Sin and Punishment: Hoshi no Keishōsha
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| Sin and Punishment: Hoshi no Keishōsha | |
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 Japanese box art |
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| Developer(s) | Treasure |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Designer(s) | Hideyuki Suganami |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo 64, iQue Player, Virtual Console |
| Release date(s) | N64 JP November 21, 2000 iQue Player CN 2004 VC JP September 20, 2007 NA October 1, 2007 EU September 28, 2007 |
| Genre(s) | Rail shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | CERO: B OFLC: M PEGI: 12+ ESRB: T |
Sin and Punishment: Hoshi no Keishōsha (罪と罰～地球の継承者～ Tsumi to Batsu: Hoshi no Keishōsha, lit. "Sin and Punishment: Successor of the Earth") is a rail shooter developed by Treasure and published by Nintendo. The game was released for the Nintendo 64 in Japan in 2000, and on the iQue Player in China in 2004.
Despite being a former Asia-exclusive release, it features extensive voice acting in English with subtitles in Japanese. As a result, it became one of the most requested Virtual Console titles in North America, with gaming site IGN declaring that there would be a "Very High" probability of its release after the initial announcement of the service.[1]
Sin and Punishment was released on the Virtual Console in Japan on September 20, 2007, in PAL regions on September 28, 2007 and in North America on October 1 2007.[2] The PAL and North American releases feature further translation, with English menus in addition to the English voice acting and the Japanese subtitles, offset by a higher Wii Points price, 200 more points than normal. Previously, the game had been fan-translated to English by a small website called Vanit Studios.[3] Because of how popular the Virtual Console release was in North America, Nintendo announced a sequel for the Wii titled Sin and Punishment: Sora no Kōkeisha.[4]
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[edit] Gameplay
The game is essentially a rail shooter. Progress through the levels is automatic; the player's job is to aim and fire at enemies, sidestep, roll, jump, or double-jump to avoid attacks and obstacles.
The player can switch between manual (red targeting reticle) and lock-on (purple targeting reticle) firing modes at any time. Lock-on mode "sticks" the reticle to enemies, but is less damaging than manually-aimed fire. The player can also attack using a powerful energy sword by tapping the fire button when enemies, or certain types of projectiles, are within close range. Projectiles struck in this manner are bounced back and can potentially inflict great damage on opponents. While the player attacks, a timer at the top of the screen counts down. When the timer hits 0, the player gradually loses more and more life until he or she either refills the timer or dies.
Multiplayer involves two players controlling one character cooperatively. The second player controls the targeting sight and shoots while the first player controls the character's movement.
[edit] Plot
Mankind's prosperity has led to a vast population increase and serious food shortages. In an attempt to solve the food shortage problem, scientists create a new species to use for food, and place the herd in northern Japan. In time, the creatures mutate and attack the people of Japan. An international peacekeeping organization called the Armed Volunteers tries to stop the creatures, now referred to as "ruffians", but they also oppress the Japanese.
Another group, referring to itself as the Savior Group and led by a mysterious woman named Achi, rises up to defend Japan against the ruffians and Armed Volunteers.
The game begins in Tokyo with Achi, Airan, and Saki embarking on a mission to steal an Armed Volunteer transport. After fighting through waves of Volunteer troops, they gain a transport on top of a building, but as they do, they are attacked by ruffians. After fending them off, Saki is attacked by a telekinetic woman named Kachua. Saki knocks her off the building. As she falls, the city is flooded with blood, and Saki falls as well. He and Kachua are transformed into giant ruffians as they fall. Saki kills Kachua, then turns on Airan and Achi. Achi teleports herself and Airan to safety.
They find themselves on a Volunteer ship, commanded by Brad, leader of the Armed Volunteers. Brad commands the fleet to attack Saki, referring to him as The Beast. Airan and Achi fight their way through the ship until they encounter Brad and Leda, a smaller cat-like Ruffian. After a brief fight, Leda is killed, but Brad jumps on a fighter jet and escapes, then Achi uses her telekinesis to help Airan pursue him. In the end, they kill Brad and wipe out the Volunteer fleet, allowing them to focus on Saki.
