Zwei!!
Encyclopedia
is an action role-playing game
developed by Nihon Falcom Corporation. It has been released on three platforms so far: Windows
, PS2 and the PSP
. The title itself is derived from the German
word "zwei" meaning "two". An online version called Zwei!! Online, developed by Korean developer Neonsoft Corporation, was announced on August 2, 2007. A sequel Zwei II
was released for Windows on September 25, 2008.
In reference to the game's title, gameplay
consists of alternating between two main characters, Pipiro and Pokkle. Pipiro is able to perform magical spells and techniques, while Pokkle executes only physical attacks. The game's plot centers around Pokkle and Pipiro and their quest to track down six goddess statues stolen from their village.
elements and puzzles. Players control two characters, Pipiro and Pokkle, and can swap between them at any time. Pipiro launches magic at enemies, while Pokkle fights with a drill-like weapon. Both characters can utilise elemental attacks to target enemy weaknesses, with Pipiro's elemental spells also allowing access to new dungeon areas. Scoring multiple hits on enemies increase the drop rate of spoils and earns combo badges, which lets the player initiate combo attacks that damage the entire screen.
Players begin their adventure at Puck Village, where they can converse with NPC
characters to gain clues to progress in their adventure. Immediately outside the village is the overworld
of Arshes, where dungeons and other locations can be accessed. Dungeons are divided into several stages, with each stage possessing three floors. Many stages can be completed in different orders, although each stage offers a hint plate outside that shows the recommended Level to challenge it. At the end of each dungeon is a powerful dungeon boss who guards one of the goddess statues.
Instead of defeating enemies to level up
like in most RPGs, experience point
s are gained by consuming food items, which are dropped by monsters and obtained through other methods. Ten of the same food item can be combined, at Puck Village's restaurant, to create a higher tier food item that awards more experience than the invidual items. Early on, players can obtain a pet, ranging from various species of cat
s and dogs, who will follow the main characters, assisting in collecting items dropped by enemies. Letting pets tag along also unlocks the highest level combo attacks.
Beyond the main game, there are a number of special items that serve as desktop
accessories and can operate while the main game is closed. The first accessory, obtained automatically, is the "Pet Monitor", a basic adventure game
that stars the pet from the main game. Users can select one of two choices at various intervals, which can lead to the pet's level increasing or reward items in the main game. By default the game randomly makes choices and can progress without the user's influence. Other accessories include a calendar
, clock
, calculator
, puzzle game "Mona Mona" and typing tutor "Typing with Ys". A shooting game called "Zwei!! Shooting" can also be accessed from the main game itself.
Five hundred years after the devastating battle, the world of Granvallen ushers in an age of peace and those who can wield magic are a rare sight to behold. Pipiro and Pokkle are two children, both 14 years of age, who live at the village of Puck, situated in the remote island continent of Arshes. One day, they spot a mysterious masked man enter the village's temple and decide to follow him. The man steals six Goddess statues, the village's treasures, with Pipiro and Pokkle unable to stop him. The pair decide to leave the village to retrieve the statues for their own reasons and thus their journey begins.
to the PS2 and PSP. The PS2 port was handled by Taito
and is largely faithful to the original, but doesn't contain the "Typing of Ys" mini-game or any of the desktop applications. Furthermore, the sequence leading up to the final dungeon was modified, with the player required to complete four previously optional stages, now with reduced difficulty, before progressing. The PSP port by Falcom omits another mini-game, "Mona Mona", but includes character artwork during conversations, additional voice snippets and a re-arranged soundtrack option. The character artwork was also redone to fit in with the sequel's style.
Action role-playing game
Action role-playing games form a loosely defined sub-genre of role-playing video games that incorporate elements of action or action-adventure games, emphasizing real-time action where the player has direct control over characters, instead of turn-based or menu-based combat...
developed by Nihon Falcom Corporation. It has been released on three platforms so far: Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, PS2 and the PSP
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
. The title itself is derived from the German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
word "zwei" meaning "two". An online version called Zwei!! Online, developed by Korean developer Neonsoft Corporation, was announced on August 2, 2007. A sequel Zwei II
Zwei II
is an action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom Corporation. It is a direct sequel to Zwei!! and is one of the latest next generation titles created by Falcom. Currently the game is only available for Windows...
was released for Windows on September 25, 2008.
