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| {{Infobox
| | #REDIRECT [[:Category:King's Field (Series)]] |
| | title = King's Field
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| | image =
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| | caption =
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| | header1 = Developer [[From Software]]
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| | publisher = [[From Software]]<br>[[ASCII (company)|ASCII Entertainment]]<br />[[Agetec]]<br>[[Sony Computer Entertainment|SCEE]]<br>[[Metro 3D]]
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| | platforms = PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Microsoft Windows, Mobile phones
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| | genre = Console role-playing game
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| | first release version = ''[[King's Field]]''
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| | first release date = December 16, 1994
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| | latest release version = ''[[King's Field IV]]''
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| | latest release date = October 4, 2001
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| }}
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| '''King's Field''' (キングスフィールド) is a [[console role-playing game]] series developed by [[From Software]] and localized into English by [[ASCII Entertainment]] (who later reformed into [[Agetec]]). It is known for its brooding atmosphere and cryptic, labyrinthine dungeons.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kasavin |first=Greg |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/2548021.html |title=News Game Spot |publisher=Gamespot.com |date=1995-12-31 |accessdate=2009-04-28}}</ref> Titles in this series have been released for the [[PlayStation]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[PlayStation Portable]], [[Microsoft Windows]], and various [[mobile phone]] platforms.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fromsoftware.jp/main/soft/ |title=From Software Release Notices |publisher=Fromsoftware.jp |date= |accessdate=2009-04-28}}</ref>
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| ''[[King's Field]]'' was released for the PlayStation in Japan on December 16, 1994, 13 days after the PlayStation console itself went on sale.{{Fact|date=August 2008}} The game's fully [[3D computer graphics|3D]], [[first person (video games)|first person perspective]] was groundbreaking among [[console role-playing game]]s of the time and received significant critical acclaim.{{Fact|date=August 2008}} The next two ''King's Field'' titles followed in quick succession: ''[[King's Field II]]'' on July 21, 1995 and ''[[King's Field III]]'' on June 21, 1996. ''[[King's Field IV]]'' was released several years later for the PlayStation 2 on October 4, 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/ps2/data/431703.html |title=Publish dates GameFAQ |publisher=Gamefaqs.com |date= |accessdate=2009-04-28}}</ref> A so-called "spiritual successor" to the series, named ''[[Demon's Souls]]'', was released February 5, 2009 in Japan for the PlayStation 3.
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| == Games ==
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| === PlayStation ===
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| The first game in the series, ''[[King's Field]]'', was released only in [[Japan]]. While it was not officially [[Internationalization and localization|localized]] into English, a fan has written a full English translation [[patch (computing)|patch]].<ref name="release1">{{cite web|author=Author |url=http://agetec.yuku.com/topic/1827 |title=Release Notice |publisher=Agetec.yuku.com |date= |accessdate=2009-04-28}}</ref>
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| In ''King's Field'', the player takes the role of John Alfred Forrester. He is searching for his missing father, Hauser Forrester, who disappeared along with his soldiers while exploring a dead king's underground [[graveyard]]. Shorter than the others in the series, ''King's Field'' includes five floors. The main aspects of gameplay consist of first-person battles, puzzle solving, and exploration.
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| After the success of the first game, ''[[King's Field II]]'' was also released in the [[United States]], under the name ''King's Field''. In the sequel, the player takes the role of Alexander, the lone survivor of a shipwreck who at the behest of King Alfred tries to fulfill his duty to find and retrieve a mysterious sword from the dangerous island of Melanat.
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| In ''[[King's Field III]]'' (released in the US as ''King's Field II''), the player takes the role of Prince Lyle Austin Forrester (son of King Alfred) as he struggles to uncover the reasons behind his father’s sudden descent into madness and to restore peace to the suffering kingdom of Verdite.
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| This time around, a large portion of the game takes place above ground, but the main aspects of gameplay remain unchanged: first-person battles, puzzle solving and exploration.
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| Overall gameplay remained very similar to the other King’s Field games and entails first-person battles, puzzle solving and exploration. This installment is the largest of the first three and contains various tweaks to the game's [[user interface]] which streamline controls and gameplay.
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| === PlayStation 2 ===
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| ''[[King's Field IV]]'' (released as ''King's Field: The Ancient City'' in the US) was the first game from the series released on the Playstation 2 console. The entire game takes place within the Land of Disaster, where the forest folk once dwelled until an evil curse came upon the land. The player takes the role of Prince Devian of the Azalin Empire who has been given the task of returning the cause of the blight, the Idol of Sorrow, back to the cursed land. His journey follows the downfall of the Kingdom of Heladin and the failed attempt to return the idol by Septiego the Sword Master who led an expedition of over 1000 men in a failed effort to return the cursed Idol.
