Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin, the latest title Astebreed developer Edelweiss, is headed Westward for PS4 and PC in 2018 and we got ourselves a look at its E3 2017 trailer and additional details on the action game from Xseed Games.
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is a brand new title from Edelweiss, the talented indie team behind the highly acclaimed title Astebreed. Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin represents a whole new direction for this acclaimed developer, combining side-scrolling action with deep crafting and farming simulation. Players take on the role of Sakuna, a proud yet lonely harvest goddess who is banished to a dangerous island with a group of outcast humans. As she tames the island by defeating demons in gorgeous, mysterious natural settings, she will also find a home in a mountain village, proving herself worthy of her title by harvesting rice and bettering the lives of humans. In addition to serving as a love letter to Japanese mythology, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is an ode to the artistry of cultivating rice, and an engrossing simulation of the craft behind the agriculture.
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin’s Story
It’s the Warring States period. The unending strife and bloodshed that engulfs Japan fills the mortal realm with hatred and despair. These powerful emotions are felt even in the heavens, and demons that feed on this malice appear in droves in places situated on the border between heaven and earth.
A group of humans, each of whom has lost something precious, wanders into the celestial realm. There they meet Sakuna, a proud and high-ranking harvest goddess. Together, the humans and Sakuna cause a ruckus that earns them the ire of the celestial ruler. The ruler exiles them to Hinoe Island, a sacred place that has become overrun with demons, and commands them to reclaim it.
Sakuna and her companions must fight against both the elements and monsters in a harsh yet beautiful environment. Having grown up in the luxury of the celestial realm, Sakuna must rediscover her birthright as a harvest goddess and bring agriculture back to this wild place. And by helping her, the humans banished with her may yet find the reason to live that had been stolen from them. Together, Sakuna and her human companions must join hands and tame both the soil and the demons of Hinoe Island.
Key Features
- Refined Side-scrolling Platform Action
Sakuna uses farm implements as weapons, chaining together strong, weak, and special attacks to take down animal demons, and combines this with her “celestial scarf”: a magical item that allows her to grapple distant platforms and enemies.
- Detailed 3D Simulation-style Gameplay
The village serves as a base of operations for crafting weapons, cooking food, and farming rice by following detailed steps from planting to harvesting across the seasons, improving the eventual harvest and honing Sakuna’s battle skills.
- Stunning Environments and Enemies Inspired by Japanese Legend
A painstakingly researched story incorporating Japanese history and legend sees its heroine face off against numerous types of demons, great and small, as she traverses detailed landscapes rich with the iconography of classic Japanese myths and legends.
- A Moving Story about Finding One’s Place
Through her life in the village, Sakuna will learn more and more about her human companions and, hopefully, help find ways to heal their souls.
Screenshots
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin launches on PlayStation 4 and PC in 2018.
Published: Jun 13, 2017 12:00 pm