MediEvil: Resurrection
A re-imagined launch title for the PlayStation Portable.
MediEvil: Resurrection is a 2005 action-adventure game developed by SCEE Cambridge Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation Portable. It is a re-imagining of the first installment in the MediEvil series, released as a launch title in September 2005 in North America and Europe. The game is set in the medieval Kingdom of Gallowmere and follows the charlatan protagonist Sir Daniel Fortesque as he attempts to stop the antagonist Zarok's invasion while redeeming himself. The game also features a variety of voice talents, including Tom Baker as the narrator and the Grim Reaper.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- SCEE Cambridge Studio
- Publisher
- Sony Computer Entertainment
- Producer
- Piers Jackson
- Platforms
- PlayStation Portable
- Designer
- Dominic Cahalin
- Artist
- Mitch Phillips
- Writer
- Patrick McCarthy
- Martin Pond
- Dominic Cahalin
- Composer
- Andrew Barnabas; Paul Arnold
Facts from the source article.
Plot
In the year 1286, the evil sorcerer Zarok plotted to take over the kingdom of Gallowmere with his undead army. Legend says the king's champion, Sir Daniel Fortesque, led his army to victory and killed Zarok before succumbing to his wounds. In truth, Dan was struck down by the first arrow in the battle, and the king covered it up, declaring Dan the "Hero of Gallowmere." Zarok was forced into hiding and presumed dead. One hundred years later, in 1386, Zarok reappears and casts a spell to awaken his undead army and steal the souls of the living, unwittingly reviving Dan's corpse, now a skeletal figure missing his jaw and an eye. Dan is accompanied by Al-Zalam, a genie robbed of his powers by Zarok. Unable to ascend to the Hall of Heroes due to his failures, Dan seizes the chance to defeat Zarok and earn his place as a true hero. Dan journeys through the graveyard, mausoleum, harvest fields, forest, village, fair grounds, asylum, dockyards, marshland battlefields, Dragon Island, and Peregrine Castle. Death advises Dan to find the four pieces of the Anubis Stone, a powerful necromancy artifact split across the land. Dan retrieves the first piece from an old chieftain's tomb, facing a Stained Glass Demon and the Graveyard Guardians (a pair of haunted wolf statues). He gets the second piece from the pumpkin witch after defeating her rogue magical pumpkin king. Rescuing the village mayor from an asylum's worth of monsters, including the maddened "Mr. Axey," Dan learns the piece is hidden in the forest, where he retrieves the Demon Claw artifact before Zarok can unleash shadow demons. In the forest, he collects mold for the forest witch to find the third piece, facing demonettes and freeing shadow demons. In the marshlands, Dan aids Death in repairing his robotic assistant and frees his boat, and Death agrees to ferry him to Peregrine Castle, which is blocked by volcanic rivers. At Al-Zalam's suggestion, Dan disguises himself as a pirate to obtain a ship to Dragon Island to retrieve fireproof dragon-scale armor. After defeating the Dragon, Death ferries him to Peregrine Castle, where Dan recovers the final piece and the ghost of the king tasks him with unleashing hidden floodgates to destroy Zarok's forces. Dan makes his way onto the Ghost Ship, defeats the skeletal Ghost Pirate Captain, and takes the ship to Zarok's lair. After fighting through hordes and confronting Zarok's champion Lord Kardok, Zarok turns into a monstrous serpent, but Dan defeats him. Zarok destroys his lair, killing himself, and Dan is rescued by Al-Zalam. With the magic wearing off, Dan returns to his burial chamber, enters eternal slumber, and ascends to the Hall of Heroes, where his hero statue is restored.
Development
Development of MediEvil: Resurrection began in 2003 at SCEE Cambridge Studio. The senior management of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe wanted a launch game for the PlayStation Portable and ordered the studio to develop it in time for the console's release. Given only a year, the studio decided to remake the original MediEvil, as an original title would take longer. Despite the series' success, only three original team members worked on Resurrection: Chris Sorrell, the creator of MediEvil, stated he would have preferred to direct the game but was instructed to direct a video-game adaptation of 24. He expressed disappointment with the changes and that his superiors did not allow him to direct, but praised the team's work under the time constraint. Piers Jackson was appointed producer, working with a new design team led by Dominic Cahalin. Mitch Phillips, character animator for the previous two installments, was lead artist. Phillips, along with composers Paul Arnold and Andrew Barnabas ("Bob & Barn"), were the only original team members to return. According to Piers Jackson, the thrust of the design was to produce a title that could showcase the full abilities of the PlayStation Portable, including its built-in Wi-Fi capabilities. Jackson also asserted that Resurrection was an entirely different game from the original; whilst the studio had taken the basic story and some of the locations from the original game, all the code, graphics, and voice actors were changed.
Reception
MediEvil: Resurrection received mixed reviews, with an aggregate score of 69% from GameRankings and 66 from Metacritic. Critics commonly criticized the camera controls, particularly during combat, which sometimes caused frame rate drops. Jason Allen of IGN noted the camera angles were less problematic in open areas but became clumsy in heated battles. Kristan Reed of Eurogamer called the camera "sloppy" and difficult during combat when enemies appeared off screen. The combat was also criticized for poor hit detection; Greg Mueller of GameSpot said it made combat frustrating and tedious. Reed found the combat system unremarkable and was disappointed by the lack of technical additions. Allen described melee attacks as inaccurate and clumsy, worsened by the camera. The graphics and voice talent were the most praised aspects, especially Tom Baker's role as the narrator and Grim Reaper. Mueller praised the soundtrack and dialogue, saying the sound was the best part and that character voices fit perfectly. Reed also praised Baker's performance as "majestic" and "eccentric." Chris Scantleberry of GameSpy felt the dialogue was heavy on stereotypical accents but believed players would enjoy the game's "electric atmosphere," which he compared to Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas.
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