# 7 Blades > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/7_Blades > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/7_Blades.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7_Blades > Source revision: 1323796804 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|2000 video game}} {{Infobox video game |image = 7 Blades coverart.jpg |caption = PAL version cover art |developer = [Konami](/source/Konami) Computer Entertainment Japan East
Paradise Pictures |publisher = [Konami](/source/Konami) |director = [Kaizo Hayashi](/source/Kaizo_Hayashi) |producer = Atsushi Horigami |released = {{vgrelease|JP|December 21, 2000|PAL|September 28, 2001}} |genre = [Action-adventure](/source/Action-adventure_game) |modes = [Single-player](/source/Single-player_video_game) |platforms = [PlayStation 2](/source/PlayStation_2) }} '''''7 Blades'''''{{efn|{{nihongo|'''''7 Blades'''''|セブンブレイズ}}}} is an [action-adventure](/source/Action-adventure_game) [video game](/source/video_game) developed by [Konami](/source/Konami) for the [PlayStation 2](/source/PlayStation_2) home game console. It was released in [Japan](/source/Japan) on December 21, 2000 and in [PAL region](/source/PAL_region)s on September 28, 2001. ==Plot== ''7 Blades'' is based on the 1990 film ''[Zipang](/source/Zipang_(film))'', directed by Japanese filmmaker [Kaizo Hayashi](/source/Kaizo_Hayashi).{{cite web | author=IGN staff | date=October 31, 2000 | title=''7 Blades'' | url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/135/135185p1.html | work=[IGN](/source/IGN) | access-date=March 25, 2012 | archive-date=March 5, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305142128/http://ps2.ign.com/articles/135/135185p1.html | url-status=live }} The game takes place in mid-17th century Japan, during which the [Tokugawa shogunate](/source/Tokugawa_shogunate) was gaining power. The game is set on the man-made island [Dejima](/source/Dejima), which the Japanese government is using to house Western foreigners and where a Christian group is trying to separate from the rest of the country.{{cite web | author=Provo, Frank | title=''7 Blades'' Preview | url=http://www.gamespot.com/7-blades/previews/7-blades-preview-2623248/ |publisher=[CBS Interactive](/source/CBS_Interactive) | work=[GameSpot](/source/GameSpot) | access-date=March 25, 2012}} The main character is Gokurakumaru, a violent mercenary and poor womanizer. He travels with his gun-wielding love interest (Oyuri) and sidekick (Togizo). The latter provides comic relief and holds the swords as Gokurakumaru collects them one by one. ==Development and release== ''7 Blades'' was developed by [Konami Computer Entertainment Japan East](/source/Konami) in association with Paradise Pictures. The game was in development for over two years with a staff of around 20 people. Konami was assisted by Hayashi, who served as the game's directing supervisor and was given creative control over its storyline, dialogue, and action.{{cite book | author=Konami | date=September 28, 2001 | title=7 Blades ''Instruction Manual'' | page=32 |publisher=[Konami](/source/Konami) | id=SLES-50109}} Hayashi had not been involved in video games prior to ''7 Blades'', but began leaning towards production of such a game when visual advances in [computer graphics](/source/computer_graphics) were made in the medium, striving to make it "universally appealing". Hayashi wanted ''7 Blades'' to cover a wide range of genres, and even with the player killing a large number of enemies, he hoped that it could also be enjoyed as a sophisticated sword-fighting game. Hayashi felt that meshing the story branches of the two playable characters was a feature "only possible in a game". Hayashi chose to create a game rather than a film due to what he perceived as the limitless potential of games. Both Hayashi and producer Atsushi Horigami understood the importance of gameplay and insisted on making "a movie with some very deep action gameplay elements". Project director and writer Shinsuke Mukai described the game as similar to both ''[Tomb Raider](/source/Tomb_Raider)'' and ''[Tenchu](/source/Tenchu)'' while leaning towards more action and less stealth-focused gameplay.{{cite web | author=Fischer, Blake | date=August 2000 | title=Alphas: ''7 Blades'' | url=https://archive.org/details/NextGen68Aug2000/page/n49/mode/2up | magazine=[Next Generation](/source/Next_Generation_(magazine)) | publisher=[Imagine Media](/source/Future_US) | issue=68 | pages=48–9 | issn=1078-9693}} The game was initially planned for the [original PlayStation](/source/PlayStation_(console)).{{cite magazine | date=October 2000 | title=Preview: ''7 Blades'' | url=https://archive.org/details/p2-01/page/n61/mode/2up | magazine=P2 | publisher=[Paragon Publishing](/source/Paragon_Publishing) | issue=1 | pages=62–3 | issn=1471-1192}}{{cite magazine | author=Lawrence, Ben | date=September 2009 | title=''Seven Blades'' | url=https://archive.org/details/play-066/page/2000/mode/1up | magazine=Play | publisher=[Paragon Publishing](/source/Paragon_Publishing) | issue=66 | page=26 | issn=2754-0421}} However, the developer was only able to achieve three enemies alongside the player so more powerful technology was sought. The [Dreamcast](/source/Dreamcast) was a consideration, but the [PlayStation 2](/source/PlayStation_2)'s hardware allowed for superior backgrounds and up to 20 simultaneous enemies.{{cite magazine | author=''Edge'' staff | date=July 2000 | title=Prescreen Focus: ''Seven Blades'' | url=https://archive.org/details/Edge_Gaming/Edge%20Gaming%20Magazine%20086/page/n29/mode/2up | magazine=[Edge](/source/Edge_(magazine)) | publisher=[Future plc](/source/Future_plc) | issue=86 | pages=36–40 | issn=1350-1593}} ''7 Blades'' was announced by Konami in May 2000, just before the [Electronic Entertainment Expo](/source/Electronic_Entertainment_Expo) (E3).