About

<h2>Overview</h2><p>Shikinjou (also known as <em>Shi-Kin-Joh</em> or <em>Shikin-Joh</em>) is a <a href="/pushable-block/3015-2437/" data-ref-id="3015-2437">block-pushing</a> puzzle game developed and published by <a href="/scaptrust/3010-17861/" data-ref-id="3010-17861">ScapTrust</a> for the <a href="/nec-pc-8801/3045-109/" data-ref-id="3045-109">NEC PC-8800</a> in Japan on December 1989, followed by <a href="/nec-pc-9801/3045-112/" data-ref-id="3045-112">NEC PC-9800</a>, <a href="/msx/3045-15/" data-ref-id="3045-15">MSX</a>, and <a href="/sharp-x68000/3045-95/" data-ref-id="3045-95">Sharp X68000</a> versions throughout 1990.</p><p>Combining standard <a href="/pushable-block/3015-2437/" data-ref-id="3015-2437">block-pushing puzzle</a> games (such as the <a href="/sokoban/3025-2824/" data-ref-id="3025-2824">Sokoban</a> series) with the tile-matching game of <a href="/mahjong-solitaire/3015-7577/" data-ref-id="3015-7577">mahjong solitaire</a>, Shikinjou (named after the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_City" data-target="true" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Forbidden City</a> palace in <a href="/china/3035-343/" data-ref-id="3035-343">China's</a> capital <a href="/beijing/3035-2695/" data-ref-id="3035-2695">Beijing</a>) has players controlling a <a href="/jiang-shi/3015-2528/" data-ref-id="3015-2528">jiangshi</a> who must reach the exit of each level by pushing large <a href="/mahjong/3015-6519/" data-ref-id="3015-6519">mahjong tiles</a> out of the way.</p><p>Similar to mahjong solitaire, players can make tiles vanish by matching them together (in this case, pushing a tile to a space adjacent to one-or-more of the same tile). However, face-down and "honor" tiles (the four "wind" tiles and four "dragon" tiles) cannot be pushed, and pushing another tile adjacent to a honor tile causes the tile to transform into that honor tile (sometimes creating unwanted barricades leading to <a href="/unwinnable-state/3015-7607/" data-ref-id="3015-7607">unwinnable states</a>).</p><p>The game later received ports in 1991 for various home and handheld consoles, including the <a href="/genesis/3045-6/" data-ref-id="3045-6">Sega Mega Drive</a>, <a href="/nintendo-entertainment-system/3045-21/" data-ref-id="3045-21">Family Computer</a>, <a href="/game-gear/3045-5/" data-ref-id="3045-5">Sega Game Gear</a>, and <a href="/game-boy/3045-3/" data-ref-id="3045-3">Game Boy</a>. The Mega Drive and Game Gear ports were handled by <a href="/sunsoft/3010-19/" data-ref-id="3010-19">SunSoft</a>, while the Famicom and Game Boy ports were published by <a href="/toei-animation/3010-439/" data-ref-id="3010-439">Toei Animation</a> (with the Famicom port handled by <a href="/outback-pty-ltd/3010-4472/" data-ref-id="3010-4472">Outback</a> and the GB port handled by <a href="/shouei-system/3010-3237/" data-ref-id="3010-3237">Shouei</a>). The game was later ported to the <a href="/playstation/3045-22/" data-ref-id="3045-22">Sony PlayStation</a>, <a href="/saturn/3045-42/" data-ref-id="3045-42">Sega Saturn</a>, and <a href="/super-nintendo-entertainment-system/3045-9/" data-ref-id="3045-9">Super Famicom</a> as part of <a href="/game-no-tetsujin-the-shanghai/3030-54629/" data-ref-id="3030-54629">Game no Tetsujin: The Shanghai</a>.</p><p>The MD version is notable for not only having a <a href="/in-game-map-editor/3015-269/" data-ref-id="3015-269">built-in stage editor</a>, but allowing players to transfer their custom stages to others via dial-up with the <a href="/mega-modem/3000-114/" data-ref-id="3000-114">Sega Mega Modem</a> peripheral.</p><h2>Themes</h2><p>Some versions of the game feature multiple themes, changing both the music and the graphics of the tiles, protagonist, and background.</p><p>The Famicom version features two alternate themes: Knight and Ninja.</p><p>The Mega Drive version features four alternate themes:</p><ul><li><strong>Sentsuchi no Kyuusoku</strong> ("Relaxation of the Battlefield", medieval Europe theme, knight pushing alphabetic shields)</li><li><strong>Kiuchi no Kusemono</strong> ("Thief of the Castle Insides", feudal Japan theme, ninja pushing shogi tiles)</li><li><strong>Jikuu no Kanata-e</strong> ("Other Side of Space-Time", space sci-fi theme, starfighter pushing numeric counters)</li><li><strong>Yume Iro Usagi</strong> ("Dream-Colored Rabbits", cute dreamlike theme, rabbit pushing playing cards)</li></ul>