Shinkai (lost build of cancelled simulation/action game for Famicom; 1989)

Promotional flyer for the game.

Status: Lost

Shinkai (神界, lit: God World) is a simulation/action game for Famicom developed by Shōei System (Shouei System) and planned to be released by Toei Animation. Character designs are by manga writer Kenji Wakabayashi.

Gameplay

The objective of the game is for players to do good deeds in this life and live peacefully in heaven. First, the player must choose a person to be his or her previous life. The person chosen will greatly affect what happens later in this life. In this life, various events occur, such as helping a person in need or picking up an abandoned cat. Finally, if you die in a car accident, you will be judged by the demon king Enma in the afterlife, which determines whether you will ascend to heaven or fall into hell. The outcome of the judgment depends on the number of karma from events in this life. In hell, the game consists of four stages, fire, needles, water, and rock, and if you can successfully escape, the game is clear.

Availability

Reviews for the game began to appear in gaming magazines between the months of April-May of 1989, including publications like Famitsu and Famimaga. These reviews either provide no release date for the game, or state that the release date is "未定" or "Undecided".

The image posted by Twitter user @EndymionProgram contained a brief section on Shinkai and its current state of development.

On February 10th, 2022, Twitter user @EndymionProgram posted an image from an unknown publication, simply stating it was from an "old famicom magazine". However, this image was noteworthy, as it contained information on various cancelled games, including Shinkai. The text reads as such:

「神界」のタイトルと画面が発表されたのは89年のNO.8じゃが、発売日は未定のまま。 「諸般の事情により、発売日をみあわせています。でも、 開発はほぼ終了していますよ。 (映像事業部・池田さん)」

When translated into English, it reads:

The title "Shinkai" along with screenshots were announced in our No.8 1989 issue, but its release date is currently undecided. "Due to several circumstances, the release date has been postponed. However, development is almost complete." (Imaging Division; Mr. Ikeda)

It's heavily implied by Mr. Ikeda that Shinkai was far into development when it was cancelled. It's unknown what caused Shinkai to be delayed, or why it was never released. Currently, no prototype of the game have surfaced online.

Gallery

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  Review from Famitsu Apr 14, 1989

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  Review from Famitsu May 12-24, 1989

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  Review from Famimaga 1989 (Volume number unknown)

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  Title screen and other screenshots from Toei Animation's 1989 corporate brochure.

Screenshots

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External Links

• 神界 - 幻のソフト研究所