Daisenryaku (大戦略, Great Strategy) is a series of war strategy video games by SystemSoft and SystemSoft Alpha in Japan. The series debuted in Japan in 1985 with Gendai Daisenryaku (現代大戦略, Modern Great Strategy) exclusively for the NEC PC-98.[1][2]

Box cover of Gendai Daisenryaku (1985)

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 edit

Personal computer edit

Name Released Platform
Gendai Daisenryaku November 1985[1][2] PC-98
Daisenryaku 88 August 1986[2][4] PC-88
Daisenryaku X1 December 1986[2][5] X1
Daisenryaku II March 20, 1987[1][2] PC-98
Daisenryaku FM August 1987[2][6] FM-7
Daisenryaku November 1987[2] MSX2
Super Daisenryaku 1988[4] PC-88
Campaign-ban Daisenryaku II November 1988[2] PC-88
Super Daisenryaku May 1989[2] MSX2
Daisenryaku III: Great Commander June 24, 1989[7] PC-98
Campaign-ban Daisenryaku II December 1989[2] PC-98
Daisenryaku III '90 October 1990[2] PC-98
Daisenryaku III '90 December 1991[2] X68000
Campaign-ban Daisenryaku II June 1992 MSX2
Daisenryaku IV June 1992[2] PC-98
Advanced Daisenryaku 98 April 2, 1998 PC
Advanced Daisenryaku 98 II August 5, 1999 PC
Advanced Daisenryaku 2001 April 26, 2001 PC
Daisenryaku Perfect March 20, 2003 PC
Advanced Daisenryaku IV August 21, 2003 PC
Daisenryaku Centurion June 15, 2006 PC
Advanced Daisenryaku 5 June 29, 2006 PC
Shin Daisenryaku: Battle of Soldier March 13, 2009 PC
Daisenryaku Perfect 2.0 November 20, 2009 PC
Daisenryaku: Dai Tōa Kōbōshi: Nii Takayama no Bore - Ichini Maru Hachi November 20, 2009 PC
Daisenryaku: Dai Tōa Kōbōshi - Dainijisekaitaisen Boppatsu - Sūjiku Sentai Rengougun Zensekaisen November 22, 2009 PC
Daisenryaku Supreme Strategic Battles February 3, 2022 PC

Console edit

Name Release Dates Platforms
Daisenryaku
  • JP: October 11, 1988
Famicom
Super Daisenryaku
  • JP: April 29, 1989
Mega Drive
Advanced Daisenryaku: Deutsch Dengeki Sakusen
  • JP: June 21, 1991
Mega Drive
Lord of Wars
  • JP: November 21, 1991
Turbo CD
Campaign-ban Daisenryaku II
  • JP: May 29, 1992
Turbo CD
Daisenryaku Expert
  • JP: September 25, 1992
Super Famicom
Barbarossa
  • JP: November 27, 1992
Super Famicom
World Advanced Daisenryaku Kōtetsu no Senpū
  • JP: September 22, 1995
Sega Saturn
World Advanced Daisenryaku: Sakusen File
  • JP: March 15, 1996
Sega Saturn
Daisenryaku: Players Spirit
  • JP: March 29, 1996
PlayStation
Iron Storm
  • NA: May 8, 1996
Sega Saturn
Daisenryaku Expert WWII: War in Europe
  • JP: August 30, 1996
Super Famicom
Advanced World War Sennen Teikoku no Kōbō: Last of the Millennium
  • JP: March 20, 1997
Sega Saturn
Daisenryaku Strong Style
  • JP: June 27, 1997
Sega Saturn
Daisenryaku: Master Combat
  • JP: December 12, 1998
PlayStation
Cyber Daisenryaku: Shutsugeki! Harukatai
  • JP: February 4, 1999
PlayStation
Advanced Daisenryaku: Europe no Arashi - Doitsu Dengeki Sakusen
  • JP: June 22, 2000
Dreamcast
Advanced Daisenryaku 2001
  • JP: April 26, 2001
Dreamcast
Daisenryaku VII / Dai Senryaku VII: Modern Military Tactics Xbox
  • JP: May 29, 2003
  • NA: February 16, 2005
PlayStation 2
  • JP: December 14, 2006
  • NA: December 19, 2007
Xbox, PlayStation 2
Daisenryaku 1941: Gyakuten no Taiheiyō
  • JP: November 3, 2003
PlayStation 2
Standard Daisenryaku: Dengekisen
  • JP: November 11, 2004
PlayStation 2
Standard Daisenryaku: Ushinawareta Shōri
  • JP: June 2, 2005
PlayStation 2
Sega Ages Vol. 22 Advanced Daisenryaku Doitsu Dengeki Sakusen
  • JP: February 26, 2006
PlayStation 2
Daisenryaku VII Exceed
  • JP: December 14, 2006
  • NA: December 19, 2007
PlayStation 2
Daisenryaku: Dai Tōa Kōbōshi - Tora Tora Tora Ware Kishuu Ni Seikou Seri
  • JP: September 25, 2008
PlayStation 2
Gendai Daisenryaku: Isshoku Sokuhatsu - Gunji Balance Hōkai
  • JP: August 27, 2009
PlayStation 2
Daisenryaku: Dai Tōa Kōbōshi - Tora Tora Tora Ware Kishuu Ni Seikou Seri
  • JP: June 20, 2013
PlayStation 3
Daisenryaku Perfect: Senjō no Hasha
  • JP: February 6, 2014
PlayStation 3
Daisenryaku: Dai Tōa Kōbōshi - Dainijisekaitaisen Boppatsu - Sūjiku Sentai Rengougun Zensekaisen
  • JP: March 26, 2015
PlayStation 3
Daisenryaku Exceed II
  • JP: July 30, 2015
PlayStation 3
Daisenryaku: Daitoua Kōbōshi 3 - Dai-ni-ji Sekai Taisen Boppatsu!
  • JP: December 17, 2015
PlayStation 4
Daisenryaku Perfect 4.0 PlayStation 4
  • JP: April 26, 2018
Nintendo Switch
  • JP: September 20, 2018
PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
Gendai Daisenryaku 2020: Shaking World Order! Ambition of the Great Powers and World War PlayStation 4
  • JP: February 27, 2020
Nintendo Switch
  • JP: June 24, 2021
PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch

