My name is Ryota Matsushita and I’m the director of Koei Tecmo’s upcoming action-RPG, Fate/Samurai Remnant.
The Fate series tells the story of the Holy Grail War, in which seven Masters summon Servants – historic heroic spirits from East and West – to fight for the Holy Grail, a magical object that can grant any wish.
The original story became a huge hit in Japan as an adventure game, and has since been adapted into an anime television series and film series, the stories of the characters whose fates are affected by the Holy Grail depicted in each work earning a strong following.
The latest title in the series, Fate/Samurai Remnant, is set in 17th century Japan and involves players fighting a new Holy Grail War – the ritual of the waxing moon – as master samurai Miyamoto Iori. .
A Holy Grail War full of secrets and unpredictability
Fate is a series that takes some creativity to introduce its appeal to friends, especially if you want to avoid spoilers, as the secrets that color the story are themselves part of its charm.
First of all, each Servant is not known by their real name. Indeed, each Servant is a renowned historical figure, and if their true identity were to become known to the enemy, their anecdotes would reveal their fighting style and weaknesses.
Nor are their battles fought fairly in a Coliseum, with the right to participate unfairly stripped from participants after a succession of unfair developments, involving conspiracy and deception!
In Fate/Samurai Remnant, the protagonist, Miyamoto Iori, is caught in such an unjust battle against his own will. Iori is attacked in the middle of the night at his home by Rider, a participant in the ritual, and is nearly killed in the first battle. He then summons a Saber-class Servant.
Buddy actions between master and servant
The game progresses through combat and exploration sections from Iori’s perspective, with Saber at his side.
Iori is a swordsman who is also able to use fire magic.
However, even Iori’s sword and magic are no match for the minions and monsters that appear under the influence of the Rising Moon Ritual (many of which take the form of traditional Japanese monsters).
In order to counter their unrealistic power, it is necessary to borrow the formidable strength of his Servant.
With a single blow, Saber can blast legions of monsters and repel enemy minions with the force of their violent water currents.
Saber is a selfish, free-spirited combat genius who will watch you from a subtle distance as Iori battles his enemies. But if you’re in trouble, Saber will quickly step in and help you out.
In the midst of a fierce battle with the enemy, Saber shouts, “Iori, now! Come here!” This is a signal for the two of them to cooperate to unleash their techniques. By taking Saber’s hand, you can use a variety of Link Strikes, such as launching an air strike that blasts Iori with a jet of water , or ride Saber’s sword together and charge the enemy on a magic jet ski.
Combo attacks can also be triggered by Iori calling for Saber’s help. These techniques, called Affinity Techniques, can be unleashed at any time by consuming the Affinity Gauge via Command Operations, and can be incorporated into combos.
A city of samurai where masters and servants reside
As the name suggests, the Affinity Gauge is a power charged by the affinity between Saber and Iori, and it can be accumulated not only through their battles together, but also in the exploration part of the game.
While Saber acts like a ruthless fighting machine in most cases, they are also very interested in the unfamiliar culture and way of life of 17th century Japan. Iori acts as a tour guide, introducing all the new sights and food stalls.
But that’s not all, because there are cats and dogs in every city. Not only are the pets adorable, but they are also healing points for the two main characters.
The talking magic book
Need help learning technical terms or the story of Destiny? Time to check out the Crimson Codex, a talking magical book to help you with characters, historical terminology, game guides, and even GPS navigation if you need it.
Fate/Samurai Remnant hits stores September 29 on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
Do you have what it takes to survive the Holy Grail War? You won’t believe where Iori and Saber’s wishes take them.
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