In reference to the game's title, gameplay
Gameplay
Gameplay is the specific way in which players interact with a game, and in particular with video games. Gameplay is the pattern defined through the game rules, connection between player and the game, challenges and overcoming them, plot and player's connection with it...
consists of alternating between two main characters, Pipiro and Pokkle. Pipiro is able to perform magical spells and techniques, while Pokkle executes only physical attacks. The game's plot centers around Pokkle and Pipiro and their quest to track down six goddess statues stolen from their village.
Gameplay
The game is reminiscent of dungeon crawlers, but includes a larger focus on RPGRole-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
elements and puzzles. Players control two characters, Pipiro and Pokkle, and can swap between them at any time. Pipiro launches magic at enemies, while Pokkle fights with a drill-like weapon. Both characters can utilise elemental attacks to target enemy weaknesses, with Pipiro's elemental spells also allowing access to new dungeon areas. Scoring multiple hits on enemies increase the drop rate of spoils and earns combo badges, which lets the player initiate combo attacks that damage the entire screen.
Players begin their adventure at Puck Village, where they can converse with NPC
Non-player character
A non-player character , sometimes known as a non-person character or non-playable character, in a game is any fictional character not controlled by a player. In electronic games, this usually means a character controlled by the computer through artificial intelligence...
characters to gain clues to progress in their adventure. Immediately outside the village is the overworld
Overworld
An overworld is, in a broad sense, an area within a video game that interconnects all its levels or locations. They are mostly common in role-playing games, though this does not exclude other video game genres....
of Arshes, where dungeons and other locations can be accessed. Dungeons are divided into several stages, with each stage possessing three floors. Many stages can be completed in different orders, although each stage offers a hint plate outside that shows the recommended Level to challenge it. At the end of each dungeon is a powerful dungeon boss who guards one of the goddess statues.
Instead of defeating enemies to level up
Level Up
Level Up was a UK children's TV programme that was broadcast on CBBC. It was launched on the 3rd April 2006, replacing Xchange. The show was an hour long and during the school year broadcasting from 7:30am until 8:30am...
like in most RPGs, experience point
Experience point
An experience point is a unit of measurement used in many role-playing games and role-playing video games to quantify a player character's progression through the game...
s are gained by consuming food items, which are dropped by monsters and obtained through other methods. Ten of the same food item can be combined, at Puck Village's restaurant, to create a higher tier food item that awards more experience than the invidual items. Early on, players can obtain a pet, ranging from various species of cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
s and dogs, who will follow the main characters, assisting in collecting items dropped by enemies. Letting pets tag along also unlocks the highest level combo attacks.
Beyond the main game, there are a number of special items that serve as desktop
Desktop metaphor
The desktop metaphor is an interface metaphor which is a set of unifying concepts used by graphical user interfaces to help users more easily interact with the computer. The desktop metaphor treats the monitor of a computer as if it is the user's desktop, upon which objects such as documents and...
accessories and can operate while the main game is closed. The first accessory, obtained automatically, is the "Pet Monitor", a basic adventure game
Adventure game
An adventure game is a video game in which the player assumes the role of protagonist in an interactive story driven by exploration and puzzle-solving instead of physical challenge. The genre's focus on story allows it to draw heavily from other narrative-based media such as literature and film,...
that stars the pet from the main game. Users can select one of two choices at various intervals, which can lead to the pet's level increasing or reward items in the main game. By default the game randomly makes choices and can progress without the user's influence. Other accessories include a calendar
Calendar
A calendar is a system of organizing days for social, religious, commercial, or administrative purposes. This is done by giving names to periods of time, typically days, weeks, months, and years. The name given to each day is known as a date. Periods in a calendar are usually, though not...
, clock
Clock
A clock is an instrument used to indicate, keep, and co-ordinate time. The word clock is derived ultimately from the Celtic words clagan and clocca meaning "bell". A silent instrument missing such a mechanism has traditionally been known as a timepiece...
, calculator
Calculator
An electronic calculator is a small, portable, usually inexpensive electronic device used to perform the basic operations of arithmetic. Modern calculators are more portable than most computers, though most PDAs are comparable in size to handheld calculators.The first solid-state electronic...
, puzzle game "Mona Mona" and typing tutor "Typing with Ys". A shooting game called "Zwei!! Shooting" can also be accessed from the main game itself.