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| === PlayStation Portable ===
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| ''[[King's Field: Additional I]]'' is the first game of the series released on the Playstation Portable. It was only released in Japan and was never localized to English; however, the game came with a mini-instruction manual in both English and Chinese for [[grey import]] buyers. The "Additional" series uses a step-by-step style of gameplay, rather than free-roaming.
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| ''[[King's Field: Additional II]]'', the sequel, also only found a Japanese release, and was never localized to English. It featured the ability to import the player's character from ''Kings Field: Additional I'', including all equipment and statistics.
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| === Microsoft Windows ===
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| ''[[Sword of Moonlight: King's Field Making Tool]]'' is a ''King's Field'' designing tool for the [[Microsoft Windows]] platform which was released in Japan. It lets the user construct free-standing ''King's Field'' games which may be played independently, without having Sword of Moonlight installed. It also contains a full remake of the first ''King’s Field'' game originally released on the Playstation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fromsoftware.jp/main/soft/som.html |title=From Software Product Details |publisher=Fromsoftware.jp |date= |accessdate=2009-04-28}}</ref> A fan made a full English translation available as a [[patch (computing)|patch]].<ref name="release1"/>
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| === Mobile phones ===
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| ''[[King's Field Mobile]]'' is a KF title released in Japan but was available for purchase and download to anyone with a compatible cellular phone platform.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fromcapsule.jp/kf.html |title=From Mobile Product |publisher=Fromcapsule.jp |date= |accessdate=2009-04-28}}</ref> It was followed by two sequels: ''[[King's Field Mobile 2]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fromcapsule.jp/kfm2.html |title=From Mobile Product |publisher=Fromcapsule.jp |date= |accessdate=2009-04-28}}</ref> and ''[[King's Field EX]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fromcapsule.jp/kfex.html |title=From Mobile Product |publisher=Fromcapsule.jp |date= |accessdate=2009-04-28}}</ref>
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| == Merchandise and other media ==
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| To commemorate their 20th anniversary, From Software released the special collection package called the ''King's Field Dark Side Box'', which contained a reissue of the four ''King's Field'' games which had previously been released on the Playstation and Playstation 2, as well as an [[Red Book (audio CD standard)|audio CD]], a map of Verdite, and other bonuses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://japan.gamespot.com/ps2/common/0,3800075479,10151359p,00.htm |title=Release Information Gamespot Japan |publisher=Japan.gamespot.com |date= |accessdate=2009-04-28}}</ref>
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| == Reception ==
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| Critical reception for the series in general was extremely polarized in that people tended to either hate it or love it. Common criticisms include: slow moving player character, low number of game characters (NPCs), difficult gameplay, and muddy colors. Others often cite these very things as what they like about the series.
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| As opposed to other combat based RPGs, ''King's Field'' focuses more on exploration and a dark brooding ambiance. The slow character movement facilitates streaming data from the game disk which eliminates loading screens that plague most Playstation titles. Fans say the lack of loading screens aid in becoming absorbed into the artistry of the title by removing constant reminders that "it's just a game".<ref>{{cite web|last=Kasavin |first=Greg |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/2548021.html |title=Gamespot Review |publisher=Gamespot.com |date=1995-12-31 |accessdate=2009-04-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/psx/review/197725.html |title=GameFAQs Reviews |publisher=Gamefaqs.com |date= |accessdate=2009-04-28}}</ref>
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| == Overview ==
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| While the first three installments continued a single story, the fourth (''King's Field IV'') begins a new story. All ''King's Field'' games share elements of game play and some common items. The Moonlight Sword has been a recurring element in every ''King's Field'' title as well as items such as the Earth Herb and Antidote.
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| In all ''King's Field'' releases, except for the PlayStation Portable titles, battles are fought in [[Real-time tactics|real time]], and usually involve maneuvering to land blows using melee weapons as well as casting offensive ranged-magic spells.
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| The Moonlight, Moonlight Sword, Sword of Moonlight, itself appears as a game item in many flagship From Software video game titles. This is a trend that does not appear to have an end.
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| == References ==
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| {{refs|2}}
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| == External links ==
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| * [http://www.ktn87kingsfield.webs.com/ "knighTeen87's King's Field" fansite]
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| * [http://www.kings-field.com/ King's Field Fansite]
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| * [http://www.swordofmoonlight.com Sword of Moonlight Community Site]
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| {{King's Field series}}
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| {{DEFAULTSORT:King's Field (Series)}}
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| [[Category:Video game franchises]]
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| [[ca:King's Field (saga)]]
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| [[ja:キングスフィールド]]
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| [[ms:King's Field (siri)]]
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