Shikinjoh

From Sega Retro

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  • Mega Drive
  • Game Gear

Shikinjoh MDTitleScreen.png

Shikinjou GG title.png

Shikinjoh
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear
Publisher: Sunsoft
Developer:
Licensor: Scap Trust
Original system(s): JP Home Computers
Developer(s) of original games: Scap Trust
Sound driver: Sunsoft sound driver
Peripherals supported:
Sega Mega Drive
Mega Modem
Genre: Puzzle[1][2][3][4]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP
¥6,5006,500 T-15053
Sega Game Gear
JP
¥3,8003,800 T-15027
Non-Sega versions

Shikinjoh or Shi Kin Joh or Shi-Kin-Joh or Shikinjou (or likewise) (紫禁城) is a 1989/1990 puzzle game by Scap Trust for the PC-88 and PC-98. Sunsoft ported it to the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Game Gear in 1991, with the Mega Drive version having added Mega Modem capabilities. No version has left Japan. A version was later included with Sunsoft's Game no Tetsujin The Shanghai for the Sega Saturn.

The title means "Forbidden City."

Gameplay

Game Gear version

Shikinjou GG, Stage 1.png

Gameplay

The game is a puzzle game that plays like a combination of Soukoban and mahjong. The player controls a jiangshi (a reanimated corpse from Chinese folklore) who must clear a path to the exit of each round by pushing mahjong tiles. When two tiles with the same image meet, they both vanish. Each round is a single-screen with no scrolling.

The jiangshi moves in any direction using the D-Pad and pushes tiles by walking into them. Only one tile can be pushed at a time; if a wall or another tile is behind it, the tile cannot be pushed. Tiles can only be pushed forward in the direction that the jiangshi is facing and cannot be pulled, so it is possible to move a tile to a position where it can no longer be moved (possibly rendering a round impossible to complete). Pressing 1 undoes the last move; pressing 2 raises a menu that allows the player to ask for help (which undoes a move, same as pressing 1) or give up (which allows the player to restart the round or play a different round, but only a limited number of times per game).

The minimum number of moves to complete each round is shown in the top-left corner of the screen, along with the number of moves that the player has taken so far (which can be toggled with  START ). There is no penalty for taking too many moves to complete a round, and there is no no limit.

There are 100 rounds, with a password given for every five rounds completed. The first five rounds are available at the beginning of the game and can be played in any order, and each password unlocks another five rounds. The last ten rounds have their own special rules, such as tiles that combine to create other tiles or hidden exits.

Tiles

Shikinjoh GG, Tiles.png
Normal Tiles (通常牌)
These tiles are erased when two tiles with the same image are pushed together. It is possible to erase more than two tiles in the same move if they are all adjacent to the tile being moved.
Shikinjoh GG, Tiles.png
Shikinjoh GG, Tiles.png
Obstruction Tiles (邪魔牌)
These tiles cannot be moved or erased. When a normal tile is pushed into one, it becomes the same as the obstruction tile and likewise immovable.
Shikinjoh GG, Tiles.png
? Tiles (?牌)
These tiles cannot be moved. They have an identity, but it is hidden and can only be determined through experimentation; they can be erased if a tile of the same identity is pushed next to it.
Shikinjoh GG, Tiles.png
Exit (出口)
Bring the jiangshi to the exit to finish the round.

Stages

Main article: Shikinjoh/Maps.

Passwords

Main article: Shikinjoh/Passwords.

Production credits

Mega Drive version

  • Programmer: Mikio, Mrs.Ando, A・T
  • Designer: I Chan, リョウヘイ バルボア
  • Music: A・S・S., Tsukamoto
  • Manual: Okazaki, Mori
  • Producer: Cho Muso
  • Special Thanks: Hirokun, Ikko, Y.Kawabe, Hac.F, Higuchi, Yoshikochan, あつみだっ!, Shige, Yamadada, なおpー, S.Takabayashi, Suzuki
Source:
In-game credits
Shikinjoh MD credits.pdf
[5]


Magazine articles

Main article: Shikinjoh/Magazine articles.

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[6]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
60
[7]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
73
[8]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
73
[9]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
50
[10]
Joystick (FR)
82
[11]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
74
[12]
Power Play (DE)
73
[13]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
76
[14]
Sega Mega Drive
68
Based on
9 reviews

Shikinjoh

Mega Drive, JP
Shikinjoh MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
Shikinjoh MD JP CartTop.jpg
Shikinjoh MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Shikinjoh md jp manual.pdf
Manual

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
58
[7]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
58
[15]
Game Zone (UK) NTSC-J
88
[16]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
60
[17]
Joystick (FR)
82
[18]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
64
[19]
Sega Game Gear
68
Based on
6 reviews

Shikinjoh

Game Gear, JP
Shikinjoh GG JP Box Back.jpgNospine-small.pngShikinjoh GG JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
Shikinjoh GG JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Shikinjoh GG JP Manual.pdf
Manual

Technical information

Main article: Shikinjoh/Technical information.

References

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Shikinjoh

Shikinjoh MDTitleScreen.png

Main page | Comparisons | Maps | Passwords | Magazine articles | Reception | Region coding | Technical information


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