Original (8/28): Level-5 has followed up with Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road and has provided details on the game regarding match mechanics, Victory Road mode, and more.
Here’s the full rundown:
A Game Players Want to Keep Playing
During our development of Victory Road, the newest title in the Inazuma Eleven series, we were always conscious of the series’ roots. However, considering how games have evolved over time, we decided it would be impossible to leave the game’s systems unchanged from those origins if we wanted to bring players an authentic Inazuma Eleven experience. That’s why we’ll be implementing new mechanics that increase the level of strategic thinking needed during matches.
Introducing New Match Mechanics
Focus
Instead of merely making simple decisions about midfield maneuvering, we’ve designed action elements that require situational awareness and snap judgments. We believe this new system will strike a good balance between player skill, statistical strength, and luck.
In the Zone
The battle between offense and defense in front of the goal will also change. No longer will you only be concerned with selecting which shot to make, you’ll also have to consider various options, like whether to make a quick pass to an adjacent teammate.
Scramble
This function simulates the fight for ball possession that occurs in real-life soccer matches. When the ball comes your way, you’ll have to decide whether to keep it, perform a header to pass it to a nearby teammate, or choose from a number of other plays by moving the cursor over the marker and pressing the button at the right time.
Tension Gauge
Individual TP (Technique Points) have been removed, with skills now using a Tension Gauge shared by the entire team instead. During a match, Tension accumulates based on Focus and is then consumed to use skills. Careful management of this gauge will be the key to victory.
A trailer showcasing the new systems is scheduled for release on August 31. We also intend for the game to be playable at the upcoming Tokyo Game Show 2023 in September.
Plan V: Long-Term Support
We have developed what we are calling Plan V, a long-term management strategy designed to sustain the longevity of Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road. With this in mind, we have been considering a variety of methods to enrich the online player experience.
New Mode: Victory Road
In addition to one-off online matches, we’re planning to introduce a mode called Football Frontier, where players can compete in tournaments. Isn’t this what all our Inazuma Eleven fans have been dreaming of?! At the moment, we’re still working out the details, but the plan is to have open qualifiers in which anyone can participate and earn points to move on to the next stage. A schedule will then be decided for the final matches, and contenders will gather at the predetermined times in order to participate.
Seasonal Competitions (Seasonal Players and Eternal Players)
Each Football Frontier will cover one season, lasting two to three months. In Football Frontier, you cannot win by just powering up the strongest players in offline mode. Participating teams must be comprised of at least six seasonal players and five eternal players.
Seasonal players can only be acquired during that specific season and have to be newly trained each time. Additionally, you can bring up to five eternal players, strong players you’ve trained in other game modes. You will need to form a balanced team with accomplished eternal players from your collection and each season’s new players to win.
*The current plan is still in development and may be subject to changes.
Players Evolving Through Changing Seasons
Seasonal players introduced in a season as first graders will become second graders in the following season and then third graders in the next. After that, well… they graduate! Whatever the case, seasonal players will only be available for three consecutive seasons. But that doesn’t mean the seasonal players you worked so hard to train will simply disappear once the season is over—you will be able to add them to your eternal roster. And you can expect more than just generic characters. On rare occasions, famous players like Yuto Kido and Shiro Fubuki will be available, as well! You might get lucky and nab one of these powerful players for yourself!
Winners of the Protagonist Audition
After auditioning 35 voice actors, the casting for the protagonists of Victory Road, Unmei Sasanami and Haru Endo, has been decided!
Both of them can’t get enough of their characters and can’t wait to let you hear them, too! Many of our staff members are also super excited about how Haru really sounds like Mamoru’s son. We’ll be releasing a video in September, so you will be able to hear their voices for yourselves. We hope you look forward to it!
Initial Release Features
While we are planning to include almost the entire cast from previous releases, certain features like Miximax and Armourfy cannot be implemented from the beginning. With that said, we intend for the initial release to at least include Fighting Spirit.
New Character Designs
We’re excited to reveal some designs for new characters entering the roster. Each one has their own unique charm, but we’re afraid you’ll have to wait to learn more about them. Doesn’t the boy with the bizarre striped blonde hair make you curious, though? He has a deep connection with a character that appeared in the past… Let’s take a moment to speculate!
Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road is tentatively planned for 2023. Level-5 will be sharing more information about the game on August 31, with another update scheduled right before the Tokyo Game Show in September. The title will also be playable at the big event.
Update (8/31): Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road just received a “Newly Evolved Game Systems” trailer. Watch it below.
