46 Okunen Monogatari: The Shinka Ron, Or 4.6 Billion Year Story

Greetings Fellow Bog Leeches,

46 Okunen Monogatari: The Shinka Ron, or 4.6 Billion Year Story: The Theory of Evolution, was the 1990 NEC PC-9801 predecessor to the SNES classic E.V.O.: Search for Eden. Like E.V.O., the game spans the Devonian period all the way to the Cenozoic. Unlike E.V.O. however, 46 Okunen Monogatari is a traditional RPG; a text-based adventure with a top-down map screen and first-person turn based battles. You play as an evolving creature who gains evolution points by defeating other creatures and surviving certain natural disasters. These evolution points can be used to develop one of four skills; attack power, health, mind power, and adaptability (this last one allows a creature to access new environments without taking damage). Leveling up these attributes allows the player's creature to evolve into a new animal down certain evolutionary paths. To my knowledge, all of the creatures one can evolve into were real-world animals.

What is striking about this game is how eerie and morose it seems. Maybe it is just the primitive graphics of the NEC PC-9801, or maybe it is the more realistic style compared to E.V.O., but it really feels like a desperate struggle for survival:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jyee2aZhcjc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=embbKUn5QRA&feature=relmfu

Another interesting difference this game has with E.V.O. is that the story is much more elaborate (and E.V.O.'s story was also pretty sophisticated). Other animals have a great deal to say, and bizarre encounters such as the one between a dragon and a tortoise-legged brachiosaurus add a lot to the weirdness of the experience.

More surprising still, the game does not end when humans show up, but continues on down human history until human society reaches a technological futuristic age.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=535qs4gY6S4&feature=relmfu

The final boss appears to be some kind of giant, alien goddess that bursts out of a moon.

I really wish there was a translated version of this game. Out-dated mechanics aside, I'm very curious to see what the developers of E.V.O. did with the concept on their first try.

Oh yeah I've heard about this! i watched the LP on youtube, very interesting to watch. i was very curious about the what the deal with villainess was, I can only guess she's like a dark counterpart to Gaia. A cooler enemy than Bolbox I must admit.

I think so too. It's also pretty neat hearing slightly different arrangements of all the E.V.O. music tracks.

Even if it is all (older) arranges of EVO music, this music just feels so very alien and eerie, much more than the SNES version could muster. That's probably more than half of the feel right there.

I think my favorite "new" use of the music was how the music for the SNES game's final level became the theme of the evil goddess, It sounds really menacing with a faster pace.

It's also worth noting how where the SNES game ends at becoming a human, this game has you progress on through humanity and you end up in a world of high-tech elves. Very surprising.

Damn, this looks fun. If I watch the LP all the way through I'll post translations

Enix always made interesting games. Now if only Square-enix would make a new Mischief Makers game.

Cool, that sounds great Rev!

I agree that Enix is cool, but they actually only published E.V.O. E.V.O. and this game were both developed by Almanic Corporation, later Givro Corp. They did some other interesting stuff, such as Wonder Project J2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjyO50JxjjU&feature=related

Slime mutated by an alien rock during the Permian period!



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I love this game.

DAMMMNNNN I wish this game was translated.

"見慣れない、黒色の変な形をした岩が込んでいる泉が見える。
泉のまわりには、"

"A spring/fountain can be seen, with an unknown, strangely shaped black rock in it.
Around the perimeter/at the edge of the fountain,"

Cool, and a much better translation than what Google Translate gives:

"Strange, and I see a busy spring odd-shaped black rocks.
Around the fountain,"

...TECHNOLOGY!

I take my own sweet time getting around to things, I know.

Translation of this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jyee2aZhcjc

---

46 Okunen Monogatari: The Shinka Ron [The 4.6 Billion-Year Story －The Theory of Evolution－]

Game Sample -- PC-98

00:01 - Chapter One: The Age of Playing in the Sea ~ Setting Off into Evolution ~

(HUD says "Thelodont [progress bar] Evolution Factor 4)


00:16 - Thelodont A: "Oh?!"

Thelodont B: "Ahh, so you finally came to."

Thelodont C: "Thank goodness . . . seriously . . . "

Thelodont D: "We have to take you to the Elder!"

