E3 Encounters: Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom for PS3

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A “heartwarming puzzle-action game” — that’s how Namco Bandai describes their upcoming PS3 game Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom. Majin is being developed by Game Republic, a studio that boasts several former members of Team ICO and a track record consisting of PS3 fan favorites such as Folklore.

Majin’s fantasy world looks highly stylized, with “shadowy, storybook visuals” in the words of Namco Bandai producer Daisuke Uchiyama. According to Uchiyama, the team wanted to create “something everybody can relate to…something familiar, nostalgic.” See Majin in motion below and judge for yourself.

You play as Tepeu, a mysterious thief who possess the ability to communicate with animals. Encroaching into a “forsaken kingdom” overtaken by a dark force, Tepeu comes across an imprisoned golem-like creature — called a Majin — and frees him. Named Teotle, the Majin follows the thief out of gratitude, thus forming an unlikely alliance against the murky forces of the forsaken kingdom. Majin’s gameplay always focuses on the symbiotic pair of the powerful Teotle and the nimble Tepeu. If you played BioShock, you can think of the slow, powerful Teotle as a Big Daddy and the nimble Tepeu as a Little Sister. That is, if Little Sisters were known for swordsmanship and acrobatics. Or having a Y chromosome, but I digress…

Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom for PS3

Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom for PS3Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom for PS3

Tepeu and Teotle need to scratch each other’s backs frequently in order to survive encounters with the evils of the forsaken kingdom. In combat, you’ll face armies of tar-like creatures that will quickly overrun your spry thief. Luckily, the powerful Majin can bowl these guys over effortlessly and give you a chance to land a lightning-quick final strike with Tepeu. You’ll need to help out the Majin sometimes, too, by knocking snarling dogs off its back and fetching fat, revitalizing “power fruit” when it’s hurt. Mmmm…power fruit.

Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom for PS3

Though you don’t directly control the towering Majin, you can issue broad commands easily via a radial menu and the Majin does the rest auto-magically. During puzzle sequences, the Majin will respond to your orders contextually. Order it to “Crouch” and you’ll be able to jump onto its massive shoulders to reach high places; order it to “Act” and it might spew fire-breath to light your bomb’s fuse so you can blow a hole in a wall. Sometimes, the enemy hordes may be too much for even the rough-and-tumble Majin, so you’ll need to use the environment in creative ways, such as ordering the Majin to push a crumbling wall onto an enemy mob.

Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom for PS3Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom for PS3

Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom is currently scheduled for late 2010. What do you think of the art style and the two-character symbiotic gameplay? Leave your impressions and questions in the comments, and I’ll try to shed some light.

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74 Comments

8 Author Replies

  • Bet your dollar I’m getting this game. I loved FOLKLORE!!!

  • This game looks promising. Hoping that the final build turns out well.

  • it has that Folklore looks and i loved Folklore so im getting the game for sure , oh 1 more thing i want Folklore 2 !!!!!

  • id prefer play station home or modern warfare

  • Whoa, I am playing Bioshock 2 right now, and this post makes me want to see Little Sister does what Tepeu can do.

    Didn’t know former Team ICO guys are in Game Republic.

  • @5 lol mw2; what a noob :p

    This game looks interesting; didn’t understand it though. But we’ll see

    • Think of it as a single-player co-op game. You have to rely on your “muscle” to do a lot of heavy damage, then you swoop in to finish off the enemies. The puzzles are interesting, too.

  • I wish to play Bioshock2 (i play version 1 in PC), but now that i get PS+hope any advantage with this game…

  • Folklore 2 please!

  • Last Guardian clone FTL. No thanks.

  • Can’t wait for this game. Haven’t bought a game since Yakuza 3!

  • One for Share: “Report to a moderator” button on the Blog.

  • u ppl need girl friends

  • I’ll keep my eye on this, I like puzzle adventure games. Its a shame that they get so little love these days.

    I’m not sure why there are masses of trolls leaving comments for this, is there something I’m missing?

  • Is this a PSN game or will it be released on Bluray?

    Game looks interesting, I like the art style.

  • Is folklore 2 next!??! This game looks awesome btw, Can’t wait to see more.

  • Don’t feed the trolls, guys…

    On topic: Nice to see some gameplay of this. You can definitely see the Folklore / Team ICO inspiration in some of the character design. I look forward to seeing more on this game

  • Yeah… we need a report option here for trolls.

