If you’ve never heard of it, you’re not alone. Released exclusively in Japan in 1997 by the now-defunct studio , Geki Dokei is part visual novel, part real-time strategy, and part surrealist fever dream. What’s in a Name? Let’s address the elephant in the room: the title. Geki Dokei translates to "Drama Clock" or "Striking Clock," referencing the game’s central mechanic – a ticking timer that dictates battle phases and emotional states. "100 Oku Kaupaa" means "10 Billion Coupar," the name of the game’s fictional currency/resource. And "Onna Senshi Tachi"? "The Female Warriors." Yes, the game is led by an all-female cast of time-manipulating soldiers. The Premise: Time is Money, and Money is Bullets The year is 2097. Earth’s governments have collapsed, replaced by chrono-corporations that harvest "Kairo Energy" from human emotional resonance. You play as Lilia C. Shard , a young commander in the all-female mercenary unit "Tempest Crown." Your mission: overthrow the tyrannical "Clockwork Regime" by mastering the art of Chrono Combat .
In the mid-1990s, the Sega Saturn was a haven for eccentric, experimental Japanese games. But even among classics like Sakura Wars and Panzer Dragoon , one title stands out as a truly bizarre, brilliant anomaly: Geki Dokei – 100 Oku Kaupaa no Onna Senshi Tachi (literally "Striking Clock – The 10 Billion Coupar Female Warriors" ). Geki Dokei-- 100 Oku Kaupaa no Onna Senshi Tachi
Here’s where it gets wild. Battles unfold on a 3D grid, but you don’t directly control your warriors. Instead, you issue "Time Orders" – commands that cost (the 10 billion units from the title). Every action – moving, shooting, using a special ability – ticks the "Geki Dokei" forward. Let the clock strike 12, and your turn ends, leaving your warriors exposed. The Gimmick That Works: The Emotion Gauge Each of your five female warriors has an Emotion Gauge (Joy, Anger, Sorrow, Fear). Spells and attacks change depending on their current emotional state. A joyful sniper might land a critical hit; an angry tank deals area damage but loses defense. You can manipulate emotions using "Memory Fragments" – collectible cutscenes that act as both story beats and battle modifiers. If you’ve never heard of it, you’re not alone