Boktai (series)

Boktai is a video game series created by Konami for the Game Boy Advance handheld console. The title is an abbreviation of the series' full Japanese title Bokura no Taiyō (ボクらの太陽) or Our Sun. They are recognized for using a solar sensor that has a major part and a key element in gameplay. The Boktai games are produced by Hideo Kojima, creator of the Metal Gear series, who also came up with the initial game design and concept.

Games

There are currently three games in the series. Only the first two were released outside Japan:

• Boktai: The Sun is in Your Hand (2003) (Japanese title: Bokura no Taiyou: Taiyou Akushon RPG)
• Boktai 2: Solar Boy Django (2004) (Japanese title: Zoku-Bokura no Taiyou: Taiyou Shounen Jango)
• Boktai: Sabata's Counterattack (2005) (Japanese title: Shin-Bokura no Taiyou: Gyakushuu no Sabata)

Game Series

When the games were released, Konami made abbreviations of the game titles for their websites, and articles too.

• The first game was abbreviated to Boktai.
• The second game was abbrevated to Zoktai.
• The third game was abbreviated to Shinbok, though firstly Konami named it Shintai, but changed it to Shinbok shortly after.

Boktai

The first game, Boktai used a major attachment onto the GBA cartridge, a solar sensor. This has a major affect in gameplay, and a key element needed to progress further into the game. The amount of UV rays that the sensor is sensing currently is displayed on the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. The sunlight is measured in blocks, with a maximum of eight blocks. <br.> The main character, Django's weapon, a solar gun or known as Gun Del Sol, uses batteries which store energy (This is also displyed at the bottom right-hand corner). This is solar energy collected via the sensor or various methods in gameplay. This energy can be stored in Solar Stations which the player can withdraw and use when sunlight is not avaliable, like at night time. But, the solar energy in a Solar Station is limited to how much the player has collected. The system of storage also uses the amount of energy in a Gun Del Sol battery. <br.> Using stealth, and Django's solar gun the player can purify enemies known as 'Undead'. These enemies are found in various dungeons located in Istrakan; the City of Death, throughtout the game. <br.> Boktai has a built in clock, which enables the game to adjust to different times of the day, such as dawn, noon and evening. This also affects gameplay, which the environment changes with the clock, and different enemies may be active or dormant.

Zoktai

The second game, Zoktai continues to use a solar sensor and a built in clock, but this time the amount the sensor can detect was increased to ten blocks. Unlike the first game, Zoktai is more of an action RPG than stealth. Neverless, keeping the same qualities in Boktai, Hideo Kojima expanded characters and maps, enemies and weapons. They introduced a new feature, Solar Forging. This allows you to forge two weapons together, whether the same or different types of weapons, to create a totally new weapon. This way you can obtain stronger weapons, even with special abilities. Sometimes, unexpectedly you can end up with a very special weapon, known as a 'R-Rank' weapon. <br.> During gameplay, the storyline requires you to play temporarily as another character, Sabata, who is Django's older brother. This changes gameplay in huge ways, since Sabata is a Dark child, and does not like the sun. If Sabata ends up in sunlight he will continuously suffer damage until you remove him from sunlight. Instead of solar charging in sunlight, you darkness charge in shadows, where there is no sunlight or at night time. You use a gun; the Gun De Hel instead of your choice of four weapons - sword, spear, hammer or fist (since you cannot use your solar gun).

Trivia

• The Boktai series contains several crossovers with Capcom's Mega Man Battle Network series.
• Solid Snake from the Metal Gear series appears in the second game, under the name of ???.