Daisenryaku Explained

is a series of war strategy video games by SystemSoft and SystemSoft Alpha in Japan. The series debuted in Japan in 1985 with exclusively for the NEC PC-98.[1] [2]

Games in the franchise have been released for many platforms including the PC-88, X1, FM-7, MSX, Famicom, Mega Drive, Turbo CD, Game Boy, Game Gear, Super Famicom, Sega Saturn, Dreamcast, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Windows, Macintosh and other mobile devices.

In April 1993, Famicom Tsūshin (Famitsu) magazine awarded the Daisenryaku series a world record for being ported to the most game consoles. It was ported to seven consoles up until then, including the Game Boy and Mega Drive.[3]

Daisenryaku titles

Personal computer

NameReleasedPlatform
Gendai DaisenryakuPC-98
Daisenryaku 88[4] PC-88
Daisenryaku X1[5] X1
Daisenryaku IIPC-98
Daisenryaku FM[6] FM-7
DaisenryakuMSX2
Super DaisenryakuPC-88
Campaign-ban Daisenryaku IIPC-88
Super DaisenryakuMSX2
Daisenryaku III: Great Commander[7] PC-98
Campaign-ban Daisenryaku IIPC-98
Daisenryaku III '90PC-98
Daisenryaku III '90X68000
Campaign-ban Daisenryaku IIMSX2
Daisenryaku IVPC-98
Advanced Daisenryaku 98PC
Advanced Daisenryaku 98 IIPC
Advanced Daisenryaku 2001PC
Daisenryaku PerfectPC
Advanced Daisenryaku IVPC
Daisenryaku CenturionPC
Advanced Daisenryaku 5PC
Shin Daisenryaku: Battle of SoldierPC
Daisenryaku Perfect 2.0PC
Daisenryaku: Dai Tōa Kōbōshi: Nii Takayama no Bore - Ichini Maru HachiPC
Daisenryaku: Dai Tōa Kōbōshi - Dainijisekaitaisen Boppatsu - Sūjiku Sentai Rengougun ZensekaisenPC
Daisenryaku Supreme Strategic BattlesPC

Console

NameRelease DatesPlatforms
DaisenryakuFamicom
Super DaisenryakuMega Drive
Advanced Daisenryaku: Deutsch Dengeki SakusenMega Drive
Lord of WarsTurbo CD
Campaign-ban Daisenryaku IITurbo CD
Daisenryaku ExpertSuper Famicom
BarbarossaSuper Famicom
World Advanced Daisenryaku Kōtetsu no SenpūSega Saturn
World Advanced Daisenryaku: Sakusen FileSega Saturn
Daisenryaku: Players SpiritPlayStation
Iron StormSega Saturn
Daisenryaku Expert WWII: War in EuropeSuper Famicom
Advanced World War Sennen Teikoku no Kōbō: Last of the MillenniumSega Saturn
Daisenryaku Strong StyleSega Saturn
Daisenryaku: Master CombatPlayStation
Cyber Daisenryaku: Shutsugeki! HarukataiPlayStation
Advanced Daisenryaku: Europe no Arashi - Doitsu Dengeki SakusenDreamcast
Advanced Daisenryaku 2001Dreamcast
Daisenryaku VII / Dai Senryaku VII: Modern Military TacticsXboxPlayStation 2Xbox, PlayStation 2
Daisenryaku 1941: Gyakuten no TaiheiyōPlayStation 2
Standard Daisenryaku: DengekisenPlayStation 2
Standard Daisenryaku: Ushinawareta ShōriPlayStation 2
Sega Ages Vol. 22 Advanced Daisenryaku Doitsu Dengeki SakusenPlayStation 2
Daisenryaku VII ExceedPlayStation 2
Daisenryaku: Dai Tōa Kōbōshi - Tora Tora Tora Ware Kishuu Ni Seikou SeriPlayStation 2
Gendai Daisenryaku: Isshoku Sokuhatsu - Gunji Balance HōkaiPlayStation 2
Daisenryaku: Dai Tōa Kōbōshi - Tora Tora Tora Ware Kishuu Ni Seikou SeriPlayStation 3
Daisenryaku Perfect: Senjō no HashaPlayStation 3
Daisenryaku: Dai Tōa Kōbōshi - Dainijisekaitaisen Boppatsu - Sūjiku Sentai Rengougun ZensekaisenPlayStation 3
Daisenryaku Exceed IIPlayStation 3
Daisenryaku: Daitoua Kōbōshi 3 - Dai-ni-ji Sekai Taisen Boppatsu!PlayStation 4
Daisenryaku Perfect 4.0PlayStation 4Nintendo SwitchPlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
Gendai Daisenryaku 2020: Shaking World Order! Ambition of the Great Powers and World WarPlayStation 4Nintendo SwitchPlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch

