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Enigma (エニグマ) is a third-person adventure title that borrows heavily from early Resident Evil installments while incorporating 3D fighting elements. It is one of the first games developed by Omega Force.

Tatsuya Yazaki served as the producer and Kazuta Imamura was the game's director. Kageki Shimodo wrote the original story.

Plot[]

In 1920, rumors of the Holy Land arose after an archaeologist, Eisuke Yamagata, disappeared in Antarctica. This incident inspired other explorers, including three individuals, to unearth the legend, guided by their own beliefs.

Gameplay[]

Players must select one of three different characters to begin the game. Exploration takes place in a pre-rendered environment where finding items, collecting documents and solving puzzles become commonplace. Navigating already-explored areas is made easy by toggling the map screen.

When facing a monster, characters can switch to their fighting stance by holding L1 or L2. While in this stance, it is possible to attack by tapping Square, Circle, or Triangle; each attack button yields a distinct motion and may be used together to perform different combos. X allows the player to cast magic if equipped with a Secret Stone. Spells consume the magic gauge which slowly replenishes as time passes. Blocking requires the player to hold R1 or R2 while locking unto an enemy is done by tapping the directional button.

The game allows players to choose between fixed stage progression for each character, allowing them to save by stepping on blue symbols or clearing chapters. Players earn rewards based on enemy kills and their progress is ranked by hours accumulated, with a secret code revealed if high.

Characters[]

  • Akira Yamagata
  • Thomas Lindow
  • Catherine Edward
  • Zhang Bijin (張壁金, onyomi: Cho Hekikin) - Voiced by Eiji Maruyama. Zhang, a wise hermit in Henan, guides Akira to an ancient manor he discovered ten years ago, and is willing to assist the player in their faith.
  • Robert Lindow (ロバート・リンドー) - Voiced by Yoshitada Ōtsuka. Current head of the Lindow family and Thomas's older half-brother. In contrast to his more outgoing sibling, Robert is fully dedicated to restoring the family name by whatever means necessary. He hopes to accomplish this by verifying the existence of the Holy Land mentioned in his father's journal, though his decision to hide it from Thomas more than tests their brotherhood.
  • Hera Solex (ヘラ・ソレックス) - Voiced by Yoko Soumi. A woman with an air of sophistication and mystery, Hera comes from a line of Egyptian priests who have guarded the secrets of the Holy Land for centuries. Resigned to fulfill her familial duty, she initially comes off as cryptic and suspicious to the protagonists, yet her sincere efforts to help their investigation wins them over. She and Thomas share an uneasy alliance due to her grudge against the Lindows, though this animosity gradually subsides as the story progresses.
  • William Edward (ウィリアム・エドワード) - Voiced by Tomomichi Nishimura. Catherine's father and patriarch of the Edward family, a noble lineage with ties to the British Empire. He is a loving parent to Catherine, yet his growing obsession with the Star Stone disturbs her greatly.
  • Aristopha Fulbright (アリストファ・フルブライト) - Voiced by Kenichi Sakaguchi. Fulbright, a Greek researcher with knowledge of the Holy Land, travels with the protagonists. However, his disappearance after Catherine's kidnapping raises suspicions about his true nature. Fulbright, originally a prototype, adapts to modern society and appreciates human bonds.
  • Eisuke Yamagata (山県 英介, Yamagata Eisuke) - Voiced by Kouichi Kitamura. Akira's father, a Japanese anthropologist, went missing during an Antarctic expedition. Despite skepticism, Eisuke managed to locate the Holy Land's capital, but the team's presence led to monsters awakening, resulting in numerous deaths.
  • Judges (審判者) - The protagonists encounter mysterious automatons disguised as enemies, who were once sealed to protect the Holy Land. After witnessing humanity's atrocities, they rewoken and devised a plan to eradicate humanity using the Secret Stones.
    • Moon Judge - Guardian of the Moon Stone, he is draped in black robes and attacks his foes with wind magic. Moves the slowest among the judges.
    • Star Judge - Guardian of the Star Stone, his appearance is that of an old man wielding a trident. He has dominance over water and is the fastest among the judges.
    • Sun Judge - Guardian of the Sun Stone, she takes the form of a valkyrie holding a spear and shield. This judge can produce flames and is the most likely to retaliate when attacked.
    • Head Judge - Voiced by Kenichi Sakaguchi. The Head Judge, resembling Fulbright, is a fearsome judge with strong physical abilities, a desire to purge humans, and the ability to control lightning and create illusions.
Glossary
  • Secret Stones (秘石) - Three magic stones that represent the celestial bodies of the universe. Because of their unique properties, they are sought after by the protagonists and judges throughout the story. Their powers only work within places linked to the Holy Land. In the game, players are limited to earning two of three stones with the other being taken by a judge.
  • Holy Land (聖地) - The Holy Land is a term used to describe an ancient civilization filled with wondrous secrets. It also refers to locations where vestiges of this civilization are found.
  • Ancients (古代人) - Former Holy Land inhabitants, despite advanced knowledge and technology, died mysteriously, leaving only monsters to defend the city. Surviving survivors integrated with local cultures.

Stages[]

  • China - This level takes place in an abandoned manor at Beijing; the building itself was once inhabited by a madman who desired eternal life. Its puzzle layout varies depending on the player's chosen character. The facility underneath it houses the Moon Stone.
  • India - The ruins of the Ajanta Caves are filled with numerous statues and dried-up pools. Though a portion of the stage is dark and cavernous, most of the monsters inside only frequent at illuminated rooms. Deep within the ruins lies the Star Stone and a monster storage facility. It is implied that the monster capsules were built there to take advantage of the stone's life-giving powers.
  • Egypt - A level where narrow corridors and hidden passages are commonly found. A private expedition team from America had already excavated the ruins before meeting their untimely demise due to a cave-in. A shrine dedicated to the Egyptian god Amun-Ra hides the entrance to a secret facility where the Sun Stone is held.
  • Greece - Within this stage is a multi-layered labyrinth with doors that open by positioning certain artifacts in their proper place. Some of the rooms are filled with monsters inspired by Greek mythology. Underneath the labyrinth is a monster dissection facility.
  • America - Hidden beneath Niagara Falls, a maze of stalagmites and pits features a key gimmick, a perpendicular device for drawbridges, and a time-space transporter for Antarctica.
  • Antarctica - The Holy Land's exterior rooms are filled with ice-based puzzles, leading to the inner city. A thorough investigation is necessary to unlock secret rooms and a floating island.

Cheat Code[]

  • Players can dress up as a mummy by highlighting a character at the selection screen and simultaneously pressing L1, R1, Triangle, Circle, and ↑.

Related Media[]

A guidebook was published by KOEI during the game's release.

Gallery[]

External Links[]

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