School of Ragnarok detailed in Famitsu
A Dimps-developed "online 1-vs-1 tactical 5D action" game.
Famitsu this week has first details on Square Enix‘s newly announced arcade game School of Ragnarok.
The game, an “online 1-vs-1 tactical 5D action” title developed by Dimps, puts players in the role of a transfer student summoned to another world. Set during the Warring Schools Period, players team up in fights alongside deities known as “School Spirits.” Players will be able to customize their avatar to some extent.
On the gameplay front, buttons are laid out in an N-shaped formation. Your perspective changes depending on distance, with long distance shifting the gameplay to a three-dimensional perspective, while closer ranges yield a two-dimensional perspective similar to classic fighting games. Your weapon loadout depends on the Academy Spirit you equip.
The following School Spirit player partners have been announced:
- Ivor de Dacart of Claudia High School (voiced by Natsuki Hanae)
- Magical Girl Smileheart of Mamodoru Magic School (voiced by Nao Toyama)
- Valhallades of Ashrubanipal Academy (voiced by Fumihiko Tachiki)
The magazine also confirms that this is the new title Square Enix plans to introduce at Tokaigi 2015 this weekend. (Edit: Or not.) Following, it will be playable for the first time at the Japan Amusement Expo on February 14.
School of Ragnarok‘s staff includes:
- Producer: Takamisa Shiba (Lord of Vermillion, Drakengard)
- World Setting & Scenario: Kazutaka Kodaka (Danganronpa)
- Character Design: Kimihiko Fujisaka (Drakengard, Terra Battle)
- Main Theme: Yoko Takahashi
- Composer: Keiichi Okabe (Nier)
Finally, the following comments come from the magazine’s interview with the producer, scenario writer, and composer:
- Since the number of multiplayer titles in arcades are increasing, they wanted to do a one-versus-one game.
- The reason it’s an action game is that achieving success would be more difficult as a traditional 2D fighter.
- Okabe ended up on board as a result of his work on Drakengard 3 and other games. He wanted to prepared individual songs with vocals for each school.
- The development team wanted the game to have tactical elements in its gameplay, such as adding the number of skills that can be used to dominate battles, or making players choose between aiming for other players or their Academy Spirit.
Development is currently 60 percent complete. The game will hit Japanese arcades later this year.
Thanks, Sokuho@Hokanko.