Guns Undarkness is Meguro’s first official post-ATLUS project as a freelance game developer. And while he is known for his compositional work on the Persona and Shin Megami Tensei series, he also served as creative director for the Persona games on PSP and has been developing indie RPGs himself for a number of years.
In addition to game design, Meguro will compose and produce all of the music in Guns Undarkness. He is also joined by character designer Ilya Kuvshinov (Ghost in the Shell: SAC 2045) and lyricist Lotus Juice (Persona series).
“Through Kickstarter, I would like to make Guns Undarkness an even better game with the support and early feedback of the fans,” Meguro said in a press release. “With the help of our backers, I hope to fix the visual problems and brush up on everything, so please lend me your support!”
Get the latest details below.
■ About Guns Undarkness
Guns Undarkness is a strategy JRPG that combines stealth elements with command driven turn-based combat in a futuristic science-fiction universe. The player takes the role of a member of the PMC (Private Military Company) in the year 2045 who must carry out operative missions with their peers in a devastated world after a nuclear war. The game’s story will focus on the main protagonists as they fight to revolutionize the human race and move closer to the idea of true love.
■ Key Features
A turn-based tactical RPG inspired by games like Metal Gear Solid and Persona.
A relationship system that boosts the main character as they grow closer with their teammates.
A story set in a futuristic world on the verge of global and societal ruin.
A meeting of the minds Shoji Meguro (Persona series, Shin Megami Tensei series), Ilya Kuvshinov (Ghost in the Shell: SAC 2045, The Wonderland), and Lotus Juice (Persona Series).
■ Gameplay
On the field, the player will control the main character and up to three allies. With the use of hand signal buttons, players can instruct their allies to hide at cover points and use the “Go” button to order them to cover their character.
When an enemy is spotted, the player can open fire. If the player’s team engages the enemy while totally hidden, it will activate an attack bonus. The more the player fires during this bonus, the more damage they will deal before the battle begins. Hidden or not, once the player fires on the enemy, the game will leap into turn-based battle.
In-battle commands include a range of choices such as basic ATTACK and SKILL, which packs more punch and costs SP. There will also be GUARD, MOVE, WEAPON, ITEM, ESCAPE and TAGS, which refers to the character’s defense suit.
Strategic gameplay can be employed by unleashing skills while attacking from behind cover, which will cost no SP. If the player manages to strike the enemy in a weak point, they can deal massive damage and be able to duck into cover.
The affinity of the character’s weapon and that of the target’s TAGS will determine how much damage is done. However, an enemy’s defense value can also reduce the amount of damage they take. In addition to powerful skills, there are also guns with special buff and debuff abilities.
Winning a will earn the player’s team two types of experience points: Character EXP and Gun EXP. Leveling up boosts a character’s stats and unlocks new skills for guns. Players will be able to enhance the guns they own by adding parts, and even acquire blueprints and materials that will let them build new guns as they progress through the story.
Outside of missions, players will spend their time in the Maroon hub, an amphibious submarine that the team uses as their hideout, which they can use to accept quests, visit shops or travel to other locations on the world map.
■ Story
In the year 2045, humanity was in a state of abeyance that allowed technology to flourish. However it deepened the social divide between the rich and the poor, creating the “Haves” and the “Have Nots.”
Within the ranks of the latter grew a faction who planned the Great Reset–an event steeped in primitivism that would change the course of humanity.
The Thousand Plateaus launched two weapons of mass destruction, triggering a worldwide nuclear war.
And so, the Great Reset was accomplished.
Enter the protagonist, a rookie member of a private military company tasked with handling the deteriorating situation.
It is up to you to discover the truth of love in a world wracked by devastation, and whether or not humanity is capable of being revolutionized.
■ Characters
Protagonist
The main protagonist, and the player’s avatar. After working his way through the ranks of numerous private military groups, he becomes the newest member of the BTI Alpha Team.
Thanks to his exemplary combat ability, he’s the only member of Alpha Team kitted out with the latest TAGS equipment — definitely not something typically gifted to a rookie.
Naomi
A high-performance combat android, she has no problems conveying emotion or communicating with humans.
While Naomi has a gentle, motherly disposition, she’s also a reliable member of the Alpha Team’s offensive, charging across battlefields with her handgun.
Sofia
A bright and cheerful 17 year old; she’s the only child of the great scientist Dr. Cowen.
Despite her uneasy relationship with her father, she chooses to take over his research in the midst of nuclear war with the hope of creating a brighter future for mankind.
Will
Despite his earnest nature making him seem like a softy, he provides serious support to the Alpha Team when equipped with a shotgun.
He’s like a brother to the Protagonist, a former U.S. Marine alongside Zach, and once served under the same superior as Alpha Team Commander McGovern.
■ Enemies
The Thousand Plateaus
A far eastern military regime that instigated the nuclear war. Led by General Zhang. In the name of primitivism, the idea of abandoning human technology and returning to the primitive ages, they have set the entire world on a path to ruin. Primitivism gained more and more supporters following the start of the war, until looting and pillaging became rampant across the entire globe. As of now, chaos reigns thanks to them.
Leon
A silent mercenary of mystery. In his younger years, he worked as an assassin until General Zhang, leader of the Thousand Plateaus, hired him to do his dirty work. He has superhuman reflexes that he can use to dodge bullets, which are far more powerful than even state-of-the-art TAGS technology.
■ Weapons
AI 96 Sniper Rifle
An AI 96 Sniper Rifle, the gun that Zach starts with. It’s mainly used to fire at single targets, and possesses the “Precise Shot” and “Deadshot” skills.
M4 Assault Rifle
An M4 assault rifle, the gun the main character starts with. It’s a balanced gun that’s easy to use in any situation.
