All rise for the Shaman King
Konami of Europe announces PlayStation 2 and Game Boy Advance titles based on the popular trading card game, comic book and TV series
17th August, 2005
Konami of Europe has announced the first two titles based on the popular Shaman KingTM range of comic books, trading cards and accompanying TV series, with original games for Game Boy AdvanceTM and PlayStation® 2 due for release in September 2005 and Christmas 2005 respectively.
Shaman King: Master of SpiritsTM for the Game Boy Advance and Shaman King: Power of SpiritTM for PlayStation 2 both feature characters and locations from the TV series, along with new additions, and have been tailored to make the most of each format's capabilities.
Shaman King follows the adventures of Yoh Asakura, a high school student with an amazing secret. Yoh is a Shaman - a person capable of communicating with ghosts and spirits - and, using his powers, can join forces with members of the spirit world and utilise their powers for the forces of good. Teaming up with Amidamaru, the spirit of a 600-year-old samurai warrior, Yoh strives to become crowned Shaman King in a series of battle-based tournaments held every 500 years.
Shaman King: Master of Spirits finds Yoh traversing a series of scrolling stages as he attempts to prevent the corrupt Shaman from resurrecting the monstrous 'Guardian of Demons.' All of Yoh's athletic skills and spirit-bonding abilities will be called into play, as he runs and jumps through a series of increasingly hazard-filled locations based on scenes from the popular comic books and TV series, and populated by characters from both worlds.
Shaman King: Power of Spirit finds Yoh and his friends robbed of their powers by a mysterious force seeking to seize control over the minds of the Earth's populace. Mixing combat and strategic elements, players have access to multiple fighting styles that allow for long-range attacks, en-masse confrontations and solo hand-to-hand battles. The action is also detailed in stunning 3D visuals that mimic that of the TV series and bring Yoh's fight to vibrant life. This is supported by an entertaining story element that unfolds via beautifully animated sequences.
The Shaman King franchise has enjoyed phenomenal success in Japan since its launch in 1998, with over 20 million comic books and 165 million trading cards sold to date. It made its US debut in 2003 to great acclaim, and Konami of Europe anticipates an equally strong reception across its European territories.
® Hiroyuki Takei
"Power of Spirit" and "Master of Spirits" are trademarks of Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. "Playstation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "Game Boy Advance" is a trademark of Nintendo.
Shaman KingTM: Master of Spirits for Game Boy Advance and Shaman KingTM: Power of Spirit for PlayStation 2 will be released in September 2005 and for Christmas 2005 respectively. For more information, please contact Steve Merrett on 020 7903 5122 or email steve@voltagepr.com.