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Tecmo's Deception: Invitation to Darkness
Japanese name 刻命館
Romaji name Kokumeikan
Developer Tecmo
Publisher Tecmo
SunSoft (EU)
Release Dates PlayStation version
July 25, 1996 (NA)
July 26, 1996 (JP)
January 1, 1997 (EU)

PlayStation Network

November 26, 2008 (JP)
Genre Strategy-RPG
Game Modes Single player
Ratings ESRB: Teen
ELSPA: 11+
Platforms PlayStation, PlayStation Network
Behold: the castle of the damned...
Upon your dying lips, you beg your hopeless plea to an almighty power in order to spare your life... As the Angel of Death descends upon you, a power, an evil power, snatches your life by the clutches of its own demonic hand... You have been saved... But at what price?

Tecmo's Deception: Invitation to Darkness, known as Kokumeikan (刻命館, "Engraved Fate Building") in Japan and Devil's Deception in Europe, is the first video game in the Deception series, released for PlayStation in 1996.

The player controls the Prince of Zemekia, who was falsely framed for killing his father, King Zemeris. On the day of his execution, the prince is saved by unknown forces and is guided to the Castle of the Damned, where Astarte makes him the new Castle Master and he gains dark powers.

Chapters[]

  • Chapter 1: The Master
  • Chapter 2: The Trial
  • Chapter 3: Souls Essence
  • Chapter 4: An Unholy Offering
  • Chapter 5: Messenger
  • Chapter 6: Old Magician
  • Chapter 7: Fiana
  • Chapter 8: The Ressurection
  • Chapter 9: A Friend
  • Chapter 10: Final Showdown
  • Chapter 11: Spies
  • Chapter 12: Ghost
  • Chapter 13: Cavalry
  • Chapter 14: Against All Hope
  • Chapter 15: The Awakening
  • Chapter 16: The Necklace
  • Chapter 17: The Oppressed
  • Chapter 18: Ultimate Sacrifice
  • Chapter 19: Crisis
  • Chapter 20: Ambition
  • Chapter 21: Confusion
  • Chapter 22: Evil Decision
  • Chapter 23: Eternal Darkness
  • Chapter 24: Uncertainty
  • Chapter 25: Twilight of the Gods
  • Chapter 26: The Final Key
  • Chapter 27: Apocalypse

There are six endings in total.

Premise and Gameplay[]

Deception is an action game with RPG elements, resembling the FMV genre of games, particularly Sega CD such as Night Trap and Double Switch. The primary object of the series is to dispatch intruders through the positioning and activation of traps. What sets Deception apart from the Digital Pictures' predecessors is that moral judgment comes heavily into play.

The player takes on the role of an unjustly executed man, who pleads to the devil to spare his life at the moment of his demise. The devil (explicitly referred to as 'Satan' in the manual) grants his request, and gives him command over the 'Castle of the Damned.' Soon after taking control of the castle, many visitors soon find themselves drawn to the fortress: some for power, some for salvation, and some for something as simple as shelter.

The player has the option of either destroying the intruders or letting them escape, but both choices carry consequences: for example, the player may choose to either kill their parents, who are out to find a cure for their ailing daughter, or let them escape to inform others of the demonic presence invading the mansion. Additionally, killing intruders is sometimes the only way to proceed and gain more Magic Points (earned by taking the victims' souls) or gold (won by killing the victims).

Gameplay is carried out by a three-dimensional representation of the character, and traps can then be activated and set up within various rooms of the castle and then created before each respective level. The story will take multiple paths depending on the choices the player makes. Unlike in future Deception games, Tecmo's Deception's chapters all revolve around the Castle of the Damned, the player can also freely add hallways and various rooms to the castle.

Controversy[]

In Tecmo's Deception, the player's objective is to gain covenants with The Devil and potentially aid in his resurrection. This was for the most part allowed in Japan, but such references weren't welcomed as much in the west. Due to this, none of the sequels use satanic references in their storylines, and there has been no re-release of the original outside of Japan.

Traps[]

At the player's disposal are physical or magical traps that either damage, confuse, or snare enemies for capturing them.

Trap Variety Damage Type Category Trap Upgrades
Spikes Physical Destroy Spikes

Poison Rod

Fire Spike

Weights Physical Destroy Ton Weight

Metal Ball

Fire Bomb

Pits Magical Destroy Pit

Floor Lift

Poison Pit

Feet Magical Destroy Stomp

Poison Toe

Fire Foot

Cages Physical Capture Copper Cage

Jail Cell

Volt Cage

Cranes Magical Capture Crane

Fast Crane

Ice Crane

Bear Traps Physical Capture Bear Trap

Vacuum

Ice Trap

Magnets Magical Capture Magnet

Hand

Volt Hand

Gasses Magical Confuse Dazing Fog

Insane Gas

Mind Kill

Buckets Physical Confuse Bucket

Golden Tub

Floor Spin

Banisher Magical Capture Banisher

The player can also make use of Masks to lure or repel enemies and use the cadavers of captured invaders to create monsters that can be summoned at any time at the cost of block orbs.

Gallery[]

Main article: Tecmo's Deception: Invitation to Darkness/Images

External links[]

Games
Tecmo's Deception: Invitation to Darkness
Kagero: Deception II
Deception III: Dark Delusion
Trapt
Deception IV: Blood TiesThe Nightmare Princess
Kagero ~Trap Girls~
Reoccurring Themes
TrapClass


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