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{{Infobox video game series
| title = Tengai Makyō
| image = File:Far East of Eden logo - circa Zirca 2010.png
| caption =
| creator = [[Oji Hiroi]]
| platforms =
| developer = [[Red Entertainment|Red Company]]<br />[[Hudson Soft]]
| publisher = [[Hudson Soft]]
| genre = [[Role-playing video game|Role-playing]]
| spinoffs =
}}

{{nihongo foot|'''''Tengai Makyō'''''|天外魔境|''Tengai Makyō''|lit. "The [[Makyo|Realm of Demons]] Outside Heaven"|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}}, also known as '''''Far East of Eden''''', is a series of [[role-playing video game]]s released in [[Japan]] and [[Taiwan]]. The series was conceived by [[Oji Hiroi]] and developed by [[Red Entertainment|Red Company]], debuting on the [[TurboGrafx-16#TurboGrafx-CD/CD-ROM²|PC Engine CD-ROM² System]] in [[1989 in video gaming|1989]].<ref name="hg101_tengai" />

The series became popular [[Video gaming in Japan|in Japan]], where it was one of the most popular RPG series during the [[History of video game consoles (fourth generation)|16-bit era]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/03/31/tengai-makyo-cancelled-for-gamecube?amp=1 | title=Tengai Makyo Cancelled for GameCube | date=31 March 2004 }}</ref> along with [[Enix]]'s ''[[Dragon Quest]]'' and [[Square (video game company)|Squaresoft]]'s ''[[Final Fantasy]]''. Its success was partly because the original ''Tengai Makyō'' was the first RPG released for the new [[CD-ROM]] format, which it utilized to create a bigger game and introduce [[Voice acting|fully voiced]] animated [[cut scene]]s and [[Streaming audio in video games|CD music]] to the genre.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

The series grew to encompass a number of remakes, [[gaiden]]s and genre spin-offs across a variety of platforms. Despite selling over 2.2 million copies in Japan,<ref>{{Cite news |title=あの「天外魔境」シリーズの最新作が，ついに！ |url=http://www.4gamer.net/games/120/G012010/20100911002/ |publisher=[[Aetas (company)|Aetas]] |work=[[4Gamer.net]] |date=2010-09-13 |accessdate=2015-04-24|language=Japanese}}</ref> the series is largely unknown in other territories, with only one game released overseas.

==Overview==

The main series is composed of three separate games within the land of 'Jipang' (a fictional [[feudal Japan]] using the name given by Italian merchant [[Marco Polo]]), each follows a descendant of the 'Fire Clan' and supporting cast in battles against a range of often comical villains. The stories of the games, though primarily of 'fantasy' fare, are inspired by and a parody of misconceptions about Japanese culture by Western societies.

The first game ''[[Tengai Makyō: Ziria]]'' (1989), released for the [[PC Engine CD-ROM²]] system, was notable as the first RPG released on [[CD-ROM]] and the first in the genre to feature animated [[cut scenes]] and [[voice acting]]. The plot and characters were inspired by the Japanese folk tale ''[[Jiraiya Goketsu Monogatari]]'' (with the protagonist's name deliberately misspelled, per the fantastic theme). The music for the game was also composed by the [[Academy Award]] winning musician [[Ryuichi Sakamoto]].<ref name="hg101_tengai">{{cite web|last=Kalata|first=Kurt|title=Tengai Makyou: Ziria|url=http://hardcoregaming101.net/tengai/tengai.htm|work=Hardcore Gaming 101|accessdate=7 September 2011}}</ref> The game was previewed in the November 1990 issue of ''[[Computer Gaming World]]''. The writer Roe R. Adams (also a co-developer for the ''[[Wizardry]]'' games) described it as "a truly gigantic game" that "seems to be about the size of 2 or 3 ''[[Ultima (series)|Ultimas]]'' put together." He suggested that, if "[[NEC]] can handle the mammoth translating job, ''Ziria'' could be the [[List of Game of the Year awards|game hit of 1991]]" unless, "of course, [[Nintendo]] counters with ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|Zelda III]]'' or ''[[Dragon Warrior III]]'', and [[Sega]] with ''[[Phantasy Star III]]''."<ref>{{citation|first=Roe R.|last=Adams|magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]]|date=November 1990|issue=76|pages=83–84 [84]|title=Westward Ho! (Toward Japan, That Is): An Overview of the Evolution of CRPGs on Dedicated Game Machines|quote=In Japan, there are currently 26 CD-ROM based games already available for this machine, including ''[[Ys I & II]]'' (scheduled for Christmas release in the U.S. on one disk) and a truly gigantic game, ''Ziria'', which seems to be about the size of 2 or 3 ''Ultimas'' put together. IF NEC can handle the mammoth translating job, Ziria could be the game hit of 1991 on the game machines (unless, of course, Nintendo counters with ''Zelda III'' or ''Dragon Warrior III'', and Sega with ''Phantasy Star III'').}}</ref>

