User:Aidanzapunk/Character concepts/Universes

With the exception of Shadow and Tails (who are from the Sonic the Hedgehog universe) and Chun-Li (who is from the Street Fighter universe), each character on my character concepts page hails from a new (coincidentally, non-Nintendo) universe; Shovel Knight and Cuphead, despite being existing universes, are also listed here as their symbols are unique to the userspace. This page acts as a parallel to our own universe pages, for those curious about each franchise listed on my page; however, it's more of a brief summary from me rather than anything in depth, and if you want to read more, I provide links to Wikipedia.

Fairy Tail (フェアリーテイル, Fairy Tail)

Fairy Tail (universe)
Publisher(s)	Kodansha
Designer(s)	Hiro Mashima
Genre(s)	Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Console/platform of origin	Manga
First installment	Fairy Tail (manga, 2006)
Latest installment	Fairy Tail (video game, 2020)
Article on Wikipedia	Fairy Tail (universe)

The story of Fairy Tail follows Lucy Heartfilia, a Celestial Spirit wizard who wants to join the titular Fairy Tail guild. In the port town of Hargeon, Lucy has a run in with a wizard named Bora, who claims to be the famous "Salamander" wizard, and attempts to use the forbidden Charm magic on several females, including Lucy; an incoming Natsu Dragneel and Happy, looking for a dragon, similarly run into Bora after hearing about "Salamander", inadvertently snapping Lucy out of her trance, but are disappointed. As thanks, Lucy treats the two to lunch, where they discuss their two goals: Lucy wanting to join the Fairy Tail guild, and Natsu looking for Igneel, the Fire Dragon. After the two part ways, Lucy is invited by Bora to his yacht for a party later that evening, with the promise of joining the Fairy Tail guild, while Natsu overhears two women who were also invited talk about the party being hosted by "Salamander of Fairy Tail". They investigate the party, running into Lucy again, and inadvertently saving her once again, as she was nearly drugged. The three join forces, attacking Bora and his men, where Natsu reveals himself as the true Salamander, the Fire Dragon Slayer. Bora is defeated, though the victory is cut short when the Magic Council shows up in response to the damage being caused; Natsu drags Lucy along with him, reconfirming that she wanted to join the Fairy Tail guild, to which Lucy excitedly joins him. The three return to the guild, where Lucy is introduced to all of its members, who would form timeless bonds with Lucy and other future members of the guild.

Ace Attorney (逆転裁判, Turnabout Trial)

Ace Attorney (universe)
Developer(s)	Capcom
Publisher(s)	Capcom
Genre(s)	Adventure, visual novel
Console/platform of origin	Game Boy Advance
First installment	Gyakuten Saiban (2001)
Latest installment	Dai Gyakuten Saiban 2: Naruhodō Ryūnosuke no Kakugo (2017)
Article on Wikipedia	Ace Attorney (universe)

Phoenix Wright, an up and coming defense attorney, is given a simplistic, yet hefty task for his first case: defend his best friend from elementary school in a murder trial. While he asked his boss, Mia Fey, to be put on the case due to the connection to the client, it would no doubt prove to be a difficult case for the first timer, due to the alibi given from the witness to the crime. Phoenix, however, confidently pointed out a major contradiction in the case, eventually leading to the witness being revealed as the true culprit. Things, however, would only escalade further in his career, as his very next case involved the murder of Mia, with her younger sister, Maya Fey, being placed as the defendant. What ensued was an uphill battle between Phoenix and the corrupt business owner Redd White, but Maya, using her family's spirit medium powers, channeled Mia, who threatened to blackmail Redd if he didn't confess to murdering her. Phoenix and Maya would afterwards form an unbreakable bond, working together on future cases, changing the Fey and Co. Law Office to the Wright and Co. Law Office.

