Namco × Capcom

Namco × Capcom
Cover art
Developer(s)	Monolith Soft
Publisher(s)	Namco
Composer(s)	Yuzo Koshiro
Series	Project X
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2
Release date(s)	^JP May 26, 2005
Genre(s)	Action role-playing, tactical role-playing
Mode(s)	Single-player

Namco × Capcom (Japanese: ナムコ クロス カプコン Hepburn: Namuko Kurosu Kapukon)^{[note 1]} is a 2005 action, tactical role-playing video game developed by Monolith Soft and featuring characters from games produced by companies Namco and Capcom. The game was released only for the PlayStation 2 console in Japan. It is the first installment in what became the Project X series of crossover games.

Storyline

The game centers around two original characters created for the game named Reiji Arisu and Xiaomu. The two of them work for a special unit called Shinra and they are tasked with investigating spirit and otherworldly disturbances. They are initially investigating a strange "sleeping sickness" in the Shibuya area of Japan, when it becomes apparent that something much larger is at stake. Characters, both good and evil, from other times and other worlds begin appearing in Japan in the year 20XX.

Gameplay

Screenshot featuring Valkyrie

The game is a hybrid of an action role-playing and a tactical role-playing. Movement is done on a square grid with turns being determined by figuring out which character has the highest AP. On the player's turn, he or she can move his character into position and choose to attack an enemy.

At this point the game switches into the action role-playing portion. The player has a number of "Branches" they can use. Each direction on the directional pad combined with the circle button will perform an attack. Each attack uses up one branch. If the player performs a certain number of Aerial Chains (hitting the enemy in mid-air), they will gain bonuses, such as items, super meter, extra damage, more branches to use in this turn. Bonuses other than items are converted into extra Experience Points at the end of an attack sequence. Upon filling up the character's Special Gauge they can use the Triangle button to perform a special attack. They will also be able to select a Multiple Assault attack if their units on the board meet the conditions. Defense also puts the player in the action-RPG mode, this time blocking to reduce the enemy's damage. Successfully blocking attacks will also increase the amount of AP the player's unit has.

There are 50 levels total (45 normal and five prologue) and the game should take from around 70–100 hours to complete.

Original characters

Protagonists

Reiji Arisu (有栖零児, Arisu Reiji)

The main protagonist of the game. His father was killed ten years ago in one of the many ongoing fights between Shinra and Ouma. Reiji is, often described by his partner Xiaomu, "a sullen tight-ass", which prompts Reiji to shoot a jokingly made comeback. While he may not show it, he cares deeply for Xiaomu, even if he shoots down several of her comments, jokes or not. He carries a specially built weapons carrier containing a shotgun, named "Hollywood", and two swords; each with an element associated with it: one fire and one electricity. He also has a handgun, named "Gold", holstered on his waist. He is voiced by Kazuhiko Inoue.

Xiaomu (小牟, Shaomu)

Fellow protagonist as well, Xiaomu is known as a "mystic fox" with an age of 765 years. She was partners in the Shinra organization with Reiji's father, Shougo Arisu, ten years ago, until his death. Xiaomu often portrays a bit of a flirty nature towards Reiji, though he often ignores it. Aside from poking Reiji's buttons, she can become a little protective of Reiji when the subject of his father's death comes around, or Saya. She wields an ice elemental cane sword styled after a Shakujo staff, as well as a handgun named "Silver". She is also able to use magic attacks, such as energy rays from her finger, with which she provides most of the duo's ranged attacks. She is voiced by Omi Minami.

Antagonists

Saya (沙夜 Saya)

Like Xiaomu, Saya is a werefox, however, she is born in Japan and not China. She was involved with the incident that happened with Shougo Arisu and Xiaomu ten years ago, which is why Xiaomu holds a grudge against her. Opposite to Xiaomu, Saya is with the rival organization of Shinra: Ouma. Saya upholds a rather odd personality-she can never seem to be upset and usually remains calm and overly flirty in contrast to that of her Chinese werefox counterpart. Her "pet" names for Reiji and Xiaomu are 'boy' and 'little one' respectively. She is voiced by Ai Orikasa.

