| Arslan: The Warriors of Legend | |
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| Developer(s): | Omega Force |
| Publisher(s): | Koei |
| Release Date: | Japan: October 1, 2015 : Spring 2016
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| Genre: | Hack and slash |
| Game Modes: | Single Player, Multiplayer |
| Ratings: | CERO:  PEGI: 
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| Platform(s): | PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One (Western only) |
Arslan: The Warriors of Legend (アルスラーン戦記×無双, Arslan Senki x Musou, roughly interpreted as "The Heroic Legend of Arslan x Warriors") is the second video game adaptation of Yoshiki Tanaka's The Heroic Legend of Arslan and the sixth Omega Force third-party collaboration title. Its visuals and characters shall be based on the 2015 TV animated series adaptation which uses Hiromu Arakawa's designs from her ongoing comic adaptation.
The producer is Shigeto Nakadai and Tomohiko Aoki is director. Nakadai commented that he, Koinuma, and Aoki are fans of the novels. Koinuma approached him to do the project since Nakadai and Aoki happened to finished other works at the same time. Development for the game began near the same time as the TV series's production. Nakadai was not aware of the TV series at first and was surprised to learn about it. He apologized for the delay and hopes that the quality revisions will please players.
The Heroic Legend of Arslan Production Committee –the animation team for the TV series– are involved with production since the game is being made to appeal to viewers of the animated TV series. According to their development team, the x in the game's logo symbolizes searing warfare and is fashioned after Azrael's scar. The game's image colors are metallic gold and indigo blue to match the desert landscape and Arslan's eye color. Arslan: The Warriors of Legend will cover all twenty-five episodes.
Buy the game new to receive the Daryun "Lion Hunter" costume and weapon serial code. The Treasure Box edition has a comprehensive development databook, an original soundtrack CD, a crystal frame stand and a cleaning cloth. Gamecity Shopping is offering a clear file of the game cover as an exclusive. Various stores are offering character coasters for buying the game; Theta Mizunokuchi is offering a poster.
Gameplay
Normal attacks (
) and charge attacks (
) remain the same as other Warriors games. Mounts are included with unique attacks; L2 is the horse whistle. Bow wielding characters can alter the angle of their shots by moving the camera.
Certain enemy units have bolstered defenses represented with a "Shield Gauge". Their health will not be damaged until the player character's attacks makes the gauge obsolete.
While the player progresses through stages, they will find bluish "Heat Areas". Press R2 while in these areas to initiate "Mardan Rush", a limited attack phase that allows players can manually control their own battalion. Its effects vary on the troop type.
- Cavalry - charges through enemy troops. Tramples over obstacles.
- Infantry - unit thrusts spears forward. Quickest melee attackers.
- Archers - immobile projectile support. Aim the attack circle to a location and fire.
The player must rely on Mardan Rushes to unlock the "Finish Area" –a designated section of the map which only appears during these attacks– to proceed with stages. If the player fails to unlock the Finish Area in time, they have endless opportunities to retake. Build up combos or KO chains to hasten the Mardan Rush gauge. Rare conditions allow a chain of Mardan Rushes to be executed.
Characters can equip multiple weapons. Players can swap to the character's other weapon as soon as they obtain it in or out of battle. It is possible to use one character to unlock every possible weapon.
"Charge Shifts", a charge attack combo extension that swaps between weapons for a stronger finisher, can be performed if the player's character has two or more weapon types equipped. Press R1 in place of a standard charge attack to begin the Charge Shift and continue the combo chain until its finisher. Enemies that are defeated by Charge Shifts are likely to drop more experience and rarer drops.
Weapons stats are random and can be strengthened to increase their efficiency. Martial arts books can be applied to weapons to further alter combo trees, stats and elemental effects. These tomes are dropped on the map or rewarded with high completion ranks.
Experience levels up characters. Their stats can be further altered through supplementary skill cards that are dropped from defeated foes. Every character has a unique skill to themselves, and every card references a scene from the TV series. Over 200 cards are in the game.
Other details are:
- Mission completion is ranked mid-battle with a letter grading scale. Higher scores reward bonus experience and items.
- Toon rendering is done to be faithful to the animated designs. Still images and animated sequences from the TV series shall appear in the game.
- Alternate costumes can be unlocked for select characters.
- Five Arslan character image songs can be played during the Mardan Rushes. Players have to fulfill certain objectives within the side scenarios and equip an item to unlock them.
- Online and offline co-op are available.
- Downloadable content so far includes scenarios and costumes.
Modes
Story Mode
Battle briefings are omitted in favor of heavy in battle cutscenes and dialogue. Characters that can be played during this mode are automatically determined for the player during select intervals in battle. Play through this mode to unlock playable characters in other modes.
Players can find and collect hidden recipe cards in this mode.
Free Mode
Same as other Warriors titles. Side story scenarios are implemented within this mode to include alternate character perspectives than those in Story Mode. Hilmes and Zandeh are playable in this mode.
