【Mercenaries Rebirth#5】Secret Development Stories linked to the Mercenaries Saga
In this issue #5, I will talk about this game's secret development stories that connect with the previous titles in the series.
【The charm of this game's story】
『Mercenaries Rebirth』features an older swordsman who is older than all the other protagonists in the Mercenaries series. I wondered if I could write with some leeway about the depths of the inner heart being the positive side of the battle experience, up until the negative part being one's past and the fate of rivals.
At the beginning of this game, the protagonist Irvin is a drifting lone swordsman who forms a mercenary crew with the heroine Princess Kiera and her royal guards. However, in the initial planning stages, Irvin was already leading a mercenary crew of royal guards, and Princess Kiera then joined them.
The reason the story was changed is that I wanted Irvin to be portrayed as a protagonist with a past of a heavy burden and regret, so that is also why at the beginning of the game, there is a scene in which he visits the grave of his former companion, Holly.
Even though Irvin has a murky past, he is reliable and can take the leadership role and guide the young crew members, including Princess Kiera and the royal guards.
When young people panic and cause commotions, Irvin stands firm, acts accordingly, and gives them advice. That is one of the reasons why I personally think having an older protagonist is charming.
Desmond, Irvin's rival who shares the same murky past, is also introduced in this game.
In the initial planning, Desmond was portrayed as a pure evil antagonist with a warped personality. However, after Irvin's modifications, we decided to make significant modifications to Desmond to portray him as just as charming as Irvin.
Of course, as a villain, he has an atrocious behavior. However, there is a reason behind Desmond's warped personality and why he chooses to be guarded and stick through is an important feeling, so we aimed to portray him as an equal rival to Irvin.
During the confrontation with Desmond, we had planned to have a one-on-one duel, which is rare for an SRPG, we thought it would be dull/uninteresting if both parties dueled alone, so we decided to have a 2 vs. 2 tag-team match-up. Irvin's partner could be selected from among the party members, and the dialogue between the chosen character and Irvin, although brief, was a fun and heated factor (maybe a moe element?)
On the other side of the story, Queen Rosa, the rival/enemy of Princess Kiera, was also given a significant modification to her personality and image that was different from the initial planning stages.
At first, Queen Rosa and her confidant, Clifford, were evil characters intended to be defeated in something like a "good takes down evil" story. However, we decided to emphasize her reasons for her actions and feelings towards her son, Prince Kyle. So we revised her character so that she's not just an ordinary villain along with Clifford. During essential points in the game's story, we also portrayed Queen Rosa's faction, giving a sense that she is the lead antagonist in the shadows.
In the game's final stage, there is a split route in which the Player can make choices that dramatically change Queen Rosa's fate. Regardless of choice, we hope the Player can forgive Queen Rosa's actions in the end.
【Elements that have really appeared in previous titles in the series】
Although「Astras Kingdom」is a new setting that was introduced in the game and was not previously featured in the series, the machine units that appear early in this game, known as「Magical Weapons」 have been previously introduced in『Mercenaries Chronicles』which is a collection of the first three games in the series, so players who have played it will recognize them.
More Magical Weapons will appear in different routes, so I hope players will have fun finding them.
The names of each country appear on the world map.
The leading country that appears is「Astras Kingdom」, then to the southwest is 「Bestia Kingdom」, Queen Rosa's home country. To the northwest of Astras is the「Dukedom of Zindel」 which is the home country of a particular character from the fourth installment in the series, 『Mercnearies Wings』.
『Mercenaries Rebirth』 is the sixth title in the Mercenaries Saga series. Although each title is an independent story, we hope to portray the series' history as taking place in the same world. We will continue to build upon the series' worldview by interconnecting the settings of past titles.
【Mercenaries Rebirth #4】Main Characters and Rebirth Exceed Presentation！Part 2
Mercenaries Rebirth issues #3 and #4 present the protagonists' story and killer techniques「Rebirth Exceed」！
In issue #4, we will continue our introduction of the main characters that are key figures in the main story, and their respective Rebirth Exceed killer techniques！
【Anastasia】
Anastasia is Princess Kiera's female bodyguard and a firearms expert. Anastasia is calm, relaxed, and collected. She is firm and very courteous to the core. Anastasia was also a former Astras' Secret Intelligence Unit member, and Kiera heavily relied on her extensive knowledge and ingenuity. She can perceive other people's talents, so as she passed by Irvin, she sensed he was no ordinary person and asked for his help.