League of Legends (リーグ・オブ・レジェンズ, League of Legends)

League of Legends (universe)
File:AidanzapunkLeagueofLegendsLogo.png File:AidanzapunkLeagueofLegendsSymbol.png
Developer(s)	Riot Games
Publisher(s)	Riot Games
Genre(s)	Multiplayer online battle arena
Console/platform of origin	PC
First installment	League of Legends (2009)
Latest installment	Legends of Runeterra (2020)

League of Legends has a lot of gameplay modes, but its most famous is a 5v5 game on a map called Summoner's Rift, that has three lanes—top, middle, and bottom—and tons of forest in between the lanes. The goal is to progress into enemy territory by destroying their turrets, followed by their inhibitors, and finally, destroying their nexus.

I will die on the hill that says this game is fun, because it is. The community has its own special circle of hell, though.

Shovel Knight (ショべルナイト, Shovel Knight)

Shovel Knight (universe)
Developer(s)	Yacht Club Games Nitrome VINE
Publisher(s)	Yacht Club Games Nintendo (Treasure Trove, JP)
Designer(s)	Sean Velasco
Genre(s)	Action, platform
Console/platform of origin	Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U
First installment	Shovel Knight (2014)
Latest installment	Shovel Knight: King of Cards/Shovel Knight Showdown (2019)
Article on Wikipedia	Shovel Knight (universe)

Shovel Knight and Shield Knight were a pair of adventurers who lived a happy life together. One day, they ventured to the Tower of Fate, where a terrible curse caused Shield Knight to disappear, and only Shovel Knight escaped the tower, with the disappearance of Shield Knight sending him into a deep depression. This, however, allowed the Enchantress and her army of Knights in the Order of No Quarter to take over the land, causing Shovel Knight to come out of retirement to save the land and defeat the Enchantress.

The series later expanded to include multiple side stories, including a "what if" scenario in the form of Plague Knight's campaign, two prequels focusing on Specter Knight and King Knight, and a fighting game with all of the Knights as playable characters.

Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir (ミラキュラス レディバグ & シャノワール, Miraculous: Ladybug & Chat Noir)

Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir (universe)
File:AidanzapunkMiraculousLogo.png File:AidanzapunkMiraculousSymbol.png
Genre(s)	Action, Magical girl, Animated
Console/platform of origin	Television
First installment	Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir: Season 1 (2015)
Latest installment	Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir: Season 4 (2021)

Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Adrien Agreste are two French teenagers with unique powers: they each own a Miraculous (the Ladybug and Cat Miraculouses, respectively) and its accompanying Kwami (Tikki and Plagg, respectively), allowing them to turn into the superheroes Ladybug and Cat Noir. They are tasked with retrieving the Moth Miraculous from Gabriel Agreste, who, under his villainous identity of Hawk Moth, uses his Miraculous to give upset people powers and turn them into supervillains, on the condition that they bring him Ladybug and Cat Noir's Miraculouses, as the merging of the two will grant the user one wish.

The catch is that no one knows who's who, despite it being painfully obvious, as well as Cat Noir being in love with Ladybug, and Marinette being in love with Adrien.

Skullgirls (スカルガールズ, Skullgirls)

Skullgirls (universe)
Developer(s)	Reverge Labs, Lab Zero Games
Publisher(s)	Autumn Games, Konami
Designer(s)	Mike Zaimont
Genre(s)	Fighting
Console/platform of origin	PlayStation 3
First installment	Skullgirls (2012)
Latest installment	Skullgirls Mobile (2018)

The Skull Heart is a powerful object, allowing any one woman a wish should they not destroy it, and reappearing after seven years should they do so. Wishes, however, are selfish by nature, so anyone who uses the Skull Heart for a wish is destined to become the next Skullgirl. Skullgirls follows a cast of characters—Filia, Cerebella, Peacock, Parasoul, Ms. Fortune, Painwheel, Valentine, Double, Squigly, Big Band, Fukua, Eliza, Beowulf, Robo-Fortune, Annie, and Umbrella—on their own path to either utilize or destroy the Skull Heart, with their different paths often intertwining with one another.

Also, fuck you, Mike Z.

