D3Publisher and Shade Inc Announce Samurai Maiden Release Window

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D3Publisher and developer Shade announce Samurai Maiden, a new cross-platform game. The descriptor of the game is a samurai action game, but on closer inspection, there's a bit more to it.

Here is the configuration.

Samurai Maiden stars Tsumugi Tamaori, a high school student who falls asleep during history class and wakes up in time. Specifically next to Nobunaga Oda himself, probably mid to late 1500s.

In this case, the duo reach Honnoji Temple to find it burning and serving as a portal to the Underworld. Considering that historically this was an assassination attempt on Nobunaga, this probably isn't the best place to be.

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Tsumugi, a trained sword fighter, receives a sword from Nobunaga to help end the sudden calamity. The hero, now equipped, is ready to descend into the underworld to fight zombies and other enemies.

If that were it, Samurai Maiden would already be a potentially interesting isekai story. Based on reading the setup, I thought it might have some sort of Drifters feel.

But then it becomes complete isekai. Tsumugi encounters three ninjas at the Temple. The trio, known as The Gokage, choose to travel with Tsumugi to the underworld. Iyo is a ninja who uses tools, Hagane is a robot ninja and Komimi is a genius with a unique power.

During gameplay, players will engage with the Gokage system, which combines Tsumugi's sword and ninja techniques together. Players can choose which combos will work best for a given situation. Beyond that, the party will have unlockable, even stronger special abilities.

Those stronger abilities? You use them when kissing ninjas.

It's true, it's not just some kind of isekai. It hits a whole bunch of tropes. There are plenty of games, past and future, that feature a fish out of water. But here we have a full pseudo-harem in operation. It's Dynasty Warriors style combined with a sort of romantic subplot.

It's almost as if Shade Inc. looked at OneeChanbara and Senran Kagura and thought that a mix of the two might be something special.

At the very least, it certainly piques my interest. Fortunately, I can play it almost anywhere. Samurai Maiden is coming out this winter. It will be available on Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Nintendo Switch and Steam.

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