A new game from the shadows of Barcelona is being developed. Aragami 2 is the successor to game studio Lince Works’ 3rd person ninja stealth game, which was released in 2016.
It seems Aragami 2 picks up where the first game left off, with a clan which had disappeared a hundred years prior “like shadows that dissipate at dawn.” In this stealth game, the player will take up the mantle of one of the last of the Aragami, one who is cursed with a supernatural affliction which slowly corrodes the mind and body, yet grants the ninja great control over the shadows. In this sequel, up to three players will be able to join forces to protect their clan, but the game can be played single-player as well.
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Much of the original Aragami gameplay was revolutionary to the stealth game genre, with the Aragami‘s shadow essence providing the ability to step instantly from one shadow to another, to phase through iron grates, and even go invisible entirely. Aragami‘s cape would start glowing with shadow essence when the player stood in darkness. The sequel is likely to follow the same formula, but the addition of co-op play suggests that Lince Works will be introducing moves which will require ninja to cooperate in order to pull them off.
This trailer’s vivid yet subdued style sets the stage for an artfully told family story set in feudal Japan. The Aragami clan has been scattered to the four winds and enslaved by invading armies. It will be up to the player to locate the prisoners, dispatch or circumvent the guards, and free the clan members from captivity. This time, the shadow assassin will be able to move through the whole campaign with the assistance of one or two family members at any given time.
In the first title, the Shadow Empress Yamiko summoned a shadow spirit, the Aragami, and set him against the Kaiho, an army which trained in the manipulation of light against the forces of darkness. The foes represented in the trailer swing enormous fiery blades in an attempt to quash the shadows, and the best defense against such a foe will be to dispatch them before they even know someone is there. This is a common tactic in stealth games like Hitman.
Players who desperately wanted Square Enix to develop a fifth Thief title and were subsequently disappointed may find Aragami 2 to be the stealth game they were hoping for.
Aragami 2 is set to release in 2021 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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