Handheld

NameRelease DatesPlatform
DaisenryakuGame Boy
Taisen-gata Daisenryaku GGame Gear
Daisenryaku for Game Boy AdvanceGame Boy Advance
Daisenryaku PortablePlayStation Portable
Daisenryaku DSNintendo DS
Daisenryaku Portable 2PlayStation Portable
Daisenryaku VII ExceedPlayStation Portable
Daisenryaku: Dai Tōa Kōbōshi - Tora Tora Tora Ware Kishuu Ni Seikou SeriPlayStation Portable
Gendai Daisenryaku: Isshoku Sokuhatsu - Gunji Balance HōkaiPlayStation PortableNintendo DSPlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS
Daisenryaku Perfect: Senjō no HashaPlayStation Portable
Daisenryaku: Dai Tōa Kōbōshi - Dainijisekaitaisen Boppatsu - Sūjiku Sentai Rengougun ZensekaisenPlayStation PortableVitaPlayStation Portable, Vita
Daisenryaku Exceed IIVita
Daisenryaku Perfect: Senjō no HashaVita
Daisenryaku: Daitoua Kōbōshi DX -DainiJi Sekai Taisen3DS

Mobile phone

Notable games

Early titles

is the first title in the series, released in November 1985 exclusively for the NEC PC-98. It sold 20,000 copies.[8]

Its successor, Daisenryaku II, modified game systems including the order of unit's move, the defence statistic of cities, indirect fire, warships, and increased a variety of weapons. It sold 50,000 copies. Daisenryaku II was too rich and complex for 8-bit computers, so it was ported to them and gaming consoles as a simplified version titled Super Daisenryaku.

Daisenryaku III changed the game system from turn-based strategy to real-time strategy. Daisenryaku titles for the PC-98 had been developed for its built-in BASIC interpreter (N88-BASIC (86), a variant of Microsoft BASIC). Daisenryaku III was very slow, so it was superseded by the pre-compiled distribution of Daisenryaku III '90.[9]

Advanced Daisenryaku: Deutsch Dengeki Sakusen

Advanced Daisenryaku: Deutsch Dengeki Sakusen
Developer:Sega
Publisher:Sega
Series:Daisenryaku
Released:Mega DrivePlayStation 2
Genre:Strategy
Modes:Single-player, multiplayer
Platforms:Mega Drive, PlayStation 2

Advanced Daisenryaku: Deutsch Dengeki Sakusen is a Mega Drive war game. The game takes place during World War II, and the player can either play as Germany, its allies or its opponents. Multiplayer games are possible, using the modem that was sold for the Sega Mega Drive.

Daisenryaku Expert WWII: War in Europe

Daisenryaku Expert WWII: War in Europe
Developer:SystemSoft
Publisher:ASCII Entertainment
Series:Daisenryaku
Genre:Strategy
Modes:Single-player, multiplayer
Platforms:Super Famicom

is a Super Famicom game that takes place during World War II at either the Eastern Front or the Western Front. There is a scenario mode and a campaign mode. By default, the player controls the Third Reich but it can be changed prior to starting the game.

An remake of the game was released in 2006 for the PlayStation 2 as a part of the Sega Ages 2500 series.

Iron Storm

See main article: Iron Storm (Sega Saturn). Iron Storm is the 1996 North American release of for the Sega Saturn. The game takes place within the context of World War II. The game is played as either United States, Nazi Germany, or Japan. The outcomes of certain battles result in a change in the path of the war.

Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game an 8 out of 10, praising the ability to view the outcome of each battle in cinematic view and the use of experience points.[10]

Advanced Daisenryaku 2001

Advanced Daisenryaku 2001
Series:Daisenryaku
Released:Dreamcast
Windows PC
Genre:Turn-based strategy
Modes:Single-player
Platforms:Dreamcast, PC

Advanced Daisenryaku 2001 is a sequel to the World War II strategy game Advanced Daisenryaku: Europe no Arashi - Doitsu Dengeki Sakusen. This title included some bug fixes and improved graphics.

Dai Senryaku VII: Modern Military Tactics

See main article: article and Dai Senryaku VII: Modern Military Tactics. Dai Senryaku VII: Modern Military Tactics (known simply as Daisenryaku VII in Japan) is a turn-based tactics videogame for the Microsoft Xbox, which was produced by Kemco and released in 2004 (in the United States). In December 2007 the game was ported to the PlayStation 2 by Valcon Games.

Daisenryaku Portable

Daisenryaku Portable
Developer:Genki
Publisher:Genki
Series:Daisenryaku
Genre:Turn-based strategy
Modes:Single-player, multiplayer
Platforms:PlayStation Portable

Daisenryaku Portable is a military turn-based strategy game for the PlayStation Portable published by Genki.

The game takes place on a battlefield of hexagons, upon which the player assembles an army. The aim is to capture cities and factories, in order to increase available resources. The hexagons are rendered in an isometric view with no rotation supported, but the individual attacks are rendered in 3D. The game supports use of the ad hoc wireless mode of the PlayStation Portable for two player multiplayer.[11] The main campaign takes place in the Far East in the twenty-first century. The factions in the game are fictional versions of Japan, USA, Russia, China, South Korea, and North Korea.

