View source for Magical Drop F: Daibōken Mo Rakujyanai!

{{Infobox video game
|title      = Magical Drop F: Daibōken Mo Rakujyanai!
|image      = PS1 Magical Drop F - Daibōken Mo Rakujyanai! cover art.jpg
|border     = yes
|developer  = [[Data East]], Sakata SAS
|publisher  = [[Data East]]
|director   = Masayuki Yoroki
|producer   = Hiromichi Nakamoto
|designer   = Tatsumi Sugiura
|programmer = Keiichi Hinata<br/>Motohiro Umeki<br/>Tsuyoshi Takahashi
|composer   = Hiroaki Yoshida<br/>Masaaki Iwasaki<br/>Tatsuya Kiuchi<br/>Yoko Kawashima
|series     = ''[[Magical Drop]]''
|platforms  = [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]]
|released   = {{vgrelease|JP|October 21, 1999}}
|genre      = [[Puzzle video game|Puzzle]], [[Role-playing video game|role-playing]]
|modes      = [[Single-player]], [[multiplayer]]
}}
{{nihongo foot|'''''Magical Drop F: Daibōken Mo Rakujyanai!'''''|マジカルドロップF・大冒険もラクじゃない!|''Majikaru Doroppu F: Daibōken Mo Rakujyanai!''|lit "''Magical Drop F: The Great Adventure is Not Easy!''"|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 1999 [[Puzzle video game|puzzle]] [[video game]] by [[Data East]] for the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]]. It is the fourth entry in the ''[[Magical Drop]]'' series. In the game, the player takes control of one of several characters and battle against opponents. Gameplay is similar to previous entries but with the addition of an [[Role-playing video game|role-playing]] (RPG) mode; the player controls Justice on a journey to find seven Magical Drops scattered across the land, traveling villages and challenging characters in battles to obtain items and power-ups.
The game was directed by Masayuki Yoroki and produced by Hiromichi Nakamoto, with Tatsumi Sugiura acting as planner. ''Daibōken Mo Rakujyanai!'' garnered generally favorable reception from critics, most of which reviewed it as an [[Parallel importing in video games|import title]]. Its music and updated aesthetics were later used in ''Magical Drop for WonderSwan'' (1999), released for the [[WonderSwan]]. It was followed by ''[[Magical Drop V]]'' (2012).
== Gameplay ==
[[File:PS1 Magical Drop F - Daibōken Mo Rakujyanai!.jpg|thumb|left|Gameplay screenshot.]]
{{see also|Magical Drop#Gameplay}}
''Magical Drop F: Daibōken Mo Rakujyanai!'' is a puzzle game where the player takes control of one of several characters named after a tarot card, battling against computer-controlled opponents. Gameplay is similar to previous entries in the ''[[Magical Drop]]'' series; the objective is to clear the screen from a stack of constantly advancing colored 'drops' that descend from the top of the playfield. Drops can be picked up and dropped by the player's character, which is placed at the bottom of the screen, and they disappear when three or more of the same color are put together on a single column. Chains are formed either when a single drop caused a chain reaction or when more than one group of drops are cleared in quick succession. Forming chains cause the opponent's stack to descend faster.<ref name="GSpotPS1MDFDmR"/><ref name="DestructPSNMDFDmR"/><ref name="PSLSPSNMDFDmR"/><ref name="DEAC">{{cite book|last1=Kalata|first1=Kurt|last2=Plasket|first2=Michael|last3=Tiraboschi|first3=Federico|date=July 19, 2016|title=Magical Drop|work=Data East Arcade Classics|publisher=[[Hardcore Gaming 101]]|pages=1–146|isbn=978-1535126168}}</ref>
One notable addition is the introduction of character-specific special power-up items, of which there are three that gives the players unique abilities during gameplay.<ref name="GSpotPS1MDFDmR"/><ref name="DestructPSNMDFDmR"/><ref name="PSLSPSNMDFDmR"/><ref name="DEAC"/><ref name="RiceDigiTHoMD">{{cite web|last=Davison|first=Pete|url=https://ricedigital.co.uk/the-history-of-magical-drop/|title=The History of Magical Drop|work=Rice Digital|publisher=Rice Digital Ltd.|date=September 29, 2022|access-date=2023-03-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115223355/https://ricedigital.co.uk/the-history-of-magical-drop/|archive-date=2023-01-15|url-status=live}}</ref> The game replaces adventure mode from ''[[Magical Drop III]]'' with a role-playing (RPG) mode; the player controls Justice on a journey to find seven Magical Drops scattered across the land, traveling villages and challenging characters in battles to obtain items and power-ups.<ref name="GSpotPS1MDFDmR"/><ref name="DestructPSNMDFDmR"/><ref name="PSLSPSNMDFDmR"/><ref name="DEAC"/><ref name="RiceDigiTHoMD"/> The [[Game over|game is over]] once a player is defeated when the stack of drops hits the bottom.
