The Caligula Effect
| The Caligula Effect | |
|---|---|
| File:Caligula cover art.png Japanese cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Aquria |
| Publisher(s) | |
| Director(s) | Takuya Yamanaka |
| Artist(s) | Oguchi |
| Writer(s) | Tadashi Satomi |
| Composer(s) | Tsukasa Masuko |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation Vita |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Role-playing |
The Caligula Effect, known in Japan as Caligula (Japanese: カリギュラ, Hepburn: Karigyura), is a role-playing video game that was developed by Aquria for the PlayStation Vita. It was published by FuRyu in June 2016 in Japan, and is planned to be released by Atlus in May 2017 in North America and Europe.
Gameplay
The Caligula Effect is a role-playing video game featuring turn-based combat in dungeon environments. Combat is triggered upon encountering enemy characters during dungeon exploration.[1]
Premise
The Caligula Effect is set in a virtual reality program known as "Mobius", created so people can escape pain in their lives and live in an idyllic high school setting, forced to live out their 3 years Indefinitely. The main protagonist is one of a group who realize that they are in a virtual world, and form the "Return Club", a group dedicated to escaping from Mobius and its god-like overseer program, a vocal program called "μ". They oppose the "Ostinato Musicians", a group who supports μ and sees the Go Home Club as traitors.[1] [2]
Development
The Caligula Effect was developed by Aquria and published by FuRyu. It was directed by Takuya Yamanaka, with character designs by Oguchi. It was written by Tadashi Satomi, who had previously worked on the first three games in the Persona series – Revelations: Persona, Persona 2: Innocent Sin and Persona 2: Eternal Punishment. The music is composed by Tsukasa Mako, and the theme song is performed by a three-person group: Eriko Nakamura, Emi Nitta and Yuka Ōtsubo. The developers define Caligula as a "next-generation juvenile RPG" focusing on modern pathology and trauma.[1][3]
The characters were said to violate a variety of taboos, with Satomi specifically creating one that the team were initially wanting to avoid. The title stems from the "Caligula effect", a psychological term referring to the want to see and do prohibited things. Despite its prominence and tying into the gameplay experience, the word itself is not mentioned within the game's context.[1][3]
The game was first announced on February 23, 2016 in that week's issue of Famitsu, along with its release date.[4] At the time it was announced, it was said to be 50% complete.[1] A teaser trailer and the first screenshots was released soon after the initial announcement.[5]
Release
The game was released for the PlayStation Vita, by FuRyu on June 23, 2016 in Japan,[6] and is planned to be released by Atlus on May 2, 2017[7] as a digital-only title in North America and Europe.[8] Initially, Atlus did not rule out a physical release of The Caligula Effect through Limited Run Games,[9] but eventually decided against it.[10]
Reception
Famitsu scored the game a 30 out of 40 rating, with a 8/7/8/7 out of 10 breakdown among the four reviewers.[11]
It was the second best selling video game in Japan during its opening week, with 31,243 copies sold.[12] During its second week, it dropped to eleventh place, with an additional 7,289 copies sold.[13]
References
- ^ a b c d e Romano, Sal (2016-02-23). "FuRyu announces Caligula for PS Vita". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 2016-02-24. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "The Caligula Effect launches May 2 in the Americas and Europe - Gematsu". Gematsu. 2017-03-09. Retrieved 2017-03-09.
- ^ a b 『Caligula -カリギュラ-』フリューが贈る次代のオリジナル学園ジュブナイルRPG 主題歌、予約特典情報を公開. Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. 2016-02-25. Archived from the original on 2016-02-26. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ 【先出し週刊ファミ通】『Caligula -カリギュラ-』フリューの完全新作RPGをスクープ（2016年2月25日発売号）. Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. 2016-02-23. Archived from the original on 2016-02-24. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Romano, Sal (2016-02-24). "Caligula teaser trailer, Famitsu screenshots". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 2016-02-25. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Caligula's New Trailer Highlights Characters Of Its Virtual High School World". Siliconera. 20 April 2016.
- ^ "The Caligula Effect launches May 2 in the Americas and Europe - Gematsu". Gematsu. 2017-03-09. Retrieved 2017-03-09.
- ^ "Caligula Is Releasing In The Americas And Europe In Spring 2017 For PlayStation Vita". Siliconera. 16 June 2016.
- ^ Puntschart, Justin. "Limited Run Games Releasing Caligula is "Not Impossible"". Operation Rainfall. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
- ^ Hardin, John. "For those asking, no news on Caligula until 2017. We're still in early loc stages. And it is 100% final there's no physical. No LRG, etc". Retrieved 9 December 2016.
- ^ "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1437 - Gematsu". Gematsu. 15 June 2016.
- ^ Romano, Sal (2016-06-29). "Media Create Sales: 6/20/16 – 6/26/16". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 2016-06-30. Retrieved 2016-07-06.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Romano, Sal (2016-07-06). "Media Create Sales: 6/27/16 – 7/3/16". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 2016-07-06. Retrieved 2016-07-06.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)