History VideoGame / ShikigamiNoShiro

'''''Shikigami no Shiro''''' (roughly translated as ''Castle of Spirits''; known as ''Castle of Shikigami'' in the West) is a series of arcade BulletHell [[ShootEmUp shoot 'em ups]] developed by Alfa System. The overarching plot involves a mysterious castle in the country of Alcaland, which has been the subject of many "missing persons" cases. A handful of psychics have converged on the location to conduct their own investigations of the incident, each for his or her own reasons.

As of 2008, all three of the main games have been released in the U.S. for the {{PlayStation 2}} (for the first two games) and {{Nintendo Wii}} (''[=SnS III=]''). Other ports on SegaDreamcast (''[=SnS II=]''), NintendoGameCube (''[=SnS II=]''), {{Xbox}} (''[=SnS II=]''), and {{Xbox 360}} (''[=SnS III=]'') are also available, but [[NoExportForYou only in Japan]]. The entire series also saw Japan-only PC ports, however a FanTranslation is in the works for the first game's PC port.

----
!!This series uses the following tropes:
* AlasPoorVillain: [[spoiler: Tsukiko in ''[=SnS III=]''.]]
* BadassBaritone: Munchausen. Holy ''crap'', '''Munchausen'''.
* BarrierWarrior: Nigi and Nagino
* BattleButler: Munchausen.
* BeehiveBarrier: Most of the bosses in the third game is shrouded in one.
* BerserkButton: Do NOT call [[HotWitch Fumiko]] an "old maid".
* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: Kohtaro's scenario in ''Castle of Shikigami III'' ends with him [[ManlyTears breaking down in tears]] over the apparent death of Tsukiko and Sayo comforts him.]]
* BlindIdiotTranslation: The second game is filled with very odd examples of {{Engrish}}.
* BladeOnAStick: Batu's cross-shaped spear.
* BulletHell: Enemies in these games are capable of filling the screen with lots and lots of bullets, even moreso in the harder difficulties.
* CanonForeigner: Nigi Gorgeous Blue (''[=SnS=] II'') was originally from ''Gunparade March''.
** Reika (''[=SnS=] III'') originally comes from an old laserdisc game known as ''VideoGame/TimeGal''.
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: Reika, in that she actually ''has'' character in her appearance in the third game. In ''Time Gal'', she was pretty much a blank slate. In ''Castle of Shikigami III'', however, she is portrayed as ditzy and somewhat forgetful, yet still competent.
* ChargedAttack: Batu's Shikigami attacks.
* ComfortingTheWidow: Kohtaro had a woman with whom he made a ChildhoodMarriagePromise, but who is now hospitalized. Sayo falls in love with Kohtaro. In the third game, [[WomanScorned that ex]] becomes the BigBad. [[spoiler: Or seemingly so, until you realize that all the bosses in the third game are illusions and not the real people.]]
* CoversAlwaysLie: The "''Mobile Light Force 2''" U.S. cover of the first game features a trio of gunslinging Series/CharliesAngels lookalikes that appear absolutely nowhere in the game. It's also the exact same cover as the first ''Mobile Light Force'' game (which is actually ''Gunbird''. It's all rather confusing.)
* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Reika is certainly..."[[{{Understatement}} out there]]".
* CuteGhostGirl: Sayo.
* EldritchAbomination: What [[spoiler: "Tsukiko" (actually an illusion)]] turns out to be in ''[=SnS=] III''.
* EpicFlail: Yukari uses one in the third game when she reaches her second lifebar. One made up of ''[[PetalPower flowers]]'' that sprays bullets.
* FedoraOfAsskicking: Gennojo wears one.
* {{Flanderization}}: In-Universe. Kohtaro's story mode in ''Shikigami No Shiro III'' involves the uneasy grounds of Kohtaro's and Sayo's partnership, with the underlying tension of undisclosed feelings; Sayo being a Tsundere (while also feeling guilty about this) with Kohtaro constaly apologizing. Come Dramatic Change Mode, many story modes where Kohtaro is one of the two selected characters involve this dynamic in a rather one-dimensional way that varies from scenario to scenario (ie, Sayo is turned into a ClingyJealousGirl in some, in others, Kohtaro is almost completely ObliviousToLove, etc).
* GameplayGrading: You're graded twice through out stage in for the first two games, one for the first half of the stage and the other in the second half. In the first game, you're graded by how fast you beaten the level, the point items collected, and your overall Tension average. The second game changes the Tension average with how many x8 multipliers you where able to get. The third game changes things up where you are graded at the end of the stage instead of its two halves, adding a bonus for beating the bosses with x8 bonus as well as penalties for losing lives and using continues.
* GuestFighter: Tagami (''[=SnS=]'') originated from ''VideoGame/ElementalGearbolt'', another game developed by Alfa System.
* HeadPet: Nagino's bunny.
* TheHero: Officially, Kohtaro Kuga, though Reika and Nagino are more prominent on the third game's cover art.
* HitboxDissonance: Despite how large your character sprite/model may appear, their hitbox is the tiny light that shines in the middle of their body when enemy fire or an obstacle is nearby.