== Development and release ==
''Magical Drop F: Daibōken Mo Rakujyanai!'' was directed by Masayuki Yoroki and produced by Hiromichi Nakamoto.<ref name="MDFDmRs">{{cite video game|title=Magical Drop F: Daibōken Mo Rakujyanai!|developer=[[Data East]]|publisher=[[Data East]]|date=1999|platform=[[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]]|level=Staff|language=ja}} ([http://raido.moe/staff/ps1/ps1_magical_drop_f.html Transcription] by Raido's Staff List Archive. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110043357/http://raido.moe/staff/ps1/ps1_magical_drop_f.html|date=2020-01-10}}).</ref> Tatsumi Sugiura served as planner, while Keiichi Hinata, Motohiro Umeki, and Tsuyoshi Takahashi acted as co-programmers.<ref name="MDFDmRs"/> Character designs were handled by an artist known under the pseudonym "Cocco" while several companies, including Japanese animation studio [[J.C.Staff]], collaborated on the game's development by providing artwork and cutscenes.<ref name="MDFDmRs"/> The soundtrack was scored by [[Gamadelic]] members Hiroaki "Maro" Yoshida, Masaaki "Koremasa" Iwasaki, Tatsuya "-K-" Kiuchi, and Yoko Kawashima.<ref name="VandalGM">{{cite web|last=Fuentes|first=Edgar S.|url=https://vandal.elespanol.com/vandalgamemusic/gamadelic-data-east-sound-team|title=Vandal Game Music: 'Gamadelic' Data East Sound Team - Repasamos el legado de Gamadelic, la brillante formación de músicos de Data East|work=[[Vandal (website)|Vandal]]|publisher=[[El Español]]|date=June 21, 2017|access-date=2023-03-10|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705153751/https://vandal.elespanol.com/vandalgamemusic/gamadelic-data-east-sound-team|archive-date=2020-07-05|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Magical Drop F: Daibōken Mo Rakujyanai!'' was co-developed by Sakata SAS, a video game subsidiary of Japanese software developer SAS established in 1985, which had previously worked for Data East on a number of projects across multiple platforms such as the ''[[Tantei Jingūji Saburō]]'' series.<ref name="DEAC"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sas-sakata.co.jp/works.html|title=業務実績 - エンターテイメント|publisher=Sakata SAS|date=2000|access-date=2023-03-10|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000929162451/http://www.sas-sakata.co.jp/works.html|archive-date=2000-09-29|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sasgames.jp/business/history.html|title=エス・エー・エス ゲームス - ET事業部の沿革|website=sasgames.jp|date=2018|access-date=2023-03-10|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831124523/http://sasgames.jp/business/history.html|archive-date=2018-08-31|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sas-sakata.co.jp/company|title=会社情報|publisher=Sakata SAS|date=2020|access-date=2023-03-10|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806190616/https://www.sas-sakata.co.jp/company|archive-date=2020-08-06|url-status=live}}</ref>
''Magical Drop F: Daibōken Mo Rakujyanai!'' was released for the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] in Japan by Data East on October 21, 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sas-sakata.co.jp/gyomu/ps/ps.html|title=Entertainment - PlayStation|publisher=Sakata SAS|date=2002|access-date=2023-03-10|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020516210327fw_/http://sas-sakata.co.jp/gyomu/ps/ps.html|archive-date=2002-05-16|url-status=live}}</ref> The game's music and updated aesthetics were then used in ''Magical Drop for WonderSwan'',{{efn|{{nihongo|マジカルドロップ for ワンダースワン|Majikaru Doroppu fō WandāSuwan}}}} released in 1999 for [[Bandai]]'s [[WonderSwan]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}} On April 26, 2001, ''Daibōken Mo Rakujyanai!'' was re-released by [[Hamster Corporation]] as part of their "Major Wave" series of budget titles.<ref name="GDRPS2001">{{cite web|url=http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_SNC1_PS2001.html|title=PlayStation Soft > 2001|work=GAME Data Room|date=2016|access-date=2023-03-08|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219234045/http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_SNC1_PS2001.html|archive-date=2023-02-19|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2008, the game was re-released on [[PlayStation Network]] in Japan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2008/04/17/28517.html|title=PS3とPSPに『マジカルドロップF』登場！ ゲームアーカイブス新作配信|work={{ill|Inside Games|lt=Inside Games|ja|iNSIDE (ニュースサイト)}}|publisher={{ill|IID, Inc.|lt=IID, Inc.|ja|イード (企業)}}|date=April 17, 2008|access-date=2023-03-08|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308225457/https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2008/04/17/28517.html|archive-date=2023-03-08|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jp.playstation.com/software/title/jp0571npjj00150_000000000000000001.html|title=「ゲームアーカイブス」マジカルドロップF 大冒険もラクじゃない!|work=PlayStation Official Site Software Catalog|publisher=[[Sony Interactive Entertainment]]|date=2021|access-date=2023-03-08|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202103045/http://www.jp.playstation.com/software/title/jp0571npjj00150_000000000000000001.html|archive-date=2021-12-02|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2010, the title was rated by the [[Entertainment Software Rating Board|ESRB]], implying a future international re-rerelease.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mitchell|first=Richard|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/09/esrb-rates-blockids-magical-drop-f-for-ps3/|title=ESRB rates Blockids, Magical Drop F for PS3|work=[[Joystiq]]|publisher=[[AOL]]|date=July 9, 2010|access-date=2023-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100713190856/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/09/esrb-rates-blockids-magical-drop-f-for-ps3/|archive-date=2010-07-13|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/two-leaked-ps3-digital-imports-from-monkeypaw/|title=Two Leaked PS3 Digital Imports From MonkeyPaw|work=[[Siliconera]]|publisher=[[Gamurs]]|date=July 9, 2010|access-date=2023-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929121427/https://www.siliconera.com/two-leaked-ps3-digital-imports-from-monkeypaw/|archive-date=2022-09-29|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=North|first=Dale|url=https://www.destructoid.com/hell-yes-monkeypaw-porting-magical-drop-f-cho-aniki/|title=Hell Yes: MonkeyPaw porting Magical Drop F, Cho Aniki|work=[[Destructoid]]|publisher=[[Enthusiast Gaming]]|date=July 12, 2010|access-date=2023-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307220413/https://www.destructoid.com/hell-yes-monkeypaw-porting-magical-drop-f-cho-aniki/|archive-date=2023-03-07|url-status=live}}</ref> That same year, the game was distributed via PlayStation Network in North America by MonkeyPaw Games on October 5.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sterling|first=James Stephanie|author-link=James Stephanie Sterling|url=https://www.destructoid.com/psn-getting-psone-imports-section-for-japanese-games/|title=PSN getting 'PSOne Imports' section for Japanese games|work=[[Destructoid]]|publisher=[[Enthusiast Gaming]]|date=September 17, 2010|access-date=2023-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127145357/https://www.destructoid.com/psn-getting-psone-imports-section-for-japanese-games/|archive-date=2022-01-27|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=North|first=Dale|url=https://www.destructoid.com/hhnnngggg-magical-drop-f-hits-psn-tomorrow/|title=HHNNNGGGG! Magical Drop F hits PSN tomorrow|work=[[Destructoid]]|publisher=[[Enthusiast Gaming]]|date=October 4, 2010|access-date=2023-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810174239/https://www.destructoid.com/hhnnngggg-magical-drop-f-hits-psn-tomorrow/|archive-date=2022-08-10|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/magical-drop-f-and-outlaws-of-the-lost-dynasty-dropping-on-psn-this-week/|title=Magical Drop F And Outlaws Of The Lost Dynasty Dropping On PSN This Week|work=[[Siliconera]]|publisher=[[Gamurs]]|date=October 4, 2010|access-date=2023-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126133335/https://www.siliconera.com/magical-drop-f-and-outlaws-of-the-lost-dynasty-dropping-on-psn-this-week/|archive-date=2022-01-26|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Reception ==
{{Video game reviews
|Destruct = 8.5/10 (PSN)<ref name="DestructPSNMDFDmR">{{cite web|last=North|first=Dale|url=https://www.destructoid.com/review-magical-drop-f-playstation-network/|title=Review: Magical Drop F (PlayStation Network)|work=[[Destructoid]]|publisher=[[Enthusiast Gaming]]|date=October 22, 2010|access-date=2023-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809232428/https://www.destructoid.com/review-magical-drop-f-playstation-network/|archive-date=2022-08-09|url-status=live}}</ref>
