September has been a pretty stacked month of video game announcements, but one that seemingly slipped under the radar for many was the news of a newElectronic Artsand Omega Force monster hunting game. The project was announced via a press release, alongside one piece of concept artwork. It’s hard to know what to expect from the title, but that press release and the history of the team involved could give gamers some potential insight.
Omega Force is a Koei Tecmo subsidiary, best known for theDynasty Warriorsseries and its spin-offs, such asHyrule Warriorsset in theLegend of Zeldauniverse.Electronic Artswill be involved through EA Originals, which usually handles smaller titles, such asIt Takes TwoandUnravel.That being said, EA has still promised it will be a AAA title. More details are set to be revealed later in September.
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Monster Hunting in Fantasy Feudal Japan
EA and Omega Force have described the upcoming hunter game as a new fantasy IPset in feudal Japan. It’s a setting that is seeing a bit of a heyday in gaming and could be a perfect fit for the genre. The game won’t be Omega Force’s first foray into the format. It also developed theToukidenseries, a monster hunter game set in medieval Japan, drawing from Shinto religious folklore. Today though, the monster hunter genre is a niche market despite its huge and loyal fanbase, mostly centered around Capcom’s aptly namedMonster Hunterfranchise. Given the competition and Omega Force’s history, gameplay could likely resembleToukidenandMonster Hunter.
Besides the description of the game in the press release, the only other information on the game’s setting is the image that accompanied it. The concept art depicts a seemingly abandoned temple, enveloped by a massive overgrown cherry blossom tree. They’re both pretty standard motifs of the feudal Japan setting, but with an appropriatelyfantasy worldfeeling which may give some clues about the tone of the game.
Toukiden’sscenery was drabber than what is shown for this new game, and its gameplay reflected that. Most monsters were grotesque giants inspired by the oni of Japanese folklore. The different presentation of this game could mean it focuses on some more of the magical parts of its source mythology as opposed to these frightening demons. For example, thekitsune, a motif that has appeared in popular media that has had traction even in the Western world would be a great fit for Omega Force and EA’s game, reflects the more fantastical vibe shown in the concept art. Ultimately, there’s a huge range of creatures to draw from when it comes to a story set in a fantasy feudal Japan, with diverse looks and tales that would all suit a monster hunter game well.
Some have expressed concerns about EA’s involvement, fearing it could mean the game includes predatory monetization elements like the controversial microtransactions of theFIFAfranchise or thelive-service model of failed titles likeAnthem. However, the distinction of the company’s involvement being through EA Originals is important. EA Originals has been responsible mostly for self-contained story games that have proven very popular with fans, with none of the notorious monetization models EA has gained an unfortunate reputation for. Additionally, Koei Tecmo Executive VP Yosuke Hayashi stated that the involvement of EA is to help with publishing and international reach, but that Koei will retain its creative independence. BringingElectronic Artson board for this purpose is an understandable move, considering howToukidenunderperformed in Western markets when it was released.