The sequel ''[[Tengai Makyō II: Manjimaru]]'' (1992) was reportedly the [[List of most expensive video games to develop|most expensive game]] ever made up until that time;<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Tengai Makyou II (Ziria: Far East of Eden 2) |magazine=[[TurboPlay]] |date=1992 |issue=12 (April/May 1992) |page=19}}</ref> the game's lead programmer Hiromasa Iwasaki later revealed the development budget was about {{JPY|500 million}} ({{US$|4 million|long=no}} at the time, or {{US$|{{Inflation|US|4|1992|r=1}} million|long=no}} adjusted for inflation), making it possibly the first [[AAA game]] production on CD-ROM.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Szczepaniak |first1=John |title=The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers: Monochrome |date=November 2015 |publisher=SMG Szczepaniak |isbn=978-1518818745 |pages=85, 97–8 |quote=Flagship title for the updated PC-Engine CD-ROM, this was one of (if not ''the'') most expensive game of its day; think of it as Hudson's analogue to ''[[Shenmue]]''. (...) ''Tengai Makyou II'' was a ''really'' big project and perhaps also the first triple-A title on CD. (...) Because at that time, for Tengai Makyou II, we used almost (...) 500,000,000 yen (...) $4,000,000 (...) And perhaps the salaries of these people are not contained within this [original] 500 million figure. (...) So it's even more expensive!}}</ref> The music was composed by [[Joe Hisaishi]], known for composing soundtracks to [[Studio Ghibli]]'s [[anime]] films such as ''[[Castle in the Sky]]'' (1986), ''[[Princess Mononoke]]'' (1997) and ''[[Spirited Away]]'' (2001).<ref name="hg101_tengai"/> There were plans to release ''Tengai Makyō II'' in [[North America]], but due to the [[TurboGrafx-16]]'s failure in that market, no ''Tengai Makyō'' games would be released there up until ''[[Far East of Eden: Kabuki Klash]]'' (1995).<ref name="hg101_tengai"/>

==Creators==
The games are largely the creation of [[Oji Hiroi]] and Red Company (today [[Red Entertainment]]). Virtually all publishing tasks have been handled by [[Hudson Soft]].

The series is purported to be based on a book entitled "Far East of Eden" written by a Paul Hieronymus Chada (typically written as P.H. Chada), who is presented as a 19th-century Smithsonian professor of oriental studies. The book and P.H. Chada do not exist, and 'P.H. Chada' is actually derived from 'Prince (Oji) Hiroi'. This is part of how the setting is supposed based on the misconceptions Western societies held with regard to Japan in the past. The person "Hiroshi Adachi" credited as creating the series is also fictional, with the roles he is credited for actually being performed by Hiroi. "Adachi"/"Chada" also had a personal website which was actually run by Hiroi.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www006.upp.so-net.ne.jp/ashi/ |title=あ氏の部屋|website=www006.upp.so-net.ne.jp |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126144025/http://www006.upp.so-net.ne.jp/ashi/ |archive-date=26 January 2021 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Oji Hiroi and Red Company would later become known for creating the ''[[Sakura Wars]]'' series for the [[Sega Saturn]].<ref name="hg101_tengai"/> ''Sakura Wars'' adopted various elements from the series, including a pre-modern Japanese setting and the use of animated cutscenes and voice acting.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hetfeld |first1=Malindy |title=An introduction to Sakura Wars, the RPG series created to save the Sega Saturn |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-04-15-an-introduction-to-sakura-wars-the-rpg-series-created-to-save-the-sega-saturn |access-date=16 July 2021 |work=[[Eurogamer]] |date=15 April 2020}}</ref>