99 (九十九 Kyū jū Kyū)

An enemy sealed in the Abyss of Time ten years ago; the Ouma Project culminates with its release. It has deep ties with the Arisu clan.

Katana (片那 Katana)

A supposedly made complete clone of Saya, though physical resemblance is questionable. Saya says it is part of the Ouma Project.

Character list

Felicia and King II fighting together

This is a list of significant characters that make an appearance in Namco × Capcom.

Name	First appearance	Year	Company	Role	Voice actor
Amazona	Wonder Momo	1987	Namco	Enemy	Kumiko Watanabe
Armor King	Tekken	1994	Namco	Both	Not voiced
Arthur	Ghosts 'n Goblins	1985	Capcom	Ally	Fumihiko Tachiki
Astaroth	Ghosts 'n Goblins	1985	Capcom	Enemy	Hideaki Nonaka
Black Bravo	Bravoman	1988	Namco	Enemy	Tomokazu Seki
Black Valkyrie	The Legend of Valkyrie	1990	Namco	Enemy	Kikuko Inoue
Bravoman	Bravoman	1988	Namco	Ally	Tetsu Inada
Bruce McGivern	Resident Evil: Dead Aim	2003	Capcom	Ally	Hiroaki Hirata
Cammy	Super Street Fighter II	1993	Capcom	Both	Akiko Kōmoto
Captain Commando	Captain Commando	1991	Capcom	Ally	Ryōtarō Okiayu
Charade	Soulcalibur II	2002	Namco	Enemy	Not voiced
Chun-Li	Street Fighter II	1991	Capcom	Ally	Atsuko Tanaka
Demitri Maximoff	Darkstalkers	1994	Capcom	Ally	Nobuyuki Hiyama
Devil Kazuya	Tekken 2	1994	Namco	Enemy	Masanori Shinohara
Druaga	The Tower of Druaga	1984	Namco	Enemy	Fumihiko Tachiki
Druk	Captain Commando	1991	Capcom	Enemy	Hideaki Nonaka
Evil Ryu	Street Fighter Alpha 2	1996	Capcom	Enemy	Toshiyuki Morikawa
Felicia	Darkstalkers	1994	Capcom	Ally	Kae Araki
Fong Ling	Resident Evil: Dead Aim	2003	Capcom	Ally	Kae Araki
Gilgamesh	The Tower of Druaga	1984	Namco	Ally	Akira Ishida
Gouki (Akuma)	Super Street Fighter II Turbo	1994	Capcom	Enemy	Tomomichi Nishimura
The Grandmaster	Strider	1989	Capcom	Enemy	Tetsuo Mizutori
Guntz	Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament	2002	Namco	Ally	Takahiro Sakurai
Guy	Final Fight	1989	Capcom	Ally	Tetsuya Iwanaga
Heihachi Mishima	Tekken	1994	Namco	Ally	Daisuke Gōri
Hideo Shimazu	Rival Schools: United By Fate	1997	Capcom	Ally	Tetsuo Mizutori
Hiromi Tengenji	Burning Force	1989	Namco	Ally	Chisa Yokoyama
Hoover (Baby Head)	Captain Commando	1991	Capcom	Ally	Yuko Sasamoto
Phobos (Huitzil)	Darkstalkers	1994	Capcom	Enemy	Not voiced
Janga	Klonoa Heroes: Densetsu no Star Medal	2002	Namco	Enemy	Nobuyuki Hiyama
Jennety (Mack the Knife)	Captain Commando	1991	Capcom	Ally	Not voiced
Jin Kazama	Tekken 3	1997	Namco	Ally	Isshin Chiba
Joka (Joker)	Klonoa: Door to Phantomile	1997	Namco	Enemy	Toshio Furukawa
Judas (Leon Magnus)	Tales of Destiny 2	2002	Namco	Both	Hikaru Midorikawa
Juli	Street Fighter Alpha 3	1998	Capcom	Enemy	Akiko Kōmoto
Juni	Street Fighter Alpha 3	1998	Capcom	Enemy	Akiko Kōmoto
Kamuz	The Legend of Valkyrie	1989	Namco	Enemy	Hiroaki Hirata
Karin Kanzuki	Street Fighter Alpha 3	1998	Capcom	Ally	Miho Yamada
Katana	Original	2005	Namco	Enemy	Yūko Mizutani
Ken Masters	Street Fighter	1987	Capcom	Ally	Tetsuya Iwanaga
Ki (pronounced "Kai")	The Tower of Druaga	1984	Namco	Ally	Rie Tanaka
King	Tekken 3	1997	Namco	Ally	Not voiced
Kiso Yoshinaka	The Genji and the Heike Clans	1986	Namco	Enemy	Hideaki Nonaka
Klonoa	Klonoa: Door to Phantomile	1997	Namco	Ally	Kumiko Watanabe
Kobun (Servbot)	Mega Man Legends	1997	Capcom	Ally	Chisa Yokoyama
KOS-MOS	Xenosaga Episode I	2002	Namco	Ally	Mariko Suzuki
Krino Sandra (Whirlo)	Valkyrie no Bōken: Toki no Kagi Densetsu	1986	Namco	Ally	Yūji Ueda
