Castle of Shikigami

Mobile Light Force is known as Gunbird in Japan, and was not developed by Alfa System. In 2017, Degica Games localized the series, with the first game released on Microsoft Windows via Steam on June 16 as Castle of Shikigami.

• Title — Shikigami no Shiro • Developer — Alfa System • Publisher — Arcade Taito XS Games MediaQuest Sourcenext • Released — Arcade Xbox March 14, 2002PlayStation 2 Windows (EX) Xbox December 19, 2002 (Evolution) PlayStation 2 July 29, 2004 (Re-release) • Genre — Scrolling shooter • Modes — Single-player, multiplayer • Platforms — Arcade, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Windows • Arcade System — Taito G-NET

When holding down the attack button, the player moves at slower speed, and all on-screen items are automatically retrieved. The player character is invulnerable when a special attack is in effect. When the player character is close to an enemy bullet, the points gained from destroying enemies and retrieving items is multiplied by a factor based on the distance between the bullet and the player character's center. The closer they are to the bullet, the higher the scoring. When destroying enemy in shikigami mode, the multiplier also applies to the number of items dropped by enemy and all items dropped by the enemy are automatically retrieved. The Xbox release adds Practice mode, Gallery, and Replay mode, while the PlayStation 2 release adds Practice mode, Gallery, and Side Story modes. Windows includes I.R. mode and vertical screen layout from the arcade game. The North American and European releases of the game removed the screen rotation mode and all in-game plot.

In July 2005, a string of serial murders take place in Tokyo. All the victims are female and killed by external injury. The killings take place within 20 hours. On July 21, the 31st victim is found. The police force classify the case as special crime #568, and begin to seek investigators from occult sources. On July 23, there is a 32nd victim.

Playable characters: • Kohtarou Kuga • Sayo Yuuki • Hyuuga Gennoujou • Fumiko Ozetto Vanshutain • Daejeong Kim •???? (Tagami, from Elemental Gearbolt) Bosses: • Miyoko Aku (Stage 1) • Fujishima Juu (Stage 2) • Hiroshi Aku (Stage 3) • Bauman Aku (Stage 4) • Shoujo (Stage 5) • Zanryuu Shinen (Stage 5–3)

Shikigami no Shiro Evolution was released in two separate versions, a 紅 version which included a database containing character gallery, trailers, and unused voices, and a 藍 version which included developer videos. Both versions have improved enemy AI, new characters, a vertical screen mode, and the new Evolution Mode game mode.

A comic version was written by Tooru Zekuu (aka Shinji Takano) and illustrated by Yuuna Takanagi, serialized in the monthly Magazine Z. Three volumes were published under Kodansha's Magazine Z KC label.