Demonbane
A mecha visual novel series fused with Lovecraftian horror.
Demonbane is a Japanese visual novel series by Nitroplus that combines mecha with elements of the Cthulhu Mythos. It began as an eroge visual novel for the PC, later received a PlayStation 2 non-eroge remake, and spawned a sequel visual novel, a prequel novel, an anime television adaptation, and a manga conversion. An English version of the original PC game was released by JAST USA, and the anime was previously streamed with English subtitles by Crunchyroll.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Mecha
- Action
- Romance
Facts from the source article.
List of games
Zanma Taisei Demonbane, also known as Deus Machina Demonbane, was the first series title, published on April 25, 2003; its title loosely translates to Demon-Slaying Grand Saint Demonbane. Kishin Houkou Demonbane, the PlayStation 2 port of the original, was published on July 1, 2004, with a title meaning Roar of the Machine God Demonbane; both the anime and manga adaptations were based on this version, which was also bundled with a one-episode OVA. Kishin Hishou Demonbane is a direct sequel to Zanma Taisei Demonbane, translating to Flight of the Machine God Demonbane, and unlike the original allows players to control the titular machine in battle. Azathoth-D is a spin-off racing game released at the 70th Comiket, parodying Initial D. Super Robot Wars UX, for the Nintendo 3DS, features the anime version of Demonbane alongside mecha from other franchises.
Story
Kurou Daijuuji, a poor detective in Arkham City, receives a request from Ruri Hadou of Hadou Financial Group to search for a magic book. He initially refuses but accepts after Ruri offers a large sum of money. While searching, Kurou encounters Al, a girl who is actually a powerful grimoire; they forge a contract that bestows him with powerful magic. Al then activates Demonbane, a deus machina owned by Hadou Financial Group, to combat the mechanical menace from the Black Lodge, beginning a war between the two groups. The story is set in a region resembling Lovecraft Country, primarily in Arkham City, home of Hadou Financial Group and Miskatonic University, and territory of the criminal Black Lodge, which possesses giant mecha and powerful sorcerers. Other locations include the coastal town of Innsmouth and the sunken city of R'lyeh, where a climactic battle occurs; Dunwich is also referenced. The player controls Kurou Daijūji, a private investigator specializing in strange cases who formerly studied archaeology and sorcery at Miskatonic University but dropped out after an unspecified incident that made him averse to occult matters. He struggles to find work and cannot pay his utility bills, yet he tries to help others to avoid lingering regrets.
Adaptations
A one-episode OVA was bundled with the PS2 game Kishin Houkou Demonbane, released on July 1, 2004. In it, journalist Lily Bridge arrives in Arkham City seeking a big scoop; after finding a piece of machinery connected to the Hadou Combine, she becomes involved with Demonbane and the city's powerful forces. The TV series Kishin Houkou Demonbane, an animated adaptation of the first game, aired from May 18, 2006 to August 17, 2006. Its characters differ slightly from the game: Metatron appears briefly in early episodes then vanishes, Sandalphon is never seen, Ryuuga appears only in the ending sequence, and Dagon's design was changed entirely. The series follows Kuro Daijuuji, a poor detective in Arkham City, who is asked by Ruri Hado of Hado Financial Group to find a magic grimoire; he meets Al Azif, who is the grimoire, and after being chased by the Black Lodge, Al forges a contract with Kuro and activates Demonbane to fight the Black Lodge. The anime's ending is original: it initially follows Al's good ending, but instead of her drifting through space, the Elder Gods Kurou and Al-Azif rescue her and return her to Arkham and Kurou. The opening theme is Man God Machine by Yuuichi Ikuzawa, and the ending theme is Modern Rose by Kanako Ito.
Novels
There are six novel adaptations. The first three retell events from Zanma Taisei/Kishin Houkou: Muku naru Yaiba (The Innocent Blade), Ma o Tatsu Tsurugi (The Demon-slaying Sword), and Asu e no Tsubasa (The Wing towards Tomorrow). The other three feature new story content: Kishin Taidō (The Embryonic Movements of Machine God) is a direct prequel to Zanma Taisei/Kishin Houkou; Gunshin Kyōshū (The Assault of the War God) is a sequel to Kishin Taidou, though its relationship to the games is not apparent; and Do Marinī no Tokei (De Marigny's Clock).
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