Software:Shibito Magire
| Shibito Magire | |
|---|---|
 Promotional art | |
| Developer(s) | Experience |
| Publisher(s) | Experience |
| Director(s) | Ataka Motoya |
| Producer(s) | Hajime Chikami |
| Artist(s) |
|
| Platform(s) | |
| Release |
|
| Genre(s) | Adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Shibito Magire[lower-alpha 1] (tentative title) is an upcoming adventure video game in development by Experience, planned for release in Q2/Q3 2021 in Japan for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4. It is the third entry in the Spirit Hunter series, following 2017's Spirit Hunter and 2018's Spirit Hunter.
The story is set in a Tokyo suburb, and sees the player take the role of Kazuo Yashiki, who is hired to infiltrate a school as a teacher to investigate gruesome, spiritual incidents that occur there every ten years. The player investigates areas in a side-view perspective together with a number of partner characters; the choice of partner determines which locations the player has access to. The game is directed by Ataka Motoya and produced by Hajime Chikami, and was financed through a crowdfunding campaign. While it like previous games in the series is an adventure game, it also incorporates elements from tabletop role-playing games.
Gameplay
Shibito Magire is an adventure game in which the player investigates areas in a side-view perspective.[2][3] The investigations are conducted together with one of several partner characters; depending on which is chosen, the player has access to different locations and items. Each character has a set of statistics, which in the player character's case can be increased. These are used to affect outcomes in dangerous situations, such as when being attacked by a spirit, in a system called Suspensive Act.[2]
Plot
Shibito Magire is set in a suburb of H City in Tokyo,[4] and revolves around Konoehara Academy, where gruesome events occur every ten years. The police are unable to explain the incidents, and classify them as accidents, but they are rumored to be caused by spirits. Because of this, Konoehara's principal hires Kazuo Yashiki of the Kujo family to infiltrate the school as a teacher and investigate the incidents.[2][3]
Development
Shibito Magire is developed by Experience, and is directed by Ataka Motoya and produced by Hajime Chikami, with character designs by Fumiya Sumio and concept art by Kazuhiro Oya.[5] The development was financed through a crowdfunding campaign on the website Campfire, which began on November 25, 2019, with a goal of 15 million yen[6] (approximately US$140,000),[1] which was reached on December 29 with 17 days remaining of the campaign. The campaign also had further goals on top of the base goal, going up to 30 million yen, all of which were reached and thus allowed for production of a larger amount of art assets and voice-overs, added gameplay features, the addition of returning Spirit Hunter series characters, a new story expansion, and a novelization.[6][7]
The game has a new theme and concept compared to previous Spirit Hunter games: the developers describe the theme as "a gloomy horror with suspense-based mystery", compared to the previous games' "spirit suspense horror", and the concept as "suspense that offers a new feeling of exploration and helplessness through changing perspectives", compared to "a new horror experience that succeeds the previous game".[1] While it like previous Spirit Hunter games is an adventure game, it also incorporates elements inspired by tabletop role-playing games, such as character statistics that affect the success rates of certain actions.[2][4]
Shibito Magire and its crowdfunding campaign were announced by Experience in September 2019 through their YouTube channel, along with a number of concept art pieces.[8] It is planned to be published by Experience in Q2/Q3 2021 in Japan, for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4.[6] A PlayStation Vita version was ruled out due to a lack of support for the system from the manufacturer.[8]
Notes
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Romano, Sal (2019-11-03). "Experience to launch crowdfunding campaign for third entry in Spirit Hunter series on November 25". https://gematsu.com/2019/11/experience-to-launch-crowdfunding-campaign-for-third-entry-in-spirit-hunter-series-on-november-25.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Yokoyama, Keiichi (2019-12-30). "『死印』の正統続編『シビトマギレ（仮）』、クラウドファンディングキャンペーンが目標金額1500万円に到達。PS4/Switch向けに開発中" (in Japanese). Active Gaming Media. https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/20191230-110032/.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Wong, Alistair (2019-11-25). "Spirit Hunter Series Sequel Shibito Magire Crowdfunding Begins In Japan Today". Curse, Inc.. https://www.siliconera.com/spirit-hunter-series-sequel-shibito-magire-crowdfunding-begins-in-japan-today/.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Romano, Sal (2019-11-25). "Experience launches Shibito Magire crowdfunding campaign". https://gematsu.com/2019/11/experience-launches-shibito-magire-crowdfunding-campaign.
- ↑ ""心霊ホラーADVシリーズ"最新作『シビトマギレ（仮）』のティザーPVが公開！ クラウドファンディングもまだまだ実施中" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Game Linkage. 2019-12-09. https://www.famitsu.com/news/201912/09188601.html.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Romano, Sal (2019-12-29). "Shibito Magire crowdfunding campaign fully funded". https://gematsu.com/2019/12/shibito-magire-crowdfunding-campaign-fully-funded.
- ↑ Fukuyama, Koji (2020-01-16). "『死印』、『NG』に続く心霊ホラーシリーズ第3弾『シビトマギレ（仮）』のクラウドファンディングが3000万円を集めて最終ゴールを達成" (in Japanese). Mare, Inc.. https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/news/200116d.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Romano, Sal (2020-01-03). "Experience to crowdfund third entry in Spirit Hunter series". https://gematsu.com/2019/09/experience-to-crowdfund-third-entry-in-spirit-hunter-series.
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