TOKYO--Following its recent release on GameCube in Japan, publisher Taito said it will release the popular arcade shooter The Castle of Shikigami II on the PS2. Due to its unique cast of characters and game system, the series has a reputation for appealing to both hardcore shooter fans as well as a more casual gamer.

　　Player characters in The Castle of Shikigami II vary from a Japanese shaman to an American ninja, and even enemy bosses have engaging profiles. Similar to the arcade version, The Castle of Shikigami II will have seven default player characters and one hidden character, Chibi Fumiko. Chibi Fumiko is a child incarnation of one of the game's popular player characters, Fumiko.

　　The Castle of Shikigami II inherits the Tension Bonus System (TBS) from the franchise's first iteration. The TBS rewards players with a higher score according to how much risk is taken when playing the game. Depending on the player's distance to an enemy, the score awarded by shooting an enemy or picking up a coin will multiply by a factor of up to eight.

　　The Castle of Shikigami II will include a practice mode and a "boss battle only" mode as well as a demo mode where cut scenes in the game can be watched without playing through the stages. In addition, there will a gallery mode where artwork related to the game can be seen.

　　The Castle of Shikigami II is scheduled for release on January 29, 2004. The standard edition will be carry a retail price of 5,800 yen ($54). The limited edition, which will come with a toy figure of Fumiko, will sell for 6,800 yen ($63).