Compile (software company)
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Compile was a Japanese video game company founded in 1983, originally named Programmers-3. Founded by Masamitsu Niitani (otherwise simply known as 'Moo'), they were responsible for developing some of the most colourful and popular action and puzzle games ever made, including their signature franchise, Puyo Puyo. Although they created games for many systems, they were noted for particularly strong support of the MSX and Turbo Grafx 16, as well as a number of notable games on the NES and Sega Master System.
Compile created the Madou Monogatari franchise, which blossomed into their most famous puzzle game, Puyo Puyo, as well as vertical shooters (such as the Zanac and Aleste series) and countless other less successful games. Although they specialised in shoot 'em up and puzzle games, Compile created games in many genres across many platforms. In 1998, Compile and Sega worked together on the development of Puyo Puyon, with the first release being seen on the Dreamcast before porting to the Nintendo 64 and PlayStation.
Compile filed for bankruptcy and disbanded in 2002, though its spirit lives on in Aiky, founded afterwards by several ex-employees. Aiky published Compile's last game, completed before their collapse, Pochi and Nya. Another company that spun off from Compile was Milestone Inc., which focuses on arcade shoot 'em ups. Yet another company, Compile Heart, hopes to revive the Compile brand name with the assistance of former Compile employees like Puyo Puyo creator "Moo" Niitani. The rights to Puyo Puyo, however, are currently held by Sega. New games in the franchise are produced by Sega's subsidiary Sonic Team.
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[edit] Games
[edit] Puyo Puyo
Puyo Puyo, first released for the MSX computer in 1991, is a falling block puzzle game similar to Tetris. The object of the game is to create groups of four or more "Puyos" of the same color as they fall from the top of the screen. This simple, yet addictive, concept was expanded on in a series of sequels over the course of two decades.
Puyo Puyo reached North America in the form of Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine for the Sega Genesis and Kirby's Avalanche for the Super Nintendo. However, the series unaltered appearance was Puyo Pop, a name for two games that were released on the Neo-Geo Pocket Color and for the Game Boy Advance.
After Compile disbanded, the Puyo franchise was passed to Sega's Sonic Team, who created Puyo Pop Fever.
[edit] Shoot 'em Ups
Although Puyo Puyo was Compile's most successful franchise, they also built an impressive body of work in the shoot 'em up genre. After 1993, Compile focused on other genres, and a few of the company's staff went on to 8ing/Raizing to contribute to games such as Battle Garegga and Mahou Daisakusen. Others stayed with Compile til the end, and formed Milestone Inc. and continue to develop new shooters. Some of Compile's most famous games include:
[edit] Zanac
First released on the MSX computer in 1986, Zanac combined fast action with an innovative AI system, which changes based on your style of play. Zanac received a true sequel, Zanac EX and an NES port. There was also a parody of Zanac called Gun*Nac, released by Nexoft for the NES in 1991. Similar to Konami's own Paradious games, Gun*Nac brought humor to the gameplay of the original by replacing the enemies with carrot-throwing rabbits and letting the player purchase weapons in a fast food store at the end of each stage. In 2001, Compile released an updated version for the PlayStation titled Zanac X Zanac, which included an original sequel entitled Zanac Neo.
[edit] Aleste
In many ways, Aleste, released in 1988, was a follow-up to Zanac. It was first released on the MSX2 and was ported to the Sega Master System. A sequel, Aleste 2, was also released for the MSX2. Super Aleste came out in 1992 for the Super Famicom and was retitled Space Megaforce in North America. Aleste is now available on cellular phones, courtesy of Aiky.
Considered by many to be Compile's finest shooter[citation needed], Musha Aleste (titled M.U.S.H.A. in the US) is a very fast shooter, released on the Sega Mega Drive in 1990. The game takes place in a unique Japanese futuristic setting. Musha Aleste is remembered as one of the best shooters on Sega's 16-bit console[citation needed].
[edit] Blazing Lazers
Blazing Lazers for the Turbografx-16 console was released in 1989 and soon became a showpiece for NEC's console. Its fast action and large arsenal of weapons made it a hit and it is still remembered as one of the defining shooters of the era[citation needed].
[edit] Other Games
Although they focused on shoot 'em ups and Puyo Puyo games, Compile was quite prolific in other areas as well. Started in 1989, the Madou Monogatari games are simple role-playing games featuring characters that would appear in Puyo Puyo games, such as Arle. Golvellius, which was released on the MSX as well as the Master System, is an action-adventure game. The Rune Master is a board game style RPG. They also developed a series of influential pinball games, such as Alien Crush on the NEC TurboGrafx 16 system, and Devil's Crush[1].
[edit] Games by Compile
- A.E.
- Adventures of Arle
- Aleste
- Aleste 2
- Aleste Gaiden
- Alien Crush
- Blazing Lazers
- Blitz Try (racing/platformer for PCs, japan only)
- Borderline (SG-1000 conversion)
- C-So
- Championship Lode Runner
- Choplifter
- Devil's Crush
- E.I. - Exa Innova
- Final Justice
- Godzilla: Gojira-Kun
- Ghostbusters
- Golvellius: Valley of Doom
- Gun Nac
- Guardic
- Gulkave
- Guru Logi Champ
- The Guardian Legend
- Jagur 5
- Loderunner
- Lunar Ball
- Madou Monogatari 1-2-3
- Madou Monogatari A.R.S
- Madou Monogatari: Hanamaru Dai Youchienji
- Madou Monogatari
- Nazo Puyo
- Nazo Puyo 2
- Parlour Games
- Power Strike
- Power Strike II
- Puyo Puyo Tsu
- Puyo Puyo SUN
- Puyo Puyon
- Puyo Wars
- R-Type (Sega Mark III conversion)
- Randar no Bouken (1989)
- Randar II: Revenge of Death (1989)
- Randar no Bouken III: Yami ni Miserareta Majuts...
- Robo Aleste
- Rogue Hearts Dungeon
- RuneMaster
- RuneMaster II
- RuneMaster: War among Three Empires
- Seirei Senshi Spriggan
- Shadowrun (for Mega-CD)
- Sonic Classics
- Spriggan Mark 2
- Super Aleste (Space Megaforce in the U.S.)
- Super Nazo Puyo 2: Ruruu no Tetsuwan Hanjyouki
- Super Nazo Puyo: Ruruu no Ruu
- Swing
- Tales of the Float Land
- Tombs and Treasures
- Wander Wonder
- Zanac
- Zanac X Zanac
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Milestone official website - The official web site of Milestone, a game design firm founded by former Compile employees (Japanese)
- Mono Omou Ishi (Thinking Stone) - Milestone's official English-language web log (no longer updated)
- Compile Heart official home page - The official web site of Compile Heart, a game design firm founded by former Compile employees
- Kelesis Home Page: COMPILE SHOOTING GAME HISTORY - It's all translated from French so the writing's a little awkward, but there's a complete history of everything Compile, and tons of pictures.
- SHMUPS! - Has features on Aleste 1 and 2, MUSHA, and others. Best all around shooter site on the Internet too.
- Complete Aleste Shrine - Mostly devoted to MUSHA.
- Arcane Lore - Homepage of shooter fan Zach Keene, has an extremely indepth FAQ for Zanac X Zanac.