Achi believes that she can return Saki to his human form, but she requires that Airan shoot him in the head to incapacitate him. After she angrily refuses, Achi creates an illusion of Airan on a ruffian-infested train, tricking Airan into shooting Saki. They are able to communicate with Saki, but then Achi reveals that the war with the ruffians and the Armed Volunteers is merely training for her coming global war. As Achi becomes more and more menacing, Saki regains consciousness and teleports himself and Airan away.
Airan wakes up on a ruffian-infested beach accompanied by Saki, who is now half ruffian, but otherwise back to normal. They fight their way to the safety of a small building; once there, Achi appears, takes Airan, and flees. When Saki catches up to Achi, Achi asks him to help her take over the world. He refuses, and Achi tries to destroy the Earth. Saki transforms back into a giant ruffian and, with the help of Airan, stops Achi once and for all.
[edit] Development
The title was directed by Hideyuki Suganami, who also served as one of the programmers. Atsutomo Nakagawa, who had previously had a small part in developing Radiant Silvergun stepped up as program lead, and Yasushi Suzuki, another minor player from the Radiant Silvergun team took over as the lead character artist. This was the last game Suganami worked on before departing the company. He remained on friendly terms with Treasure, returning on a freelance/contractual basis to work on Gunstar Super Heroes.
Unfortunately, the title wasn't released until 2000, at which point the market for N64 games was badly weakened. Despite being developed with a North American release in mind,[citation needed] with an English-speaking voice cast, Treasure quietly removed Sin and Punishment from its roster of upcoming North American and PAL releases. The title was finally released to the public outside of Japan via the Wii's Virtual Console download system for the price of 1200 Wii Points. This version retains the Japanese subtitles with its English dialogue, but has translated menus and a few tutorials. The Virtual Console US/PAL version was translated by NST.
According to the credits, the game was originally titled Glass Soldier (グラスソルジャー).
[edit] Reception
Sin and Punishment received generally positive reception from Western critics upon its release. Gaming site IGN gave the title 9.0 out of 10,[5] while GameSpot ranked the original Nintendo 64 version a 7.1 out of 10, citing a lack of difficulty modes (a factual error on their part) as a key complaint.[6] A more recent GameSpot review of the Virtual Console version raised the rating to 8.0 out of 10.[7] Retro Gamer magazine also listed it as top in its list of top 25 "run 'n gun" games.
[edit] Legacy
The protagonist Saki Amamiya later appeared in the Wii video game Super Smash Bros. Brawl as one of several Assist Trophies, which are items that summon characters from throughout Nintendo's history for a brief period of time. When summoned, Saki will jump around while slashing and blasting opponents with his Cannon Sword.[8]
On October 2, 2008, Sin and Punishment 2 was announced at a Nintendo press conference. It is currently being developed for the Wii and will be released in 2010.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ Bozon, Mark (2006-02-17). "Retro Remix: Round 3". IGN. http://wii.ign.com/articles/689/689524p1.html. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
- ^ Nintendo (2007-10-01). "Wii-kly Update: Two New Classic Games Added To Wii Shop Channel". Press release. Archived from the original on 2007-10-01. http://www.gamespot.com/news/6180144.html. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
- ^ Sin and Punishment Translation
- ^ a b http://wii.ign.com/articles/915/915504p1.html
- ^ Mirabella III, Fran (2000-11-27). "Sin and Punishment: Successor to the Earth (Import)". IGN. http://ign64.ign.com/articles/165/165248p1.html. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
- ^ Gerstmann, Jeff (2000-12-07). "Sin and Punishment review". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/n64/action/sinandpunishmentsote/review.html. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
- ^ Provo, Frank (2007-10-04). "Sin and Punishment review". GameSpot. http://gamespot.com/wii/action/sinandpunishmentsote/review.html. Retrieved 2007-10-04.
- ^ "Smash Bros. DOJO!!". Nintendo. http://www.smashbros.com/en_us/items/assist/assist12.html. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
[edit] External links
- Official Nintendo web page (Japanese) (Translated with Excite.Co.Jp's translator)
- Official SpaceWorld 2000 web page (Japanese) (Translated with Excite.Co.Jp's translator)
- Official iQue Player web page (Chinese)
- Interview at 1101.com (Japanese) (Translated with Excite.Co.Jp's translator)
- Sin and Punishment: Successor of the Earth guide at StrategyWiki
- Sin and Punishment: Successor of the Earth at GameFAQs
- Virtual Console web page (Japanese) (North American)
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