Phantom: Phantom of Inferno

Phantom – Phantom of Inferno is a visual novel game created by Nitroplus, and distributed by Hirameki International (a subsidiary of the Japanese visual novel publisher Hirameki). It came out for PC in Japan in 2000 and was ported for DVD in 2001 and for PS2 in 2003. It was distributed in America as an AnimePlay DVD title in 2005. The story can take either a dark action/drama path or can turn into a romantic drama depending on the choice of the player. An updated port for the Xbox 360 console was released in 2012.

Phantom is an interactive (choose your own adventure) video game and its adaptations: a three-part OVA anime series, a 26-episode TV anime, and a three volume manga.

Phantom of Inferno details the life of a 15-year-old Japanese boy who is kidnapped after witnessing the killing of a reporter. The memories of his past life are erased, and he is given the choice to join ‘Inferno’ or die. After joining the organization he is given the name ‘Zwei’ (German for number ‘two’) and will study under ‘Ein’ (From the German word “Eins” for ‘one’). Ein is also known as ‘Phantom’, the title given to the organization’s top assassin.

Inferno is said to be the ‘United Nations of crime syndicates’. As Zwei makes his way through training and various missions, deceit and betrayal occur even within Inferno and slowly put Zwei in increasing danger. Along the way, Zwei meets a girl by the name of Cal Devens and, though he tries to protect her, she too is drawn into Inferno to become the assassin, Drei (German for ‘three’).

The game is divided into three chapters. The first chapter deals with Zwei being turned into a killer and has two main “routes” to follow, the Ein route and the Claudia route. The second chapter starts off one year after the events in the first chapter.

The DVD version of the game was later translated to English and distributed by Hirameki International. The game can be difficult to play on a PC, as many media players will not display the video and subtitles properly or at all. Two known media players that do work include VLC and PowerDVD. VLC will run with no problems, allowing the player to fast forward scenes with the slider bar, but the password system will give the player a blank screen if the player attempts to use it.

The gameplay is the usual in a visual novel, there are some election points and depending on the choices you make throughout the story, you can get one of many endings.

The Playstation 2 version features voice acting, but even less sexual content than the Video DVD version. The Limited Edition includes a bonus DVD.

MANUFACTURER’S DESCRIPTION:

Appeared depicting the story of the assassin of two people entangle the thread of destiny in the world of ruthless violence “phantom” has become a hard-boiled adventure! Erased the memory, grow as assassin organization, boy Leini met with assassin phantom of the strongest organization of the mystery of the “Inferno” is going to survive the world of Shura along with the phantom.

FEATURES:
First person perspective.
2D graphics
Cartoon graphics
Assassins & Anime themes.

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