Me and Satan King Hands-On

Tired of the same cookie-cutter RPG storyline? You know, the ones where you're the unlikely hero who must save the world amidst grand orchestral movements and cinematic CG movies. Well, Zener Works is working on an RPG that just might raise your eyebrows. Me and Satan King is a satirical antithesis to the traditional RPG.

The story goes something like this: One day, your father finds a mysterious piece of old pottery. Shortly after the pot enters your life, your sister is seemingly possessed, speaking in a mysterious language and suffering from mysterious attacks to her person. Convinced he can save his daughter, your father casts an ancient spell on the pot and unintentionally summons a satan king named Stanley Highhat Trinidad XIV (or Stan, for short). Satan kings are mysterious evil beings that can only exist in someone's shadow. The Satan committee, the organization that makes all the key judgements for the satan kings, decides that your shadow would be the best place for Stan to kick it.

Logically having a satan king in your shadow would be a frightening experience, but Me and Satan King puts a lighthearted spin on the whole premise. People are actually drawn to Stan, and you become quite the popular guy. The people of your village ask you to solve a problem for them: You'll have to go down to a basement, fight some ghosts, and take back a hidden treasure. After making short work of the ghosts, you find yourself hailed as a hero, and you're soon shoved on your way to save the world from whatever may threaten it. Explaining the humor in the story through words is rather difficult, but imagine watching something along the lines of Powerpuff Girls or Daria. It's not exactly the slapstick comedy or the wiseass remarks that make it funny. It's as if everyone is sort of lacking, a bit dumb, and carefree. The artwork is a cross between something coming from a Tim Burton film and the cartoon version of Beetlejuice. The movements and facial expressions are definitely cartoony.

Developed by Zener Works and published by Sony Computer Entertainment, Me and Satan King's uniqueness comes from its setting and characters. The environment is all rendered in 3D Polygon, and it can be rotated 360 degrees on the field map, though the camera is fixed while inside houses and dungeons.The demo version we played only let us skim through two battle sequences, but those two sequences are a good indication of what to expect in the final version. The battles are turn-based, using commands to attack, cast spells, and use items just like orthodox RPGs. Stan also helps during battle with powerful attacks and spells when your character is severely injured. You can also execute joint attacks with other characters as well. You will encounter more characters--such as Rosalie, Marlene, and Professor Quisling--who join your party and help you in battle.

Fog effects are used for faraway objects, but other than that, the graphics in the game are clean and smooth. The soundtrack offers rather impressive music despite its comedic nature. The options menu has the option to choose between Japanese and English language, so perhaps Sony Computer Entertainment America may plan to bring the game to the American shores. Me and Satan King will be released March 15 in Japan.