MediEvil

MediEvil
European cover art
Developer(s)	SCE Cambridge Studio
Publisher(s)	Sony Computer Entertainment
Director(s)	Chris Sorrell
Producer(s)	Chris Sorrell
Artist(s)	Jason Wilson
Writer(s)	Jason Wilson Martin Pond
Composer(s)	Andrew Barnabas Paul Arnold
Series	MediEvil
Platform(s)	PlayStation
Release	WW: October 1998
Genre(s)	Action-adventure, hack and slash
Mode(s)	Single-player

MediEvil is an action-adventure hack and slash video game developed by SCE Cambridge Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It was first released in Europe and North America in October 1998, and in Japan on 17 June 1999. It was followed by a sequel, MediEvil 2, released in 2000, and a PlayStation Portable remake released in 2005 titled MediEvil: Resurrection. It was also re-released on the PlayStation Network in 2007. The game is set in the medieval Kingdom of Gallowmere and centres around the charlatan protagonist, Sir Daniel Fortesque, as he makes an attempt to stop antagonist Zarok's invasion of the kingdom whilst simultaneously redeeming himself.

Development began in 1995 at Millenium Interactive in Cambridge under the working title of "Dead Man Dan". The game's visuals are heavily influenced by Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. Originally conceived as an arcade-style shooter for platforms such as Windows and the Sega Saturn, Sony's purchase of SCE Cambridge Studio evolved the game into a PlayStation title. The game received mostly positive praise from critics upon release, with praise including its blend of Halloween themed visuals but was criticised for its controls and cumbersome camera work.

The game takes place across a variety of levels, many of which require certain objectives to be performed to progress. Sir Daniel Fortesque can use a variety of weapons, consisting of close range weapons such as swords and clubs to long range weapons such as crossbows. Many of these weapons can be charged for a powerful attack and some weapons, such as the club, can be used to access areas that are otherwise inaccessible. When not possessing any items, Dan is able to rip his own arm off and use it for both melee and ranged attacks. Dan can equip a shield alongside weapons to defend against attacks; though they only have a limited amount of strength before breaking from damage. Throughout the game, Dan can visit gargoyle heads of two varieties; green ones offer Dan information while blue ones allow Dan to buy services or ammunition by using the treasures he finds.