Spectral Souls: Resurrection of the Ethereal Empires

Spectral Souls: Resurrection of the Ethereal Empires
DeveloperIdea Factory
PublishersNIS America
Ghostlight
SeriesSpectral Souls
PlatformsPlayStation 2
PlayStation Portable
Android
iOS
Windows 8
Windows Phone 8
ReleasePlayStation 2
  • JP: January 27, 2005
PlayStation Portable
  • JP: October 22, 2005
  • NA: September 28, 2006
  • EU: January 26, 2011
Android
  • WW: January 15, 2011
iOS
  • JP: July 11, 2012
  • WW: July 12, 2012
GenreTactical RPG
ModeSingle-player

Spectral Souls II (新紀幻想スペクトラルソウルズII, Shinki Gensou Spectral Souls II) is a tactical role playing game developed by Idea Factory and released for the PlayStation 2 in 2005. In 2011, it was ported to the PlayStation Portable as Spectral Souls II: Unlimited Side (新紀幻想 〜SS II アンリミテッドサイド〜) and to mobile devices as Spectral Souls. The PSP port was published both in the U.S. by NIS America and in Europe by Ghostlight under the title Spectral Souls: Resurrection of the Ethereal Empires.

Development

Released on January 27, 2005 for the PlayStation 2, the opening song is "Blue Sky", performed by Dogschool. It is now sold in the Apple App store. Later on, this game was ported to Android and iOS devices.

The iOS port, released on July 11, 2012, solves the problem of the extreme long loading time issue from the PSP port.

Reception

The PSP version was criticized for its long load times. It received "generally unfavorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of one seven, one six, one seven, and one six for the PlayStation 2 version, and one seven, one six, one seven, and one eight for the PSP version. GamePro called it "a game which -- while nominally a PSP exclusive -- is a landmark in programming incompetence. Exclusive or not, it's a bigger embarrassment than any retro port could have been."

Notes

  1. ↑ Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the PSP version each a score of 4.5/10, 2.5/10, and 3/10.
  2. ↑ GamePro gave the PSP version 4/5 for graphics, 3.5/5 for sound, 2/5 for control, and 2.5/5 for fun factor.

References

  1. ↑ "Spectral Souls: Resurrection of the Ethereal Empires has been released!". GameZone. September 28, 2006. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
  2. ↑ Takizawa, Osamu (November 5, 2004). "アイディアファクトリー、PS2「スペクトラル ソウルズ II」、プロモーションムービーを公開". game.watch.impress.co.jp. Impress Corporation. Archived from the original on 2026-01-20. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  3. ↑ "【新作情報】『新紀幻想 スペクトラル ソウルズII』がiPhoneに移植！ 膨大な育成要素が魅力の本格シミュレーションRPG | ファミ通App【スマホゲーム情報サイト】". Famitsu App (in Japanese). 2012-07-12. Archived from the original on 2025-04-03. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
  4. ↑ "Spectral Souls: Resurrection of the Ethereal Empires". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on December 8, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  5. ↑ Barnholt, Ray (October 7, 2006). "Spectral Souls: Resurrection of the Ethereal Empires". 1Up.com. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on January 5, 2010. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
  6. ↑ Donahoe, Michael; Hsu, Dan "Shoe"; Barnholt, Ray (November 2006). "Spectral Souls" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 209. Ziff Davis. p. 134. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  7. 1 2 "October 20, 2005". The Magic Box. October 20, 2005. Archived from the original on November 29, 2005. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  8. 1 2 "January 19, 2005". The Magic Box. January 19, 2005. Archived from the original on February 5, 2005. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  9. ↑ Biessener, Adam (November 2006). "Spectral Souls". Game Informer. No. 163. GameStop. p. 146. Archived from the original on December 3, 2007. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  10. ↑ Speer, Justin (September 28, 2006). "GameSpy: Spectral Souls". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on October 18, 2006. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  11. ↑ Bedigian, Louis (September 26, 2006). "Spectral Souls – PSP – Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 8, 2008. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
  12. ↑ Haynes, Jeff (October 27, 2006). "Spectral Souls Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  13. ↑ Barnholt, Ray (November 2006). "Spectral Souls: Resurrection of the Ethereal Empires". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. No. 110. Ziff Davis. p. 120. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  14. ↑ Slater, Harry (August 19, 2011). "Spectral Souls (Android)". Pocket Gamer. Steel Media Ltd. Archived from the original on July 15, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  15. ↑ Rickert, Matthew (May 14, 2007). "Spectral Souls: Resurrection of the Ethereal Empires". RPGFan. Emerald Shield Media LLC. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  16. ↑ Smith, D.F. (December 2006). "Spectral Souls". GamePro. No. 219. IDG. Archived from the original on January 24, 2008. Retrieved March 20, 2025.