Gensei Kitan

Gensei series
Gensei Kitan: Disc Saga Ⅲ cover (PC-98)
Developers	Compile
Publishers	Compile
Platform of Origin	PC-9801
First game	Gensei Fūkyō Den (Disc Station Vol. 4)
Latest game	Gensei Suikoden Plus (Nintendo Switch)

Gensei (幻世, Gensē, lit. Phantom World) is a series of role-playing games created by Compile. The series was mainly released through Disc Station, asides from a standalone release on the PC-9801. Each game in the series takes place in the same world, although sometimes not directly connected to one another. The games also share similar elements with each installment.

Gameplay

Most games in the Gensei series play out as a traditional JRPG. The player explores towns and dungeons, recruits new party members, and randomly encounters monsters throughout each game. Combat is turn-based, with up to only three party members being allowed in the player's party at any given time. Party members can attack normally, or use techniques that are exclusive to them. Like all RPG party members, each member requires experience points to level up. Other spinoffs in the series play like action or card games.

Setting

Gensei is set in a world that shares medieval and steampunk elements, also featuring folklore such as demons and Gods. The central protagonist of the series is the anthropomorphic dog Smash, but other games in the series feature characters such as Darios, Alibaba, Fārin, and Atāhō as the main characters.

Games

• Gensei Fūkyō Den (幻世風狂伝, Phantom World: Madness), released through Disc Station Vol. 4 in 1994 for PC-9801
• Gensei Kitan: Disc Saga Ⅲ (幻世喜譚 ディスクサーガⅢ, Phantom World: Disc Saga Ⅲ), released on the PC-9801 on April 1st, 1995
• Gensei Kaitō Den (幻世快盗伝, Phantom World: The Tale of a Thief), released through Disc Station Vol. 8 in 1995 for PC-9801
• Gensei Torimonochō (幻世捕物帳, Phantom World: Detective Book), released through Disc Station Vol. 10 in 1996 for PC-98 CD-ROM
• Gensei Kaishingeki (幻世快進劇, Phantom World: Breakthrough), released through Disc Station Vol. 12 for Windows 95
• Gensei Suikoden (幻世酔虎伝, Phantom World: The Tale of the Drunken Tiger), released through Disc Station Vol. 14 in 1997 for Windows 95
• Gensei Kitan Gaiden, an interactive movie
  • Gensei Kitan Gaiden: Part 1 (幻世喜譚外伝　〜前編〜, Phantom World Gaiden ~First Part~) released through Disc Station Vol. 17 in 1997 for Windows 95
  • Gensei Kitan Gaiden: Part 2 (幻世喜譚外伝　〜後編〜, Phantom World Gaiden ~Second Part~) released through Disc Station Vol. 18 in 1998 for Windows 95
• Gensei Haiyūki (幻世牌遊記, Phantom World: Tiles), released through Disc Station Vol. 20 in 1998 for Windows 95
• Gensei Suikoden Plus (幻世酔虎伝プラス, Phantom World: The Tale of the Drunken Tiger Plus), a remaster of Gensei Suikoden, released by Daewon Media and D4Enterprise on November 30th, 2023 for Nintendo Switch

Characters

See List of Gensei Kitan characters.

Connections to Puyo Puyo and Madou Monogatari

Although not as popular as Puyo Puyo, Gensei was one of Compile's most active series alongside it. Arle Nadja and Smash are often portrayed as Disc Station heroes along with other Compile game characters, with the two both being playable in Restaurant King, and making frequent appearances in Disc Station media. Both series share similar settings, taking place in fantasy worlds with various modern elements and humorous stories.

Trivia

• Alongside other Compile game series, Gensei received its own animated shorts in Disc Station as well.
• Gensei Kitan: Disc Saga Ⅲ was supposed to release before Gensei Fūkyō Den, but delays in the game's production lead to the latter being released before.
• Some of the series' characters were featured in Disc Station comics as early as 1993, before the games they starred in were made.
• Gensei Suikoden's title is a pun based on the tale of Suikoden.