Description

"Mizuki Shigeru no Youkai Zukan Soushuuhen," released for the Sega Saturn in 1995, is an intriguing title based on the works of the famous manga artist Shigeru Mizuki, renowned for his supernatural-themed narratives featuring a rich tapestry of "Youkai" (Japanese folklore creatures). The game serves as an educational yet entertaining exploration into this mythical realm, providing players with a detailed database of various Youkai alongside illustrations and descriptions crafted by Mizuki himself. Aimed more towards fans of Mizuki's storytelling and folklore aficionados, the game doesn’t follow a conventional competitive or progressive gameplay structure but is rather an interactive encyclopedia filled with folklore studies.

The gameplay, if it can be termed so, revolves around exploring different Youkai entries, learning about their background, characteristics, and the myths associated with them. Players navigate a virtual book, clicking on different Youkai to unveil more information and occasionally accessing mini-games that deepen the engagement with the folklore material. For its time, "Mizuki Shigeru no Youkai Zukan Soushuuhen" was a unique offering on the Sega Saturn, a console more known for its action-packed games than for educational content. The game not only highlights Mizuki's influential art and story-telling but also serves as a cultural bridge introducing a wider audience to traditional Japanese folklore through a medium that was rapidly gaining global popularity.