Jan Sangoku Musou is a mahjong game using Dynasty Warriors characters. There are no battlefields involved, but it does contain interactions between warring generals including dialogues that somewhat parody Dynasty Warriors 5. This title is only available in Japan and has never been released outside of the country. Its marketing catchphrase is "Cry, laugh, and compete in serious matches against Warriors characters!!".
Gameplay
Players are tasked with naming their own "Mahjong Warrior" from 32 preset designs and 6 different voice sets. Once the player has decided on a character, they may choose to participate in either a tournament or one of the game's story scenarios. Each story match has four participants, with the player being set against three characters from the Dynasty Warriors series.
The rules are similar to other mahjong games, but includes cuts of the series' characters during matches. Image displays are often voiced and essentially give hints regarding the opposition's situation. These cuts sometimes include the characters posing with their weapons or displaying emotions rarely seen in the base titles, making these instances unintentionally hilarious.
The rules and scores are very similar to a form of Japanese mahjong, particularly the type that is found in competitive mahjong games and yaku. Players can still forfeit their hand and use pon, chii, riichi, or kan.
With the exception of Free Mode rounds, stages can be cleared by fulfilling certain goals, some of which include attaining a high rating for different winning hands or maintaining a specified amount of points until the match ends. They do not necessarily need to have the highest score or have another character at zero points. Though the player is allowed to change certain rules, there are a number of them that remain by default.
Changeable Rules
- The following hands can be enabled or disabled: Tanyao, Tsumo Pinfu, Ippatsu, and Nagashi Mangan.
- The following rules can be enabled or disabled: dobon, wareme, and ryanchaho.
- Players may adjust the scope of dora.
- Distributed points can be set to 25,000, 27,000, or 30,000.
- Allows one to choose between east or south for bakaze.
- If the player opts to prolong the game with shānyū, they can opt to set the maximum points needed to win: 30,000, 30,100, 33,000, or 35,000.
- The option of including or excluding uma is available with proportion adjustments provided if the former happens to be selected.
- The final dealer can choose whether to declare agari or not.
- Allows the player to modify how draws are settled. Options include a simple redo, renchan (consecutive matches where one participant is the dealer), and rinchan (matches that have different characters take turns dealing).
- Enables or disables both yakuman and its double variants.
Unchangeable Rules
- Rules for atozuke and kuikae are applied.
- Tiles primarily consist of the tiger, character, bamboo, and honor tiles. Meanwhile, flower and joker tiles cannot be used.
- The starting amount of points is usually set at 30,000. On certain stages, it can also be at 16,000 or 20,000.
- All hands are considered closed with open riichi maneuvers being barred completely. Furiten riichi, on the other hand, is allowed.
- Kandora is opened immediately for kan tile calls.
- There are no yakitori (for penalties), chippu (for bets), or akahai (for bonuses) involved.
- Kokushi Musou and Chiitoitsu can be done no matter what setting the game is currently under. However, when trying to pull off a Kokushi Musou hand, robbing a kan is not possible. Meanwhile, Chiitoitsu hands are worth double the amount of points.
- Abortive draws include sūfontsu rendā, sūkaikan, sūcha riichi, sanchahō, and kyūshu kyūhai.
Modes
Musou Fighting Tile
Serves as the game's main mode. Each Kingdom is given a scenario for players to go through. Players travel from six different locations for each kingdom. After their completion, a new "dream" story opens up.
Wei Legend
Cao Cao, bored and restless, invites the greatest mahjong warriors in the land to satisfy him with a game while witnessing the opening ceremony of the Bronze Sparrow Terrace's construction. Xiahou Dun asks the player to help him out by finding two more players. During this time, Wei is at war with Yuan Shao, though that does not deter Xiahou Yuan from calling him over to join their matches.
Wu Legend
A grand banquet is being held for a mahjong tournament at Jian Ye. The player is asked by Sun Jian to help with the preparations while he's away to escort his daughter on a faraway trip. Initially entrusted with gathering food and drinks, things go awry when they are forced to undergo a series of mahjong matches to test their worthiness.
Shu Legend
At a peach garden, the three brothers are presented with a grand mahjong table, but lack the fourth person to fill in the empty spot. Seeing the predicament, Liu Bei orders his troops to find a strong mahjong warrior in hopes of finding their "fourth virtuous brother".
Musou Legend
The final and longest scenario that pits the player against three different opponents. They challenge the player to prove who is the better mahjong warrior of the era for various reasons. A brief summary for each team's dialogue is attached.
- Zuo Ci, Pang Tong, Zhang Jiao - Magicians who decide to test the player's prowess.
