Saiyuki: Journey West

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This article is about a game by Koei. For “Gensou Maden Saiyuuki: Harukanaru Nishi e” by J-Wing, see Saiyuki (manga).
Saiyuki: Journey West
North American cover art
Developer(s)Koei
Publisher(s)Koei
Director(s)Minoru Honda
Designer(s)Minoru Honda
Artist(s)Akihiro Yamada
Platform(s)PlayStation
Release
  • JP: November 11, 1999
  • NA: August 13, 2001
Genre(s)Tactical role-playing game
Mode(s)Single player

Saiyuki: Journey West[a] is a tactical role-playing video game released for the Sony PlayStation by Koei. It is based loosely on the Chinese novel Journey to the West.

Plot[edit]

The game follows the basic outline of the Journey to the West's plot, in which the main character, a Buddhist practitioner named Sanzo, travels from China to India on a religious mission and has a variety of adventures along the way.

Gameplay[edit]

Sanzo can be played as either a male or a female character at the player's choice. Every character except Sanzo can transform into a monstrous form for a limited time. Instead of transforming, Sanzo has access to summon spells that each boost the party's stats in different ways for a number of rounds and allows him/her to use an extra spell at will. Furthermore, each character has a native element that powers their spells and weakens them to opposing elements.

Reception[edit]

The game received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[1] Eric Bratcher of NextGen said that the game "won't dazzle your eyes, but with compelling characters, a unique setting and plot, and nice tactical depth, it's still a grand experience."[9] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 31 out of 40.[5] However, Four-Eyed Dragon of GamePro called it "an unsuccessful attempt to make a popular Chinese literary legend come alive."[12][b]

The game was nominated for "Best Game No One Played" at GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2001 Awards, which went to Victorious Boxers: Ippo's Road to Glory.[13] It was also a nominee at The Electric Playground's 2001 Blister Awards for "PSX Game of the Year", but lost to Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past.[14]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ known in Japan as Journey to the West (西遊記, Saiyūki)
  2. ^ GamePro gave the game 2/5 for graphics, 4/5 for sound, 3.5/5 for control, and 2.5/5 for fun factor.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Saiyuki: Journey West". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  2. ^ Thompson, Jon. "Saiyuki: Journey West - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  3. ^ Mielke, James "Milkman" (September 2001). "Saiyuki: Journey West" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 146. Ziff Davis. p. 148. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  4. ^ Tapia, James (September 24, 2001). "Saiyuki: Journey West". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on August 17, 2002. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "プレイステーション - 西遊記". Famitsu (in Japanese). Vol. 915. Enterbrain. June 30, 2006. p. 22. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  6. ^ "Saiyuki: Journey West". Game Informer. No. 100. FuncoLand. August 2001.
  7. ^ Speer, Justin (August 24, 2001). "Saiyuki: Journey West Review [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006"]". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on October 5, 2001. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  8. ^ Smith, David (August 29, 2001). "Saiyuki: Journey West". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Bratcher, Eric (October 2001). "Saiyuki: Journey West". NextGen. No. 82. Imagine Media. p. 81. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  10. ^ Baker, Chris (August 2001). "Saiyuki: Journey West". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. No. 47. Ziff Davis. p. 108. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  11. ^ Koehler, Paul (2002). "Saiyuki: Journey West - Retroview". RPGamer. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on August 24, 2002. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  12. ^ Four-Eyed Dragon (October 2001). "Saiyuki: Journey West Review for PlayStation on GamePro.com". GamePro. No. 157. IDG. Archived from the original on December 22, 2004. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  13. ^ GameSpot staff (2002). "GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2001 (Best Game No One Played)". GameSpot. CNET. Archived from the original on June 11, 2002. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  14. ^ EP staff (2002). "Blister Awards 2001 (Console Games 3)". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on July 13, 2003. Retrieved January 10, 2024.

External links[edit]

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