| The Bouncer | |
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| Developer(s) | Dream Factory/Squaresoft |
| Publisher(s) | JP Square NA Square Electronic Arts PAL Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Designer(s) | Takashi Tokita (director) Seiichi Ishii (director) Tetsuya Nomura (character design) Noriko Matsueda (composer) Takahito Eguchi (composer) |
| Aspect ratio | 480i (SDTV) |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2 |
| Release date | JP December 23, 2000 NA March 5, 2001 PAL June 22, 2001 |
| Genre(s) | Beat 'em up |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ELSPA: 15+ ESRB: Teen |
| Media | 1 DVD-ROM |
| Input methods | DualShock 2 |
The Bouncer, known in Japan as Bouncer (バウンサー Baunsā?), is a beat 'em up for the Sony PlayStation 2 video game console. A video game developer is a software developer (a business or an individual that creates Video games A developer may specialize in a certain video DreamFactory Ltd is a Video game company It has developed the following games Appleseed EX (2007 PlayStation 2 was a Japanese Video game company founded in September 1983 by Masafumi Miyamoto. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. was a Japanese Video game company founded in September 1983 by Masafumi Miyamoto. was a Japanese Video game company founded in September 1983 by Masafumi Miyamoto. The PAL region is a Video game publication territory which covers Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and varying European countries ( SCEI) is a Japanese Video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry mostly in Video game consoles and is a full A "game designer" is a person who designs Video games or one who designs traditional games such as Board games Video Games Designer A video game designer (born 1965-01-24) is a Japanese Video game developer working for Square Enix. A game director is a person who is in charge of significant creative aspects of a Video game. Seiichi Ishii (石井 精一 Ishii Seiichi, born August 18, 1967) is a Japanese Game designer. A game director is a person who is in charge of significant creative aspects of a Video game. (born October 8, 1970) is a Japanese video game director and character designer working for Square Enix (formerly Square) is a Japanese Video game music Composer and Musician. Her works include Front Mission, which she co-composed with Yoko Shimomura A composer (literally meaning 'one who puts together' is a person who creates Music, usually in the medium of notation, for Interpretation and Performance is a Japanese Video game music Composer and Musician. Biography Takahito Eguchi was born in Nagasaki, Japan. A composer (literally meaning 'one who puts together' is a person who creates Music, usually in the medium of notation, for Interpretation and Performance The aspect ratio of a Shape is the ratio of its longer Dimension to its shorter dimension 480i is the shorthand name for a video mode The i, which is sometimes uppercase stands for Interlaced, the 480 for a vertical frame resolution In Computing, a platform describes some sort of Hardware architecture or Software framework (including Application frameworks, that allows For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Events 962 - Byzantine-Arab Wars: Under the future Emperor Nicephorus Phocas, Byzantine troops stormed the city 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian moves from Antioch with an army of 90000 to attack the Sassanid Empire, in a Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. The PAL region is a Video game publication territory which covers Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and varying European countries Events 217 BC - Battle of Raphia: Ptolemy IV of Egypt defeats Antiochus III the Great of the Seleucid kingdom. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. See also [[Game classification]] Video games are categorized into Genres based on their Gameplay interaction In video gaming, single-player refers to the variant of a particular game where input from only one player is expected throughout the course of the gaming session A multiplayer game is a Game which is played by several players. A video game content rating system is a system used for the classification of Video games into suitability-related groups The Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association ( ELSPA) is an Organisation set up in 1989 by British Software publishers It The Entertainment Software Rating Board ( ESRB) is a self-regulatory organization that applies and enforces ratings, Advertising guidelines and Digital media (as opposed to analog media) usually refers to Electronic media that work on digital Codes. DVD (also known as " Digital Versatile Disc " or " Digital Video Disc " - see Etymology)is The DualShock (officially DUALSHOCK and occasionally referred to as Dual Shock) is a line of vibration-feedback ( SCEI) is a Japanese Video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry mostly in Video game consoles and is a full It was co-developed by Squaresoft (now Square Enix) and Dream Factory. was a Japanese Video game company founded in September 1983 by Masafumi Miyamoto. is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its Console role-playing game franchises which include the Final Fantasy series the Dragon DreamFactory Ltd is a Video game company It has developed the following games Appleseed EX (2007 PlayStation 2 The game features character designs by Tetsuya Nomura and music by Noriko Matsueda and Takahito Eguchi. (born October 8, 1970) is a Japanese video game director and character designer working for Square Enix (formerly Square) is a Japanese Video game music Composer and Musician. Her works include Front Mission, which she co-composed with Yoko Shimomura is a Japanese Video game music Composer and Musician. Biography Takahito Eguchi was born in Nagasaki, Japan.
