, formerly AKI Corporation and The Man Breeze, is an independent video game development studio located in Kichijōji, Tokyo, Japan, founded on June 19, 1995. The company is best known for its popular wrestling games in the late 1990s and early-mid-2000s, starting with the release of Virtual Pro-Wrestling in 1996.
The company's take on World Championship Wrestling proved successful in the late 1990s with the release of several games, culminating in WCW/nWo Revenge for the Nintendo 64. As a result, the World Wrestling Federation ended their twelve-year relationship with Acclaim Entertainment and partnered with THQ/AKI in 1999. The relationship would continue AKI's reputation for quality wrestling games, which ended with the release of WWF No Mercy.McLaughlin, Rus IGN Presents the History of Wrestling Games IGN (November 12, 2008). Retrieved on 2-03-11.
History
The company went public in 1998 and on April 1, 2007 was renamed syn Sophia, Inc.syn Sophia Inc The first game developed under that name was Ganbaru Watashi no Kakei Diary for the Nintendo DS in 2007. However, they used their previous name in some of their future titles until 2008 with the release of Style Savvy for the Nintendo DS. Ready 2 Rumble: Revolution would be developed under the name AKI Corporation USA.
Games
Developed under The Man Breeze Year Name Platform Notes 1996Virtual Pro-WrestlingPlayStationReleased only in Japan 1997WCW vs. the World
Developed under AKI Corporation Year Name Platform Notes 1997Tactics FormulaSaturnReleased only in JapanWCW vs. nWo: World TourNintendo 64Virtual Pro Wrestling 64Released only in Japan 1998WCW/nWo Revenge 1999WWF WrestleMania 2000 2000Virtual Pro Wrestling 2: Oudou KeishouReleased only in JapanDreamcastWWF No MercyNintendo 64 2001Animastar GBGame Boy ColorReleased only in JapanWorld FishingWindows 2003Def Jam VendettaPlayStation 2, GameCubeUltimate Muscle: Legends vs. New GenerationGameCube 2004Def Jam: Fight for NYPlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCubeGalactic Wrestling: Featuring Ultimate MusclePlayStation 2 2006Kinnikuman Muscle GenerationsPlayStation PortableReleased only in JapanDef Jam: Fight for NY: The TakeoverKinnikuman Muscle Grand PrixArcadeReleased only in JapanKinnikuman Muscle Grand Prix MAXPlayStation 2Mawashite Tsunageru Touch PanicNintendo DS 2007Kinnikuman Muscle Grand Prix 2ArcadeSimCity DSNintendo DS 2008SimCity DS 2Kinnikuman Muscle Grand Prix 2 TokumoriPlayStation 2Released only in Japan 2009Ready 2 Rumble: RevolutionWiiDeveloped under AKI Corporation USA
Developed under syn Sophia, Inc. Year Name Platform Publisher 2007 Ganbaru Watashi no Kakei DiaryNintendo DSNintendo 2008 Style Savvy 2009 Cross TreasuresSquare EnixGanbaru Watashi no Osaifu OuendanNintendo DSiNintendo 2010 Kurohyō: Ryū ga Gotoku ShinshōPlayStation PortableSegaPretty Rhythm: Mini SkirtArcadeTakara Tomy Arts 2011 Pretty Rhythm: Aurora Dream 2012 Kurohyō 2: Ryū ga Gotoku Ashura HenPlayStation PortableSegaPretty Rhythm: Dear My FutureArcadeTakara Tomy ArtsStyle Savvy: TrendsettersNintendo 3DSNintendo 2013Pretty Rhythm: My Deco Rainbow WeddingTakara Tomy ArtsPretty Rhythm: Rainbow LiveArcadePretty Rhythm: Rainbow Live DuoPretty Rhythm: Rainbow Live: Kirakira My DesignNintendo 3DS 2014 Pretty Rhythm: All Star Legend Coord EditionArcadeThe Golden HourAndroid, iOSSammy CorporationPriParaArcadeTakara Tomy Arts 2015 PriPara & Pretty Rhythm: PriPara de Tsukaeru Oshare Item 1450!Nintendo 3DSStyle Savvy: Fashion ForwardNintendo 2017 Style Savvy: Styling StarIdol Time PriParaArcadeTakara Tomy Arts 2018 PriPara: All Idol Perfect Stage!Nintendo SwitchKiratto Pri☆ChanArcade 2020Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai – Xross BladeSquare Enix 2021Waccha PriMagi!Takara Tomy Arts 2023Fashion DreamerNintendo SwitchMarvelous 2024Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal TrainerNintendo SwitchImagineer (Japan)Nintendo (worldwide) 2026Magical Craft: My Enchanted Dress ShopNintendo SwitchImagineer
Unreleased games A version of WWF No Mercy for the Game Boy Color was in the works and planned for release alongside the Nintendo 64 version. The game was originally planned to utilize the Nintendo 64 Transfer Pak accessory to unlock special content in each version of the game. This feature was later scrapped, however, with the extra content in each version instead being unlocked via gameplay. After further developmental woes, the game was shifted to Natsume, developers of the previous WWF game for Game Boy Color, before finally being canceled in late December 2000. Screenshots of this game at one point existed, but the websites which had them up were forced to remove them following the game's cancellation.
A sequel to WWF No Mercy was rumored to have been planned. However, Sanders Keel, producer of various AKI wrestling titles, confirmed in an interview that this rumor was false.
A sequel to Electronic Arts' WCW Mayhem titled WCW 2000 and later, WCW Mayhem 2 was going to be developed by AKI and was planned for a PlayStation 2 release. There were even some screenshots featured in Issue #33 (May 2000) of the Official PlayStation Magazine. However, it was also shelved in 2001 after the World Wrestling Federation purchased World Championship Wrestling. The engine of this game would later be recycled for Def Jam Vendetta.
A puzzle video game spinoff of the Dreamcast game Animastar, titled Animastar Puzzle, was announced in early 2000 but was later cancelled, presumably due to the sudden demise of the Dreamcast console.
Mikke! was an action game announced for the Nintendo DS console in early 2008. It was later cancelled for unknown reasons.
In 2019, Game Informer journalist Imran Khan reported on numerous games that were cancelled mid-development for the Nintendo 3DS due to the commercial failure of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey. Among those named was an entry into the Style Savvy series.
References
External links
(Website Currently Unavailable.) (AKI Corporation USA)