==Games==
Entries in the franchise have been released for several different console and mobile platforms, including remakes for newer systems, such as the [[PlayStation Portable|PSP]] compilation ''Tengai Makyō Collection'', which contains the main four PC Engine titles.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Genre !! Original Platform
|-
| 1989 || ''[[Tengai Makyō: Ziria]]'' || RPG || PC Engine CD
|-
| 1992 || ''[[Tengai Makyō II: Manji Maru]]'' || RPG || PC Engine CD
|-
| 1993 || ''[[Tengai Makyō: Fuun Kabukiden]]'' || RPG || PC Engine CD
|-
|1994 || ''[[Bomberman '94#Demos|Tengai Makyō: Deden no Den]]'' (promo) || Maze || PC Engine CD
|-
| 1995 || ''[[Tengai Makyō: Kabuki Ittou Ryoudan]]'' || Fighting || PC Engine CD
|-
| 1995 || ''[[Far East of Eden: Kabuki Klash]]'' || Fighting || NeoGeo
|-
| 1995 || ''[[Tengai Makyō: Dennou Karakuri Kakutouden]]'' || {{abr|FMV|Full Motion Video}} fighting || PC-FX
|-
| 1995 || ''[[Tengai Makyō Zero]]'' || RPG || Super Famicom
|-
| 1997 || ''[[Tengai Makyō: Daiyon no Mokushiroku]]'' || RPG || Sega Saturn
|-
| 2003 || ''[[Oriental Blue: Ao no Tengai]]'' || RPG || Game Boy Advance
|-
|2003
|[[Tengai Makyō II: Manji Maru|''Tengai Makyō II: Manji Maru'' ''(remake)'']]
|RPG
|GameCube, PlayStation 2
|-
| 2004 || ''[[Tengai Makyō Mobile]]'' || RPG || iPhone
|-
| 2005 || ''Tengai Makyō III: Namida'' || RPG || PlayStation 2
|}

=== Canceled games ===
* ''Oriental Blue'' (Nintendo 64 DD)<ref>{{cite web |title=Oriental Blue, Nintendo 64 unreleased game |url=https://www.nintendo64ever.com/Nintendo-64-Game-Oriental-Blue-Unreleased,670.html}}</ref>
* ''Tengai Makyō: Jipang Seven'' (browser-based game)<ref>[http://jipang7.gamecomplex.jp/ Tengai Makyō: Jipang Seven cancellation notice]</ref>

== Other media ==
A two-episode [[Original video animation|OVA]] titled {{nihongo foot|''Tengai Makyō Ziria Oboro-hen''|天外魔境 自来也おぼろ変|group=lower-alpha}} was made in 1990.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tengai Makyō: Ziria Oboro-hen (OAV) |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=15258 |website=Anime News Network |access-date=11 September 2021}}</ref>

''Tengai Makyō'' was also included in the two volumes of the 1992 manga anthology {{nihongo foot|''Hudson Makyō''|ハドソン魔境|group=lower-alpha}} by Minori Shobo, which featured stories about different Hudson franchises.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hudson Makyou |url=http://randomhoohaas.flyingomelette.com/bomb/book/hudmakyo/}}</ref>

''Tengai Makyō II'' protagonist Manjimaru Sengoku appears as a playable character in the 2003 crossover fighting game ''[[DreamMix TV World Fighters]]''.

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://hardcoregaming101.net/tengai/tengai.htm Hardcore Gaming 101's Tengai Makyō Page]
* {{moby game|id=-group/tengai-maky-far-east-of-eden-series|name=''Tengai Makyō/Far East of Eden'' series}}
* {{anime News Network|anime|15258|Tengai Makyō: Ziria Oboro-hen}}
* [https://red-entertainment.co.jp/en/gallery/cat02/392.html Tengai Makyō | Red Entertainment Official site English]

{{Tengai Makyō}}
{{Konami franchises}}

[[Category:Hudson Soft games]]
[[Category:Konami franchises]]
[[Category:Oji Hiroi]]
[[Category:Red Entertainment games]]
[[Category:Role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Tengai Makyo| ]]
[[Category:Video game franchises]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]