{{cite web | author=Zdyrko, Dave | date=May 5, 2000 | title=Off the Record, Vol. 48 | url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/078/078988p1.html | work=[IGN](/source/IGN) | access-date=March 25, 2012 | archive-date=August 24, 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060824175724/http://ps2.ign.com/articles/078/078988p1.html | url-status=live }} Konami released the first screenshots of the game in July of that year and made it available to play at the [Tokyo Game Show](/source/Tokyo_Game_Show) in September.{{cite web | author=Strohm, Axel | date=July 17, 2000 | title=Update: ''7 Blades'' | url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/update-7-blades-2604640 | publisher=[CBS Interactive](/source/CBS_Interactive) | work=[GameSpot](/source/GameSpot) | access-date=March 25, 2012}}{{cite web | author=Zdyrko, Dave | date=September 25, 2000 | title=TGS 2000: Hands-on Impressions of ''7 Blades'' | url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/085/085383p1.html | work=[IGN](/source/IGN) | access-date=March 25, 2012 | archive-date=September 9, 2005 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050909162756/http://ps2.ign.com/articles/085/085383p1.html | url-status=live }} The game was released in Japan on December 21, 2000 alongside the ''7 Blades Original Soundtrack'' produced by the Meyna Company and the single for the opening theme "Love Will See Us Though" by Sayaka Kubo.{{cite web|author=Konami staff |script-title=ja:グッズ |trans-title=Goods |url=http://www.konamijpn.com/products/7blades/kanren.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020220131101/http://www.konamijpn.com/products/7blades/kanren.html |work=[Konami](/source/Konami) |archive-date=February 20, 2002 |language=ja |access-date=March 25, 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web | title=7Blades| url=http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=KMCA-85 |work=CDJapan | access-date=March 25, 2012}}{{cite web | title=Love Will See Us Through| url=http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=RCCA-8001 |work=CDJapan | access-date=March 25, 2012}} A novelization of the game titled {{nihongo|''7 Blades Jigoku Gokurakumaru to Teppou Oyuri''|7BLADES—地獄極楽丸と鉄砲お百合}} by Ryosuke Sakaki was published by [Dengeki Media Works](/source/ASCII_Media_Works) in February 2002.{{cite book | title=7BLADES—地獄極楽丸と鉄砲お百合 | language=ja |isbn=4840217637}} ==Reception== {{Video game reviews |GR=64.5%{{cite web | title=''7 Blades'' for PlayStation 2 | url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/370568-7-blades/index.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209012446/https://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/370568-7-blades/index.html | archive-date=December 9, 2019 | publisher=[CBS Interactive](/source/CBS_Interactive) | work=[GameRankings](/source/GameRankings) | access-date=March 25, 2012}} |Edge=4/10{{cite magazine|title=7 Blades|date=March 2001|magazine=[Edge](/source/Edge_(magazine))|page=80|issue=95}} |JXV=14/20{{cite web|url=https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00001616_test.htm|title=Test: 7 Blades|language=fr|website=[Jeuxvideo.com](/source/Jeuxvideo.com)|date=October 5, 2001|access-date=October 13, 2020}} |OPMUK=6/10{{cite magazine|last=Merrett|first=Steve|date=March 2001|title=7 Blades|magazine=[Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine](/source/Official_UK_PlayStation_2_Magazine)|issue=5|pages=112–113}} |Play=46%{{cite magazine|title=7 Blades|magazine=[Play](/source/Play_(UK_magazine))|issue=73|pages=48–50|date=February 2001}} }} ''7 Blades'' was met with an indifferent critical response from European and Australian publications, currently holding an aggregate score of 64.5% on [GameRankings](/source/GameRankings). The game was re-released under the "Konami the Best" range of budget titles in Japan, as well as its collection of European budget titles.{{cite web | title=7Blades(コナミ ザ ベスト) | trans-title=''7 Blades'' (Konami the Best) | url=http://www.jp.playstation.com/software/title/slpm65057.html | work=[Sony Computer Entertainment](/source/Sony_Computer_Entertainment) | language=ja | access-date=March 25, 2012 | archive-date=March 7, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307212714/https://www.jp.playstation.com/software/title/slpm65057.html | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | author=Gestalt | date=August 19, 2002 | title=Konami Collects itself | url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/article_46515 |work=[Eurogamer](/source/Eurogamer) | access-date=March 25, 2012}} ==References== {{Reflist|2}} ==Notes== {{noteslist}} ==External links== *[http://www.gamefaqs.com/ps2/370568-7-blades/ ''7 Blades''] at [GameFAQs](/source/GameFAQs) Category:2000 video games Category:Action-adventure games Category:Cancelled PlayStation (console) games Category:Hack and slash games Category:Konami games Category:PlayStation 2 games Category:PlayStation 2-only games Category:Single-player video games Category:Video games about ninja Category:Video games about samurai Category:Video games based on films Category:Video games developed in Japan Category:Video games featuring female protagonists Category:Video games set in 17th-century Edo period Category:Video games set in the 1640s --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [7 Blades](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7_Blades) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7_Blades?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.