Development Challenges

The highest importance was attached to tempo of the game. Since the game is for a portable player, gamers may not be able to play for long hours like with console games. Flow of the story and tempo during battle are things we paid attention to the most so that playing for a short time play can be fun, too. Especially during battle, we were meticulous about timing the action and balancing the enemy’s strength to keep players feeling comfortable, even during a short period of gaming.

The network service using the wireless LAN function is one of the features that became possible because of the PSP. KoP provides three different modes using the wireless LAN:

1. Two-player Versus Mode in Ad Hoc

Players can fight in a versus mode against a friend using original Bugei Scroll combos. In addition to a versus battle, players can show off their originally created combos to a friend in Ad Hoc as well. Players can simply focus on beating an opponent but since the fighting system is so deep, we hope that players will come up with unique ways to go through battle, considering things like what kind of combo to use to defeat the opponent.

2. Kenpu Exchange in Ad Hoc

This is a function in which you can exchange Kenpu with your opponent’s Kenpu. If you play and finish the game, you will only collect about 70% of the total available Kenpu. The remaining Kenpu has to be collected on the second play through with cleared save data. But if players use the Kenpu Exchange, they can obtain Kenpu from your friends that you may not have. One thing we like to do here in the dev offices is to face off with an opponent and the winner gets a Kenpu reward.

3. Download Service in Infrastructure Mode

Players can get rare Kenpu, items, and weapons that are not available in the normal gameplay. The power in the rare Kenpu is very strong, and as a result players can create some really crazy combos with unusual character attack motions. Use this type of Kenpu in a versus match and you will be so strong that the other player may think you’re cheating!

You may think that it seems difficult since you connect to the Internet using Wireless LAN, but connecting and downloading are very easy. The download is all free, so please have fun with the game using the wireless LAN.

This was the first time our production team has had a chance to create a game for the PSP. Developing action-RPG titles is a genre that our team has excelled in, so creating something in that vein for PSP was a challenge but we believe we were able to pull it off successfully. By utilizing our strengths in creating traditional action-RPG games, we were able to offer a new twist to the genre that fits well with the design of the PSP. The best example again is the ability to create your own Bugei Scrolls. This type of fighting mechanic lends itself well to the quick action that gamers will expect from a portable player. I look forward to the future possibilities of game development for the PSP and I would really like players to see how we’re trying to push the boundaries of traditional genres and game design with Kingdom of Paradise for the PSP.

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The Fighting System

Combat in Kingdom of Paradise is heavily influenced by various martial arts as well as traditional Japanese sword fighting. There are also other forms of combat available in the form of magic spells. These can be collected throughout the various worlds. The combat system itself is very unique. We decided to implement the concept of Kenpu and Bugei Scrolls, two items that are used to help shape a player’s fighting arsenal. How it works is that players receive Kenpu as they defeat enemies and proceed through story events.

In the game, Kenpu is part of a scroll that focuses on specific sword technique and style. Basically Kenpu is a specific fighting move. By aligning multiple Kenpu, players can create what is known as a Bugei Scroll, or, a set combination of Kenpu moves. By equipping various Bugei Scrolls, players can begin to implement fighting combos in their attacks. The Bugei Scroll is a “continuous attack” which can be freely customized, allowing players to decide which Kenpu to use and its order. The reason why this Bugei Scroll system is unique is because of its variation on fighting mechanics and that we’re utilizing this as a feature on the PSP. Since there are more than 150 kinds of Kenpu throughout the game, the total number of combos is almost limitless! Each Bugei Scroll is inevitably your own personal combo. In a typical action-RPG, you fight by changing weapons in accordance with the enemy. In Kingdom of Paradise, however, you are able to switch Bugei Scrolls on the fly instead of the weapons.

You can equip up to six Bugei Scrolls at the same time, and you can also switch them to more effective Bugei Scrolls depending on the enemy. Using the right trigger, exchanging Bugei Scrolls can be done very quickly during battles so it is possible to switch Bugei Scrolls every time an enemy appears. When multiple enemies surround you, pick the Bugei Scroll that lets you attack enemies around you. When you fight against one enemy, you can pick the Bugei Scroll that makes you get close to the enemy right away. Depending on each situation, the Bugei Scrolls can be switched just like you switch your weapons.