Handheld edit

Name Release Dates Platform
Daisenryaku
  • JP: June 12, 1991
Game Boy
Taisen-gata Daisenryaku G
  • JP: September 28, 1991
Game Gear
Daisenryaku for Game Boy Advance
  • JP: December 7, 2001
Game Boy Advance
Daisenryaku Portable
  • JP: December 22, 2005
PlayStation Portable
Daisenryaku DS
Nintendo DS
Daisenryaku Portable 2
  • JP: December 14, 2006
PlayStation Portable
Daisenryaku VII Exceed
  • JP: May 22, 2008
PlayStation Portable
Daisenryaku: Dai Tōa Kōbōshi - Tora Tora Tora Ware Kishuu Ni Seikou Seri
  • JP: September 25, 2008
PlayStation Portable
Gendai Daisenryaku: Isshoku Sokuhatsu - Gunji Balance Hōkai PlayStation Portable
  • JP: August 27, 2009
Nintendo DS
  • JP: February 25, 2010
PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS
Daisenryaku Perfect: Senjō no Hasha
  • JP: June 24, 2010
PlayStation Portable
Daisenryaku: Dai Tōa Kōbōshi - Dainijisekaitaisen Boppatsu - Sūjiku Sentai Rengougun Zensekaisen PlayStation Portable
  • JP: July 31, 2014
Vita
  • JP: March 26, 2015
PlayStation Portable, Vita
Daisenryaku Exceed II
  • JP: July 30, 2015
Vita
Daisenryaku Perfect: Senjō no Hasha
  • JP: March 3, 2016
Vita
Daisenryaku: Daitoua Kōbōshi DX -DainiJi Sekai Taisen
  • JP: May 23, 2019
3DS

Mobile phone edit

Name Released Platform
Daisenryaku ONLINE i-mode
EZweb
i-mode, EZweb

Notable games edit

Early titles edit

Gendai Daisenryaku (現代大戦略, Modern Great Strategy) is the first title in the series, released in November 1985 exclusively for the NEC PC-98.[1] It sold 20,000 copies.[11]

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.[2] It sold 50,000 copies.[11] 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.[2]

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.[12]

Advanced Daisenryaku: Deutsch Dengeki Sakusen edit

Advanced Daisenryaku: Deutsch Dengeki Sakusen
Developer(s)Sega
Publisher(s)Sega
SeriesDaisenryaku
Platform(s)Mega Drive, PlayStation 2
ReleaseMega Drive
  • JP: June 17, 1991
PlayStation 2
  • JP: February 23, 2006
Genre(s)Strategy
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

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 edit

Daisenryaku Expert WWII: War in Europe
Developer(s)SystemSoft
Publisher(s)ASCII Entertainment
SeriesDaisenryaku
Platform(s)Super Famicom
Release
Genre(s)Strategy
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Daisenryaku Expert WWII: War in Europe (大戦略エキスパートWWII, "Great Strategy Expert WWII") 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 edit

Iron Storm is the 1996 North American release of World Advanced Daisenryaku: Kōtetsu no Senpū (ワールドアドバンスド大戦略 〜鋼鉄の戦風〜) 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.[13]

Advanced Daisenryaku 2001 edit

Advanced Daisenryaku 2001
Developer(s)SystemSoft
Publisher(s)Sega
SeriesDaisenryaku
Platform(s)Dreamcast, PC
ReleaseDreamcast
  • JP: April 26, 2001
Windows PC
  • JP: November 26, 2001
Genre(s)Turn-based strategy
Mode(s)Single-player

