Meiji Ishin

Meiji Ishin is a dual-genre historical set during Japan’s Meiji Restoration, where players first take on the role of Sakamoto Ryoma in an adventure segment, navigating regions, conversing with NPCs, and engaging in samurai duels to form alliances against the Tokugawa shogunate. The second half transitions into a turn-based strategy simulation, commanding forces from Tosa Province to expand across Shikoku, Kyushu, and western Honshu by 1880, ultimately aiming to overthrow the shogunate through tactical warfare and territorial conquest.

Meiji Ishin: A Historical Epic in Pixels

Introduction

In the pantheon of historical strategy-adventure hybrids, Meiji Ishin (1989) stands as a forgotten gem, a game that dared to blend the intrigue of political maneuvering with the thrill of tactical combat. Developed and published by Use Corporation for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Meiji Ishin transports players to the tumultuous era of the Meiji Restoration, a pivotal moment in Japanese history when the feudal shogunate crumbled under the weight of modernization and imperial reform. This review will dissect the game’s development, narrative depth, gameplay mechanics, and its enduring legacy, arguing that Meiji Ishin is a masterclass in historical storytelling and strategic gameplay, deserving of a place among the greats of its era.

Development History & Context

The Studio and Its Vision

Use Corporation, a relatively obscure developer in the West, was a small but ambitious studio in Japan, known for its niche titles that often explored historical themes. Meiji Ishin was one of their most ambitious projects, aiming to capture the essence of a transformative period in Japanese history. The game’s dual structure—combining an adventure segment with a turn-based strategy phase—was a bold departure from the norm, reflecting Use Corporation’s willingness to experiment with genre-blending.

Technological Constraints and the Gaming Landscape

Released in 1989, Meiji Ishin arrived at a time when the NES was nearing the end of its lifecycle, but the console was still a powerhouse for innovative gameplay. The game’s developers had to work within the hardware’s limitations, particularly in terms of memory and graphical fidelity. The fixed-screen, flip-screen design of the adventure segments and the grid-based strategy maps were practical solutions to these constraints, but they also added a unique charm to the game. The gaming landscape of the late 1980s was dominated by action-adventure titles like Zelda II: The Adventure of Link and strategy games like Nobunaga’s Ambition, making Meiji Ishin‘s hybrid approach a refreshing change of pace.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Plot and Characters

Meiji Ishin is a two-part journey. The first half casts players as Sakamoto Ryōma, a real-life historical figure and key player in the Meiji Restoration. Ryōma’s mission is to forge alliances against the Tokugawa shogunate while evading assassins. The narrative unfolds through extensive dialogue with non-player characters (NPCs), requiring players to navigate a web of political intrigue and personal loyalties.

The second half shifts gears dramatically, transforming the game into a turn-based strategy sim where players command armies to conquer regions and ultimately topple the shogunate. This transition from personal adventure to grand strategy mirrors the historical shift from individual actions to large-scale political and military movements during the Meiji Restoration.

Dialogue and Themes

The dialogue in Meiji Ishin is dense and largely in Japanese, which presents a significant barrier for non-Japanese speakers. However, for those who can understand or decipher the text, the conversations are rich with historical context and thematic depth. The game explores themes of loyalty, revolution, and the clash between tradition and modernity. Sakamoto Ryōma’s character is portrayed as a visionary, a man torn between his personal convictions and the greater good, a nuanced portrayal that adds emotional weight to the gameplay.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Adventure Segment

The adventure portion of Meiji Ishin is a mix of dialogue-driven exploration and combat. Players navigate fixed-screen environments, engaging in conversations with NPCs to gather information and forge alliances. Combat is handled through a unique Quick Time Event (QTE) system, where players must strike when a red bubble appears over their opponent and defend when a green bubble appears. The damage dealt is determined by a rotating wheel, adding a layer of strategy to the otherwise simple mechanics.

Strategy Segment

The second half of the game is a turn-based strategy sim reminiscent of Nobunaga’s Ambition. Players command armies on a strategic map, issuing orders to conscript troops, mine resources, and declare war. Tactical battles are fought on a grid, with players aiming to defeat the enemy regiment defending a fortress. The game’s AI is notoriously simplistic, often leading to predictable enemy movements, but this also makes the game more accessible to newcomers.

Innovations and Flaws

One of Meiji Ishin‘s most innovative features is its seamless transition between adventure and strategy gameplay. However, the game is not without its flaws. The combat system in the adventure segment can feel clunky, and the lack of a save feature (common for NES games) makes the lengthy campaign a test of patience. Additionally, the game’s reliance on Japanese text makes it inaccessible to many players, a significant drawback for a title with such rich historical content.

World-Building, Art & Sound

Setting and Atmosphere

Meiji Ishin excels in its world-building, capturing the essence of 19th-century Japan with its detailed environments and historical accuracy. The fixed-screen design of the adventure segments allows for intricate backgrounds that evoke the feel of feudal Japan, from bustling marketplaces to serene dojos. The strategy maps are equally well-crafted, with distinct regions that reflect the geographical diversity of Japan.

Visual Direction

The game’s visuals are a testament to the NES’s capabilities. The character sprites are detailed, and the use of color is effective in conveying different environments. The combat animations, though simple, are fluid and add a sense of urgency to the QTE-based duels. The strategy maps are clear and easy to navigate, with distinct icons representing different units and resources.

Sound Design

The soundtrack of Meiji Ishin is a standout feature. The music is composed in a traditional Japanese style, with instruments like the shamisen and taiko drums creating an immersive atmosphere. The sound effects are equally well-crafted, from the clashing of swords in combat to the rustling of paper during dialogue sequences. The audio design enhances the game’s historical setting, making the world feel alive and vibrant.

Reception & Legacy

Critical and Commercial Reception

Upon its release, Meiji Ishin received mixed reviews. Critics praised its ambitious scope and historical accuracy but criticized its accessibility and gameplay mechanics. The game’s reliance on Japanese text limited its appeal to a niche audience, and its lack of a save feature was a significant drawback for many players. Despite these criticisms, Meiji Ishin developed a cult following among history enthusiasts and strategy game fans.

Influence on Subsequent Games

Meiji Ishin‘s legacy is evident in later titles that blend adventure and strategy gameplay. Games like Rurouni Kenshin: Ishin Gekitōhen (1996) and Ryū ga Gotoku: Ishin! (2014) owe a debt to Meiji Ishin‘s innovative approach to historical storytelling. The game’s influence can also be seen in modern strategy-adventure hybrids like Total War and Crusader Kings, which combine grand strategy with narrative-driven gameplay.

Conclusion

Meiji Ishin is a game of contradictions. It is both a historical epic and a niche curiosity, a masterpiece of strategy and a relic of its time. Its ambitious scope and rich historical content make it a standout title, but its accessibility issues and dated mechanics hold it back. Despite these flaws, Meiji Ishin remains a fascinating and rewarding experience for those willing to invest the time and effort. It is a game that deserves to be remembered not just as a historical artifact, but as a pioneering work that pushed the boundaries of what video games could achieve. In the annals of video game history, Meiji Ishin stands as a testament to the power of storytelling and strategy, a game that, despite its flaws, leaves an indelible mark on the medium.