Rakugaki Showtime

1999 video game

Rakugaki Showtime

Developer(s)| Treasure
Publisher(s)| Enix
Director(s)| Tetsuhiko Kikuchi
Designer(s)| Naoki Kitagawa
Tetsuhiko Kikuchi
Tsunehisa Kanagae
Programmer(s)| Hiroshi Matsumoto
Masaki Ukyo
Artist(s)| Gō Nakazawa
Kazuo Yasuda
Composer(s)| Norio Hanzawa
Toshiya Yamanaka
Kanta Watanabe
Platform(s)| PlayStation
Release|

* JP: 29 July 1999

Genre(s)| Fighting
Mode(s)| Single-player, multiplayer

Rakugaki Showtime[a] is a 1999 fighting game for the PlayStation developed by Treasure and published by Enix. It is a full 3D battle arena fighting game, featuring characters that resemble crayon drawings. The game was only released in Japan.

## Gameplay[edit]

Gameplay screenshot

Rakugaki Showtime is a fighting game in a full 3D fighting arena.[1] It features up to four players.[1] Throwing projectiles feature prominently in the game, which has led to some reviewers comparing the game to being similar to dodgeball, but lacking a dividing line between the teams.[1]

## Development and release[edit]

Rakugaki Showtime was Treasure's first original project for PlayStation.[2] It featured music composed by Kenta Watanabe, who had previously worked on Banpresto's Panzer Bandit (1997).[3] The game was released on 29 July 1999, and published by Enix.[4] The game was given a very limited release because of a legal dispute over who owned the characters between Enix and Treasure.[5] The game became a rare item after its release, and would sell for 15,000 yen ($150 U.S.).[6] It was re-released for the PlayStation Network "Game Archives" in Japan on 25 June 2008.[7] It retailed for 600 yen.[8] The game was to be the basis for the GameCube and PlayStation 2 fighting game based on Tiny Toon Adventures, called Tiny Toons: Defenders of the Universe,[5] but the game was never released. It was later leaked onto the internet.[9]

## Reception[edit]

Reception

Review scoresPublication| Score

|

Famitsu| 26/40[4]
GameFan| 87/100[10]
GameSpot| 7.4/10[11]

Rakugaki Showtime was met with positive reception from critics.[6][12][13][14]

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ Japanese: ラクガキショータイム, lit. "Graffiti Showtime"

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c Kalata, Kurt (12 July 2017). "Rakugaki Showtime". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on 19 November 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
2. ^ Griffin, Mike (September 1999). "Cover Story - Game Profile: Rakugaki Showtime; An Interview with Masato Maegawa - Founder and President, Treausre; Text Continued". Gamers' Republic. No. 16\. Millennium Publishing. pp. 17–18, 124.
3. ^ Manent, Mathieu (1 February 2018). PlayStation Anthology. Geeks-Line. pp. 30–32. ISBN 979-1093752334.
4. ^ a b "NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: ラクガキショータイム". Famitsu (in Japanese). No. 555\. ASCII Corporation. 6 August 1999. p. 29\. Archived from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
5. ^ a b Fahs, Travis (7 May 2008). "Beta Blues, Vol. 2 - Games snatched away from us at the last minute: Conspiracy Theory". IGN. Ziff Davis. p. 2\. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
6. ^ a b Davies, Jonti (2 July 2008). "Japanese PlayStation Store Gems - Jonti reckons Sony is doing a great job managing the Japanese PlayStation Store..." GameSpy. IGN. p. 1\. Archived from the original on 27 December 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
7. ^ "プレイステーション3のゲームアーカイブスに『ゼノギアス』や『アストロノーカ』など6タイトルが追加". Famitsu (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. 25 June 2008. Archived from the original on 4 September 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
8. ^ Gibson, Ellie (25 June 2008). "Square Enix releases old games via PSN - But only for the Japanese Store". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 16 November 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
9. ^ Spencer (4 March 2009). "Lost Treasure Developed Tiny Toons Game Found". Siliconera. Curse LLC. Archived from the original on 5 February 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
10. ^ Ngo, George (November 1999). "Imports: Rakugaki Showtime". GameFan. Vol. 7, no. 11\. Shinno Media. pp. 82–83.
11. ^ Bartholow, Peter (12 October 1999). "Rakugaki Showtime (Import) Review - Those looking for a great party-game fix should give Rakugaki Showtime a look". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
12. ^ Bevan, Mike (19 June 2008). "Full of Eastern Promise: Rakugaki Showtime". Retro Gamer. No. 52\. Imagine Publishing. pp. 36–37.
13. ^ "Hidden Japanese Gems - How to infiltrate the Japanese PlayStation Store, and pick up an array of 32-bit classics and rarities!". IGN. Ziff Davis. 29 April 2009. p. 1\. Archived from the original on 20 January 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
14. ^ Miller, Patrick (11 February 2016). "17 mold-breaking fighting games that all developers should study". Gamasutra. UBM Technology Group. Archived from the original on 31 July 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2021.

## External links[edit]

* Rakugaki Showtime at GameFAQs
* Rakugaki Showtime at Giant Bomb
* Rakugaki Showtime at MobyGames

* v
* t
* e

Treasure

Released|

| 1990s|

* Gunstar Heroes
* McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure
* Dynamite Headdy
* Yu Yu Hakusho Makyō Tōitsusen
* Alien Soldier
* Light Crusader
* Guardian Heroes
* Mischief Makers
* Silhouette Mirage
* Radiant Silvergun
* Rakugaki Showtime
* Bangai-O

|

2000s|

* Sin and Punishment
* Silpheed: The Lost Planet
* Stretch Panic
* Ikaruga
* Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster's Bad Dream
* Wario World
* Dragon Drive: D-Masters Shot
* Astro Boy: Omega Factor
* Gradius V
* Advance Guardian Heroes
* Gunstar Super Heroes
* Bleach: The Blade of Fate
* Bleach: Dark Souls
* Bangai-O Spirits
* Sin & Punishment: Star Successor

2010s|

* Bangai-O HD: Missile Fury
* Gaist Crusher

Cancelled|

* Gun Beat
* Tiny Toon Adventures: Defenders of the Universe

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