Kyoko Minazuki	Rival Schools: United By Fate	1997	Capcom	Ally	Kotono Mitsuishi
Lei-Lei (Hsien-Ko)	Night Warriors: Darkstalkers Revenge	1995	Capcom	Ally	Michiko Neya
Lilith	Vampire Savior	1997	Capcom	Both	Yuka Imai
Minamoto no Yoritomo	The Genji and the Heike Clans	1986	Namco	Enemy	Akio Ōtsuka
Minamoto no Yoshitsune	The Genji and the Heike Clans	1986	Namco	Enemy	Isshin Chiba
Heishirō Mitsurugi	Soul Edge	1995	Namco	Ally	Toshiyuki Morikawa
Mike Haggar	Final Fight	1989	Capcom	Ally	Tesshō Genda
Mokujin	Tekken 3	1997	Namco	Training dummy	Not voiced
M.O.M.O.	Xenosaga Episode I	2002	Namco	Ally	Rumi Shishido
Morrigan Aensland	Darkstalkers	1994	Capcom	Ally	Yayoi Jinguji
Nebiros (Nebiroth)	Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts	1991	Capcom	Enemy	Takahiro Yoshino
Ninety Nine	Original	2005	Namco	Enemy	Ai Orikasa
Ogre	Tekken 3	1997	Namco	Enemy	Not voiced
Prototype Jack	Tekken	1994	Namco	Enemy	Not voiced
Q-Bee	Darkstalkers 3: Jedah's Damnation	1997	Capcom	Enemy	Miyuki Matsushita
Red Arremer Joker	Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts	2002	Capcom	Enemy	Takahiro Sakurai
Regina	Dino Crisis	1999	Capcom	Ally	Atsuko Tanaka
Reiji Arisu	Original	2005	Namco	Ally	Kazuhiko Inoue
Rock Volnutt (MegaMan Volnutt)	Mega Man Legends	1997	Capcom	Ally	Mayumi Tanaka
Rockman Juno (MegaMan Juno)	Mega Man Legends	1997	Capcom	Enemy	Akira Ishida
Roll Caskett	Mega Man Legends	1997	Capcom	Ally	Keiko Yokozawa
Rose	Street Fighter Alpha	1995	Capcom	Both	Michiko Neya
Rutee Kartret (Rutee Katrea)	Tales of Destiny	1997	Namco	Ally	Yuka Imai
Ryu	Street Fighter	1987	Capcom	Ally	Toshiyuki Morikawa
Sabine	The Legend of Valkyrie	1989	Namco	Ally	Ayako Kawasumi
Saito Musashibo Benkei	The Genji and the Heike Clans	1986	Namco	Enemy	Daisuke Gōri
Sakura Kasugano	Street Fighter Alpha 2	1996	Capcom	Ally	Yuko Sasamoto
Saya	Original	2005	Namco	Enemy	Ai Orikasa
Shion Uzuki	Xenosaga Episode I	2002	Namco	Ally	Ai Maeda
Sho (Ginzu the Ninja)	Captain Commando	1991	Capcom	Ally	Hideyuki Hori
Shturm	Captain Commando	1991	Capcom	Enemy	Takahiro Yoshino
Shturm Jr.	Captain Commando	1991	Capcom	Enemy	Kenichi Mochizuki
Solo	Strider	1989	Capcom	Enemy	Hideo Watanabe
Stahn Aileron	Tales of Destiny	1997	Namco	Ally	Tomokazu Seki
Strider Hien	Strider 2	1999	Capcom	Enemy	Kōsuke Toriumi
Strider Hiryu	Strider	1989	Capcom	Ally	Kōsuke Toriumi
Sylphie	Forgotten Worlds	1988	Capcom	Ally/shopkeeper	Rie Tanaka
Taira no Kagekiyo	The Genji and the Heike Clans	1986	Namco	Ally	Ryōtarō Okiayu
Taizo Hori	Dig Dug	1982	Namco	Ally	Toshio Furukawa
Taki	Soul Edge	1995	Namco	Ally	Fujiko Takimoto
Tarosuke	Yokai Dochuki	1987	Namco	Ally	Fujiko Takimoto
Toby Masuyo	Baraduke	1985	Namco	Ally	Yūko Mizutani
Tonpooh	Strider	1989	Capcom	Enemy	Miho Yamada
Tron Bonne	Mega Man Legends	1997	Capcom	Ally	Mayumi Iizuka
Unknown Soldier 1P	Forgotten Worlds	1988	Capcom	Ally	Akio Ōtsuka
Unknown Soldier 2P	Forgotten Worlds	1988	Capcom	Ally	Tesshō Genda
Valkyrie	Valkyrie no Bōken: Toki no Kagi Densetsu	1986	Namco	Ally	Kikuko Inoue
Vega (M. Bison)	Street Fighter II	1991	Capcom	Enemy	Tomomichi Nishimura
Waya-Hime	Bravoman	1988	Namco	Both	Mariko Suzuki
Wonder Momo	Wonder Momo	1987	Namco	Ally	Ayako Kawasumi
Xiaomu	Original	2005	Namco	Ally	Omi Minami
Zabel Zarock (Lord Raptor)	Darkstalkers	1997	Capcom	Enemy	Yūji Ueda
Zouna (Malix)	Valkyrie no Bōken: Toki no Kagi Densetsu	1986	Namco	Enemy	Mayumi Tanaka

