This looks awesome. So, a new Kickstarter project has been launched by Elemental-Labs for the PS3 and PS4; stretch goals will add the PS Vita, Xbox One and PC at above $550,000. Elemental-Labs asks for $200,000, yes, that's right, $200,000 for a PS3 and PS4 game or as the developers call it, an ARPG, action role-playing game - it'll be digital release at first, unless it reaches the (current) final stretch goal. Think of Deus Ex and Devil May Cry combined if you're thinking about visuals and style, but Kingdom Hearts and to an extent, Dissidia and the upcoming Final Fantasy XV are ARPGs as well. Kickstarter, "REBORN by Elemental-Labs, Inc." Siliconera, "A Cyberpunk RPG With Miyamoto Musashi For PS4 and PS3 Hopes To Be Reborn".
Anyway, to summarize some of what the developers want and its a huge list of things they will do along with things about the game and the team, REBORN stars Miyamoto Musashi, the legendary Japanese swordsman known for his duel-wielding, combat strategies, and as the creator of Niten Ichi-ryu. In REBORN, Miyamoto is a leader of a group of heroes out to stop Rena Nakano, the current president of Neo-Tokyo. Anyway, Neo-Tokyo is also controlled by the Nexus Roku Corporation - Nakano controls the corporation so she also controls Neo-Tokyo - which probably references the current world and how industries basically influence or outright control the government. It also refers to Metal Gear and Deus Ex with the whole cybernetics deal. Nakano is a cyborg as are many people in this world and following similar stories of leaders wanting absolute power, she seeks the Tear of Heaven so gain immortality. Said Tear of Heaven also was used to seal the Tengu Demon Sojobo. Yeah, you know where this is going to head.
Gameplay-wise, it's pretty much a hack n' slash with RPG elements. As Miyamoto, players will have access to unarmed combat, armed combat, and Focus and Ogi moves - think Supers and Ultras in Street Fighter, Marvel vs. Capcom, The King of Fighters, etc. A mechanic called Chain Time lets players use any Focus and Ogi moves for a short period of time. Stealth will be available should players want to go for a Dishonored path of the game. Augmentations like in Deus Ex and sort of Metal Gear Rising will be present. And there will be a Social Perception system. I think it's going to be similar to the morality system used in inFAMOUS, Red Dead Redemption, Mass Effect, etc. Basically, it'll affect how NPCs perceive you - enemies, allies, and regular ol' Joes and Janes, alike. So, if you go on a murderous rampage, people might fear you, distrust you, and even hate you since you would appear to be nothing more than a crazed vigilante or a bloodthirsty thug.
Currently, since Miyamoto seems to be the central character, reaching the minimum will only have him as the sole playable character. Stretch goals will lead to Tsukihime, Senhime, and Sasaki Kojiro. It seems, though, that they will be co-op characters or something. It's not really specified.
Anyway, Elemental-Labs promises 20 hours of gameplay and hopes to release the game by Fall 2014. Along with that, they'll have the House of Moves, a motion capture studio, and Shin Komayada, the actor from The Last Samurai.
System-wise, I noticed something strange. PS3, PS Vita, and PC will be using the Unreal Engine 3; PS4 and Xbox One will use the Unreal Engine 4. I don't know why the PC isn't using UE4 since PC are capable of it. Minor or maybe a major detail for some.
Concept art of Miyamoto as he appears in the game.
Seriously, he looks like TGS 2010 DmC Dante except with a daisho, ponytail, and being less gaunt. Hell, the devil's even smoking. If this catches on, then maybe the theory - no pun intended - of DmC: Devil May Cry and to an extent Final Fantasy XIII, Ninja Gaiden 3, and plenty of other games in famous franchises having different titles would sell more might ring true.
Other concept art of Miyamoto.
Reminds me of Bujingai and I guess, Blade Runner. Speaking of which, I haven't watched that film yet. Also, no pun intended - Miyamoto has blades, he runs... I should not explain jokes even if they're bad.
In-game screenshot.
