MediEvil (series)
Series about an undead knight seeking redemption in Gallowmere.
The *MediEvil* series is a collection of action-adventure titles from SCE Studio Cambridge, published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Its central figure is Sir Daniel Fortesque, an undead knight who was a fraud in life, now seeking to bring peace back to the fictional kingdom of Gallowmere while making up for his past failures. The franchise kicked off with the original *MediEvil* on the PlayStation in 1998, which later hit the PlayStation Network in 2007. A direct follow-up, *MediEvil 2*, arrived on the same console in 2000. Two remakes have been produced: *MediEvil: Resurrection* for the PSP in 2005, and a second *MediEvil* remake for the PlayStation 4 in 2019.
Development of the first three games was handled by SCE Studio Cambridge, originally called Millennium Interactive and based in Cambridge. Work on the initial *MediEvil* began in 1995, drawing inspiration from Tim Burton’s *The Nightmare Before Christmas*. The project was initially planned for multiple systems, including Windows platforms and the Sega Saturn, but after Sony Computer Entertainment saw a demo, they secured it as a PlayStation exclusive and brought the studio under their wing as SCE Cambridge. The music across the series was composed by Andrew Barnabas and Paul Arnold, known together as "Bob & Barn." Critical reception has been largely favorable, especially for the first two games’ graphics and story, though reviewers often pointed out a lack of innovation and troublesome camera controls.
**Games**
**MediEvil** This action-adventure game launched in Europe on 9 October 1998, in North America on 21 October, and in Japan on 17 June 1999. A PlayStation Network re-release followed in 2007. The plot is set in 1286, when the evil sorcerer Zarok aims to seize Gallowmere with an undead army. Sir Daniel Fortesque, a fraudulent knight, supposedly led a force that killed Zarok, but in truth, Dan was felled by the very first arrow in battle. A century later, Zarok returns and casts a spell to raise his undead army, accidentally reviving Dan’s corpse. Dan seizes the chance to defeat Zarok, save Gallowmere, and finally earn his place as a genuine hero.
**MediEvil 2** The second installment, a direct sequel, came out in Europe on 19 April 2000 and in North America on 30 April. Set 600 years after the first game in the year 1886, it follows Sir Daniel Fortesque as he is revived in Victorian
- first_release
- 1998
- developer
- SCE Studio Cambridge
- publisher
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
- genre
- Action-adventure
- platforms
- PlayStation, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 4
- composers
- Andrew Barnabas and Paul Arnold (Bob & Barn)
Quick Facts
- Title
- MediEvil
- Platforms
- PlayStation / PlayStation Portable / PlayStation 4
- Creator
- Chris Sorrell / Jason Wilson
- Composer
- Andrew Barnabas / Paul Arnold
- Developer
- SCE Studio Cambridge / Other Ocean Interactive
- Publisher
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Genre
- Action-adventure, hack and slash
- First Release Date
- 9 October 1998
- Latest Release Date
- 25 October 2019
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The series began with MediEvil in 1998, set in the year 1286 in the Kingdom of Gallowmere. The story follows Sir Daniel Fortesque, a charlatan knight who was killed by the first arrow in battle but is revived 100 years later by the sorcerer Zarok. Dan defeats Zarok and earns his place as a true hero. The direct sequel, MediEvil 2, released in 2000, takes place 600 years later in the year 1886 in Victorian era London, where Dan is revived again to stop sorcerer Lord Palethorn and Jack the Ripper, aided by ghost sidekick Winston and mummy princess Kira.
The third installment, MediEvil: Resurrection, released for the PlayStation Portable in 2005, is a re-imagining of the first game, set again in Gallowmere with Dan accompanied by a genie named Al-Zalam. A second remake, simply titled MediEvil, wa
Reader's Guide
The MediEvil series is significant for its unique protagonist—an undead knight who was a failure in life—and its blend of action-adventure gameplay with a darkly humorous, Tim Burton-inspired aesthetic. The first two games were praised for their graphics and story, though critics noted lack of innovation and cumbersome camera controls. The series demonstrated SCE Studio Cambridge's ability to create a distinctive franchise for Sony, with the first game being one of the first to utilize the PlayStation analogue controller. The music, composed by Bob & Barn, was influenced by Danny Elfman and used electronic synthesizers to simulate an orchestra. The series' legacy includes two remakes, showing enduring interest, and its protagonist Sir Daniel Fortesque was considered endearing by some female gamers. The series' development history reflects Sony's strategy of securing exclusive titles and the challenges of creating sequels and remakes under tight deadlines.
Did You Know?
- The original working title for MediEvil was 'Dead Man Dan'.
- The first game was inspired by Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas.
- MediEvil: Resurrection was developed in only one year to serve as a launch title for the PlayStation Portable.
- The music for all games was composed by Andrew Barnabas and Paul Arnold, known as 'Bob & Barn'.
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