Before starting a stage, players can access the optional Elam Cooking feature. Pay the price for Elam's meals to gain various buffs.
Online Mode
Multiplayer mode.
Gallery
Includes movies, illustrations, model viewer and an encyclopedia.
Characters
Pars
- Arslan - playable
- Daryun - playable
- Narsus - playable
- Elam - playable
- Gieve - playable
- Farangis - playable
- Alfarid - playable
- Kishward - playable
- Kubard - playable
- Tus - playable
- Isfan - playable
- Zaravant - playable
- Andragoras III
- Vahriz
- Bahman
- Hodir - voiced by Takaya Hashi. One of the aristocratic lords of Pars. Plots to use Arslan as his puppet and is slain by Daryun.
- Husrab - voiced by Mitsuru Ogata. Prime Minister of Pars. Tried to evacuate the Queen from Ecbatana and is trampled to death by the Lusitanian army.
- Shapur - voiced by Katsuyuki Konishi. Isfān's older half-brother and one of Andragoras's generals who is infamously bitter towards Kubard. Captured and tortured by Bodan before Pars citizens to terrorize them. Pleaded for citizens to kill him to protect their honor. Killed by Gieve.
Silvermask's Forces
- Hilmes - playable
- Kharlan
- Zandeh - playable
- Saam
- Alzang - voiced by Hiromichi Tezuka. One of the Zahhāk Gurus, a cult of sorcerers with ancient connections to the Pars Kingdom. Has the ability to phase his body into the ground.
Lusitania
Sindhura
- Rajendra
- Gadevi
- Jaswant - playable
- Karikala II - voiced by Hideyuki Umezu. The grievously ill king of Sindhura and Rajendra and Gadevi's father. His failure to name his decisive successor leads to a civil war between the two princes. Eventually issues the Duel Before the Gods to deter his sons from killing one another. Dies to his illness.
- Mahendra - voiced by Tetsuo Kanao. The Grand Vizier of Sindhura, Jaswant's lone benefactor, and one of Prince Gadevi's supporters. Kind-hearted yet obligated by duty to serve the prince. Regrets decision when faced with prince's cruelty. Fatally impaled during disputed results of the Duel Before the Gods.
- Gauvin - voiced by Yasuhiro Mamiya. One of Prince Gadevi's generals and commander of Gujarat Castle. Defects to Pars and Rajendra's forces but is misled by Jaswant to launch a night attack. Foiled by Narsus's plan and killed by Daryun.
- Taara - voiced by Shouto Kashii. One of Prince Gadevi's generals and vice commander of Gujarat Castle. Sided with Gauvin and killed by Farangis during night attack.
- Puladalata - voiced by Shunsuke Takeuchi. One of Prince Gadevi's generals. Killed by Daryun.
- Bahadur - voiced by Taiten Kusunoki. Prince Gadevi's champion for the Duel Before the Gods. Gigantic and beastly man who cannot feel pain and will fight to the death. Compared to a shark. Killed by Daryun.
Other
- Haltash - voiced by Itaru Yamamoto. Alfarid and Melain's father and leader of the Zott clan of mountain bandits. Killed by Silvermask.
Stages
- Atropatene Plains
- Ecbatana
- Imperial Sewers
- Mount Basur
- Kashan Castle
- Peshawar Castle
- Gujarat Castle
- Zabul Castle
- Saint Emmanuel Castle
Related Media
Advertisements for this title are played or announced during the TV series's broadcasts and its web radio program, Radio Yashasueen!.
Participants of the official quiz and Twitter/Facebook campaign have a chance of winning an autograph from voice actors who appear in the game if they answer every question correctly. All contestants can receive a free wallpaper for their smartphones. The campaign begins July 3 (JST).
Nakadai and Aoi Eir, the vocalist for the TV series's first ending, went on stage to present the game July 27 at the 2015 Hong Kong PlayStation Japanese Animation, Comic and Video Game Event. Snippets of this game was shown during the SCEJA Press Conference 2015. This game is one of the titles being presented with a playable demo at Koei-Tecmo's Tokyo Game Show 2015 booth. Manami, one of the booth girls, was in Farangis cosplay. The game shall be presented on stage on September 17, September 19 and September 20 (JST).
Nakadai did another live demonstration in Famitsu's Tokaigi TV on September 23, 21:00 (JST). During the program, he announced a press conference to celebrate the game's completion scheduled for September 24, 13:30 (JST); Yusuke Kobayashi (Arslan) and KENN (Gieve) were the voice actor guests. Both actors acted a short in-character exchange for KENN's stage entrance. Manami briefly went on stage with her Farangis cosplay. This event relayed information new to the public.
A limited edition Arslan PS4 model will be up for purchase in white or black colors. Unlike previous special models, purchasing it will not include any other bonuses or a copy of the game.
The trial version shall be up for download September 24.
Gallery
External Links
- Official Japanese website
- 2015 TV series official website, TV series Twitter
- Official YouTube playlist
- Gamer Nakadai interview
This article is about a game that has not been released yet. Information may change rapidly.
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