* HotWitch: Fumiko, complete with RobeAndWizardHat.
* KillSat: Fumiko and Munchausen have Shikigami attacks that rain down lasers from above that leave behind [[SphereOfDestruction Spheres of Destruction]].
* LetsGetDangerous: Munchausen. When you can ''see'' his eyes, RUN.
-->'''[[BattleButler Munchausen]]''': "''I shall educate you. Prepare yourself.''"
* LifeMeter: Bosses in the series have the typical gauge-type life meter, often divided for each of their phases.
* LonelyPianoPiece: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qiWRu5bXkA Castle of Shikigami III's ending theme.]]
* {{McNinja}}: Roger
* MediumAwareness: Pretty much ''everyone'' makes a remark at some point that shows they know they're in a video game. For example, in the third game, Fumiko openly mocks Yukari for getting excited about being back for the third game while she doesn't appear to realize that she's been demoted from Stage 4 to Stage 1.
** Reika is another prime example, but only because she's been displaced from her game of origin. [[WrongGenreSavvy She still thinks she's in an FMV game]].
* NerdGlasses: Munchausen's specs.
* NintendoHard: Yeah, pretty much.
* NoFourthWall: The third game, in which everyone seems to know that they're in a video game.
* OneGameForThePriceOfTwo: ''Shikigami no Shiro Evolution'', the Japan-only Xbox UpdatedRerelease of the first game, which has two different versions. The Red version has a gallery with datable on the characters, unused character voices, and trailers, while the Blue version has developer videos. Both versions however have better enemy A.I., TATE display mode, and a new Evolution Mode in the game.
* ParrotPetPosition: Nigi's cat.
* PhysicalGod: Gennojo and Kagachi.
* PinballScoring: This series loves points with lots of zeros in them.
* PowerNullifier: Shikou (second boss, third game) shoots arrows that temporarily seal normal fire[[note]]although Shikigami attacks can still be used[[/note]] during his second attack phase.
* PowerUp: Collecting coins (without dying) in the first game powers up your character's attacks up to Lv.3 . The coins are still present in later installments, but don't provide power-up bonuses (your character's attacks are already at Lv.3).
* ThePowerOfTheSun: Freedom Wind and the two bosses after her launch volleys of fireballs that look like miniature suns.
* PsychicPowers
* PunctuatedForEmphasis: From the third game:
-->'''Yukari:''' "Yukari Horiguchi! Yu-ka-ri!"
* RankInflation: In the third game, you're graded by your performance, with F- being the lowest and SS being the highest. At the end of the game (or where you decide to give up), you're given a rank on your overall performance and a title to go with it.
* ScoringPoints: As a series of shoot 'em ups, you know what to expect. The series' central scoring mechanic is the Tension Bonus System (or TBS for short) players receives when their character is dangerously close to enemy fire or obstacle, going from x2 to x8. The higher the Tension, the more points the coins dropped by enemies are worth. Defeating enemies with shikigami attacks causes much more coins to be released and they will be automatically collected to the player. At the end of each stage section (or the stage altogether in the third game), you're graded by your performance and you gain bonus points based on how well you do in the stage.
* ShoutOut: Both Fumiko and Sayo resemble Marisa and Reimu of ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'', particularly their PC-98 designs. In those games, Reimu wore more traditional shrine maiden garb and Marisa in her very first appearance was a redhead with a purple outfit.
* SmartBomb: Nearly every character has this in some form, which clears the screen of bullets and/or renders the player invulnerable while it's in effect.
** Reika's allows her to [[TimeStandsStill momentarily freeze time]].
** Roger uses a SpinAttack to slice through his enemies.
* SmokingIsCool: Gennojo.
* SpaceIsAnOcean: [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment Of space]].
* SpritePolygonMix: In the first game, many of the characters and enemies are 2D sprites while scenery and some of the other enemies are rendered in 3D polygonal models.
** VideoGame3DLeap: The later two games going full 3D during gameplay.
* TheStoic: Emilio.
* StunGuns: Shikou's second attack pattern, in addition to the Power Nullifier arrows above, also shoots arrows that slow you down.
* ThirdPersonPerson: Reika in the third game.
* TimePolice: Reika. Again, a callback to her ''VideoGame/TimeGal'' roots.
* TurnsRed: Mini-bosses and stage bosses alike have at least three attack patterns, depending on how much HP they have remaining. From the second game onwards, their life meter is partitioned according to each segment.
* {{Tykebomb}}: Nagino.
* TheVamp / VillainProtagonist: Fumiko. According to the manual, she's said to be as evil, if not more so, than the game's BigBad. Her lines in games reflect this as she speaks of things like world domination.
* VideoGameLives: By default you have three per credit.
----