Professor Layton (レイトン教授, Professor Layton)

Professor Layton (universe)
Developer(s)	Level-5
Publisher(s)	Level-5, Nintendo
Designer(s)	Akihiro Hino
Genre(s)	Puzzle, Adventure
Console/platform of origin	Nintendo DS
First installment	Professor Layton and the Curious Village (2007)
Latest installment	Layton's Mystery Journey (2017)
Article on Wikipedia	Professor Layton (universe)

Hershel Layton is an archaeology professor at Gressenheller University in London, England, who frequently gets wrapped up in mysteries that are full of twists and turns that make for a really compelling story in every game. Each game is unique in terms of story (with occasional returning characters as well), and honestly, even trying to summarize one game would take a while.

Rurouni Kenshin (るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚-, Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story)

Rurouni Kenshin (universe)
File:AidanzapunkRurouniKenshinLogo.png File:AidanzapunkRurouniKenshinSymbol.png
Publisher(s)	Shueisha
Designer(s)	Nobuhiro Watsuki
Genre(s)	Chanbara
Console/platform of origin	Manga
First installment	Rurouni Kenshin (1994)
Latest installment	Rurouni Kenshin: The Final (2021)
Article on Wikipedia	Rurouni Kenshin (universe)

Rurouni Kenshin tells the story of Kenshin Himura, formerly the most dangerous assassin in all of Japan, now living a life of solitude by wandering as a "rurouni". The series focuses on Kenshin trying to live his life as a rurouni who helps people and fights to make up for the wrongs he committed in his life previously, while dealing with returning figures from his past who bring him dangerously close to his previous ways of an assassin.

Also the creator got arrested for cheese pizza in 2017. I don't condone his actions, but I can still enjoy the series, as there's such a thing as separating the art from the artist. I mean, how do you think fans of Harry Potter are still holding on?

Ninja Sex Party (ニンジャー・セックス・パーティー, Ninja Sex Party)

Ninja Sex Party (universe)
Genre(s)	Comedy rock, synthpop, electronic
First installment	NSFW (2011)
Latest installment	The Prophecy (2020)
Article on Wikipedia	Ninja Sex Party (universe)

Dan Avidan and Brian Wecht write songs about sexual things (occasionally they don't, but it's 90% of their stuff), and they're hilarious.

Celeste (セレステ, Celeste)

Celeste (universe)
Developer(s)	Matt Makes Games (now Extremely OK Games)
Publisher(s)	Matt Makes Games (now Extremely OK Games)
Designer(s)	Maddy Thorson
Genre(s)	Platform
Console/platform of origin	Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
First installment	Celeste (2018)
Latest installment	Celeste Classic 2: Lani's Trek (2021)

Celeste started out as a small project made for a game jam on the Pico-8 game engine, featuring the player character traveling up a mountain and gathering strawberries. In a similar vein to the original Donkey Kong, there was no real "story", just a goal of getting as high up the mountain as possible. Enough people liked the game that its creators, Maddy Thorson and Noel Berry, decided to evolve it into a fully-fledged game, eventually becoming Celeste. You climb up a mountain while dealing with depression. Fun stuff.

Cuphead (カップヘッド, Cuphead)

Cuphead (universe)
Developer(s)	StudioMDHR
Publisher(s)	StudioMDHR
Genre(s)	Run-and-gun platformer
Console/platform of origin	Xbox One Microsoft Windows
First installment	Cuphead (2017)
Latest installment	Cuphead: Tesla Edition (2019)

I mean, it's like the song says.

"Well, Cuphead and his pal Mugman, they liked to roll the dice!
By chance they came 'pon Devil's Game, and gosh, they paid the price! (Paid the price...)
And now they're fighting for their lives, on a mission fraught with dread,
And if they proceed but don't succeed...well...
the Devil will take their heads!"

