Overview
Yoshitsune Minamoto was a Japanese soldier and officer of the Minamoto clan that lived from 1159 to 1189. He was born during the tail end of Japan's Heian era and grew into an esteemed warrior. He was instrumental in the defeat of the Taira clan, which had sought to usurp the imperial throne. Following his death, Minamoto became a popular figure in folklore and other works of historical and popular fiction. The Tale of the Heike, a classic work of Japanese literature, tells Minamoto's tale as part of the greater struggle between the Minamoto and Taira clans during the Genpei War that lasted from 1180 to 1185.
In Video Games
Genji: Dawn of the Samurai & Days of the Blade
Minamoto is the player-controlled protagonist in Genji: Dawn of the Samurai. The storyline is loosely adapted from a portion of The Tale of the Heike and chronicles Minamoto's quest for revenge against the Taira clan for the death of his father during the Heishi Rebellion. The sequel, Genji: Days of the Blade, is set three years after the original game and sees Minamoto fight against the Heishi clan.
Warriors Orochi
Minamoto appears in the Warriors Orochi series beginning with Warriors Orochi 2. He is one of several historical figures featured in the series from a time and place other than Three Kingdoms-era China and Warring States-era Japan. His ally Benkei appears in Warriors Orochi 2 and Warriors Orochi 3 as a playable character as well, while Kiyomori Taira, historically an adversary of Minamoto, appears as a demonic enemy in both games.
Megami Tensei
Minamoto has appeared in a number of games in branches of the Megami Tensei franchise. He has appeared in entries such as Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers as a recruitable demon and as a Persona in Persona 4.
Log in to comment