Ghost In The Shell - The OG Game
It isn't the first time that we share with you a title from the Ghost in the Shell legacy. But it is the first time we share the game.
Released by SCEI in July 1997, Ghost in the Shell is a cyberpunk third-person shooter for the PlayStation. While at first the game was planned to be created with direct connection to the original story, original author Masamune Shirow demanded for a different feel from the movie, which led to a different character design & casting, very close to the original manga.
The cyborg Megatech Body Corporation of New Port City is bombed by the terrorist organization Human Liberation Front. The Public Security Section 9, consisting of Major Motoko Kusanagi, Batou, Chief Aramaki, Togusa, Ishikawa, Saito, and the Rookie [the player], are assembled to head to the bay area where they tracked the claim of responsibility to have been released online.
The player must control a Fuchikoma, a multi-legged tank, and defeat terrorists to clear missions. The Fuchikoma comes equipped with multiple weapons, and although it can't jump or sprint, can be controlled to move along walls & ceilings for a unique gameplay especially at the time of release. The idea of this Fuchikoma came from the movie, a battle between Motoko Kusanagi and a giant tank.
The gameplay was not the only thing that excited the fans; the music & soundtrack for the game was also on a level that no other game could achieve. Legendary Japanese techno musician Takkyu Ishino was the music producer of the game, as well as the creator of the opening song, "Ghost in the Shell". The bass-heavy soundtrack also featured tracks from countless impactful names in the techno-scene including but not limited to Mijk van Dijk, Hardfloor, Brother From Another Planet, and Detroit techno pioneer Derrick May.
The day after the release of the game, a launch party was held at Yebisu Garden Hall titled "Megatech Body Night". Takkyu Ishino, Joey Beltram, and Mijk van Dijk performed live, accompanied by a Fuchikoma robot. A Fuchikoma paper-craft kit was handed out to all who bought tickets, and 10 posters raffled off.
