NIS America announces The Cruel King and the Great Hero, set to release in Early 2022 for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch

NIS America has announced that storybook RPG The Cruel King and the Great Hero will launch in the west in Early 2022 for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. The game was released in Japan on June 24.

The Cruel King and the Great Hero is a project by Sayaka Oda, who previously created The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince. It tells the story of a hero's daughter being raised by her father's former foe, a formerly terrifying dragon known as the Cruel King. As stated by the game's key artwork, "This is a story of how one day, you will defeat me."

An announcement trailer and description of the game's premise can be found below, via NIS America. The official website is here, and special editions are available on the publisher storefront.

For more on the game, you can check out descriptions of the main characters, details on side characters, information on gameplay systems, and information on side stories.

“Tell me a bedtime story! About Papa!”
“Very well. Where shall I begin?”
“From the beginning!”
“As all stories should.”

Once upon a time, a brave hero battled a terrifying dragon known as the Cruel King, and eventually emerged victorious. However, instead of delivering the coup de grace, the hero decided to cut off one of the dragon’s horns, proclaiming, "You must atone for your sins!" In the days that followed, the hero spent time with the dragon as he healed, and before they knew it, the hero and the dragon became very close friends.

One day, years later, the hero suffered a fatal wound, survived by his only daughter, Yuu. He asked his good friend to raise his daughter into a great hero, and the mighty beast gave him his word as the hero’s dying wish.

From that moment forth, he has watched over Yuu, serving as her protector and guide on her many adventures so that one day she can become a great hero. However, these idyllic moments won’t last forever, as the inevitable resurfacing of the truth of the Cruel King’s past nears, heralding new trials for both the king and Yuu...

Key Details:

• Allies in Adventure: No challenge is too great with your mighty protector waiting in the wings. Fight monsters and navigate perilous environments, with an occasional helping hand, of course!
• A Living Storybook: With a charming soundtrack, artistic inspirations drawn from children’s storybooks, and classic 2D scroller visuals, this adventure is as much a treat to play as it is to look at.
• Heroic Discoveries: Collect hiddens items throughout the land to unlock goodies in the in-game gallery, including character profiles and behind-the-scenes illustrations!