Plot
Granvallen is a mysterious world of floating continents, where magic once prospered. Everything changed one thousand years ago, when mankind and demons fought in the Great Sorcery War. The war was instigated by the six demon lords, who opposed the twin goddesses Aplyes and Espina and attacked the world of Granvallen. After a period of five hundred years, the curtains of strife closed when Tiara, the Priestess Princess of the Holy Kingdom of Valence, and the heroic Crusader Paradys defeated Demon Lord Vesper at the floating continent of Arshes. Granvallen suffered many losses and the magical civilisation quickly faded away.Five hundred years after the devastating battle, the world of Granvallen ushers in an age of peace and those who can wield magic are a rare sight to behold. Pipiro and Pokkle are two children, both 14 years of age, who live at the village of Puck, situated in the remote island continent of Arshes. One day, they spot a mysterious masked man enter the village's temple and decide to follow him. The man steals six Goddess statues, the village's treasures, with Pipiro and Pokkle unable to stop him. The pair decide to leave the village to retrieve the statues for their own reasons and thus their journey begins.
Characters
- Pipiro - A young girl who lives with Pokkle at Puck Village. A prodigical magician said to be the second coming of the legendary Priestess Princess, but her own motivation is non-existent. The only thing that interests her are wondrous clothes and delicacies. She is a little older than Pokkle and often acts with an air of superiority, which is about the only time she resembles his older sister.
- Pokkle - A young boy who lives together with Pipiro and who admires the Crusader of legends. He learned martial arts from a former treasure hunterTreasure hunterTreasure hunters are people who search for treasure.Treasure hunters may also refer to:* Treasure Hunters , a graphic novel* Treasure Hunters , a Hong Kong kung fu film...
, although he hasn't had any practical experience. A reliable figure who can manage all the housework at once, he is also a bit of a wisecraker and can not resist pretty women. He regularly receives cold glares from Pipiro. - Raspberry - The sisterNunA nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
of Puck Village's church. She is very popular amongst the villagers and an important counsellor. She regular teaches the children and is fully trusted as an educator. Pipiro and Pokkle live under her guardianship. - Kite - A former treasure hunter who resides at Puck Village. He has masses of experience as an adventurer and is an eminent treasure hunter of Granvallen. Currently he lives with his family at Puck Village and taught Pokkle in the skills of martial arts. He gives much advice to the pair during their journey.
- Pyote - The elder of Puck Village, as well as the village doctor. He operates with his granddaughter Peachum and two nurses, and has become a dependable asset to the citizens of Arshes. The village is run by him, with help from Sister Raspberry.
- Martial Arts Master - A mysterious man who appears before Pipiro and Pokkle during their journey. He teaches the pair various skills to aid with their adventuring. He appears to be a reliable man, but seems to know about events in too much detail.
- Corvette - A curious magician who frequently appears all over Arshes. He resembles a cat, but gets upset when he is called a cat or meets other cats. He is adept in summoning arts and calls forth gigantic monsters to obstruct Pipiro and Pokkle. It seems he is working with the mysterious masked man to fulfil some sort of grand objective.
- Mysterious Masked Man - A mysterious figure who appeared at Puck Village one day for some reason. It seems he has some connection to the cat magician. His visit to the Aplyes Temple outside the village triggered Pipiro and Pokkle's adventure.
- Tiara El Valence - Known as the Legendary Priestess Princess. Long ago, she was the princess of the Holy Kingdom of Valence and possessed great magical power. It is said that she used her power to help countless people. Apparently she died in the middle of the Great Sorcery War, but nobody saw her final moments.
Versions
Zwei!! originated as a Windows game and was later portedPorting
In computer science, porting is the process of adapting software so that an executable program can be created for a computing environment that is different from the one for which it was originally designed...
to the PS2 and PSP. The PS2 port was handled by Taito
Taito
Taito may mean:*Taito Corporation, a Japanese developer of video game software and arcade hardware*Taito, Tokyo, a special ward located in Tokyo, Japan*Taito, also known as matai, paramount chiefs according to Fa'a Samoa...
and is largely faithful to the original, but doesn't contain the "Typing of Ys" mini-game or any of the desktop applications. Furthermore, the sequence leading up to the final dungeon was modified, with the player required to complete four previously optional stages, now with reduced difficulty, before progressing. The PSP port by Falcom omits another mini-game, "Mona Mona", but includes character artwork during conversations, additional voice snippets and a re-arranged soundtrack option. The character artwork was also redone to fit in with the sequel's style.