Thelodonts AB&C: "The Elder!"

Thelodont D: "Hey, wait for me!"

Thelodonts ABC&D: "The Elder!"


00:40 - Thelodont Lady: "My, you look like you're doing better! We all get along here, so you

should too, all right?"

00:47 - Jellyfish: "Drifting from water to sand sure is fun . . . "

00:52 - Thelodont Elder: "Oh! Finally awake, are you? Thank goodness! Thank goodness."

Thelodonts AB&C: "We were constantly by your side, nursing you back to health!"

Thelodont Elder: "Is that so? You really are kind children . . . "

Thelodonts AB&C: "We . . . "

Thelodont D: "I, I'm the one who found you in the first place!"

Thelodonts AB&C: "Don't interrupt!"

Thelodont Elder: "Now, now, don't fight."

Thelodonts ABC&D: "Sorry!"

Thelodont Elder: "Ah, children. It's quite a surprise, a thelodont from strange waters!
You say you remember drifting out of nowhere, lost, and everything else is a blank . . .
But they all pitched in and helped you . . .
Anyway! It's good you're well again!
From this day forward, these waters are yours!
Be kind to those around you, and do your best to get along with them.
Have you tried talking to everyone?
They're all good people . . ."

Thelodont: "Have you talked to everyone?"

Jellyfish: "Bloop, bloop, I feel great . . .
But out of the ocean, on the surface, the light seems painful. I don't think I could relax

like that."

Thelodont Lady: "Nice to meet you . . . "

Sea Scorpion: "Oh, so you're awake now? That's a relief.
Everyone pitched in and helped, you see . . . "

Sea Urchin: "Oh! You? You're the thelodont they said came from strange waters."

Thelodont Child: "Hey, you! Are you feeling all right?"

Clam Worm: "Oh! You? You're the guy all the young lady thelodonts have fallen in love with!"

Coral: "Lalala . . . under the blue seas ~ laa, laa . . . "

Old Lady Thelodont: "Oh my! My! You're already back to your old self, are you? My, you really

are! Thank heavens, mhm, mhm."

Old Man Thelodont: "Ahh! I wasn't sure whether I should believe the rumors. The Elder is

waiting just up above."

Extremely Curious Thelodont: "Looks like you're back to normal. I'm glad."

Thelodont: "Have you talked to everyone?" [repeats two more times]

(The player brings up a menu and selects "cancel")


Thelodont Elder: "Oough . . . it, it hurts, something must be mad at us!
Everyone is turning into strange creatures!
Why have we been cursed . . .
Ugh, oorgh . . . how could such a thing . . .
Ughhh . . . !
Th, that's it!
It's you! This is your fault! Ever since you came, everyone has been acting strangely!
You cursed thelodont bastard!
Take this!"

Young Lady Thelodont: "Stop, Elder!"

Thelodont Elder: "Nn, get out of my way!"

Young Lady Thelodont: "Please listen to me! It's the light! Everyone is acting strangely

because of that light!"

Thelodont Elder: "How, how do you know that?"

Young Lady Thelodont: "Luckily, the light didn't touch me. Do I look strange? Elder?"

Thelodont Elder: "M, mm. Really . . . now that I think about it, I noticed it too . . . "

Young Lady Thelodont: "Bad things are happening because of that light. Please don't be angry

with this thelodont! I beg you!"

Thelodont Elder: ". . . You're right. I was being childish. But . . . the ocean will never

be peaceful again . . . Leave . . . If you stay here, I might become angry again . . ."

Young Lady Thelodont: "Elder . . ."

Old Lady Thelodont: "Oh my! This is terrible, terrible! Ever since you started living here,

things have been going awry! Get out of here!"

Jellyfish: "I'm going numb! Blee!"

???: "Wait!"

Young Lady Thelodont: "I wanted to say goodbye . . . even though we met under such awful circumstances . . . I . . . I hope we meet again someday . . .
I've come to care for you but . . . I feel some kind of power in you . . . incredibly strong . . .
I . . . have to go care for the Elder - that is, my grandfather . . .
The east sea is flooded with fish driven into a frenzy by the encroaching light, so please be careful . . .
Goodbye . . . take care of yourself . . . *sniffle* "


Game: Because of a misunderstanding and your inability to remember who you are, you were

banished from the thelodont sea.
After you left, because of a surge of mysterious, raging rapids, the thelodont sea was all at

once wiped out . . .