After players beat the game, they can play through again to try and collect additional Kenpu (specific moves) that they may not have acquired during the first play through. Players can take these additional Kenpu and add to their Bugei scrolls, creating even more sword fighting combos.

Similar to classic RPGs, players will level up their character by defeating enemies and earning experience points, up to a maximum level of 20. Players will also need to talk to people along the way, gaining information and clues necessary to move the story forward. Kingdom of Paradise is definitely considered more of an action game that contains RPG elements. There are many RPG-like moments, such as event scenes and talking to people in town, but there are way more action elements to this game than the typical RPG.

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The World of Ouka

The world of Ouka is divided into five regions: East, West, South, North and Central. In addition, each region is ruled by a different and unique martial arts clan. Each region has its own distinctive scenery, and players will find new characters and items as they enter into different areas. The players proceed through the story as they come in contact with people, gain information, and defeat enemies to develop their fighting skills.

Kingdom of Paradise is definitely considered more of an action game that contains RPG elements. There are many RPG-like moments, such as event scenes and talking to people in town, but there are way more action elements to this game than the typical RPG. Similar to classic RPGs, players will level up their character by defeating enemies and earning experience points, up to a maximum level of 20. Players will also need to talk to people along the way, gaining information and clues necessary to move the story forward. Depending on the skill level of the player, it should take around 20 hours to finish the game.

As for the character and environment designs, in order to re-create the distinctive and fantastic atmosphere of Asia, I consulted with architects of various landmarks in Asia to work on the game design in addition to our Japanese creative team. Korean animator Ko Jinho handled the character design, and environment design was created by our design team, who are scattered all over Asia. Despite the language differences between our team and Ko Jinho, everything went relatively smooth. One challenge was that our team’s image of Asia is different from the image Korean people have on Asia. Instead of viewing this as a problem, we took advantage of the situation. With two different visions of Asia, including clothes, environment, and character design, we were able to create an original world that consisted of parts from both perspectives that really brings a unique look to the game.

The world in Kingdom, drawn by our design team, represents a fantastic and energetic landscape based on traditional Asia. To get the atmosphere of the game just right, our team needed to work closely with design teams from Japan as well as get input from game design experts throughout Asia.

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The Story

The story of Kingdom of Paradise takes place in a land called “Ouka,” a mystical world that is ruled by five martial art clans. Shinbu, the main character and a member of one of the clans, is considered an outcast but really he is just a young man who spends time training himself to be a skilled swordfighter. The story begins when a young girl named Sui Lin comes to Shinbu asking for help. He finds out that Sui Lin’s clan was destroyed by another power hungry clan known as the Kirin. In fact, the Kirin are determined to wipe out each of the other four clans to claim absolute rule of Ouka. Shinbu and Sui Lin must embark on a journey to rebuild their clans and restore the balance of power to Ouka. Players will only be able to control Shinbu in the game however Sui Lin is his counterpart and will always be available to assist him in battle and during the journey.

In creating this game we were inspired by traditional Japanese lore, mythical adventure, and classic samurai swordfighting. By breaking down the traditional action-RPG gaming mold, Kingdom of Paradise offers new action-RPG gaming style customized for the PSP. I want players to experience how deep and powerful the PSP hardware really is and I believe they’ll have that opportunity by playing a vast game like Kingdom of Paradise.

The reason why we chose an Asiatic view of the world for the game was because we felt the Asian martial arts world is best suited to complement our unique Bugei Scroll system, which is the key element of this game. The Bugei Scrolls essentially allow players to customize their sword attacks to create literally hundreds of different combos. We went through all sorts of trial and error to balance the gameplay and tempo of the action, trying to find a unique angle that would capture the attention of gamers. As it turns out, Japanese gamers felt that the Bugei Scroll system is the most interesting part of Kingdom of Paradise.

I decided to develop the title right after the PSP was announced back in March. For a few months after the announcement, I drew up plans and scenarios with a game designer named Nobuhiko Tenkawa. Then I met with production team members from a company named CLIMAX, known for their action RPGs in Japan. Soon after, production of Kingdom of Paradise was in full swing. The actual production was full of trial and error, but the team really maintained a high level of motivation from beginning to end. Kingdom of Paradise incorporates a new and unique game style that is made possible due to the PSP hardware and by the creative effort of the individuals on our team. As a result, I think we have created the best action-RPG available for PSP.

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