Announced in a press release issued by the publisher itself, the game will offer a new look at the Schoolgirl-Meets-Ninjas formula that has already been seen in series such as Senran Kagura. In particular, D3 Publisher is looking to recover the popularity that had the Onechanbara franchise in the past, but through a brand-new IP.
Both D3 Publisher and Shade knows very well the field in which they work again. Shade has developed games like Bullet Girls Phantasia or Kandagawa Jet Girls, which have a high level of fan service. In Samurai Maiden, the visual violence will be reduced compared to Onechanbara, but, although reduced, the provocative touch of Shade games will stay. For example: the heroine will have to kiss other girls to release all her power.
Samurai Maiden begins when, after a boring history class, Tsumugi Tamaori falls asleep and travels back in time to the Sengoku period. There, she will meet Nobunaga Oda, the historical figure who managed to unify Japan for the first time. Together they will see how the famous Honnoji Temple becomes the entry point for monsters from the underworld to Earth. Desperate to not have enough heroes at his disposal, Oda makes the decision to trust Tsumugi to become the heroine who saves the world. To do this, he gives her the evil warding blade that she can use to face evil beings.
Luckily for Nobunaga, Tsumugi has combat experience and knows how to use a sword. Her knowledge of her history and having been educated in modern times will be factors that will possibly help her to more easily combat zombies and other creatures. And she will not be alone: with her will be the ninjas of the Gokage group, three brave warriors who will accompany Tsumugi and, little by little, they will become more and more friends with her.
The Gokage: Iyo, Hagane and Komimi, will be the ones ready to help, with her lips and weapons, so Tsumugi can release all her power and abilities. But for that moment to come, first it will be necessary to develop a relationship of trust with them by talking, helping each other and fighting monsters. With the addition of these characters, what Shade does is to have a combination of samurai and ninja power at the same time. Thus, the heroine will use her sword with forceful cuts and the ninjas will move quickly using their kunai and different yin yang jutsu attacks.
Action and samurai fans will find similarities between Samurai Maiden and other games, from Onechanbara to Senran Kagura or of course Onimusha. In reality, it feels like a game very similar to the Capcom classic, but with a more pronounced anime style and possibly the usual D3 Publisher and Shade features. However, is important to not forget that it will have a Teen rating and that will differentiate it a lot from the other projects of both companies.
For now, these voice actors have been announced:
- Yuki Yomichi as Tsumugi Tamaori
- Miku Itō as Iyo
- Sumire Uesaka as Hagane
- Miyu Tomita as Komimi
- Takaya Kuroda as Nobunaga Oda
And D3 Publisher has already confirmed that the character design is the work of Miwano Rag.
Source: Press Release, Samurai Maiden Website
