Mystic Heroes is a hack and slash video game developed by Koei. The game is loosely based on Investiture of the Gods, a Chinese supernatural novel about the fall of the Shang dynasty and the rise of the Zhou dynasty.

Mystic Heroes
North American cover art for PS2
Developer(s)Koei
Quintet (GBA)
Publisher(s)Koei
Platform(s)GameCube, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation 2
ReleaseGameCube, Game Boy Advance
  • JP: March 29, 2002
  • NA: September 30, 2002 (GC)
  • PAL: December 13, 2002 (GC)
PlayStation 2
  • JP: November 16, 2002
  • WW: November 24, 2002
Genre(s)Hack and slash
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

A Game Boy Advance version, known as Magical Hōshin (マジカル封神, Majikaru Hōshin) and developed by Quintet, was released simultaneously with the GameCube version, known as Battle Hōshin (バトル封神, Batoru Hōshin), exclusively in Japan on March 29, 2002. The PlayStation 2 version, known as Chō Battle Hōshin (超・バトル封神, Chō Batoru Hōshin), has additional characters and gameplay modes.

Gameplay

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Mystic Heroes is a hack and slash similar to Koei's Dynasty Warriors. Players can perform melee attacks and element spells, which become more powerful with continuous use. The game has eight stages.

There are four playable characters, and four unlockable characters in the PS2 version, for a total of eight. The game features a single-player story mode and three additional single-player modes, as well as co-op and versus multiplayer. The game levels take place in a variety of settings from deserts, to castles, to swamps. The enemies are consistently soldiers, but have a variety of different bosses depending upon the level.

Plot

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Long ago in a legendary land, Emperor Kang and his wife Sheva ruled with an iron fist. Tai and Naja, two elite mystics, sealed them away in Mt. Houshin, thus restoring peace. But Kang's son, Cyrus, built up an army to battle the mystics in an attempt to free his father. At this time two more mystics, Shiga and Lani, joined the fight alongside Tai and Naja. The four mystics along with their friends once again saved the land and returned the peace. Now Emperor Kang, Sheva, and Generals Grifon and Kai start to plan their escape. Grifon brings up the existence of something known as the "Dragon Star", which could free them. Kang calls upon the powers of the Dragon Star, and he along with all of his minions are set free, giving Kang the chance to rise once again to dominate the land. This game takes place after Hōshin Engi, Magical Hōshin (this game takes place after the first title) and Hōshin Engi 2.

The player can choose to play as Tai, Shiga, Lani, or Naja.

Reception

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Mystic Heroes received above-average reviews on both platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[1][2]

In Japan, Famitsu gave the game a score of 33 out of 40 for the GameCube version,[6] 32 out of 40 for the PS2 version,[7] and 30 out of 40 for the Game Boy Advance version.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Mystic Heroes for GameCube Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on September 4, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Mystic Heroes for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on September 4, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  3. ^ Edge staff (Christmas 2002). "Mystic Heroes (GC)". Edge. No. 118. Future Publishing. Archived from the original on January 21, 2003. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  4. ^ Trais, Jeanne (October 2002). "Mystic Heroes (GC)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 159. Ziff Davis. p. 94. Archived from the original on April 27, 2004. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  5. ^ a b "マジカル封神". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Archived from the original on October 18, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "ニンテンドーゲームキューブ - バトル封神". Famitsu (in Japanese). Vol. 915. Enterbrain. June 30, 2006. p. 98. Archived from the original on October 18, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "プレイステーション2 - 超・バトル封神". Famitsu (in Japanese). Vol. 915. Enterbrain. June 30, 2006. p. 82. Archived from the original on October 18, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  8. ^ Kato, Matthew (October 2002). "Mystic Heroes (GC)". Game Informer. No. 114. FuncoLand. p. 86. Archived from the original on February 24, 2007. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  9. ^ Star Dingo (September 24, 2002). "Mystic Heroes Review for GameCube on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 8, 2005. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  10. ^ Four-Eyed Dragon (December 3, 2002). "Mystic Heroes Review for PS2 on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 12, 2005. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  11. ^ Gallant, Matthew (October 9, 2002). "Mystic Heroes Review (GC)". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  12. ^ Gallant, Matthew (December 2, 2002). "Mystic Heroes Review (PS2)". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on March 11, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  13. ^ Steinberg, Scott (January 19, 2003). "GameSpy: Mystic Heroes (PS2)". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on August 13, 2014. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  14. ^ Mirabella III, Fran (October 10, 2002). "Mystic Heroes (GCN)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on August 13, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  15. ^ Ng, Stephen (November 25, 2002). "Mystic Heroes (PS2)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on August 13, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  16. ^ "Mystic Heroes". Nintendo Power. Vol. 160. Nintendo of America. September 2002. p. 164.
  17. ^ Baker, Chris (January 2003). "Mystic Heroes". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. No. 64. Ziff Davis. p. 108. Archived from the original on May 25, 2004. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
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