Kadokawa Games announces Root Letter for PS4, PS Vita

Kadokawa Games announced mystery adventure game Root Letter for PlayStation 4 and PS Vita during its fall media briefing today. It’s planned for release worldwide in spring 2016.

Root Letter is the first entry in Kadokawa Games’ new series of mystery games. It’s a youth mystery adventure and human drama set in Shimane Prefecture. Its story is outlined as, “Melt the frozen past, and begin walking towards the future.” It features both adventure and simulation parts.

Love Plus character designer Mino Taro is handling character designs and planning. The scenario is being handled by Dario Fuji, and the music by Takashi Nitta.

Here’s Kadokawa’s official English description:

The truth is endless sorrow.

The first title of the series “Kadokawa Game Mystery.” A collection of adventure games that explore human drama, featuring local Japanese culture and history.

Root Letter is set in the Shimane prefecture, a land with a rich history and beautiful nature.

The player will engage an adventure to solve the mystery of Fumino Aya, a pen pal friend from high school who disappeared after leaving a mysterious letter. A letter delivered 15 years later…

Here’s our translation of the Japanese information:

Story

The player is the protagonist of the story, and in search of his high school pen pal Aya Fumino, visits Matsue in Shimane Prefecture, Japan. Around your senior year of high school, you had a pen pal. Her letters supported you throughout your exams. A subtle love began to bud for the girl who always smiled so kindly in her photographs. But when you graduated, a letter never arrived.

It’s been 15 years since then, and you’ve found the final letter that you thought was never sent.

“I’ve killed someone. I must compensate for my sins. This is farewell. Goodbye.”

What happened to her? To meet your pen pal, you visit Matsue. However, her home had burned down in a fire 15 years ago.

The key to solving this mystery is her 11 letters and photographs. But the seven classmates mentioned in her letter refuse to talk. Is the school life of her and her classmates as written in the letters a complete fabrication?

Gradually, her classmates will reveal their hidden truths. What happened 15 years ago? What is the meaning of her last letter?

What is Aya Fumino’s true nature?

By solving these mysteries, will you be able to meet her?

Aya Fumino (voiced by Noriko Hidaka)

Your pen pal from 15 years ago. At the time, she was a senior at Shimane Prefectural Matsue Oba High School. From the letters she sent you reflecting her high school life, she is a kind and compassionate person surrounded by good friends. She was a good pen pal whose letters carried a bit of love.

Now, 15 years later, you find her last letter written just before graduation, and your idea of her is transformed. Was the school life she told you of all a lie? The truth lies in Shimane. Head there and discover the truth behind her identity.

Shimane Prefecture

The setting of this work is Shimane Prefecture, a location blessed with history and cultural heritage, and where there is a feeling of transparency.

By repeatedly gathering data in the real world, Kadokawa Games has faithfully reproduced the lives of the local people of Shimane Prefecture, the “unspoilt landscape of the youth,” with a vivid sense of reality.

From famous tourist spots to shops frequented by locals, including spots that actually exist in the real world, many locations will appear.

While going around Shimane Prefecture in the footsteps of their pen pal Aya Fumino, you’ll taste the flavors of both Matsue and Izumo.

Theme Song: Junai Rhapsody

The theme song, “Junai Rhapsody,” is written and composed by Mariya Takeuchi, covered by Ron, and produced by Suzuki Daichi Hideyuki. Mariya Takeuchi herself is from Shimane Prefecture.

Staff

• Producer / Overall Direction: Yoshimi Yasuda
• Planning / Character Design: Mino Taro
• Scenario Writer: Dario Fuji
• Composer: Nitta Takafumi
• Director: Zin Hasegawa
• Work Collaboration: Shimane Prefecture

Watch the announcement trailer below. View the first set of screenshots at the gallery. Visit the official website here.

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