Other media

Audio

The Namco × Capcom Special Sound Track promotional demo soundtrack was released on May 5, 2005. It featured a short version of the theme song and a few character themes that would make their way into the final release. The Namco × Capcom Original Soundtrack (ナムコ クロス カプコン オリジナル・サウンドトラック Namuko Kurosu Kapukon Orijinaru Saundotorakku) was released on July 7, 2005 in Japan. Both albums feature work by composer Yuzo Koshiro. The game's theme song Subarashiki Shin Sekai was performed by Flair.

Namco × Capcom Special Sound Track (31:24)
No.	Title	Length
1.	"すばらしき新世界(SHORT ver.) (Brave New World (Short Version)"
2.	"ヴァンパイアハンター~MORRIGAN Stage(Scotland) (Vampire Hunter: Morrigan's Stage (Scotland))"
3.	"ストライダー飛竜~防衛圏(1Stage Demo)~踏み込め!(1Stage BGM1) (Strider Hiryu: Defense Sphere (Stage 1 Demo): Break In! (Stage 1 BGM1))"
4.	"ストリートファイター2~Stage China Chun-Li (Street Fighter II: Stage China Chun Li)"
5.	"ストリートファイターZERO3~Brave or grave(Theme of VEGA Type.2) (Street Fighter Zero 3: Brave or Grave (Theme of Vega's Type.2))"
6.	"大魔界村~1st BGM (Ghouls & Ghosts: 1st BMG)"
7.	"ディノクライシス2~Regina's challenge (Dino Crisis 2: Regina's Challenge)"
8.	"私立ジャスティス学園~俺達の学校は俺達が守る (Rival Schools: We'll Protect Our School)"
9.	"ディグダグ2~DIG DUG 2 (Dig Dug II)"
10.	"イシターの復活~メインテーマ (Tower of Druaga: Main Theme)"
11.	"ワルキューレの伝説~メイン・テーマ (The Legend of Valkyrie: Main Theme)"
12.	"源平討魔伝~源平討魔伝のテーマ (The Genji & Heike Clans: Main Theme)"
13.	"妖怪道中記~メインテーマ (Phantom Travel Records: Main Theme)"
14.	"超絶倫人ベラボーマン~ベラボーマン (Supreme Hero Berabo Man: Berabo Man's Theme)"
15.	"ワンダーモモ~変身後BGM (Wonder Momo: After Transformation BGM)"