The Bouncer tells the story of three bouncers on a rescue mission to save their young friend from a megalomaniacal solar technology corporation. A bouncer or doorman is an informal term for Security guards employed at venues such as bars, Nightclubs or Concerts to provide Megalomania (from the Greek word μεγαλομανία is a historical term for behavior characterized by Delusional fantasies of Wealth, power The game is structured like a "playable action movie" and the plot unfolds differently depending on which character the player chooses for specific gameplay sequences. [1]
The game marks Squaresoft's first release on the PlayStation 2. [2] Although the game received a healthy amount of press before its actual release, it was met with mild sales and mediocre reviews.
Contents |
Gameplay
Controls in The Bouncer are similar to those the Tobal No. 1 series. is a fighting game for the PlayStation developed by Dream Factory and published by Squaresoft around 1996 [3] Certain buttons denote high, middle, and low attacks, jumping, blocking, and special attacks. One aspect of the game's combat is an exaggerated physics engine which allows characters to be launched several feet into the air as a result of attacks, making it possible to juggle enemies by striking them in the air repeatedly. Enemies can also be thrown or otherwise knocked into one another, causing them all to take damage at once. The game employs ragdoll physics during these moments. In computer Physics engines ragdoll physics are a type of Procedural animation that is often used as a replacement for traditional static death Animations
Story Mode
The Bouncer is structured as a series of short gameplay segments interspersed with cinematic sequences that tell the game's story. With the Active Character Selection (ACS) System, a story sequence concludes to give the player the choice between one of the three protagonists to control (Sion, Volt, or Kou) and proceed into the next gameplay segment. At the conclusion of each gameplay segment, the player is able to spend Bouncer Points (BP), the game's equivalent of experience points, using the Point Exchange System to boost that character's statistics and unlock new fighting moves. Boosting a character's stats eventually causes that character to grow in rank, which is graded on a letter scale ranging from G to S.
Typical gameplay in The Bouncer consists of the player fighting against groups of enemies using hand-to-hand combat techniques. Occasionally, the player will also be tasked with other activities, such as running through a series of hallways to avoid being caught in a flood. In general, a gameplay segment ends when the player has either defeated all of the enemies in the area, or has defeated a boss enemy.
In addition to the main Story Mode, there is also a single-player Survival Mode in which the player must fight off as many enemies as possible.
Multiplayer
The Bouncer supports the PlayStation 2 multitap accessory, a device making it possible for more than two controllers to plug into the console. [4] The game's multiplayer Versus Mode supports up to four player simultaneous play in the Battle Royal option that allows the players to fight each other using many of the game's characters.
Story
Characters
The game's player characters are Sion Barzahd, a bouncer and kenpō fighter who works in Bar Fate and has vowed to stop Dauragon to avenge his master and save Dominique; Volt Krueger, the true epitome of a professional wrestler and a former employee of the Mikado corporation prior to Dauragon's ownership who now works in Bar Fate, also wishing to stop Dauragon to restore his former employer's name; and Kou Leifoh, an undercover agent and Tae Kwon Do master posing as a bouncer in Bar Fate to keep tabs on Dominique. A player character or playable character (PC is a Fictional character in a Video game or Role playing game who is controlled or controllable is the name of several Martial arts. The word kenpō is a Japanese translation of the Chinese word " quánfǎ. Professional wrestling, or pro wrestling, is a non-competitive professional Sport, where all matches are scripted by the promotion's booking staff Taekwondo (Korean태권도thɛʔkwʌndo Englishˈteɪˈkwɒnˈdoʊ is a Korean Martial art and the National sport of South Korea
The antagonists, those associated with Mikado Corporation, are Dauragon C. Mikado, the current CEO of the company who is well-trained in academics (i. A chief executive officer ( CEO) or chief executive is typically the highest-ranking corporate officer ( executive) or administrator e. solar technology) as well as martial arts; Mugetsu, a covert ninja and unstable psychopath with cybernetic modifications working for Dauragon who loves to kill his enemies regardless of the situation; Echidna, an associate/lover of Volt who betrayed him when Dauragon seized control of Mikado Corporation, skilled in the art of capoeira; Kaldea Orchid, a woman from Sion's past who is a result of a genetic experiment performed by Mikado Corporation; and PD-4, a deadly android that is able to extend sharp scythes from its hand and utilizes the Muay Thai fighting style. Capoeira (kapuˈejɾɐ is a brazilian art form that ritualizes movement from Martial arts, Games, and Dance. An android is a Robot designed to resemble a human usually both in appearance and behavior Muay Thai ( IPA: /muɑɪtʰɑɪ/ muāitʰāi มวยไทย lit
