Bandai Namco Entertainment have released gameplay and a developers breakdown of upcoming “brainpunk” action JRPG Scarlet Nexus.
As previously reported, the game is set in a distant future where the city of New Himuka is under siege from mutants called the Others. Players control Yuito Sumeragi, a new recruit for the Other Suppression Force, that is tasked with using their powerful psionic abilities to protect humanity.
The developer gameplay breakdown (shown during the Xbox Games Showcase extended), features art director Kouta Ochiai, producer Keita Iizuka, and director Kenji Anabuki. The trio detail the world design, enemies, story, gameplay, and character progression
As mentioned in prior developer diaries, Ochiai explains the game’s world is inspired by 90’s Tokyo Japan, as well as detailing combining cel-shading and realistic backgrounds for a striking effect.
Details such as making Tokyo Tower and cherry trees far larger than their real life counterpart also help give players a sense of un-ease; an element that includes enemies. They are made of a mix of organic and inorganic components; attempting to make a familiar creature beautiful, but warped.
Iizuka explains how the story plays out differently for main characters Yuito Sumeragi and Kasane Randall. Both provide their own points of view on events, with even the same scene in the story having entirely different cutscenes. Their own beliefs and values also provide a different experience.
As mentioned in prior reports, Anabuki explains how players can use the powers of their allies (the Struggle Arms System, or SAS), via the red cables that connect them. As several powers are physics based- such as telekinesis- to hurl even heavy objects at foes. There can also be combos from the environment; such as dousing an enemy with water, then using electrical powers.
The player can also unleash a deathblow called Brain Field. This “prohibited” and dangerous technique causes enemies to float in the air, free to be assaulted by psychic power. However, this places a great strain on the brain. They may begin to hear voices, or be stunned as they clutch their head in agony. Players can even get a game over if they use it for too long.
Players can upgrade their character using the Brain Map- a skill tree with nodes to unlock new abilities, increase gauges, and reduce cooldowns. This is in addition to players leveling up from experience for stats overall, and increasing your bond with your allies to enhance borrowed abilities.
Finally, and as expected for an Xbox Showcase, the game’s 60FPS and high resolution graphics on Xbox Series X|S were also emphasized. You can find the developers breakdown below.
You can find the rundown (via Steam) below:
In the far distant future, a psionic hormone was discovered in the human brain, granting people extra-sensory powers and changed the world as we knew it. As humanity entered this new era, deranged mutants known as Others began to descend from the sky with a hunger for human brains. Highly resistant to conventional attack methods, extreme measures needed to be taken to battle the overwhelming threat and preserve humanity. Those with acute extra-sensory abilities, known as psionics, were our only chance to fight the onslaught from above. Since then, psionics have been scouted for their talents and recruited to the Other Suppression Force (OSF), humanity’s last line of defense.
Featuring a dual story, begin your adventure with either Yuito Sumeragi, an energetic recruit from a prestigious political family or Kasane Randall, the mysterious scout whose power and skill has gained great notoriety among the OSF. As their different experiences interweave with each other, it is only then that you will reveal the full story and unlock all the mysteries of a Brain Punk future caught between technology and psychic abilities in SCARLET NEXUS.
Kinetic Psychic Combat – Using psycho-kinetic abilities, the world around you becomes your greatest weapon. Lift, break and throw pieces of your environment to build your attack combos and lay waste to your enemies.
Exterminate the Others – Deranged mutants that descended from the sky, highly resistant to conventional attack methods and defenses. Tormented by the constant pain of their mutation, they seek brains of living organisms to calm their madness.
Discover a Brain Punk future – Explore and protect a futuristic Japanese landscape that combines inspirations from classic anime and western science fiction.
A Dual Story Experience – Dive into a complex story of bonds, courage and heroism, crafted by minds behind the iconic Tales of Vesperia.
Scarlet Nexus launches June 25th on Windows PC (via Steam), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