[[redirect:VideoGame/CastleOfShikigami]]

* BadExportForYou: The first two games got completely screwed in their US localization, the first one released as "Mobile Light Force 2" ([[InNameOnly the sequel to a game that had nothing to do with]] ''VideoGame/ShikigamiNoShiro'') with all the story elements cut out (and a cover art that [[CoversAlwaysLie resembled nothing in the game itself]]), and the second game suffering from one of the most [[TranslationTrainWreck infamously bad video game translation jobs of all time.]] Thankfully, the third game turned out alright.

* BattleButler: Munchausen

* BlindIdiotTranslation: The second game is filled with very odd examples of Engrish.

* BulletHell
* CanonForeigner: Reika (''[=SnS=] 3'') originally comes from an old Laserdisc game known as ''TimeGal''.
** Nigi Gorgeous Blue was originally from ''Gunparade March''.
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: Reika, in that she actually ''has'' character in her appearance in the third game. In ''VideoGame/TimeGal'', she was pretty much a blank slate. In ''Castle of Shikigami III'', however, she is portrayed as ditzy and somewhat forgetful, yet still competent.

* CoversAlwaysLie: The "Mobile Light Force 2" US cover of the first game features a trio of gunslinging Series/CharliesAngels lookalikes that appear absolutely nowhere in the game. It's also the exact same cover as the first ''Mobile Light Force'' game (which is actually ''{{Gunbird}}''. It's all rather confusing.)

* GameplayGrading

--> '''[[BattleButler Munchausen]]''': "''I shall educate you. Prepare yourself.''"

* PinballScoring

--> '''Yukari:''' Yukari Horiguchi! Yu-ka-ri!
* RankInflation

* SmokingIsCool: Gennojo
* SpaceIsAnOcean: [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment of space]].
* TheStoic: Emilio

* {{Tykebomb}}: Nagino

* CanonForeigner: Reika (''[=SnS=] 3'') originally comes from an old Laserdisc game known as ''Time Gal''.

* CoversAlwaysLie: The "Mobile Light Force 2" US cover of the first game features a trio of gunslinging CharliesAngels lookalikes that appear absolutely nowhere in the game. It's also the exact same cover as the first ''Mobile Light Force'' game (which is actually ''{{Gunbird}}''. It's all rather confusing.)

