LOOP8, a RPG with “Emotional AI,” announced for Switch
A new RPG was announced by Marvelous during the Japanese Nintendo Direct today. This RPG is called LOOP8, and it will be coming to Switch in 2022 in Japan. There is no information regarding which languages will be supported at this time.
The game has a unique system of using the emotions of characters to influence gameplay in something called “Emotional AI” (as translated by Gematsu). This makes the relationships the player forges with the characters very important and crucial to gameplay.
A small glimpse of this in action can be seen in the debut trailer.
In addition to this trailer, more details about the game have been revealed on the official website. A translation of this information has been provided by Gematsu and a summary can be read below.
Story
The protagonist is Nini, a character that lost his home and family to an ancient calamity. He arrives to the serene countryside town of Ashiharanakatsu to stay with his relatives and is welcomed by a girl named Konoha.
Konoha claims she is his relative, and Nini forms a relationship with her. Coming from a space station, the peaceful town is all new to him. He experiences many different things in this unfamiliar world and makes new friends.
This town is special and every day life twists with the extraordinary, including Nini meeting a fox-eared girl, discovering a mysterious floating sphere in the sky, and many other strange adventures.
This is the scene of Nini’s stressful and radiant summer.
About
LOOP8 is a “juvenile RPG” where you live your everyday life but then fight against the extraordinary. Forge relationships with those around you, fight calamities, and have an eventful summer.
You play as Nini and live life in this countryside town while trying to find humans possessed by calamities. These calamities are a threat to humanity and you must train and be ready for them while still enjoying your free time.
If you find a calamity, you must confront them in a strange place between the world of the ordinary and the extraordinary. Your training and relationships will decide how you fare in battle.
You can rewind time to certain points in order to change strategies when forging relationships or fighting battles.
Emotional AI: Maturity System
Choices you make in this world will weigh heavily in the story and battles.
The “Maturity System” is the game’s unique Emotional AI and it controls all aspects of the game. This includes how the story progresses, the characters’ emotions, and the game world. Every choice you make is crucial, and it will make every time you play different.
Due to this unique system, the characters act like real people with emotions. Their behaviors will change depending on their surroundings, and their relationships with other characters will change as well.
This will change how the events play out, and the characters’ emotions will have an impact on the story.
Staff
Game Design / Scenario: Yuuri Shibamura (Gunparade March, Touken Ranbu)
Character Design: Mori Kuraen (Virtual talent Kizuna AI), Shingo Adachi (Sword Art Online anime)
Concept Art: Kitsune Iro (Amatukitune)
Music: Noriyuki Iwadare (Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Trials and Tribulations, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies, and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice)
General Producer: Youichi Miyaji (Sieg Games)
Theme Song: “Genfuukei” by NaHo
