccable. The roar of the waterfall gets louder and louder as you approach, reaching its peak as you cross the bridge, even drowning out the music of the level briefly. The waterfall here also kind of supports that this level is based around the Kochi Castle, which lies at the mouth of the Kagami River. You will see in a moment that the castle itself (where the Warlock is waiting) is at the top of the hill.





Dealing with the two Boar Lizards is easy, but now it is time for Hayato to prepare for another epic challenge.

I had heard rumors that the mighty giant warrior Benkei had been resurrected by the foul magic of the Warlocks to lead their invasion forces. Like all who watched the omens and signs, I hoped to all that was holy that it was nothing more than a rumor. It appears that my worst fears are true, however. I can hear his thunderous footsteps even from down here. I am not ashamed to admit that fear curls on the back of my tongue at the thought of the upcoming battle. But I swore an oath. I WILL complete my quest, even if I have to go through a demigod to do it...

Welcome to the lair of The Benkei Warlock, guarded by one of his servants, a Spiked Pole Crusher.



Which I farm (by killing him, then going down the stairs and back up to kill him again) until he drops a Hyotan. I normally wouldn't cheese the game like this, but Benkei is a tough boss, who takes near-perfect timing to defeat and hits like a freaking truck!



The guard vanquished, nothing stands between hayato and the evil Benkei Warlock!

[sub]<--Same boss theme as before, still Badass.[/sub]



Standing Eight feet Seven inches tall, weighing in at 390 pounds, and wielding a giant spiked club; Give it up for The Benkei Warlock!
Applause



-----Benkei - The Bandit Warlord Warlock----- <--- Click me to watch Benkei in action!

Musashibo Benkei was a heroic Japanese warrior monk in the 1100's. His prowess in battle was said to be legendary, besting thousands of foes in his lifetime. He was also said to be the offspring of a temple god, granting him his extreme size and superhuman strength. Legend says he had a deformed face, with wild hair and long, sharp teeth, which he kept hidden under his robes. The rest of this tale is so amazing that I am basically going to copy/paste an abbreviated part of his wikipedia article here.

...He travelled widely among the Buddhist monasteries of Japan... Like many other monks, Benkei was probably trained in the use of the naginata (basically a giant katana). At the age of seventeen, he was said to have been over 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) tall. At this point, he left the Buddhist monastery and became a yamabushi, a member of a sect of mountain ascetics... Benkei is said to have posted himself at Gojo Bridge in Kyoto, where he disarmed every passing swordsman, eventually collecting 999 swords. On his 1000th duel, Benkei was defeated by Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Henceforth, he became a retainer of Yoshitsune and fought with him in the Genpei War against the Taira clan... After their ultimate triumph, however, Yoshitsune's elder brother Minamoto no Yoritomo turned against him... During the two-year ordeal that followed, Benkei accompanied Yoshitsune as an outlaw. In the end, they were encircled in the castle of Koromogawa no tate. As Yoshitsune retired to the inner keep of the castle to commit ritual suicide (seppuku), Benkei fought on at the bridge in front of the main gate to protect his friend and master. It is said that the soldiers were afraid to cross the bridge to confront him, and all that did met swift death at the hands of the gigantic man, who killed in excess of 300 fully trained soldiers. Long after the battle should have been over, the soldiers noticed that the arrow-riddled, wound-covered Benkei was standing still. When the soldiers dared to cross the bridge and look more closely, the heroic giant fell to the ground, having died in a standing position. This is known as the "Standing Death of Benkei"...

BAD. ASS.

And now I have to kill him... Again...


The fight against Benkei is harrowing because he constantly stalks towards you, pushing you into the corner and only backing off when you score a hit PRECISELY on his knee.



Like so.

The problem is, Benkei hits like a truck (harder than a Skeleton), and three or four hits is enough to reduce Hayato to a bloody pulp. So your timing has to be nearly perfect to not get driven into a corner and pulverized.





Eventually, Hayato prevails and the monstrous Benkei is destroyed. I really like that Benkei doesn't fall prone, he just explodes in place. A reference to "The Standing Death of Benkei"



Benkei drops a Hidensho when defeated, the Secret Scroll of Kara Take Wari (The Crushing Head Attack)



More Engrish! And now you understand the thread title.

The mighty Benkei has been vanquished! BY MY BLADE! I feel as though i could take on ANY challenge now! Do you HEAR ME, WARLOCKS! I am Hayato! and I am COMING for YOUR BLOOD! ... I must maintain my composure, the journey ahead is still a long one. I have recovered another Hidensho, and learned a new sword technique, an overhead slash that smashes through even the toughest of armor. I feel this will serve me well in battles yet to come...

As is customary, you are dropped back outside after the battle, near the end of the level. The gate is now open, inviting Hayato to journey onwards.



Back on the map screen, we can head north to Nagato Province or south to Tosa Province. True to the time period, the Tosa Province (southern half of Shikoku island) is a sparsely populated, mountainous region. In the game, this province contains a monastery where Hayato can train his skills without fear of Yokai interruption.

Join us next time, as Hayato bashes his head repeatedly against a wall made of Arrows!