* BadExportForYou: The first two games got completely screwed in their US localization, the first one released as "Mobile Light Force 2" ([[InNameOnly the sequel to a game that had nothing to do with]] ''VideoGame/ShikigamiNoShiro'') with all the story elements cut out, and the second game suffering from one of the most [[TranslationTrainWreck infamously bad video game translation jobs of all time.]] Thankfully, the third game turned out alright.

* SmartBomb: Nearly every character has this in some form, which clears the screen of bullets.

* TurnsRed: Mini-bosses and stage bosses alike have at least three attack patterns, depending on how much HP they have remaining.

''VideoGame/ShikigamiNoShiro'' (roughly translated as ''Castle of Spirits''; known as ''Castle of Shikigami'' in the West) is a series of BulletHell ShootEmUps developed by Alfa System. The overarching plot involves a mysterious castle in the country of Alcaland, which has been the subject of many "missing persons" cases. A handful of psychic soldiers have converged on the location to conduct their own investigations of the incident, each for his/her own reasons.

As of 2008, all three games have been released in the U.S. for the {{PlayStation 2}} (first two games) and {{Nintendo Wii}} (third).

!!The ''Shikigami'' series uses the following tropes:
* BadassBaritone: Munchausen. Holy ''crap'', '''Munchausen!!'''.

* ShoutOut: Both Fumiko and Sayo resemble Marisa and Reimu of ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}''.

* TheVamp / VillainProtagonist: Fumiko. According to the manual, she's said to be as evil, if not more so, than the game's BigBad.

* TheVamp: Fumiko. According to the manual, she's said to be as evil, if not more so, than the game's BigBad.

* TimePolice: Reika. Again, a callback to her ''TimeGal'' roots.

* MediumAwareness: Yukari, the fourth boss of the second game and first boss of the third.
** Reika too, but only because she's been displaced from her game of origin. [[WrongGenreSavvy She still thinks she's in an FMV game]].
** Hell, ''everyone''. Pretty much ''everyone'' makes a remark at some point that shows they know they're in a video game. For example, in the third game, Fumiko openly mocks Yukari for getting excited about being back for the third game while she doesn't appear to realize that she's been demoted from Stage 4 to Stage 1.

* PowerNullifier: Shikou (second boss, third game) shoots arrows that temporarily seal normal fire[[hottip:*:although Shikigami attacks can still be used]] during his second attack phase.

----

* SmartBomb: Nearly every character has this in some form. Reika's allows her to [[TimeStandsStill momentarily freeze time]].

''ShikigamiNoShiro'' (roughly translated as ''Castle of Spirits''; known as ''Castle of Shikigami'' in the West) is a series of BulletHell ShootEmUps developed by Alfa System. The overarching plot involves a mysterious castle in the country of Alcaland, which has been the subject of many "missing persons" cases. A handful of psychic soldiers have converged on the location to conduct their own investigations of the incident, each for his/her own reasons.

* BadExportForYou: The first two games got completely screwed in their US localization, the first one released as "Mobile Light Force 2" ([[InNameOnly the sequel to a game that had nothing to do with]] ShikigamiNoShiro) with all the story elements cut out, and the second game suffering from one of the most [[TranslationTrainWreck infamously bad video game translation jobs of all time.]] Thankfully, the third game turned out alright.

** Nigi Gorgeous Blue was originally from Gunparade March.

* CoversAlwaysLie: The "Mobile Light Force 2" US cover of the first game features a trio of gunslinging CharliesAngels lookalikes that appear absolutely nowhere in the game. [[TheyJustDidntCare It's also the exact same cover as the first Mobile Light Force game]] (which is actually ''{{Gunbird}}''. It's all rather confusing.)

* EldritchAbomination: What [[spoiler: "Tsukiko" (actually an illusion)]] turns out to be in ''SnS III''.

* ShoutOut: Both Fumiko and Sayo resemble Marisa and Reimu of VideoGame/{{Touhou}}.

* ShoutOut: Both Fumiko and Sayo resemble Marisa and Reimu of {{Touhou}}.