Following some teases from Suikoden creator Yoshitaka Murayama throughout the week, newly formed Rabbit & Bear Studios has announced Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, an 'ode to the classic Japanese RPGs' and what looks to be a spiritual successor to the Suikoden series.
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A Kickstarter campaign for Eiyuden Chronicle will open on Monday, July 27 and run throughout the month of August, seeking $500,000 in funding for a PC version. A stretch goal will be in place for additional PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Switch (or current Nintendo console) versions. The planned release is currently set for 2022.
Here is the key staff for the project, courtesy of RPGamer:
Yoshitaka Murayama (Suikoden I and II) — Scenario Writer/Director
Junko Kawano (Suikoden I and IV) — Lead Artist
Osamu Komuta (Suikoden Tactics and Suikoden Tierkreis) — Director
Junichi Murakami (Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, OZ) — Producer/Art Director
Motoi Sakuraba (Tales series) — Composer
Michiko Naruke (Wild Arms series) — Composer
Several outlets have posted interviews with Murayama about the new project. RPGamer has posted an interview with Rabbit & Bear Studios asking about similarities and differences to Suikoden, inspiration from Octopath Traveler, combat, the fortress, and more. Siliconera's interview touches on topics of character diversity and representation. Gematsu also spoke with Rabbit & Bear, to discuss the game's large cast of characters and how they are incorporated into the storyline and gameplay.
Find a gameplay teaser from IGN Japan, a story synopsis from the game's official website, character introductions (via Gematsu), and screenshot set below via Rabbit & Bear Studios.
Story
Our story begins in one corner of Allraan, a tapestry of nations with diverse cultures and values. By dint of sword, and by way of magical objects known as “rune-lenses,” the land’s history has been shaped by the alliances and aggressions of the humans, beastmen, elves, and desert people who live there.
The Galdean Empire has edged out other nations and discovered a technology that amplifies the rune-lenses’ magic. Now, the Empire is scouring the continent for an artifact that will expand their power even further. It is on one such expedition that Seign Kesling, a young and gifted imperial officer, and Nowa, a boy from a remote village, meet each other and become friends.
However, a twist of fate will soon drag them into the fires of war, and force them both to reexamine everything they believe to be right and true.
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Characters
Nowa (Default Name)
Sex: Male
Age: 17 years old
Home: A remote village in the League of Nations
Favorite Food: Anything with meat in it
“That’s who I am. A meddler. Always will be—just ask Leene. So don’t tell me to do nothing. I may not be able to help them, but I have to at least try.”
When the League of Nations recruits warriors to assist in a joint expedition with the Galdean Empire, our protagonist answers the call and leaves his remote village to test his skills. On the mission, he finds an ancient rune-lens, unaware that the discovery will spark a war between the League and the Empire. After the conflict begins, he joins a unit in the League’s border guard.
The protagonist is the “leap before you look” type. He doesn’t always weigh the pros and cons before springing to action, and while his constant need to involve himself in other people’s problems sometimes creates headaches for his companions, they like him for it and know his heart is in the right place. After all, if they ever got into trouble, he’d be the first person there.
Seign Kesling
Sex: Male
Age: 18 years old
Home: A noble house in the Galdean Empire
Favorite Food: Poached eggs
“I can dream all I want, but it won’t change a thing. The world is not that kind. So if the only way to achieve my ideals is to betray them first, then I will do that—unflinchingly. You have my word.”
The second-born son to House Kesling, a powerful imperial family. His older brother died on the battlefield. Seign is exceptionally gifted; after achieving outstanding grades at military academy, he was placed in command of a company of his peers and sent on the expedition to find the ancient rune-lens. During the mission, he meets the protagonist. The two warm to each other as they overcome adversity, and they learn of one another’s ambitions.
Seign’s strategic mind allows him to analyze things from a broad perspective and make sound decisions. People often confuse his clear mind for a cold heart, but he is guided by strong ideals and a deep passion to fulfill them.
After his brother’s death during a border rebellion, Seign began to think long and hard about what it means to fight.
Marisa
Sex: Female
Age: 16 years old
Profession: One of the Guardians who watches over the forest
Favorite Food: Herbed chicken
“You just leave the forest to me. I know where the water springs, where the rabbits burrow—and most importantly, where your enemies will try to hide.”
A young member of the Guardians, a clan that hallows and protects the forest. Since Marisa was very little, her family has instilled their ways and traditions in her. She has a warm, affable smile—except on the battlefield, where she wears the countenance of a warrior.
Although the Guardians live as one with the forest, they have respect for the outside world’s culture and technology, and they are not against integrating the parts of it that make sense to them. Marisa is particularly forward-thinking in this regard, and loves new things—especially cute things.
Over the generations, the Guardians have developed a unique method of wielding the rune-lenses. For that reason, both the Empire and the protagonist try to win them over to their camp. Whom the Guardians choose will prove to be a major turning point in history.
Melridge
Sex: Male
Age: 27 years old
Profession: A scholar of natural history
Favorite Food: Duck soup
“You should lay down arms and surrender. That’s the quickest way to end this… No? Very well. Then I suppose I’ll provide you with the next best thing: a winning strategy.”
A young scholar who specializes in natural history. He yearns to know of every last thing in the world, and exactly how it got there. He also happens to be a genius tactician, and will be a valuable asset to the protagonist.
That said, he views warfare as the most pointless of all human endeavors, and any personal contributions to it as a complete waste of time.
Garr
Sex: Male
Age: 32 years old
Profession: Warrior in a clan of mercenaries
Favorite Food: Pancakes slathered with whipped cream
“Only a soft-brained leader runs headlong into danger. Anyone who knows what’s good for him will tell you you’ve lost it, kid. But not me. If blaze-of-glory’s your thing, count me in. We all die in the end. Might as well make it interesting.”
A veteran beastman warrior. He and his clan make their living as mercenaries, and their vast experience and sheer brutality put them in high demand. War is all Garr has known, and to him life is one battlefield after the other until you die.
When a conflict breaks out, every army wants as many beastmen as they can afford. Because mercenary contracts are made with individuals and not the entire clan, it is not uncommon for Garr and his fellow beastmen to face each other as enemies in the field.
Lian
Sex: Female
Age: 16 years old
Home: A martial arts dojo
Favorite Food: Super-spicy ramen
“Uhh, maybe I’m dumbing this down a little, but—like—if a bunch of arrogant swine strut into YOUR home and started acting like they owned the place, what would YOU do? ‘Cause there’s your answer.”
After the Empire’s forces invade League lands, Lian is infuriated and runs away from home…without even the slightest semblance of a plan. She decides the first thing to do is hoof it to the biggest town she can find, and luckily that’s where she meets the protagonist and his companions.
Lian was born in a dojo, and her father wasted no time in teaching her. She was doing roundhouse kicks before she even learned to walk properly.
Mio
Sex: Female
Age: 27 years old
Home: The Far East
Favorite Food: Bamboo-wrapped sasa dumplings
“The road you walk is one, and yet its endpoints are myriad. You can still choose where the road takes you.”
A swordswoman who is journeying to perfect the way of the blade. She has a stoic personality and rarely speaks, unless it’s to challenge someone she views as a worthy opponent.
When she does open her mouth to say something, it’s straight to the point and usually dripping with wisdom, so the people around her have taken to calling her “sensei.” However, even the greatest of senseis do have the occasional brain fart…