- Jiang Wei, Lu Xun, Sima Yi - Eager strategists; Jiang Wei angrily states that Lu Xun has no right to be there, while Sima Yi jumps at the chance to win.
- Ma Chao, Gan Ning, Xiahou Dun - Proud warriors who boldly declare their intentions to win; Gan Ning finds Ma Chao annoying and the two warriors bicker with each other, leaving an annoyed Xiahou Dun to start the match.
- Da Qiao, Sun Ce, Guan Ping - Da Qiao cheers on her husband and he gets embarrassed. They share a tender moment together while Guan Ping watches on being a bit jealous. He wants to win the match to someday share the same type of happiness.
- Zhou Yu, Xiao Qiao, Cao Ren - Zhou Yu promises to play Xiao Qiao her favorite song if they win. Cao Ren scorns their open display of affection on the battlefield. After the player wins, he bashfully says that he'll act the same after the wars are over.
- Zhao Yun, Zhang He, Diao Chan - The good-looking "cho" team; Zhang He gathered them together since the Japanese pronunciation of their names are a "beautiful" pun of the word butterfly.
- Xu Zhu, Meng Huo, Dong Zhuo - Rambunctious giants; Meng Huo and Dong Zhuo fight over treasure while Xu Zhu tries to calm them down with a mahjong match.
- Sun Shang Xiang, Xing Cai, Zhang Fei - Sun Shang Xiang and Xing Cai talk about pleasing their fathers but the latter can't find herself to cheer for her parent. Zhang Fei joins the team to show her how cool he can be.
- Wei Yan, Zhou Tai, Dian Wei - The first two don't talk much and surprise Dian Wei when they suddenly start the match.
- Huang Zhong, Xiahou Yuan, Huang Gai - Huang Zhong challenges Xiahou Yuan to a mahjong match, but he isn't interested. He instead refers his rival to the "other old man" and the two have a manly match to see who's the better elder.
- Yue Ying, Zhen Ji, Zhu Rong - A team comprised of wives. Yue Ying and Zhen Ji start the match to see who is the better wife while Zhu Rong joins to see if they can get along.
- Pang De, Taishi Ci, Yuan Shao - A respectful setup between two warriors until Yuan Shao complains about how no one wants to join him. Pang De tells him to prove his worth in the match.
- Lu Meng, Ling Tong, Lu Bu - Lu Meng finds it disgraceful to share his family name with Lu Bu and challenges him to a match to see who keeps it. Ling Tong lazily helps his elder, even if he finds his reasons for fighting a bit too silly.
- Xu Huang, Guan Yu, Zhang Liao - Respectful warriors who want to test their might against each other
- Cao Pi, Zhuge Liang, Sun Quan - Successors of their lords who want to see who is better amongst them.
- Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sun Jian - Heroes who want to see who should be the true ruler of the land.
Mahjong Emperor Championship
A tournament mode with eight different types of matches. Participants who rank second or higher get to join from one match to another until reaching the finals. Points are tallied after the tournament and the character with the highest amount wins the title of "Mahjong Emperor". Opponents are randomized in this mode. The following tournaments below adhere to different rules.
- Chi Bi Tournament - Uses basic rules.
- Hu Lao Gate Tournament - Uses inflation rules.
- Wu Zhang Plains Tournament - Uses deflation rules.
- He Fei Tournament - Uses one-game settlement rules.
- Yi Ling Tournament - Uses competition rules.
- Chang Ban Tournament - Uses tonpūsen rules.
- Nan Zhong Tournament - Uses tonpū inflation rules.
- Field Tournament - Uses all aforementioned rules.
Free Game
Serving as the title's Free Mode, the player can set the rules to their liking and go against any three characters in the game.
Database
Displays rankings and achievements from other modes.
Locations
- Bar at Xu Chang
- Guan Du
- Xia Pi
- Sima Yi's Manor
- Street
- Bronze Sparrow Terrace
- Chang Ban
- Hu Lao Gate
- Han Zhong
- Cheng Du
- Mt. Ding Jun
- Fan Castle
- Nan Zhong
- Lou Sang Village
Related Media
A comprehensive strategy guide for the game was released by the company.
Port Differences
- The DS version allows up to four players to compete with one another via download play while the other ports are limited to matches comprised of two players and two AI-controlled opponents.
- The PlayStation 2 and PSP ports feature fully-voiced character dialogues. Defeating a particular officer in all three gameplay modes automatically unlocks their voice samples for player's to listen to.
Gallery
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Japanese logo
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DS cover
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