Rebirth Exceed - Trick Mist
The mist casts over as a smokescreen, and your party members within range can not be targeted by enemies until the next turn. The effectiveness within the range of the area becomes wider after skill leveling up.
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【Ricky】
Ricky is Princess Kiera's male bodyguard. He is a low-class priest. Ricky is a little man who bears an innocent smile and is the praising mood maker of the unit. He is no match compared to his senior, Anastasia. Ricky began serving the court after training in the church. Like Princess Kiera, he is ignorant of the ways of the world.
Rebirth Exceed - Sunlight Heal
Each party member's HP is fully restored, and any abnormal conditions or status drops are eliminated within the battle map. The amount of HP recovered increases after skill leveling up.
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【Silas】
Irvin's childhood friend. A clearheaded magician who looks younger than his actual age. He is calm and gentle, respectful to everyone, and even honorifics toward younger people. Silas and Irvin used to travel to various regions together. However, after their mercenary unit was disbanded, Silas settled in the Kingdom of Astras. He was paid for extensive knowledge and is now a Kingdom's Research Institution member.
Rebirth Exceed - Calamity Rune
All of the resistant attributes of enemies that are within range are reduced. The amount of endurance of the attributes reduced increases with skill leveling up.
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The Mercenaries series bundles are now on sale!
The long wait is over! All 6 titles of the Mercenaries series are now available in 3 different bundles to choose from. Whichever you pick, you’ll be getting a great deal!
ーーーーーーー View the special site here; https://store.steampowered.com/publisher/FLYHIGHWORKS/list/108817
The store page for “Mercenaries Lament” is now open!
The long wait is over! The official store page for “Mercenaries Lament: Requiem of the Silver Wolf”, the newest game of the Mercenaries series, is now open for viewing. We hope you’ll consider adding it to your Wishlist!
A prayer for the fallen to rise from the depths of despair—
The characters are beautifully drawn with rich facial expressions by the illustrator Sakura Mochi!
[Story] Several years have passed since a mysterious disease with no cure quickly spread across the continent. Those infected would suffer a horrible fate of turning into zombies after their death, mindlessly attacking the living. It has become the norm for hired mercenaries to spend countless days clearing the lands of the undead. Such a mercenary is Johann, captain of the Silver Wolf Mercenary Company. He is paid a visit by the Grim Reaper, and narrowly escapes its blade of death, but the Reaper leaves him with an eerie prophecy: "In the next 100 days, your luck shall run out. That shall be the day of your fate.” After awaking from a delirious slumber, he is met by a young woman with miraculous powers that can heal people from the disease. Was his encounter with the Grim Reaper but a nightmare....? Regardless, Johann offers to protect the miracle worker on her travels to save as many people as she can. They set out on a journey to travel the kingdom, curing the infected. Soon, however, Johann must confront his mortality…
ーーーーーーー View the special site here: https://store.steampowered.com/publisher/FLYHIGHWORKS/list/108817
“Mercenaries Wings” and 3 other titles of the Mercenaries Saga are now on sale!
The long wait is over! 4 of the titles from the Mercenaries Saga will be released on the 12th of October. Enjoy the grind in the medieval fantasy of the Mercenaries universe.
Mercenaries Wings Store page is now open! Add to wishlist!
We are pleased to announce to users who have enjoyed Mercenaries Rebirth. We are currently developing "Mercenaries Wings" from the Mercenaries series. This game will be released in the winter of 2023.
This is of course a full-fledged tactical simulation RPG developed by RideOn Japan. We are sure that those who enjoyed Mercenaries Blaze will enjoy this game as well.
If you have played Mercenaries Rebirth, please add it to your wishlist so that you will be notified when it is released or when there are updates!
Store pages for four titles in the Mercenaries Saga series is Opened!
Store pages for four titles in the Mercenaries Saga series, including "Mercenaries Wings," are now available!
Today, the store pages for the four titles in the Mercenaries series are now available. If you have played Mercenaries Blaze / Mercenaries Rebirth We are sure that you will enjoy them, Please add them to your wish list!
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