Daisenryaku Portable 2

Daisenryaku Portable 2
Developer:Genki
Publisher:Genki
Series:Daisenryaku
Genre:Turn-based strategy
Modes:Single-player, multiplayer
Platforms:PlayStation Portable

Daisenryaku Portable 2 is a military turn-based strategy game for the PlayStation Portable published by Genki. It is a sequel to Daisenryaku Portable, and is set in the Middle East. The player does not control any country, instead controlling the supranational army named "Wild Geese".[12]

Moe moe 2-ji Daisen (ryaku)

Moe moe 2-ji Daisen (ryaku)
萌萌2次大戰(略)
Developer:SystemSoft Alpha
Series:Daisenryaku
Genre:Turn-based strategy
Modes:Multiplayer
Platforms:Windows 98, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, i-mode

This version of the franchise features World War II, but using mecha musume. It includes units from Japan, Germany, America, Britain, and Soviet. The game grid is hexagonal, but characters are in isometric view. The game separated into strategy and adventure mode. Player can play the Pacific Ocean (as Japanese), or the Europe (as German) campaigns. The strategy mode is played in turn-based mode.

The Deluxe version for PlayStation 2 and PSP added a new campaign for allied forces, new characters, and made a few gameplay and visual adjustments.[13]

Daisenryaku Perfect: Senjō no Hasha

Daisenryaku Perfect: Senjō no Hasha
Developer:SystemSoft Alpha
Publisher:SystemSoft Alpha
Series:Daisenryaku
Genre:Turn-based strategy
Modes:Single-player, multiplayer
Platforms:PlayStation 3
PlayStation Portable

Daisenryaku Perfect: Senjō no Hasha is a turn-based military simulation set in the modern era. The player can selects from 22 countries and then becomes either an ally or attacking country.

Localized titles

While the vast majority of titles in the Daisenryaku series were never released outside of Japan, a few titles were officially localized and others were partially translated by fans.

The series saw its first release in English when Working Designs partnered with SystemSoft Alpha to translate and release Iron Storm for the Sega Saturn in North America in 1996.

A second entry in English was realized when Kemco released in North America for the Microsoft Xbox in 2005. The PlayStation 2 port also saw a North American release in 2007.

The mecha musume spin-off of Daisenryaku, Moe moe 2-ji Daisen (ryaku), was translated into Chinese and released by Taiwanese publisher TWTTIME Technology Co., Ltd for the PC in 2008.

Daisenryaku Perfect 4.0 saw a worldwide release on Steam in 2018 with a partial English translation done by SystemSoft themselves. Users have criticized the translation calling it "machine translation" and many units' names remain in Japanese.[14]

Fans have partially translated various entries in the series. Advanced Daisenryaku for the Sega Mega Drive,[15] Advanced Daisenryaku 2001 for the Sega Dreamcast,[16] and Daisenryaku VII for the PC [17] all saw translations of various levels released unofficially.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: システムソフト・アルファー、"大戦略"シリーズ20周年記念の製品発表会を開催——『大戦略VIII』など未公開の新作も発表!. 小西. 利明. 2005-01-27. ASCII.jp. 2019-03-27.
  2. June 1993. 緊急特集!現代大戦略EX. Comptiq. Kadokawa Shoten. 48–55. 2019-03-28.
  3. Bravo World Record! . . 16 April 1993 . 226 . 81 . ja .
  4. Web site: 大戦略88. Project EGG. D4 Enterprise. 2019-03-27.
  5. Web site: 大戦略X1. Project EGG. D4 Enterprise. 2019-03-27.
  6. Web site: 大戦略FM. Project EGG. D4 Enterprise. 2019-03-28.
  7. Web site: 日本シミュレーション紀行(5) 大戦略III グレートコマンダー. Daisenryaku Online Special. SystemSoft Alpha. 2019-03-28.
  8. Web site: ニュース : 大戦略20周年記念発表会。「VIII」や「パーフェクト2.0DX」も. 2005-01-27. 4Gamer. 2019-03-28.
  9. Web site: 日本シミュレーション紀行(6) 大戦略III'90. Daisenryaku Online Special. SystemSoft Alpha. 2019-03-28.
  10. Iron Storm Review. Electronic Gaming Monthly. 82. EGM Media, LLC. May 1996. 31.
  11. Web site: "Grand strategy" pursuing energy and simplicity The latest PSP "Grand strategy portable" . 3 January 2021 . 24 September 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050924090313/http://watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20050912/daisen.htm . 2005-09-24.
  12. Web site: Daisenryaku Portable 2 system page . 3 January 2021 . 9 May 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070509171213/http://www.genki.co.jp/games/strategy2/system.html . 2007-05-09.
  13. Web site: Nazi Bathing Suit Girls Storm PSP, PS2. www.ign.com. 4 April 2008 . 14 January 2018.
  14. Web site: DAISENRYAKU PERFECT 4.0/大戦略パーフェクト4.0 on Steam . store.steampowered.com . 2 January 2021 . en.
  15. Web site: Genesis Advanced Military Commander Translation . 2 January 2021 . 17 March 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110317074259/http://www.knology.net/~mackdraper/AMC/Overview.htm . 2011-03-17.
  16. Web site: Advanced Daisenryaku 2001 . ROMhacking.net . 2 January 2021 . en.
  17. Web site: Daisenryaku VII . ROMhacking.net . 2 January 2021 . en.