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 edit

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 edit

Daisenryaku Portable
Developer(s)Genki
Publisher(s)Genki
SeriesDaisenryaku
Platform(s)PlayStation Portable
Release
Genre(s)Turn-based strategy
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

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.[15] 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 edit

Daisenryaku Portable 2
Developer(s)Genki
Publisher(s)Genki
SeriesDaisenryaku
Platform(s)PlayStation Portable
Release
Genre(s)Turn-based strategy
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

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".[17]

Moe moe 2-ji Daisen (ryaku) edit

Moe moe 2-ji Daisen (ryaku)
 萌萌2次大戰(略)
Developer(s)SystemSoft Alpha
Publisher(s)
  • JP: SystemSoft Alpha
  • TWN: TWTTIME Technology Co., Ltd
SeriesDaisenryaku
Platform(s)Windows 98, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, i-mode
Release
  • JP: 21 December 2007 (Win)
  • JP: 27 November 2008 (PS2/PSP)[18]
  • TWN: 12 July 2008 (Win)
  • JP: 18 March 2009 (Nintendo DS)[19]
  • JP: 18 March 2010 (Xbox 360)[20]
Genre(s)Turn-based strategy
Mode(s)Multiplayer

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.[21]

Daisenryaku Perfect: Senjō no Hasha edit

Daisenryaku Perfect: Senjō no Hasha
Developer(s)SystemSoft Alpha
Publisher(s)SystemSoft Alpha
SeriesDaisenryaku
Platform(s)PlayStation 3
PlayStation Portable
Release
  • JP: June 2011
Genre(s)Turn-based strategy
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

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 edit

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 Dai Senryaku VII: Modern Military Tactics 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.[22]

Fans have partially translated various entries in the series. Advanced Daisenryaku for the Sega Mega Drive,[23] Advanced Daisenryaku 2001 for the Sega Dreamcast,[24] and Daisenryaku VII for the PC [25] all saw translations of various levels released unofficially.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d 小西, 利明 (2005-01-27). "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!". ASCII.jp. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "緊急特集!現代大戦略EX". Comptiq. Kadokawa Shoten: 48–55. June 1993. Retrieved 2019-03-28.
  3. ^ "Bravo World Record!". Famicom Tsūshin (in Japanese). No. 226. 16 April 1993. p. 81.
  4. ^ a b "大戦略88". Project EGG. D4 Enterprise. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
  5. ^ "大戦略X1". Project EGG. D4 Enterprise. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
  6. ^ "大戦略FM". Project EGG. D4 Enterprise. Retrieved 2019-03-28.
  7. ^ "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. Retrieved 2019-03-28.
  8. ^ "Daisenryaku DS official website". 1 July 2006. Archived from the original on 2006-07-01. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  9. ^ "システムソフト・アルファー、iモードサイト「システムソフトSLG総合」開設 「大戦略ONLINE」など3タイトルを配信". Impress Watch. 2006-03-20. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
  10. ^ ONO (2008-05-15). "システムソフト・アルファー,「大戦略オンライン」をEZアプリで提供". 4Gamer.net. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
  11. ^ a b "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". 4Gamer. 2005-01-27. Retrieved 2019-03-28.
  12. ^ "日本シミュレーション紀行(6) 大戦略III'90". Daisenryaku Online Special. SystemSoft Alpha. Retrieved 2019-03-28.
  13. ^ "Iron Storm Review". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 82. EGM Media, LLC. May 1996. p. 31.
  14. ^ "Daisenryaku Portable publisher Genki's official game page". 30 June 2006. Archived from the original on 2006-06-30. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  15. ^ ""Grand strategy" pursuing energy and simplicity The latest PSP "Grand strategy portable"". 24 September 2005. Archived from the original on 2005-09-24. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Publisher Genki's official game page for Daisenryaku Portable 2". 22 April 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-04-22. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  17. ^ "Daisenryaku Portable 2 system page". 9 May 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-05-09. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  18. ^ "[PS2]萌え萌え2次大戦(略)☆デラックス オフィシャルWEBページ". 11 September 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-09-11. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  19. ^ "[DS]萌え萌え2次大戦(略)2[chu~♪]☆ヤマトナデシコ オフィシャルWEBページ". 29 August 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-08-29. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  20. ^ "[Xbox360]萌え萌え2次大戦(略)2[chu~♪]☆ウルトラデラックス オフィシャルWEBページ". 29 August 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-08-29. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  21. ^ "Nazi Bathing Suit Girls Storm PSP, PS2". www.ign.com. 4 April 2008. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  22. ^ "DAISENRYAKU PERFECT 4.0/大戦略パーフェクト4.0 on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  23. ^ "Genesis Advanced Military Commander Translation". 17 March 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-03-17. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  24. ^ "Advanced Daisenryaku 2001". ROMhacking.net. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  25. ^ "Daisenryaku VII". ROMhacking.net. Retrieved 2 January 2021.