China: The Forbidden City

Plot

The game is set in 1775 in the Forbidden City. Superintendent Anjing is summoned by the Qianlong Emperor in the early hours to investigate the death of chief eunuch Wang. He retrieves a letter from the Empress dowager, in which Wang reveals a conspiracy where he was forcedly implicated in the illegal copying of documents and imperial seals, part of a vast plot to kill and replace the emperor. To unravel the plot and expose the culprits, Wang has carefully dissimulated clues and confessions throughout different parts of the city, including offices, palaces, the Imperial Gardens and more.

The game features an encyclopedic mode and an interactive guide to the city.

Development

Cryo Interactive's 1998 suite of historical adventure games (including "Egypt", "China", and "Venice") achieved a net profit up 121% to 12.6 million francs while turnover grew by 54% to 239 million francs.[1]

Voice actors
CharacterVoice actor
Superintendent AnDavid Gasman
Lady ShouxiuKaren Strassman
Great Councillor YuJerry Di Giacomo
Superintendent DaLeslie Clack
Prince YongGay Marshall
Master WeiAllan Wenger
Director LiSteve Gadler
Assessor YangChristian Erickson
Lady FuSharon Mann
Chief MaIan Marshall
Chief WenJames Shuman
Chief JinMichael Morris
Emperor QianlongLeslie Clack
ChaoChristian Erickson
Hua BaoGay Marshall
Chief WangIan Marshall
August Empress DouairiereGay Marshall
Chief LuJerry Di Giacomo
Keeper of the August SealsMichael Morris
MeilinGay Marshall
GuardsAllan Wenger
OfficialsSteve Gadler

Reception

According to Cryo Interactive's marketing manager Mattieu Saint-Dennis, China: The Forbidden City sold 210,000 units in Europe alone by December 2000. Of this number, France accounted for 60,000 copies. Michel Richard of the Réunion des Musées Nationaux noted that China ultimately "lost money", which the team blamed on the game's setting.[3]

Jeux video argued that the encyclopedia featured within the title is more valuable than the game itself.[4] Adventure Gamers described the game as "calm, languid, elegant, oriental".[5] Les Echose praised the game's technical prowess and breathtaking 3D.[6] Metzomagic found it off that some of the character spoke with a Scottish accent.[7] La Nacion felt the title could have an application for parents to help their kids study.[8] MeriStation felt it was an adequate game while not pushing any boundaries, and that it was identical in gameplay to Cryo Interactive's Versailles 1685 which had been released a month earlier.[9] Just Adventure praised the title for being "entertainingly immersive and educational".[10]

References
  1. "Cryo introduira sa filiale Internet en Bourse avant la fin de l'année". lesechos.fr (in French). Retrieved 2019-02-13.
  2. Houghton, Gordon (April 19, 1999). "Forbidden City Review". PC Gaming World. Archived from the original on June 5, 2000.
  3. Silva, Beatriz Vieira da (October 2001). "Interviews". Culturtainment - a New Interactive Entertainment Genre (PDF) (MSc). Faculty of Social and Human Sciences. pp. A 20–A 27. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 17, 2018.
  4. "Test Chine : Intrigue Dans La Cité Interdite sur PS1". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Retrieved 2019-02-13.
  5. "China Review". Adventure Gamers. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
  6. "De la Bible à Tintin Chine, intrigue dans la Cité interdite". lesechos.fr (in French). Retrieved 2019-02-13.
  7. "China: Intrigue in the Forbidden City Review by metzomagic.com". www.metzomagic.com. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
  8. "China, crimen en la Ciudad Prohibida". www.lanacion.com.ar (in Spanish). 1999-08-23. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
  9. "China (PlayStation)". MeriStation (in Spanish). 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
  10. "China: The Forbidden City - Just Adventure + Review". 2003-06-04. Archived from the original on 2003-06-04. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
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