Black Matrix is a series of tactical role-playing games developed by Flight Plan and published by Interchannel. All titles in the series are Japan-exclusive.
Each installment in the series combines standard tactical RPG gameplay with a pastiche of Judeo-Christian religious themes, particularly concerning the nature of good and evil and the interplay between Heaven, Hell, and Earth and the denizens thereof. One title was considered for North American release in 1999, and it is believed that it was eventually passed over due to its disturbing religion-derived themes.
In a world where angels, devils, and humanity are locked in battle, Black Matrix 00 focuses on a young man who is searching for his kidnapped childhood friend. Black Matrix 00 begins with a mute man being adopted by a woman who nurses him back to health from some traumatic experience. This differs from a Harlequin romance in several ways. There is the matter of the man having white wings and the woman having black wings: in this world black winged people are dominant. The black winged people also pay more than lip service to Satan. As expected in a world where Satan is omnipresent, love is a Bad Thing and once the woman admits to having feelings for the man, they are forcibly separated and the man meets up with allies in prison. Then a number of Biblical allusions are run through in the course of a battle against the oppressive forces of Satan (though figuring them out from the Japanese may take some effort).
Black Matrix 00 is set in the same fictional world as the original Black/Matrix game, though hundreds of years prior. Three divisions of humankind share the same world - white-winged people who are called angels, black-winged people who are called devils, and wingless people. Those who have wings have great powers and pay little mind to the wingless ones. The angels rule the world via a religious organization called the Prodevon Church, which ensures both the cooperation and ignorance of the wingless people.
Characters:
- CAIN: is the main character, a wingless boy who always ends ends up opposing angels in order to rescue his friend Matia. In Black/Matrix 00 Cain can only receive angel wings.
- MATIA: is Cain's childhood friend who, though wingless, possesses a mysterious power. She is taken into the custody of the Prodevon Church at the beginning of the game.
- JOHANNES: is an angel with gray wings who associates with Cain and Matia. Very learned and wise, he is a voice of reason for Cain. He constantly wears a mask. Specializes in offensive magic.
- LUCA: is a devil girl who takes an interest in Cain at the beginning of the game. She uses a whip and casts healing spells.
- ZION: is Luca's admirer, a very strong devil who uses axes. He has leathery wings, blonde hair and a pair of goggles around his neck.
- STAYEN: is a wingless soldier for the Prodevon Church who is completely convinced that the Church's actions are justified. She is a blue-haired girl with glasses who wears a white uniform. She uses rapiers.
- EXAL: is a lively, black-haired fighter for the secret organization Cypherpunk which opposes the Prodevon Church. He appears early in the game and is characterized by his bright red scarf.
- VALTOSS: is a devil and the founder Cypherpunk. Has long blond hair who wears a brown coat and a beige mantle.
- SYRIA: is a double-winged angel and the younger sister of the powerful Seraph Beir Perendale. She wears a big blue dress, has short blonde hair. She uses bows and status-cure spells, as well as a powerful healing spell called Rulic Heal.
- LILIS: is a wingless girl, a friend of Matia, whom the party rescues from prison. She has short brown hair, a thin white dress and a chain around her neck. She casts healing spells.
- KILOTA: is a boy about the same age as Lilis. He has blue hair and glasses and uses bows to fight. He is the younger brother of Stayen.
Manufacturer's description:
Drawing on a magnificent scale simulation scenarios Popular huge RPG "Black"series. And redesigned characters, of full voice. Mysterious power hidden items "pane Ring" also features a variety of new systems were used. Depict a more vivid, three races in the world of human lives devil angel, which has spun a new story.
Features:
- Third person perspective
- 2D graphics
- Cartoon graphics
- Medieval Fantasy theme.
|
|