|GSpot = 7.5/10<ref name="GSpotPS1MDFDmR">{{cite web|last=Nutt|first=Christian|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/magical-drop-f-import-review/1900-2548203/|title=Magical Drop F (Import) Review — You really can't go wrong with a Magical Drop game if you like competitive puzzlers, and the quest mode is an extremely original idea for a puzzle game|work=[[GameSpot]]|date=May 2, 2000|access-date=2023-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103090224/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/magical-drop-f-import-review/1900-2548203/|archive-date=2019-01-03|url-status=live}}</ref>
|rev1 = ''PlayStation Illustrated''
|rev1Score = 76% (PSN)<ref name="PSIllustratedPSNMDFDmR">{{cite web|last=Paddock|first=Matt|url=https://www.psillustrated.com/psillustrated/soft_rev.php/5206/magical-drop-f-psp.html|title=Magical Drop F|work=PlayStation Illustrated|publisher=GameVortex.com|date=2010|access-date=2023-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411053624/https://www.psillustrated.com/psillustrated/soft_rev.php/5206/magical-drop-f-psp.html|archive-date=2016-04-11|url-status=live}}</ref>
|rev2 = ''[[PlayStation LifeStyle]]''
|rev2Score = 8/10 (PSN)<ref name="PSLSPSNMDFDmR">{{cite web|last=Schwanz|first=Corey|url=https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2010/10/14/psone-import-review-magical-drop-f/|title=PSOne Import Review: Magical Drop F|work=[[PlayStation LifeStyle]]|publisher=[[CraveOnline]]|date=October 14, 2010|access-date=2023-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101020122829/https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2010/10/14/psone-import-review-magical-drop-f/|archive-date=2010-10-20|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
''Magical Drop F: Daibōken Mo Rakujyanai!'' garnered generally favorable reception from critics, most of which reviewed it as an [[Parallel importing in video games|import title]].<ref name="GSpotPS1MDFDmR"/><ref name="DestructPSNMDFDmR"/><ref name="PSLSPSNMDFDmR"/>  ''[[GameSpot]]''{{'}}s Christian Nutt commented that the gameplay was simpler but less frantic compared to ''[[Magical Drop III]]'', noting the removal of special drops. Nutt also found the RPG-style adventure mode very original for a puzzle game, praising the detailed and rich visuals in this mode, but criticized its short length and inability to save progress.<ref name="GSpotPS1MDFDmR"/> ''[[PlayStation LifeStyle]]''{{'}}s Corey Schwanz reviewed the [[PlayStation Network]] re-release, highlighting its addictive puzzle mechanics and "beautiful" artstyle. Although the language barrier in the role-playing single-player mode was seen as a negative aspect, Schwanz wrote that "''Magical Drop F'' is proof-positive that even if you can’t read anything in the game’s language, it can still be a blast to play."<ref name="PSLSPSNMDFDmR"/>
''[[Destructoid]]''{{'}}s Dale North concurred with Schwanz regarding the language barrier in the role-playing adventure mode, while noting the revamped gameplay and more serious artstyle for characters. North summarized his review of the PSN re-release by stating "It’s not near as fancy or complex as the fantastic and flash animated opening movie would lead you to believe, but it is cute and worth checking out."<ref name="DestructPSNMDFDmR"/> ''PlayStation Illustrated''{{'}}s Matt Paddock also analyzed the PSN re-release, commending the audiovisual presentation and its simple but humorous gameplay, but ultimately felt mixed about the difficulty curve and mechanics.<ref name="PSIllustratedPSNMDFDmR"/>
== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
{{Portal|1990s|Japan|Video games}}
* [https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps/197842-magical-drop-f ''Magical Drop F: Daibōken Mo Rakujyanai!''] at [[GameFAQs]]
* [https://www.mobygames.com/game/57320/magical-drop-f/ ''Magical Drop F: Daibōken Mo Rakujyanai!''] at [[MobyGames]]
{{Magical Drop series}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Magical Drop F: Daibōken Mo Rakujyanai!}}
[[Category:1999 video games]]
[[Category:Data East video games]]
[[Category:Japanese role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Magical Drop]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:PlayStation (console) games]]
[[Category:PlayStation Network games]]
[[Category:Puzzle video games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Sakata SAS games]]