Support characters include Dominique Cross, the sister of Dauragon and friend of the workers of Bar Fate who is kidnapped at the game's start; Wong Leung, the wise kenpo master of Sion and Dauragon who is advanced in years but possesses massive power nonetheless; Leann Caldwell, Kou's superior who is closely watching the whereabouts of both Mikado and Dominique, and Master Mikado, Dauragon's honorable foster father, who is deceased by the time the game starts and appears only in flashbacks. Foster care is a system by which a certified stand-in "parent(s" cares for minor Children or young peoples who have been removed from their birth parents
Development
The Bouncer was co-directed by Seiichi Ishii and Square Co. A game director is a person who is in charge of significant creative aspects of a Video game. Seiichi Ishii (石井 精一 Ishii Seiichi, born August 18, 1967) is a Japanese Game designer. veteran Takashi Tokita, while its character designs were handled by Tetsuya Nomura, famous for his work in the Final Fantasy series. (born 1965-01-24) is a Japanese Video game developer working for Square Enix. (born October 8, 1970) is a Japanese video game director and character designer working for Square Enix (formerly Square) Tokita claims that the most difficult aspect of the game's creation was working with the PlayStation 2's advanced hardware for the first time. [5] Its gameplay was derived from Dream Factory's Ehrgeiz and Tobal series, while graphically, the game's atmosphere was developed with the use of filters and lighting. Ehrgeiz God Bless the Ring ( German: lit "Ambition" Japanese: エアガイツ Eagaitsu) is a Fighting game developed is a fighting game for the PlayStation developed by Dream Factory and published by Squaresoft around 1996 [1] The game was first announced at the Tokyo Game Show in 1999 as Square's first PlayStation 2 title. The is a Video game Expo / convention held in the Makuhari Messe, in Chiba, Japan. Events BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts hosts the 2nd annual BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards March – [2] Before more information was revealed by Square at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in May of 2000, it was thought to be a sequel to Ehrgeiz. The E3 Media and Business Summit, formerly known as Electronic Entertainment Expo and commonly known as E3, is an annual Trade show for the computer Events May 11 - 13 &mdash 6th annual E³ (Electronic Entertainment Expo the 3rd annual Game Critics Awards for the Best of [6][7]
Audio
The Bouncer was scored by Noriko Matsueda and Takahito Eguchi. Video game music is any of the musical pieces or Soundtracks found in Video games History Early video game technology and computer chip music is a Japanese Video game music Composer and Musician. Her works include Front Mission, which she co-composed with Yoko Shimomura is a Japanese Video game music Composer and Musician. Biography Takahito Eguchi was born in Nagasaki, Japan. Two separate soundtracks were released. The Bouncer Original Soundtrack, a 2-disc, 29-track album was published on March 23, 2001 by DigiCube. A Compact Disc (also known as a CD) is an Optical disc used to store digital data, originally developed for storing digital audio Events 1174 - Jocelin, Abbot of Melrose, is elected Bishop of Glasgow. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. DigiCube Co Ltd (株式会社デジキューブ Kabushiki-gaisha Dejikyūbu) was a Japanese company established as a subsidiary of Software developer The Bouncer Original Video Game Soundtrack, a single disc, 21-track album was published on March 26, 2001 by Tokyopop Soundtrax. Events 1026 - Pope John XIX crowns Conrad II as Holy Roman Emperor. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. For the music movie see Tokyo Pop. Tokyopop, stylized TOKYOPOP, and formerly known as Mixx, is a distributor licensor [8][9] The game contains a few vocal themes including "Forevermore" (Owaranaimono), performed by Reiko Noda, and the ending theme song "Love Is The Gift", originally performed by Shanice Wilson. Shanice Lorraine Wilson (born May 14 1973 is an American R&B singer Takashi Tokita has commented that the latter song, heard during the credits, signifies the game's overall theme. [10]
The Bouncer is the first PlayStation 2 game to feature Dolby 5.1 sound, used specifically for the title's full motion video sequences. Dolby Digital is the marketing name for a series of lossy audio compression technologies developed by Dolby Full motion video based games, usually abbreviated as FMV-based games, are Video games that rely upon pre-recorded TV -quality movie or [11][1] In addition, it features voice acting with subtitles in both English and Japanese. Voice acting is the art of providing voices for animated characters (including those in feature films television series animated shorts and Video games) and English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities Because the game was being considered for North American release early in production, the English voices were recorded first. The Japanese voices were recorded and incorporated later on to ". . . provide more of a DVD quality to the game. "[1] Facial animation was also created later to fit the voices.