Namco × Capcom Original Soundtrack Disc 1 (73:08)
No.	Title	Length
1.	"すばらしき新世界 (Brave New World)"
2.	"ゆらぎの街のアリス(TITLE ver.) (The Trembling City of Aris (Title Version))"
3.	"激・闘・前・夜 (Night Before The Battle)"
4.	"すばらしき新世界(PIANO ver.) (Brave New World (Piano Version))"
5.	"忘れ得ぬ,遠い日の約束 (Distant Day's Promise)"
6.	"時間(とき)の足音 (Footsteps of Time)"
7.	"ストリートファイター2~Stage China Chun-Li (Street Fighter II: Stage China Chun Li)"
8.	"加速する混沌< (Accelerating Chaos)"
9.	"ゆらぎの街のアリス (The Trembling City of Aris)"
10.	"すべては戦いの中に (Everything is in the Fight)"
11.	"たちこめる暗雲 (Enveloping Dark Clouds)"
12.	"ゼノサーガ エピソード1~戦闘するKOS-MOS (Xenosaga Episode I: Battling KOS-MOS)"
13.	"ゼノサーガ エピソード1~Battle (Xenosaga Episode I: Battle)"
14.	"それが進むべき道だから (Because It's The Right Path)"
15.	"タイトルコール (Title Call)"
16.	"ブレークタイム (Break Time)"
17.	"解かれた運命の門 (The Gate of Revealed Destinies)"
18.	"テイルズ オブ デスティニー~Lion-Irony of fate (Tales of Destiny: Lion-Irony of Fate)"
19.	"去りゆく者たち (To The Departed)"
20.	"風に向かって (Facing The Wind)"
21.	"風のクロノア2~STEPPING WIND (Klonoa of the Wind 2: Stepping Wind)"
22.	"ワルキューレの伝説~メイン・テーマ (The Legend of Valkyrie: Main Theme)"
23.	"イシターの復活~ドルアーガ(ENTRANT HALL) (Tower of Druaga (Entrance Hall))"
24.	"イシターの復活~メインテーマ (Tower of Druaga: Main Theme)"
25.	"妖怪道中記~サイコロ道場 (Phantom Travel Records: Gambling Hall)"
26.	"ソウルキャリバー2~BRAVE SWORD,BRAVER SOUL (Soul Calibur II: Brave Sword, Braver Soul)"
27.	"源平討魔伝~源平討魔伝のテーマ (The Genji & Heike Clans: Main Theme)"
28.	"バーニングフォース~Bay Yard (1st Day) (Burning Force: Bay Yard (1st Day))"
29.	"ロックマンDASH~フラッター号VSゲゼルシャフト号 (Rockman Dash: Flutter Vs. Gazel Shaft)"
30.	"源平討魔伝~義経 (The Genji & The Heike Clans: Yoshitsune)"
31.	"ヴァンパイアハンター~DEMITRI Stage(Romania) (Vampire Hunter: Demitri's Stage (Romania))"
32.	"大魔界村~1st BGM (Ghouls & Ghosts: 1st BMG)"
33.	"ヴァンパイアハンター~MORRIGAN Stage(Scotland) (Vampire Hunter: Morrigan's Stage (Scotland))"
34.	"闇のゆらめき (Flickering Darkness)"
35.	"ヴァンパイアハンター~LEI-LEI Stage(China) (Vampire Hunter: Lei-Lei's Stage (China))"

