Nurarihyon no Mago: Hyakki Ryouran Taisen (PS3/360)

[ShinobiMuramasa]

Nurarihyon no Mago, or Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan as it's called here is finally getting a game. Given that this is the series' first game, one might expect it to be an anime cash in game used to test the waters for future games, but that isn't the case at all. The game is being developed by Konami and Arc System Works, the talented team behind the hardcore fighting games Blazblue and Guilty Gear, so if their previous work is any indication of what's to come, we have a serious fighting game with loads of depth to look forward to.

The game is a 4-player 2D fighting game with online vs and coop. It will feature content from the first two seasons of the anime, in other words it will go through the Kyoto Arc. When selecting your character, you also select support characters who accompany you into battle and remain on the screen. These two characters will help you during battle and can be attacked by the opponent. Control of the stage is also an important aspect of the game and to aid in this, you can direct the position of one of your support characters while the other stays by your side.

In addition to selecting your two support characters, you also select several (8 to 10) summon type supports. Not only can you call on them during battle, each of these summon type supports have effects that affect your playable character's stats. Through selection of these supports you are able to customize your playable character and change their fighting style. There will be over 100 of these summon type supports, so players will have many options in creating their ideal team and when you defeat an opponent online, you are able to add one of their supports to your collection.

Below is a link to the official site and some gameplay videos:

http://www.konami.jp/nuramago/game/cam/index.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDTDxpwa1BY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UbKUip6hfE

EDIT- Here's a little more information about the game that I translated from this scan: http://gamingeverything.com/wp-conte...ihyon_scan.jpg

This is about the gauge at the bottom of the screen:

Battles are determined by the Influence Gauge. By defeating the opposing Supreme Commander and their aides, the gauge changes and whoever pushes the gauge all the way to the other side is the winner!

(Arrow pointing to the Influence Gauge)
Various factors during battle affect how much of the gauge changes. For example, even if you defeat the opposing Supreme Commander that doesn’t immediately decide the battle.

[hyren]

Dude I love this manga and this game's trailer looks sweet. It would be great to have this in the states.

[Seiko]

Oooh, Nurarihyon. I like the manga and the anime, would be nice to have the game come over too

[Rarutos]

Game looks super neat and pretty! I was thinking that Aksys is more likely to do it because of Arksys, but XSEED would be awesome too.

Wondering if I should check the anime out first before I play it or something! Anyone got any thoughts about it?

[ShinobiMuramasa]

Game looks super neat and pretty! I was thinking that Aksys is more likely to do it because of Arksys, but XSEED would be awesome too.

Wondering if I should check the anime out first before I play it or something! Anyone got any thoughts about it?

You should definitely check out the anime/manga. It's a wonderful series, definitely worth watching!

[ShinobiMuramasa]

Here's some more information I translated from here: http://www.konami.jp/products/nura_ps3/info.html
I only translated information relevant to the battle system.

Team Battle
During battles in Nurarihyon no Mago Hyakki Ryouran Taisen, in addition to the Supreme Commander you are controlling, you take your aides and minions and form one team to do battle.

During battle directing your aides and the timing of summoning your minions are vital tactics and utilizing these components are essential to how battles unfold.

Because each character has different abilities and characteristics, you’ll be able to develop many different strategies depending on how you construct your team.

Experiment with all of the combinations and create the strongest team!

Combine your power with your companions and claim victory!
As you defeat your opponents, the Influence Gauge at the bottom of the screen increases. Once your team’s side of the gauge fills up, victory is yours!


Team Composition

Supreme Commander
The player controlled character acts as the main character. In addition to issuing attack and defense commands to the aides, you can also summon minions.

Aides – Command-able
During “Guard Mode”, the aides automatically take action to protect the Supreme Commander, while in “Attack Mode” they focus on attacking the enemy. The aides can automatically switch between these two modes, but the player can also command them directly.

Minions – Summon-able
During battle you can summon them and they appear for a fixed time to battle. You can set up a formation of up to 8 minions.

“Shima” and Fear Gauge
Breaking Shima will give you benefits during battle

Throughout the stages are stones called “Shima” placed around and breaking them gives a fixed amount of damage to your team. (This is worded strangely, but I think it’s saying breaking these will allow you to heal.)
Reclaim taken Shima!
As the number of Shima increases, you will be able to summon powerful minions!

Build up your Feat Gauge to unleash a powerful strike!
By attacking the enemy and claiming Shima, your Fear Gauge increases.
Build up your gauge to unleash your ultimate technique or your Hyakki Yakou Technique to finish the battle in an instant!

With 50% of the gauge you can unleash your ultimate technique!
With 100% of the gauge you can invoke your Hyakki Yakou Technique!

A note about the “Shima”: Shima can mean “territory”, which in the context of this series would make sense if that’s how they mean it here. The stones here are referred to as “Shima” as if they are a proper noun, so I didn’t translate it. Essentially you destroy the Shima to control the territory around them. It’s probably best to think of them “Territory Stones.”

Another note: If you’re familiar with the series you’ll know that “Hyakki Yakou” refers to the Commander’s “Night Parade of 100 Demons.”

[fedaykin]

The summon system sounds a bit like Arcana Hearts, which had solid mechanics, or so my fighting game friend assures me. Presumably, the sheer number of possible character/support possibilities should mean that top-tier will involve some varied line-ups.

[ShinobiMuramasa]

There's been an update to one of the game pages. You can take a look at a lot of the support characters and their abilities: http://www.konami.jp/products/nura_ps3/chara02.html

That information in addition to closely examining the trailer you can see that all of the Shikoku Yokai that have every participated in battle will be supports, except we haven't seen Tamazuki so I think he'll be playable. Everyone from Touno who has attacked will make an appearance too as well as the Onmyouji.

I just took another close look at the trailer and I noticed a support card for Kidoumaru, which could mean a couple of things. It could mean that there will be support cards for playable characters too and if that's the case, just because we've seen support cards for some characters that doesn't exclude them from being playable. Or it could mean the card is for the past version of Kidoumaru, in which case being a support probably excludes you from being playable.

In terms of remaining playable characters I'm only expecting past Nurarihyon and Tamazuki. I'd guess that Seimei will be a support character.

[ShinobiMuramasa]

Website has been updated with 4 match videos from the tournament: http://www.konami.jp/nuramago/game/cam/index.php

[Fabrizo]

So is anyone planning to localize this yet? Any one here import it and have any impressions to give?