The previous blog talked about the origins of Wonder Eggs. The urban theme park from Namco opened February 29, 1992. It had been influenced by the world’s expos, pleasure fairs, and amusement parks. These were the things that had also inspired Walt Disney to create Disneyland. The theme of Wonder Egg was “Wonder Imagination.” Every element that went into the park were planned out by some of the most brilliant minds in game design. For example visitors to the park were referred to as “Dreamers.” These Dreamers were the central players of a town called Laperot Village. Elds was the Goddess of Play, she was the patron Goddess of the village. She had liberated the citizens from the clutches of a great evil named the Devil Godot. There were music cues, and full themes written by legendary composer Hiroyuki Kawada that could be heard in the different areas of the park. Dreamers didn’t know the context of the music until the park had been open a year. An official story, and the full history of Laperot Village was only then revealed. I got my hands on the soundtrack, and translated the notes from Mr. Kawada.
This album consists of two parts. “Music from ELDS STORY” is a story that was originally written in order to unify the image of the people involved in Wonder Eggs, and has been completely translated into the colors of sound, light, and shadow. Like the park, the production of this song was carried out in a way that embodies the “world” that exists within the story, which has ethnic, cultural, and historical characteristics. The six-act musical piece was created by first compiling the story from different moments of time into a scenario, then breaking it down into motifs before converting it into sound, and then recomposing it according to the story. Furthermore, the motif was created as a result of a complex and organic collaboration in which the six members brought their ideas together, another person compiled them into music for each act, and then another person edited them again as a story. It is also true. “Music from Wonder Eggs” is a newly edited version of the music actually used in the park. Here, music acts as a guide through the park. Even if you haven't been yet, you can enjoy the experience of walking around the park while listening to the music. - Hiroyuki Kawada
Play was created by the Goddess Elds’ Eggs, which the utopia of Wonder celebrates its second anniversary this year, has been the theme of Wonder Eggs since its conception. “Elds” is a goddess who enriches people's hearts through play and fosters interaction and friendship between people. Innocent “Elds” uses the hands of the clock as scissors, turns conflicts into games, and turns things in “Laperot Village” into fun things one after another. The warm, playful, and mysterious world of Wonder Eggs is brought to you by Elds. This album is also a kind of game. The rules of this play are that each listener relives the story while reconstructing their memories. Everyone has memories of events and scenery that lie dormant in their hearts. I would like you to reweave time with color and rhythm, centered around a single story. Create endless memories of your own. - Hiroyuki Kawada
In the story of Elds we were introduced to an archeologist named Leptoro. He was digging deep within the caverns of some ancient ruins, very similar to the Tower of Druaga. He was obsessed with recovering the “Baal Stone Tablet.” He didn’t realize that he was being summoned by the Devil Godot who was trapped within the tablet itself. When Leptoro touched the slate Godot traded places with him. The devil unleashed a wave of monsters on the nearby Laperot village. A young man visiting Laperot described how welcoming, and happy the tiny village was during the daytime, but how fearful they were of the monsters that lurked in the outskirts at night. He narrated what happened when Godot attacked. We assumed he perished in the conflict. Godot rounded up the survivors, and turned the residents into mindless tin slaves. He made them construct a great airship so he could spread his evil throughout the world. When the tin slaves collapsed from exhaustion he would dump them in a pile outside of the village. Godot poisoned the air, and waters, covering the “Ruler's Forest,” and the “Eternal River” with a heavy gray cloud that seemed to rain metal. When all hope seemed lost a young lady showed up, it was the goddess in disguise.
