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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:
- The Sun is in Your Hand (2003) (Japanese title: Bokura no Taiyou: Taiyou Akushon RPG)
- Solar Boy Django (2004) (Japanese title: Zoku-Bokura no Taiyou: Taiyou Shounen Jango)
- 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.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 available, 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.
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.
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.Towards the end of the game, Django will regain his Solar Gun, however it will be greatly damaged due to the use of it by the vampire otherwise known as Ringo. It won't be able to switch frames or elements, but its charge shot is invaluable against the final boss. If you choose the continue option after beating the game, you will start off from where you last saved, rather than how it was in Boktai 1, where you restart. There are four different endings that are pretty much the same, other than the characters who are talking with Django, whom basically says some stuff about dark and light needing to be together in order for both to co-exist. The characters include Earthly Maiden Lita, Dark Boy Sabata, the librarian named Lady, and the Solar Smith's granddaughter named Violet (Sumire).
The way you get each ending is dependant on the number of times you have defeated the final boss, the Doomsday Beast Jormungandr. When you defeat him the first time, you are talking with Zazie. After Jormungandr's first defeat, you can not fight him again until you have completed the Megaman (Rockman) sidequest with Shademan. When that's completed and you defeat Jormungandr again, you will be talking with Violet. When you defeat Jormungandr a third time, you talk with Sabata. Defeat Jormungandr again, and you'll end up talking with Lady. One last time, and you'll talk with Lita. The cycle then repeats itself when defeating Jormungandr.
There are a total of two bad endings, like there was in the first Boktai if you failed to collect sunlight to revive Otenko. The first bad ending is in the Spiral Tower while Django and Sabata are talking to the Black Dainn. Dainn will tell Django to become their "Dark Sun" a choice will be appear, with 'Join Black Dainn' or 'Refuse!!'. Choosing to join Black Dainn results in a short cut scene and then the credits. The second bad ending takes place after fighting the Ancestor Piece Jormungandr. If you fail to solar charge enough energy within the ten second time limit, Jormungandr will swallow Django and you'll have failed to seal the Doomsday Beast.
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 and third games, under the name of ???.
- Django and his rival and brother, Sabata, were named after the protagonists of Spaghetti Westerns. See Django and Sabata.
- The Azure Sky Tower in the first Boktai makes reference to the 1998 Konami game Azure Dreams with the tower that has 100 floors.
External links
- Official Konami Boktai homepage
- Official Konami Zoktai homepage
- Official Konami Shinbok homepage
- A forum dedicated to the Boktai series and manga
Computer and video game franchises | Konami games | Vampires in games
"Boktai"