Graffiti Kingdom

Graffiti Kingdom
PlayStation 2 cover art
Developer(s)	Taito / Garakuta Studio
Publisher(s)	JP: Taito NA: HOT・B PAL: 505 GameStreet
Composer(s)	Yasunori Mitsuda
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2
Release	JP: September 22, 2004 PAL: June 30, 2005 NA: July 28, 2005
Genre(s)	Action role-playing
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Graffiti Kingdom, known in Japan as Rakugaki Ōkoku 2: Maō-Jō Notatakai (ラクガキ王国2 魔王城の戦い, Doodle Kingdom 2: Battle at Demon's Castle)is an action role-playing video game developed by Taito Corporation and Garakuta Studio for the PlayStation 2 console in 2004, and is the sequel to Magic Pengel: The Quest for Color.^[1]

Gameplay

As in Magic Pengel: The Quest for Color, the player is able to create characters (known as "Graffiti Creatures") by drawing its body parts and assigning a function (such as "leg" or "head") to each part; however, unlike the previous game, its attacks and movement can also be customized.^[2] Additional functions are added as the player's level increases, and new attacks can be obtained by "capturing" other creatures.

The versatility of this feature has attracted considerable popularity, largely in Japan—a number of players have created detailed characters based both on original designs and those from existing video games, anime and other media. (see links)

While combat in Magic Pengel used a turn-based battle system similar to Rock, Paper, Scissors, Graffiti Kingdom is a more action-oriented platform game, although it retains some RPG-style elements such as the ability to level up.

Plot

The player takes the role of Prince Pixel of the canvas kingdom. Long ago, the kingdom was besieged by an evil devil. This devil was sealed away by a few brave knights bestowed with the power of Graffiti (called Graffiticians). Pixel happens upon the Devil's seal whilst avoiding his studies and takes the graffiti wand, breaking the seal. After an attempt by the seal's guardian, Pastel, to teach pixel to use the wand results in the Devil's release, Pastel Has Pixel face the Devil and restore the kingdom. Along the way, he meets Tablet, the Devil's son who helps Pixel and challenges him throughout his adventures. He makes his way through the first few worlds, beating their bosses and acquiring their keys. en route to Palette, Tablet's sister, Pastel is kidnapped by Palette's agent. Pixel proceeds to fight his way to Palette's palace, reaffirming the friendship Pixel has with Pastel. Pixel then faces off with Palette, defeating her. However Tablet is seemingly killed when he takes an attack meant for Pixel. Determined more than ever now to stop the devil, Pixel fights through the Devil's palace and beats the Devil, leaving him near defeat. However Tablet steals Pixel's wand and defeats his father instead before declaring himself the new Devil. Pastel gives Pixel a spare wand (many others of which she keeps inside her). Pixel defeats Tablet and creates a new body for him. Pixel then stops Pastel from re-sealing the devil, which would also cause Pastel to be sealed in with him. The devil escapes once more, albeit now weakened severely. Pixel agrees to let the devil recuperate if he restores the kingdom as best he can. The ending cinematic shows Palette rampaging through the town before being battled offscreen by Pixel and Tablet.

Characters

• Pixel- The prince of the canvas kingdom, he's headstrong, resolute, and loyal to his friends. unlike the other characters, Pixel tends to be more easygoing and cares more about what matters to him. With Pastel, he resolves to reseal the devil and restore his kingdom.
• Pastel- A boxdog who's the guardian of the Devil's seal. she takes her job very seriously and constantly makes snide comments to Pixel on his priorities. in the end, Pastel is revealed to be human (which she insisted she was the whole time)and takes the boxdog form to seal away the devil. She comes off as cynical and snide, but does care about Pixel deeply.
• Tablet- The Devil's son and "friend' of Pixel. He helps Pixel by giving information about the bosses at times, other times waylaying him by forcing Pixel into games. He sees pixel as the perfect rival, going against his sibling and father to gain Pixel's wand. Tablet believes that being a demon means he has to be evil at first, but the ending cinematic shows he's since gotten past this belief.
• Palette- The spoiled daughter of the devil and Tablet's sister. She keeps tabs on Pixel and his progress towards her father's palace. She eventually kidnaps Pastel, whom she implicitly was friends with at some point, prompting Pixel to fight his way to Pallete's Palace. She is defeated in the ensuring battle, but in the process seemingly defeats Tablet. She's seen the ending fighting Pixel and Tablet.
• Medium- The devil and blight on canvas kingdom. he was beaten by a few brave knights years ago. Pixel accidentally released him, allowing Medium to reform the kingdom into his own twisted palace. Pixel makes his way into his inner sanctum and defeats him twice before Tablet steals the wand and turns on Medium. he later escapes again and is let go on the promise that he restore the kingdom to normal, which he does.

Soundtrack

Graffiti Kingdom's music is composed by Yasunori Mitsuda, who is most notable for his work on Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, and Xenogears. The soundtrack album to Graffiti Kingdom is titled "Hako no Niwa".

Trivia

• Reimu Hakurei from the Touhou Project makes an official appearance as "Flying Maiden", as Touhou's creator was involved in the production of Graffiti Kingdom.
• Pengel from "Magic Pengel" is one of the pre-created characters the player can unlock.
• Space Invaders make a cameo as an unlockable character.
• Both the dragons from Bubble Bobble appear as rare enemies and characters, however they do not use their bubble attacks in this game.
• Both Zoe and Taro from Magic Pengel appear very briefly in this games ending.

References

External links

• Official website (in Japanese)