The young man we were introduced to earlier was now covered in metal. He was stuck on a pile of tin villagers. He was awoken by Elds. He began following her, and played hide and seek with the lovely goddess. As they played the tin fell off, and he became human again. It felt like ages to him but the Goddess Elds had finally returned. She was bringing joy back into the world. The other villagers soon began playing as well, and becoming human once more. Godot sensed that something was wrong, and summoned his army of monsters. The girl jumped on the back of a dragon that was hidden in the ruins of Laperot. She summoned three more dragons, they were actually subservient gods that tore through the clouds. Their breath was fire to monsters, but life for the forest. The four dragons easily dispatched the monsters, turning them into flowers, and meadows with every swipe of their claws. Godot tried to get away in his great airship. Before he got far the goddess made an enormous tree erupt from the ground, and trap the ship within its gigantic branches. She tricked Godot by sneaking up on him and covering his eyes. Throughout the story she would suddenly appear behind a person and play “guess who?” The shocked Godot dropped, and shattered the stone tablet, the source of his power. Elds crafted a new prison for him. She made Leptoro swear to remain his guard forever. She then sealed the duo away in the recesses of the Tower of Babel. One of the giant dragons rested on top for added safety.
Elds, and her four dragons helped rebuild the village. The broken remains of the Tablet of Baal were engraved with a new mythology for Laperot. They could actually be seen at the entrance of the park. The sky became clear, and the river flowed with fresh water once more. The factory for Godot’s war machines was torn down. The gates which used to close at night now remained open. They invited travelers to celebrate with them. Laperot became filled with joy, music, and most important play. Before Elds disappeared she left behind eggs which hatched into new games, and adventures for the villagers. She would check in on them from time to time, often covering their eyes and saying “guess who?” before joining them once more in play. The story of Laperot was simply fantastic. It was not only embraced by the public but was embraced by the game developers at Namco. They were able to immortalize Elds Square into a stage in the Tekken 3 fighting game.
The team at Namco went above and beyond in crafting a unique story for the park. It was not only a memorable fantasy, but it also incorporated elements from western mythology. For example the name Baal, which was the stone tablet that Godot was trapped in had a meaning. Baal was the ancient Syrian god of war, storms, fertility, and the seasons. He was also considered the rival to the Hebrew god, or the first “devil” in early history. The Tower of Babel was one of the oldest locations, and parables from civilization. Namco had been incorporating these ancient mythologies into many of their games. For example
the use of angels, devils, Babylonian, Egyptian, and Assyrian myths were explored in the Druaga, Tekken, and Ridge Racer titles. Namco knew how to sprinkle in these various historical callouts when they were creating a new legend for Wonder Eggs. Its story was literally carved in stone near the entrance of the park. Guests didn’t necessarily know that the runes used throughout the park were an actual language that could be translated.
The alphabet featured in Laperot was called “Elds’ Character.” The Elds alphabet was written horizontally, and not vertically like many Japanese signs. It was also written in pairs (with one vowel) like the Roman alphabet. However special proper nouns and abbreviations were not subject to this rule. It was similar to Japanese, which was a mixture of kana, and alphabet, only that it was read from left to right like English. Elds’ Character was presented on the architecture of the park, but also on the tickets, maps, and even Carnival Coins. Eagle-eyed visitors could spot many of the details from the Story of Elds engraved on the tokens used to play carnival games. Over the past few years I managed to get my hands on Wonder Eggs ephemera. With the help of my kid who was studying Japanese here were the best translations that we could come up with,
The Carnival Coin translation.
1. This, distant future (goes)
2. It is easier to do something than worry about it: Possibly based on the proverb "fear overruns the danger; it is easier to bear (a child) than to worry about it"
3. To cut; to cut through; to perform (surgery); sever connections
4. Something of great value; something golden (e.g. silence)
5. Elds’ burden / responsibility; accomplishment; lessons (in an art, skill, etc.); practice
On the back of the Wonder Eggs Guide Map (which happens to fold like a letter) we have a longer message:
Laperot
This is a village of long lasting happiness
The goddess of play Elds makes sure that it normally is
Inside it is our custom to play with all our heart
Bring back the love
This village of long lasting happiness you know
The goddess of play Elds the way it normally is
Inside / we customarily play heart/mind/spirit
Take back / restore
Elds may have been the patron Goddess of Wonder Eggs, she was not however seen in the park itself. There were no costumed characters dressed like Elds playing with dreamers. Instead her four dragon protectors became mascots for the park itself. The genius behind play would shine through the four whimsical characters. We will look at them in the next entry. Were there any defunct parks that you visited? Please tell me about it in the comments section. As always if you would like to sponsor me
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