Reception and criticism
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In Japan, The Bouncer sold over 219,000 copies the year of its release, making it the 9th best selling PlayStation 2 game of 2000. Metacritic is a Website that collates reviews of music Albums games, movies, TV shows, DVDs and Books. [12] It sold an additional 132,000 units in 2001, making it the 86th best selling game of that year. [13]
With the consideration of its development team, as well as the fact that it was a front-runner in PlayStation 2 game releases, The Bouncer was highly anticipated in the months before its release. However, the game was not received as well as many had hoped, and was largely perceived as mediocre. Much of the criticism it garnered fell on its gameplay. IGN found the controls to be average and that the camera becomes a major issue in the later portions of the game, where the player is confined to tight spaces. IGN (abbreviated and formerly known as I magine G ames N etwork is a multimedia news and reviews Website that focuses heavily on Video [4] The game is also seen as having an excessive amount of cutscenes and load screens. GameCritics. com condemns this notion, saying that its actual gameplay constitutes less than one third its length. [14] The Bouncer currently holds a 22% ("Rotten") rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Rotten Tomatoes is a Website devoted to reviews information and news of Movies. [15]
Nevertheless, the game's graphics and sound were common points of praise. GameSpot noted "Everything, from the characters to the backgrounds, looks absolutely incredible. GameSpot is a video gaming Website that provides News, Reviews Previews Downloads and other information "[3] PSXExtreme. com found perfection in the game's voice acting, while AllRPG. com said the score "set the mood of the scene and introduced the person in song, much like Star Wars. Star Wars is an epic Space opera franchise initially conceived by George Lucas during the 1970s and significantly expanded "[16][17]
References
- ^ a b c d IGN Staff (March 7, 2001). The Bouncer Interview. IGN. com. Retrieved on 2007-09-16. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers
- ^ a b Perry, Douglas C. (September 20, 1999). TGS 1999: The Bouncer - First Look. IGN. com. Retrieved on 2007-09-16. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers
- ^ a b Gerstmann, Jeff (March 2, 2001). The Bouncer (review). GameSpot. com. Retrieved on 2007-09-16. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers
- ^ a b Perry, Doug (March 6, 2001). The Bouncer (review). IGN. com. Retrieved on 2007-09-16. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers
- ^ TOKYODRIFTER (November 24, 2000). Feature: The Bouncer Interview. GamePro. com. Retrieved on 2007-09-16. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers
- ^ Miguel Lopez (May 16, 2000). Bouncer Hands-On. GameSpot. com. Retrieved on 2007-09-16. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers
- ^ Perry, Douglas C. (August 23, 1999). Square's First PlayStation 2 Fighter?. IGN. com. Retrieved on 2007-09-16. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers
- ^ The Bouncer Original Soundtrack. Chudahs-Corner. com. Retrieved on 2007-09-16. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers
- ^ The Bouncer Original Video Game Soundtrack. Chudahs-Corner. com. Retrieved on 2007-09-16. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers
- ^ IGN staff (October 23, 2000). The Bouncer Gets a Theme Song. IGN. com. Retrieved on 2007-09-16. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers
- ^ GameSpot staff (January 5, 2001). The Bouncer Goes Dolby. GameSpot. com. Retrieved on 2007-09-16. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers
- ^ Japan Top 10 Best Selling PlayStation 2 Games of 2000. The-MagicBox. com. Retrieved on 2007-09-16. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers
- ^ 2001 Top 100 Japanese Console Game Chart. The-MagicBox. com. Retrieved on 2007-09-16. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers
- ^ Galloway, Brad (March 23, 2001). The Bouncer (review). GameCritics. com. Retrieved on 2007-09-16. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers
- ^ The Bouncer. RottenTomatoes. com. Retrieved on 2007-09-16. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers
- ^ Katayev, Arnold (January 16, 2001). The Bouncer (import). PSXExtreme. com. Retrieved on 2007-09-16. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers
- ^ Nicholson, Brad. The Bouncer (review). AllRPG. com. Retrieved on 2007-09-16. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers
See also
External links
- The Bouncer official North American site
- The Bouncer official European site
- The Bouncer on GameRankings
- The Bouncer at MobyGames
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