Strategy RPG Guns Undarkness, from Persona and Shin Megami Tensei composer, tentatively planned for Nintendo hardware

Shoji Meguro, the long time Persona and Shin Megami Tensei series composer, has revealed that his upcoming project Guns Undarkness is tentatively planned for Nintendo hardware.

Meguro first announced the game back in November 2021 as his first official post-Atlus project as a freelance developer. He’ll be working on the game design as well as composing and producing all of the music. Character designer Ilya Kuvshinov (Ghost in Shell: SAC 2045) and lyricist Lotus Juice (Persona series) are also on board.

Here’s a bunch of information about the project:

Guns Undarkness is a strategy JRPG that combines stealth elements with command driven turn-based combat in a futuristic sci-fi universe. The player takes the role of a member of the PMC (Private Military Company) in the year 2045 who must carry out operative missions with their peers in a devastated world after a nuclear war. The game’s story will focus on the main protagonists as they fight to revolutionize the human race and move closer to the idea of true love.

Gameplay

On the field, the player will control the main character and up to three allies. With the use of hand signal buttons, players can instruct their allies to hide at cover points and use the “Go” button to order them to cover their character.

When an enemy is spotted, the player can open fire. If the player’s team engages the enemy while totally hidden, it will activate an attack bonus. The more the player fires during this bonus, the more damage they will deal before the battle begins. Hidden or not, once the player fires on the enemy, the game will leap into turn-based battle.

In-battle commands include a range of choices such as basic ATTACK and SKILL, which packs more punch and costs SP. There will also be GUARD, MOVE, WEAPON, ITEM, ESCAPE and TAGS, which refers to the character’s defense suit.

Strategic gameplay can be employed by unleashing skills while attacking from behind cover, which will cost no SP. If the player manages to strike the enemy in a weak point, they can deal massive damage and be able to duck into cover.

The affinity of the character’s weapon and that of the target’s TAGS will determine how much damage is done. However, an enemy’s defense value can also reduce the amount of damage they take. In addition to powerful skills, there are also guns with special buff and debuff abilities.

Winning a will earn the player’s team two types of experience points: Character EXP and Gun EXP. Leveling up boosts a character’s stats and unlocks new skills for guns. Players will be able to enhance the guns they own by adding parts, and even acquire blueprints and materials that will let them build new guns as they progress through the story.

Outside of missions, players will spend their time in the Maroon hub, an amphibious submarine that the team uses as their hideout, which they can use to accept quests, visit shops or travel to other locations on the world map.

Story

In the year 2045, humanity was in a state of abeyance that allowed technology to flourish. However it deepened the social divide between the rich and the poor, creating the “Haves” and the “Have Nots.”

Within the ranks of the latter grew a faction who planned the Great Reset–an event steeped in primitivism that would change the course of humanity.

The Thousand Plateaus launched two weapons of mass destruction, triggering a worldwide nuclear war.

And so, the Great Reset was accomplished.

Enter the protagonist, a rookie member of a private military company tasked with handling the deteriorating situation.

It is up to you to discover the truth of love in a world wracked by devastation, and whether or not humanity is capable of being revolutionized.

Key Features

• A turn-based tactical RPG inspired by games like Metal Gear Solid and Persona
• A relationship system that boosts the main character as they grow closer with their teammates
• A story set in a futuristic world on the verge of global and societal ruin
• A meeting of the minds Shoji Meguro (Persona series, Shin Megami Tensei series), Ilya Kuvshinov (Ghost in Shell: SAC 2045, The Wonderland), and Lotus Juice (Persona Series)

Guns Undarkness will be appearing on Kickstarter starting September 12, 2022. It will run until October 15 with a funding goal of $30,000. A stretch goal is planned that will bring the title to Nintendo hardware.

Meguro said: “I would like to make Guns Undarkness an even better game with the support and early feedback of the fans. With the help of our backers, I hope to fix the visual problems and brush up on everything, so please lend me your support!”

A previous teaser trailer for Guns Undarkness can be found below.