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[cj_iwakura]

For some odd reason, some crazy, lovable lunatics at Alfa System decided that Castle Shikigami, a trilogy of curtain fire shmups, deserved a visual novel.

I just got a copy.

I swear Alfa System designed this game for the most die-hard Shiki fans imaginable(like your truly).

Here's some screens.

From the opening (Which I've never seen!)

Title screen:

Gennojo and other stuff:

Book!

When we finish the Shikigami 1 translation, I know what's high on my to-do list.

This game is pure unadulterated Shikigami fan service.


Tsukiko Johjima is the final boss of Shikigami 3, for those not in the know.

Her appearance in NG is... well, different.

Yes, it's a shmup/VN hybrid.

What could go wrong?

 

[Dragoon En Regalia]

What a novel idea. Thanks for giving me a visual.

 

[GhostWriter24]

What a novel idea. Thanks for giving me a visual.

/

 

[Dragoon En Regalia]

That gif's funnier than that first post. And this game's funny from the get-go.

 

[cj_iwakura]

And here's a fun fact from someone who's hacked an Alfa System game inside and out: the font and coding is almost exactly the same as SnS1.

Translating this would take forever and a day in comparison, though.

 

[Dragoon En Regalia]

I can't see this game getting a translation for a long time. And I'm not sure how large and dedicated the SnS fanbase is.

 

[shaowebb]

A visual novel game? For Castle Shikigami?

O_O

I WILL BE DOING ROGER SASUKE'S (mispronounced saw soo kay) STORY ARCHIVE AND FISHING FOR THE GOOD END WITH KO AND NO ONE CAN STOP ME!!!!

I main Roger for LIFE.

Spoiler

Bombs+Cheesey dialogue and flaming innuendo? Best run ever. Rewarding in every hilarious way.

 

[Ra1den]

Being able to play this in English would be the best thing ever.

 

[Dragoon En Regalia]

A visual novel game? For Castle Shikigami?

It's always the ones you most expect!?

 

[shaowebb]

Being able to play this in MORE HORRIBLY VOICE ACTED ENGRISH LIKE SHIKIGAMI 2 would be the best thing ever.

Fixed.

 

[cj_iwakura]

I can't see this game getting a translation for a long time. And I'm not sure how large and dedicated the SnS fanbase is.

I wrote more about the series in my HG101 article than exists anywhere on the internet. Believe me, I looked.

It's not very big at all.


And yes, Roger is in this. AND HE'S HILARIOUS.


Also, the game is fully voiced.

 

[Dragoon En Regalia]

Indeed you did. I need to check if anyone's already flagged The Floigan Bros. for an article, over at the HG101 forums.

 

[cj_iwakura]

I've always wondered where they came up with Tsukiko. For someone who was the last game's big bad, she sure came out of nowhere for this.

She was in some manga, too.

Far as I know, there was no mention of her in Shiki 2.

(She's a bed-ridden lover of Kohtaro's, and a specter of her in Shiki 3 lays into him for 'abandoning' her.)

 

[shaowebb]

I wrote more about the series in my HG101 article than exists anywhere on the internet. Believe me, I looked.

It's not very big at all.


And yes, Roger is in this. AND HE'S HILARIOUS.


Also, the game is fully voiced.

YES.

^*Excited fangirl squeal from Roge-LYN ;D*

This pleases Roger greatly. BTW what on Earth is he yelling during his Super in Shikigami 2? I want to know so I can yell it out next time I play <3
No idea what he says or what it means, but I bet its pure gold.

 

[Dragoon En Regalia]

I was unaware of Shaowebb's infatuation with devilish rogues.

 

[bon]

I would totally play this if it was translated like the shooters.

 

[shaowebb]

I was unaware of Shaowebb's infatuation with devilish rogues.

I did an Engrish panel several years ago at a convention in WV and tied for most attendees. Castle Shikigami 2 was my closer. I have every game in the series including the Mobile Light Force Gunbird thing with Milfbot. This was my first big shmup title that got me interested in diving further. Earlier this year I took the plunge on Cave shooters and since then my collection has exploded with shmups.

Shikigami was my first and Roger will be my forever main. Day ONE.

 

[arglebargle]

Fixed.

agreed. i would play this for awesomely bad translations alone.

if i were able to get past the translations, do the shikigami games actually have a plot? it seems like they might, but what we got in english is primarily nonsense.

 

[cj_iwakura]

agreed. i would play this for awesomely bad translations alone.

if i were able to get past the translations, do the shikigami games actually have a plot? it seems like they might, but what we got in english is primarily nonsense.

For fear of being a shill, yes.

There is a LOT going on in Shikigami's mythos.

Shikigami 1 is largely serious, 2 is largely silly, 3 is a little of both.


Well, okay, 3 is mostly silly, but the serious stuff is pretty serious.


Worth noting that I didn't know as much about Shikigami 1's plot at the time. Having finished the translation, I know a LOT more about it, and can safely say it has a damn good plot, full of WTF twists.

 

[arglebargle]

For fear of being a shill, yes.

There is a LOT going on in Shikigami's mythos.

Shikigami 1 is largely serious, 2 is largely silly, 3 is a little of both.


Well, okay, 3 is mostly silly, but the serious stuff is pretty serious.


Worth noting that I didn't know as much about Shikigami 1's plot at the time. Having finished the translation, I know a LOT more about it, and can safely say it has a damn good plot, full of WTF twists.

thanks, ill read through this. i have played more of two than either of the others, and at least half of the reason i played it as much as i did was to laugh at the dialogue.

 

[cj_iwakura]

Even though it'd be like ten times the work(Shikigami 2 added two player story modes and all), I'd love to retranslate it so people could experience the plot without the XS Games Engrish Filter.

Though fair warning, even legitimately translated, Alfa System games tend to expect the players to piece a lot of stuff together on their own.