Boktai: The Sun Is in Your Hand

Boktai: The Sun is in Your Hand
Boktai: The Sun Is in Your Hand cover art
Developer(s)	Konami
Publisher(s)	Konami
Designer(s)	Producer: Hideo Kojima
Platform(s)	Game Boy Advance
Release	July 16, 2003 (JP) September 16, 2003 (NA) May 14, 2004 (EU)
Genre(s)	Action-adventure
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer

Boktai: The Sun is in Your Hand, known in Japan as Our Sun (ボクらの太陽 Bokura no Taiyō), is a video game released on the Game Boy Advance in 2003 by Konami. Produced by Hideo Kojima, Boktai's game cartridge includes a photometric light sensor that measures the amount of sunlight/uv rays exposed to it.

The player takes the role of Django, a vampire hunter, who uses a specialized weapon, the Gun Del Sol, that fires bolts of sunlight at enemies. In order to charge the weapon, the player must actually take the game outside in the daytime (as verified by the light sensor). If your gun runs out of light reserves and there is no sunlight available, you'll have to avoid enemies.

Another unique feature of Boktai is that before a game is started, the player is prompted to set their current time and time zone. The engine can then determine when the sun will rise set, and will simulate the position of the sun inside the game. This way, the player has an advantage during the daytime because, according to lore, vampires cannot be exposed to sunlight. The game also simulates times of day by putting bird chirp sound effects in the moring, and giving the outdoor environment a soft orange glow around sunset.

Gameplay

Unlike other Action RPG's, the combat focuses on stealth. An integral concept is shooting an undead in the back, stunning it then running away or finishing it off. Getting caught by a monster (indicated by a red exclamation point above the head.) will reduce the grade received at the end of a stage. The highest grade one can receive is an "S", and the lowest an "F". A number of other factors also determine the grade received, such as total time taken to complete the level. The only weapon is the gun, but it can use a variety of different lenses which shoot different energies as well as different frames, some of which mimic real guns, with shotgun, automatic, and scatter shots; and more fantasy-based frames with energy spreads, swords, and rotating abilities. Grenades, which attach to the underside of the gun, are a limited supplement. The first kind found merely explodes with a loud sound which alerts all nearby monsters. Later grenades have special effects, such as knocking out all onscreen enemies. There are 2 sun-related varities, in which one gives the player 4 artificial bars of sunlight for about 30 seconds. Django either shoots grenades straight upward (effect grenades) or forward (attack grenades). Django is accompanied by Otenko, a floating sunflower with a long narrow nose which guides Django through his adventure, revealing the story over time and giving tips on puzzles and fight tactics.

Characters

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The three main characters in Boktai, Solar Boy Django, Messenger of the Sun, Otenko, and the Earthly Maiden.

Django: The main protagonist. The Son of the greatest vampire hunter, Ringo and Moon Beauty, as well as the brother of Sabata. He wields the Gun Del Sol. Django is guided by his master, Otenko.

Otenko: An anthromorphic sunflower which is the physical inacarnation of Sol, follows and guides Django through his quest. He knew Ringo, and probably did the same with him.

Lita: The Earthly maiden, Lita was charged with protecting the Solar tree. She and the tree were captured on the day the immortals attacked San Migel, city of the sun. She is rescued from being sacrificed by The Count of Ground Soaking blood. Then leaves them, and after Otenko mentions that she may not be safe alone, she can be heard punching a Bok to death, and says(in text) "Who wants to try me next, filth?"

Two sequels have been released: Boktai 2: Solar Boy Django in 2004, and Boktai: Sabata's Counterattack in 2005.

Presence in Metal Gear Ac!d 2

Metal Gear Ac!d 2, another Kojima game, includes references to Boktai in the form of a Gun del Sol weapon with accompanying Django and Otenko.

The Gun Del Sol was also a playable card in the original Metal Gear Ac!d. Jokingly, it had an 'Anti-Immortal' effect listed, with a footnote to the effect of 'No Immortals appear in this game'. However, it is still a powerful weapon since it deals high damage and can be loaded with any type of ammo, despite its need to be charged for 10 COST before use.

External links

• Official website at Konami (English and Japanese)
• GameTab reviews