MediEvil (series)
An undead knight seeks redemption in a gothic action-adventure series.
MediEvil is an action-adventure series from SCE Studio Cambridge, published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It follows Sir Daniel Fortesque, an undead knight who was a fraud in life, as he seeks to bring peace to the fictional Kingdom of Gallowmere and earn his redemption. The first game launched for the PlayStation in 1998, with a re-release on the PlayStation Network in 2007. A direct sequel, MediEvil 2, came out for the PlayStation in 2000. The original game received two remakes: MediEvil: Resurrection for the PSP in 2005 and a second remake simply titled MediEvil for the PlayStation 4 in 2019.
The first three installments were developed by SCE Studio Cambridge, originally called Millennium Interactive, a Sony subsidiary based in Cambridge. Work on the first MediEvil started in 1995, inspired by Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. It was initially planned for multiple platforms, including Windows and the Sega Saturn, but after Sony saw the progress, they made it a PlayStation exclusive and brought the studio under their wing as SCE Cambridge. Andrew Barnabas and Paul Arnold, known as "Bob & Barn," composed the music for all games. Critics generally received the series well, praising the graphics and story of the first two games, though they often pointed out a lack of innovation and awkward camera controls.
The first game's story is set in 1286, when the evil sorcerer Zarok tries to conquer Gallowmere with an undead army. Sir Daniel Fortesque led the army that supposedly killed Zarok, but in truth, Dan was felled by the first arrow in battle. A century later, Zarok returns and raises his undead army, accidentally reviving Dan's corpse. Dan seizes the chance to defeat Zarok, save the kingdom, and earn his place as a true hero.
MediEvil 2 takes place 500 years after the first game. It follows Dan as he is revived in Victorian-era London to stop the sorcerer Lord Palethorn and Jack the Ripper from terrorizing the city by raising the dead. Dan is joined by a ghost sidekick named Winston and a mummy princess named Kira, who becomes his love interest. The sequel improved on the original with better enemy AI, more strategic combat, larger and more detailed levels, a wider range of weapons, and a deeper storyline and character development.
MediEvil: Resurrection is the third installment, a re-imagining of the first game.
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 MediEvil series began development in 1995, inspired by Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. Originally aimed at multiple platforms including Windows and the Sega Saturn, Sony Computer Entertainment signed the game as a PlayStation exclusive after seeing progress, commissioning the studio as SCE Cambridge. The first game's story begins in 1286, when evil sorcerer Zarok plots to take over Gallowmere; Sir Daniel Fortesque, a charlatan knight, is killed by the first arrow in battle but is revived 100 years later by Zarok's spell, allowing him to defeat Zarok and earn redemption. The direct sequel, MediEvil 2, is set 500 years later in Victorian London, where Dan must stop sorcerer Lord Palethorn and Jack the Ripper, aided by ghost sidekick Winston and mummy princess Kira. The series includes two remakes of the first game: MediEvil: Resurrection for the PSP in 2005 and a PlayStation 4 remake in 2019.
Reader's Guide
The MediEvil series is notable for its unique protagonist and gothic art style, with the first game being one of the first developed for exclusive use with the PlayStation analogue controller. Critics have been mostly positive, particularly praising the graphics and story of the first two games, though common criticisms included lack of innovation and cumbersome camera controls. The series' music, composed by Andrew Barnabas and Paul Arnold, was influenced by Danny Elfman's scores for films like Beetlejuice and The Nightmare Before Christmas. The first game's concept was created by Chris Sorrell, known for the James Pond series, and the backstory of Sir Daniel as a failure seeking redemption was devised by script doctor Martin Pond. The series' development history includes a shift from arcade-style to role-playing game influences, and the PSP remake was developed in only a year to serve as a launch title for the console. The 2019 remake was developed by Other Ocean Interactive.
Did You Know?
- The original working title for MediEvil was 'Dead Man Dan'.
- MediEvil: Resurrection was developed in only one year to be a launch title for the PSP.
- The music for all games was composed by the duo 'Bob & Barn' (Andrew Barnabas and Paul Arnold).
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