(Player selects "Direction of Evolution" from menu)

(Top property = intellect; right property = strength; bottom property = offense; left

property = stamina)

Game: Is this okay? Yes/No


04:12 - Game: A jellyfish attacks!! Your move!

(Player selects "fight")

(Typical fight statistics follow; I'll only translate them if someone really wants me to.)


06:04 - Game: You evolve into a Hemicyclaspis!
Hemicyclaspis
Total length 30cm
Mainly ate things like plankton.
Lived at the mouths of rivers, swam slowly along riverbeds.
Lived during: Silurian Period ~ Devonian Period.

07:20 - Game: You found a "Heart of Gaia"! 20 points to Evolution Factor.

07:52 - Game: You evolve into a Bothriolepis!
Bothriolepis
Total length 30cm
Ate things like plants and small animals.
Spent its life swimming, nearly crawling, along the bottoms of lakes and rivers.
Lived during: Silurian Period ~ Devonian Period.

08:16 - Hemicyclaspis: "Hehe! Welcome."

08:51 - Game: You evolve into a Lunaspis!
Lunaspis
Total length 20~25cm
Ate things like shellfish and small animals.
Lived during: Devonian Period.

(Player selects "Record of Evolution" from menu)

Game: Cannot access Record of Evolution! It seems you're cursed by something.

Thelodonts ABC&D: "Aaaahh!
Ahh! Don't come any closer!
We don't want to fight. *tremble*
Huh? You're not attacking us? Eh? You say you're our friend . . . ?
Phew . . . boy, that's a relief . . ."

Thelodont: "In this cave is a way out of the east sea.
But, I can't tell you!"

Thelodont D: "Ahem! I am a brave thelodont. I am a unique thelodont on an adventure in the

great eastern sea!
Would you like to hear something?
(Yes)
Good! I'll tell you.
In the depths of the east sea, there's said to be a mysterious power that watches over our

fates. However . . .
Along the way is some heavy water. The farther you dive, the heavier it gets!
Because of that water, countless numbers of our allies were crushed . . . aahh . . . it's

terrible . . .
Someone who was very strong, with a lot of stamina might be all right."
Oh no, I think I can see the light . . . "

10:12 - Game: You found a "Heart of Gaia"! 30 points to Evolution Factor.

10:47 - Game: Suddenly, an enormous cave opened before your eyes.
In the distance you could see an exit. You began to swim toward it. However, the cave was so

large that it took you three days.

12:24 - Game: The intense water pressure is pushing in on you!!

12:35 - Cladoselache Henchman: "Stop right there! Don'tcha come any closer!"

Cladoselache Boss: "Oh, who is it?"


Cladoselache Henchman: "Ehh . . . some lame fish . . . "

Cladoselache Boss: "Hoho, they must have some guts to come to a place as dangerous as this.

Come on in!"

Clad. Henchman: "Huh?!"

Clad. Henchman: "Listen to what the boss has to say and be grateful!"

Game: You found a "Heart of Gaia"! 30 points to Evolution Factor. [x2]

Game: You evolve into a Gemuendina!
Gemuendina
Total length 20~25cm
Ate things like small animals.
Primarily lived at the bottoms of oceans, and there preyed on small animals.
Lived during: Devonian Period.

(Player selects "Lesser Evolutions" from menu.)

Game: You evolve into a Coccosteus!
Coccosteus
Total length 10-80cm
Ate things like small animals.
Agile, strong, and jawed; preyed on other fish.
Lived during: Devonian Period.

Clad. Henchman: "Listen to what the boss has to say and be grateful!" [x3]

Clad. Boss: "If you came all the way here, you must have done a lot of fighting . . .
We got used to that kinda thing, too . . .
But we realized something.
Gnashing and fighting, beating down all these tough guys, bowing down to tough guys.
It's pointless, don'tcha think? Huh? You're young, aren'tcha?
Us, we stopped living like that. Here, we live a quiet life!
So . . . you came all the way down here. One place is as good as the next, it's been said . .

.

(video ends)

Thanks for the translation!

this is not what i expcted.