Kingdom Hearts (キングダム ハーツ, Kingdom Hearts)

Kingdom Hearts (universe)
File:AidanzapunkKingdomHeartsLogo.png File:AidanzapunkKingdomHeartsSymbol.png
Developer(s)	Square Enix (formerly Squaresoft) Jupiter h.a.n.d. BitGroove Inc. Success
Publisher(s)	Square Enix (formerly Squaresoft) Disney Interactive Studios
Genre(s)	Action role-playing, hack and slash
Console/platform of origin	PlayStation 2
First installment	Kingdom Hearts (2002)
Latest installment	Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory (2020)
Article on Wikipedia	Kingdom Hearts (universe)

I'm not even going to try to summarize the plot, because if you do, it takes a while. It's not difficult to understand (despite what others may insinuate), it just has a lot of unmissable details that are important to the overall story. If you do want a summary of the story (up to Kingdom Hearts III), however, I recommend this video. (This video covers III.)

In terms of how the game came to be, Super Mario 64 had come out during development of Final Fantasy VII, and Tetsuya Nomura wanted to make a game like it, but Square didn't think the idea could do well enough on its own without characters as iconic as Mario's, with the closest being anyone from Disney. Years later, when Shinji Hashimoto and Hironobu Sakaguchi were discussing a potential project that would have included Mickey Mouse, Nomura jumped at the chance to direct whatever it would have been. By sheer coincidence, Hashimoto happened to step into an elevator with a Disney executive (at the time, Square and Disney worked in the same building in Japan), and he was able to pitch the idea directly to Disney. They chose a crossover as a basic idea, eventually fleshing it out as a crossover between the cast of Final Fantasy and various Disney films. Disney wanted Donald Duck to be the protagonist, while Square wanted Mickey Mouse, though Nomura shot both suggestions down in favor of creating the original character of Sora.

Sega Ages (セガエイジス, Sega Ages)

Sega Ages (universe)
Developer(s)	Sega, M2, 3D Ages, Sims
Publisher(s)	Sega
Genre(s)	Various
Console/platform of origin	Sega Saturn
First installment	Sega Ages: Vol. 1 Syukudai ga Tant-R (1996)
Latest installment	Sega Ages: Herzog Zwei (2020)
Article on Wikipedia	Sega Ages (universe)

The Sega Ages series is technically not a game series, instead encompassing a collection of ports and remakes of arcade and Genesis games. Sega started out releasing these types of games on the Saturn from 1996-1998, then continued on with the PlayStation 2 from 2003-2008, where they formed a new subsidiary called 3D Ages to revamp old Sega titles in 3D, then continued with the Xbox 360 only in 2012 to release previous collections of titles (rather than new stuff per se), and finally, most recently, releasing a bunch of arcade and Genesis titles on the Switch from 2018-2020. Notably, AGES isn't a character created for it, but rather used in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed. I just chose to give it this universe to make things simpler; AGES as a character represents the whole of Sega, and while I was originally just gonna call it the "AGES universe", it didn't feel right to me.

Ori (オリ, Ori)

Ori (universe)
Developer(s)	Moon Studios
Publisher(s)	Microsoft Studios
Genre(s)	Platform-adventure, Metroidvania
Console/platform of origin	Xbox One, PC
First installment	Ori and the Blind Forest (2015)
Latest installment	Ori and the Will of the Wisps (2020)

Ori was created when they were ripped from the Spirit Tree during the Great Storm, birthing them. They were taken away to Naru, who lived in the forest, and raised by Naru as if they were her own. When the Spirit Tree tried to call out to Ori, the entire forest died, so Ori set out to find the three Elements of Light—Waters, Winds, and Warmth—to restore the forest to normal. You just have to do so while dealing with a giant pissed off owl who hates the light (and was the reason the forest died, since she stole the Spirit Tree's light) because her babies got blinded to death. Like, actually.

Ōkami (大神, Great God)

Ōkami (universe)
Developer(s)	Clover Studio
Publisher(s)	Capcom
Genre(s)	Action-adventure
Console/platform of origin	PlayStation 2
First installment	Ōkami (2006)
Latest installment	Ōkamiden (2010)
Article on Wikipedia	Ōkami (universe)

You play as a dog who's actually a goddess, and you get to paint the world with your tail. Life doesn't really get any better than this.