Namco × Capcom
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| Namco × Capcom | |
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| Developer(s) | Monolith Soft |
| Publisher(s) | Namco (Japan) |
| Release date(s) |  May 26, 2005 |
| Genre(s) | RPG |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | CERO: 12+ |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2 |
| Media | DVD-ROM |
Namco × Capcom (ナムコ クロス カプコン Namuko Kurosu Kapukon?)[I] is a turn-based strategy console game developed by Monolith Soft, featuring characters from games produced by companies Namco and Capcom.
Contents |
[edit] Storyline
The year is 20XX, and the game is driven by the characters Arisu Reiji and Xiaomu (original characters created specifically for this game). The two of them work for a special unit called Shinra and they are tasked with investigating spirit and otherworldly disturbances. They are initially investigating a strange "sleeping sickness" in the Shibuya area of Japan, when it becomes apparent that something much larger is at stake. Characters, both good and evil, from other times and other worlds begin appearing in Japan 20XX.
[edit] Gameplay
The game is a hybrid of an action-RPG and a strategy-RPG. Movement is done on a square grid with turns being determined by figuring out which character has the highest AP (this AP system is comparable to the CT system used in Final Fantasy Tactics). On the player's turn, he or she can move his character into position and choose to attack an enemy.
At this point the game switches into the action-RPG portion. Your character has a number of "Branches" they can use. Each direction on the directional pad combined with the O button will perform an attack. Each attack uses up 1 branch. If you perform a certain number of Aerial Chains (hitting the enemy in mid-air), you will gain bonuses, from extra experience points to items to more branches to use in this turn. Upon filling up the character's Special Gauge they can use the Triangle button to perform a special attack. They will also be able to select a Multiple Assault attack if their units on the board meet the conditions. Defense also puts the player in the action-RPG mode, this time blocking to reduce the enemy's damage. Successfully blocking attacks will also increase the amount of AP the player's unit has.
There are 50 levels total (45 normal and 5 prologue) and the game will take from around 70-100 hours to complete.
[edit] International release issues
So far, neither Capcom nor Namco have announced any plans to release Namco x Capcom outside of Japan. There is much speculation as to why: some have speculated that the companies involved can't agree on which would distribute and profit from the game, while others cite the obscurity of many of Namco's included characters, some of whom appear in games that have not seen release outside of Japan. There has been no official word from either of the companies, though. Rumors also persist that the game has not sold well in Japan, contributing to the decision.
[edit] Original Characters
[edit] Protagonists
Reiji Arisu (有栖零児, Arisu Reiji)
The main protagonist of the game. His father was killed 10 years ago in one of the many ongoing fights between Shinra and Ouma. Reiji is, often described by his partner Xiaomu, a "sullen tight-ass" which prompts Reiji to shoot a jokingly made comeback. While he may not show it, he cares deeply for Xiaomu, even if he shoots down several of her comments, jokes or not.
Xiaomu (小牟, Shaomu)
Fellow protagonist as well, Xiaomu is known as a "mystic fox" with an age of 765 years. She was partners in the Shinra organization with Reiji's father, Shougo Arisu, 10 years ago, until his death. Xiaomu often portrays a bit of a flirty nature towards Reiji, though he often ignores it. Aside from poking Reiji's buttons, she can become a little protective of Reiji when the subject of his father's death comes around, or Saya.
[edit] Antagonists
Saya (沙夜 Saya)
Like Xiaomu, Saya is a werefox, however, she is born in Japan and not China. She was involved with the incident that happened with Arisu Shougo and Xiaomu 10 years ago, which is why Xiaomu holds a grudge against her. Opposite to Xiaomu, Saya is with the rival organization of Shinra: Ouma. Saya upholds a rather odd personality-she can never seem to be upset and usually remains calm and overly flirty in contrast to that of her Chinese werefox counterpart. Her pet names for Reiji and Xiaomu are 'boy' and 'little one'.
99 (九十九 Kyū jū Kyū)
An enemy sealed in the Abyss of Time 10 years which Saya assists in, being the key to releasing this foul creature. It has deep ties with the Arisu clan.
Katana (片那 Katana)
A supposedly made complete clone of Saya, though physical appearance is questionable. Saya has said it is part of the Ouma Project.
[edit] Character list
This is a list of significant characters that make an appearance in Namco x Capcom. This list is under construction, as many of the characters are from lesser known titles or older games, and therefore a bit hard to identify or pin down a correct spelling.
[edit] Staff
- Director: Soichiro Morizumi (Monolithsoft; formerly of Banpresto, directed many games in the Super Robot Wars series)
- Producer: Koji Ishitani (Monolithsoft; formerly of Banpresto)
- Character Illustration: Takuji Kawano (Namco; did character art for Soul Calibur II)
- Opening animation by Production I.G
- Opening/Ending themes composed by Yuzo Koshiro and sung by "flair"
[edit] Manga
There is a Manga Anthology published for the game.
[edit] Trivia
- The game's main characters, Reiji and Xiaomu, were inspired by Kyosuke Nanbu and Excellen Browning, both originally from the Super Robot Wars Compact 2 trio of Super Robot Wars games, which were also directed by Soichiro Morizumi.
- The low-level original enemies are all derived from Japanese folklore. (See Kamaitachi, Tengu, and Ox-Head and Horse-Face)
- All of the items, consumable and equippable, come from previous Namco or Capcom games.
- Sylphie's attacks are all taken from classic Capcom arcade games, such as Trojan and Gun.Smoke, and for her super move, she transforms temporarily into characters from Alien vs. Predator, Legendary Wings, Street Fighter 3, and Warzard. Her counter dodge is from Bionic Commando (she zips out of the way on a wire), and her counterattack is from Cyberbots (Blodia punches the enemy away from offscreen).
- The Unknown Soldiers are backed up by super-deformed versions of the players' robots from Side Arms Hyper Dyne; during their Multiple Assault with Sylphie, called "Zettai Gattai," the two robots combine into a single robot, reminiscent of the two-player cooperative mode in which both players could control the combined robot in the original game.
- Pac-Man makes a cameo appearance in two stages of the game. In one stage, which takes place outside the Namco Theatre, there are two statues of him. Another stage, a computer control room, has monitors along the walls which display data on Pac-Man. Also, Klonoa's hat bears the Pac-Man symbol.
- A couple of fans made a parody game trailer entitled DataEast X Sunsoft, featuring characters from DataEast and Sunsoft games rather than Namco and Capcom characters.
[edit] Notes
- I↑ : Pronounced as "Namco Cross Capcom". The '×' symbol denotes that the two series are, in a sense, multiplied together and is used in the same fashion a '+' or '&' might be used. In normal writing, the × is usually replaced with an 'x' or 'X'. The pronunciation is presumably from the cross product.
