Omega Force is a Koei Tecmo subsidiary, best known for the Dynasty Warriors series and its spin-offs, such as Hyrule Warriors set in the Legend of Zelda universe. Electronic Arts will be involved through EA Originals, which usually handles smaller titles, such as It Takes Two and Unravel. That being said, EA has still promised it will be a AAA title. More details are set to be revealed later in September.
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Monster Hunting in Fantasy Feudal Japan
EA and Omega Force have described the upcoming hunter game as a new fantasy IP set in feudal Japan. It’s a setting that is seeing a bit of a heyday in gaming and could be a perfect fit for the genre. The game won’t be Omega Force’s first foray into the format. It also developed the Toukiden series, a monster hunter game set in medieval Japan, drawing from Shinto religious folklore. Today though, the monster hunter genre is a niche market despite its huge and loyal fanbase, mostly centered around Capcom’s aptly named Monster Hunter franchise. Given the competition and Omega Force’s history, gameplay could likely resemble Toukiden and Monster Hunter.
Besides the description of the game in the press release, the only other information on the game’s setting is the image that accompanied it. The concept art depicts a seemingly abandoned temple, enveloped by a massive overgrown cherry blossom tree. They’re both pretty standard motifs of the feudal Japan setting, but with an appropriately fantasy world feeling which may give some clues about the tone of the game.
Toukiden’s scenery was drabber than what is shown for this new game, and its gameplay reflected that. Most monsters were grotesque giants inspired by the oni of Japanese folklore. The different presentation of this game could mean it focuses on some more of the magical parts of its source mythology as opposed to these frightening demons. For example, the kitsune, a motif that has appeared in popular media that has had traction even in the Western world would be a great fit for Omega Force and EA’s game, reflects the more fantastical vibe shown in the concept art. Ultimately, there’s a huge range of creatures to draw from when it comes to a story set in a fantasy feudal Japan, with diverse looks and tales that would all suit a monster hunter game well.
Some have expressed concerns about EA’s involvement, fearing it could mean the game includes predatory monetization elements like the controversial microtransactions of the FIFA franchise or the live-service model of failed titles like Anthem. However, the distinction of the company’s involvement being through EA Originals is important. EA Originals has been responsible mostly for self-contained story games that have proven very popular with fans, with none of the notorious monetization models EA has gained an unfortunate reputation for. Additionally, Koei Tecmo Executive VP Yosuke Hayashi stated that the involvement of EA is to help with publishing and international reach, but that Koei will retain its creative independence. Bringing Electronic Arts on board for this purpose is an understandable move, considering how Toukiden underperformed in Western markets when it was released.
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