Although D3 Publisher and Shade are skipping Microsoft’s platforms, SAMURAI MAIDEN, which we won’t write as such, looks promising.

Here’s D3 Publisher’s description of the undead-slashing game set in 16th century Japan, featuring Tsumugi Tamaori: “Samurai Maiden follows the story of a high school student who falls asleep after a tedious day of history lessons, waking alongside historical figure Nobunaga Oda, known as the first great unifier in Japan. The two find themselves at the burning Honnoji Temple, where the underworld has opened. Having trained in the art of sword fighting as a hobby, Tsumugi is suddenly put to the test in actual battle as she is gifted the evil warding blade by the desperate Nobunaga Oda, who steps into the underworld to put an end to the calamity. Even Tsumugi, an admittedly poor history student, recognizes Oda as the hero of the Sengoku period and understands she must rise to this odd occasion.

In Samurai Maiden, players can look forward to slaughtering mobs of undead enemies with Tsumugi’s powerful swordsmanship. With stylish combination attacks and strong counters, Tsumugi is well equipped to slay groups of zombies and tough bosses—but as a student from modern times, she is not capable of fighting her way out of the underworld! However, Tsumugi is not the only fighter: she encounters three friendly ninjas at the Honnoji Temple, known as The Gokage, who decide to brave the underworld with her. The Gokage comprises Iyo, a hardworking ninja with various tools, Hagane, an older ninja with a mechanical body, and Komimi, a genius with a unique jutsu. Through their travel, the team will quarrel, laugh, and fight alongside each other, forging new bonds in the process.

Players can use the “Gokage System” in their journey, which allows a rapid combination of Tsumugi’s sword style and The Gokage’s powerful ninjutsu. From the samurai’s slashing and piercing attacks—to the ninjas’ wire arm, freezing yin yang jutsu, and various kunai attacks, players will be able to utilize these two types of offence to fight through the hoard of undead enemies. Additionally, the group has unlockable special abilities: when Tsumugi and The Gokage’s spirits are heightened, they can unlock these abilities by locking lips. However, they will need to build trust in each other before these special unified abilities can be unleashed in battle. Cut through the evils in the Sengoku period while establishing relationships with the Sengoku maidens as the temple burns. The samurai slices while the ninjas dice to destroy the underworld of Honnoji Temple—will they be able to rewrite history?”

The Asian version’s publisher, Clouded Leopard Entertainment, revealed further details: “The best of flowers are the cherry blossoms, and the best of samurai is JK! Defeat monsters in the Warring States Period using stylish swordplay action! Choking black smoke from a temple consumed by flame. Furious cries of soldiers echo in the hallowed grounds. And the bearded man before you is none other than… Oda Nobunaga?! Samurai JK, a master swordsman, is summoned to Honnoji Temple during the Warring States Period! She and her ninja maidens must enter the temple’s underworld, which is overrun by denizens of hell! The Shadow Guard System combines Samurai JK’s sword skills with the ninja maidens’ ninjutsu to wipe out their enemies. Exhilarating battles unfold when training your team in the art of kissing, the Kuchizuke no Jutsu, and much more! Slay the demons of the Warring States Period and forge a bond with beautiful maidens in an all-new girls’ sword-fighting action game!

Nobunaga Oda, the Honnoji Incident in 1582… 1582…? Alone in her classroom after school, Tsumugi Tamaori is studying during detention. History is not her forte. She particularly dislikes having to remember dates. “I’m glad I wasn’t born in the Warring States period,” she mutters. Every page in her textbook related to that time in history is littered with stories of battles. This is Tsumugi’s last clear memory before she passes out…

When she awakes, she is no longer in a classroom, but a temple engulfed in flames: Honnoji. “If you don’t want to die, you must fight,” said a bearded man named Nobunaga Oda. Tsumugi can’t tell if it’s the real Nobunaga Oda, though, since the only pictures in the history books are woodblock prints. A crowd of skeletons swarms into the temple. Tsumugi is handed a long Japanese sword. It wasn’t a fake one like the ones from fencing practice. This was a real sword. “Looks like I’ve got no choice! I will fight with all my might if I have to fight!” June 2, 1582, the Honnoji Incident. In the final days of Oda Nobunaga, the hero of the Warring States period, a girl named JK finds herself tossed into the fray. This might spice up the history books a little…”

Samurai Maiden will be released worldwide sometime this winter for PlayStation 5, PC (Steam), PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch.

Source: Gematsu