  • At Beach_Bun619…. Somewhere a village…It’s missing the village idiot. Here YOU are! We’ll call them and have you pick you up and take you back 8)

  • Wow – this looks good! Looks like an interesting adventure and I love puzzle games!

  • I’ll be looking forward to this game, Liked Folklore…Still hoping for a trophy patch, LOL.

  • For some reason this game reminds me of The Legend of Zelda, Is this game similar puzzles/action adventure?

  • Hate to sound like a ungrateful [DELETED], but I’m with #3 on this one. Tales of Vesperia, where is it?

  • Gorgeous Game.

  • This looks great, kinda not-so-similar to Enslaved…

    I hope games like this get patched with online co-op.

  • Game Republic FTW!

  • I agree with 15. Does look sweet ;)

  • Looks……..meh

  • Great trailer, definitely got me interested in the game, not a fan of the main character look design but that’s ok, will give it a try.

  • Interesting, I might consider it at some point. Keep in mind this game is taking back seat to Exclusives.

  • This game looks great; Folklore is still one of my favorites and is highly underrated, so I’ll definitely be following this.

  • @Sid

    Hate to beat a dead horse here, but can you get some info from NB on Tales of Vesperia’s U.S. release for the PS3? Is it being held up due to an exclusivity agreement or what? What are the chances of a local release? Freakin’ anything!!!

  • @Sid Shuman I know your probably not involved but where the heck is Tales Of Vesperia for PS3, it never left Japan and you guys know us playstation fans love JRPG’s yet you guys don’t release it for us. Don’t blame the bad sales from the other console on us. We all know Sony has more JRPG’s fans then the other consoles!

  • Is the voice actor Nolan North? Sounds very familiar..

  • Yes! More info on The Last Gua–Oh wait!

  • Looks very interesting! Finally something different for an FPS. Hurray!

  • Please tell me that there will be a Japanese VO option.

  • is it weird i want a teotle doll?

  • I was wondering, Why Sony don’t make a Folklore Move Edition”?, I liked the way that they used Sixaxis in the Game (to catch monsters) and I think that it could be an awesome re-release, or I don’t know just release a patch…
    Anyway this new game looks great too

  • Aw, how cute. That creature has a man-pet. He’s going to learn real fast just how rambunctious (sp?) those things can be. You need to feed them, allow them plenty of time to play and rest and, of course, neuter them before they hit puberty- after that hits, you can’t do anything with them. A monster down the street waited too long and ended up having to put it down. Damn shame.

    …What were we talking about?

    Pretty moving pictures make look fun that thing… Mmmm…

  • @ 33 zolaff

    No, it’s American Kakashi-sensei from Naruto. Don’t know his name. He’s also the narrator for the G4’s Ninja Warrior, as well as voicing a few game characters (or at least a “few” insofar as I’m aware). Actually, now that I think of it, he was the voice-actor for Welkin in Valkyria Chronicles. I can almost promise you that you’ve heard him before somewhere.

  • I’ve been keeping my eye on this game for a while. Glad to see it’s looking great.

    Can’t wait! Shame so few people know about it or just write it off as a The Last Guardian clone (which i really don’t understand since TLG isn’t even out yet!?)

  • NOOBS THIS IS NOT A KOOL GAME IDIOTS

  • @ Beach_Bum619

    YOUR NOT A COOL GAME!!! NOOB IDIOT!!!

  • looks decent is this a ps3 exclusive?

  • @Sid:
    just wondering why my blog comment (#9) shows my old avatar while share shows my cammy avatar, i thought the two sites were the same system. not a big deal, just curious.

  • Will there ever be atleast a CHANCE for a Folklore 2? Hopefully you can answer. Just anything it doesn’t have to be a yes or no, it could just be a maybe or just ANY answer at all. PLEASE.

    I loved the first game and I really think that the low sales was because the PS3 was so high in price and this was 2007, things have completely changed now. A sequel to Folklore would do just as well as Heavy Rain or Demons Souls. IT’S WORTH DOING.

    Or atleast trophy support for the first game? Even though it’s 3 years old. Just SOMETHING relating to new Folklore stuff.

  • Since its by some of the former ‘ICO’ Members, it’s like the unofficial sequel to Ico…just, way different :) and with a big giant watching your back…

    Day One Purchase for Me!!

  • If I pretend to care about this game, would you guys make Folklore 2?

  • Looks interesting. I’ll check it out for sure. There’s such a lack of puzzle games.

  • HairyToeKnuckles

    “A “heartwarming puzzle-action game…”” = The big lovable fella dies.

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