Criminal Girls X first screenshot, Campfire campaign for pay-once version launches April 26

Mikage has released the first screenshot of Criminal Girls X.

Responding to a fan question on Twitter regarding the screenshot, which asked “So Criminal Girls X isn’t an RPG, but a forced-scrolling shooter game?,” Mikage clarified, “The battle concept for the original Criminal Girls game was, ‘battles that proceeded by adopting the girl’s suggestions.’ In the usual random battle encounter screen, the battle unfolds seamlessly to a shooting-type mode, but the usual commands are still the manner of adopting the girls’ suggestions. You’ll see what I mean when we release a trailer on May 31, so please look out for it.”

Mikage recently launched a preview of a crowdfunding campaign for a pay-once version of Criminal Girls X on Japanese crowdfunding service Campfire that will run from April 26 to June 30 with a funding goal of six million yen.

Previous Criminal Girls games were released for portable game consoles like PSP and PS Vita, but in 2020 those devices are no longer in production, so smartphone and PC were chosen as platforms as they have the highest user base. And the game itself became a free-to-play-style game since the user base obtained by releasing a free-to-play product is a big advantage. However, Mikage spotted a Twitter comment that read along the lines of, “There is nothing left of free-to-play games when service ends,” which inspired the concept of a “console-like” pay-once version. However, this version is difficult to achieve with the existing free-to-play framework. Therefore, the company turned to Campfire to see if there is demand for such a version.

The pay-once version of the game is slated for release in May 2020 in Japan and improves upon the February 2020-due free-to-play version’s content with a “console-like” game design that can be played offline.

The standard edition of the pay-once version, which is limited to 9,999 units, will be sold via the Campfire campaign for 6,480 yen, and includes a serial code for items in the free-to-play version (choose for Android or PC), a download code key for the pay-once version delivered by mail (iOS activation code, Android activation code, and PC activation code), and a credit in the game.

The special limited edition, also limited to 9,999 units, will be sold for 14,980 yen and includes a serial code for items in the free-to-play version (choose for Android or PC), a Campfire-exclusive box, a microSD card with pay-once version installed (iOS activation code, Android activation code, and PC activation code), a Campfire-exclusive art book, a Campfire-exclusive soundtrack, a credit in the game, and if more than 4,000 units are sold, exclusive scene data.

Here is an updated version of the game’s story:

—When he came to, there was a cat before him that called itself “God.” It imposed a trial of “resurrection” upon the protagonist, who desires to rescue his beloved that died an unforeseen death.

He must rehabilitate 24 Delinquents over the course of their one-year suspended sentence until they go to hell.

The trial is set in Asura, the combative world between the real world and hell.

Transformed into a cat and dispossessed of his memories, he leads and watches over the Delinquents.

In order to live, to atone, and to have his wish granted—.

On a motorcycle with gun in hand.

The cat and the girls ride like the wind.

Mikage will release two new screenshots of Criminal Girls X on April 26, followed by a virtual reality-supported trailer on May 31. It should be noted that the iOS and Android versions of the game will support virtual reality, while the PC version will not.