Namco × Capcom Original Soundtrack Disc 2 (76:00)
No.	Title	Length
1.	"ディノクライシス2~Regina's challenge (Dino Crisis 2: Regina's Challenge)"
2.	"鉄拳タッグトーナメント~OPENING MOVIE (Tekken Tag Tournament: Opening Movie)"
3.	"ストリートファイター2~Stage Japan Ryu (Street Fighter II: Ryu's Stage Japan)"
4.	"ストリートファイター2~Stage U.S.A. Ken (Street Fighter II: Ken's Stage U.S.A.)"
5.	"ワンダーモモ~ゲームBGM (Wonder Momo: Game BGM)"
6.	"超絶倫人ベラボーマン~ベラボーマン (Supreme Hero Berabo Man: Berabo Man's Theme)"
7.	"鉄拳3~Opening Movie (Tekken 3: Opening Movie)"
8.	"ワンダーモモ~変身後BGM (Wonder Momo: After Transformation BGM)"
9.	"ストリートファイターZERO2~STAGE SAKURA (Street Fighter Zero 2: Sakura's Stage"
10.	"逢魔繚乱 (Evil Profusion)"
11.	"ファイナルファイ~(STAGE5)BGM6 (Final Fight: (Stage 5) BGM 6)"
12.	"私立ジャスティス学園~俺達の学校は俺達が守る (Rival Schools: We'll Protect Our School)"
13.	"ワルキューレの伝説~ズール (The Legend of Valkyrie: Zulu)"
14.	"妖怪道中記~メインテーマ (Phantom Travel Records: Main Theme)"
15.	"ポジティブシンキン (Positive Thinking)"
16.	"ロストワールド~1ROUND BGM (Lost World: Round 1 BGM)"
17.	"ロストワールド~SHOPPIN' (Lost World: Shopping)"
18.	"キャプテンコマンドー~STAGE 1(City) (Captain Commando: Stage 1 (city))"
19.	"その影,彼方より (That Shadow)"
20.	"ディグダグ2~DIG DUG 2 (Dig Dug II)"
21.	"ストライダー飛竜~防衛圏(1Stage Demo)~踏み込め!(1Stage BGM1) (Strider Hiryu: Defense Sphere (Stage 1 Demo): Break In! (Stage 1 BGM1))"
22.	"宿命という名の嵐 (The Storm Called Destiny)"
23.	"ストリートファイターZERO3~Brave or grave(Theme of VEGA Type.2) (Street Fighter Zero 3: Brave or Grave (Theme of Vega's Type.2))"
24.	"イシターの復活~クオックス (Tower of Druaga: Quarks)"
25.	"クルノアヒーローズ~GUNTZ (Klonoa Heroes: Guntz)"
26.	"99"
27.	"必勝への軌跡 (Path To Certain Victory)"
28.	"すばらしき新世界(INST. ver.) (Brave New World (Instrumental Version))"
29.	"あの頃の夢のように (Like An Old Dream)"
30.	"いつかきっと,月光(つき)の下で (Someday, Under The Moon)"
31.	"ゲームオーバー (Game Over)"
32.	"すばらしき新世界(LONG ver.) (Brave New World (Long Version)"
33.	"すばらしき新世界(カラオケ ver.) (Brave New World (Karaoke Version)"
34.	"いつかきっと,月光(つき)の下で(カラオケ ver.) (Someday, Under The Moon (Karaoke Version)"

Reception

Namco × Capcom received a score of 28 out of 40 from Weekly Famitsu.^[1] The game was the top-selling game during its week of release in Japan at 87,223 copies.^[2] It sold approximately 131,615 copies in its first six months of release in Japan.^[3] Namco × Capcom was re-released as part of the "PlayStation 2 the Best" line on June 8, 2006.^[4]

Sequels

Namco X Capcom was succeeded in the form of Project X Zone and its followup Project X Zone 2, also featuring characters from Sega.

Notes

1. Pronounced as "Namco Cross Capcom". The '×' symbol denotes that elements of the two universes are mixed together; this use is derived from the notation for hybrids.

References

1. Welch, David. "RPGamer > Preview - Namco × Capcom". RPGamer.com. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
2. Jenkins, David (June 3, 2005). "Japanese Sales Charts, Week Ending May 29th". Gamasutra.com. Retrieved 2009-08-04.
3. "GEIMIN.NET／2005年テレビゲームソフト売り上げTOP500". Geimin.net (in Japanese). Retrieved 2009-08-05.
4. "PS2 NAMCO × CAPCOM". BandaiNamcoGames.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2009-08-05.

External links

• Official Namco × Capcom website