I was first introduced to Akiba’s Trip while perusing Twitch a few years ago. I came across a random stream in which the player character was ripping clothes off of other NPCs while doling out the punches in fast-paced real-time combat. While I can’t recall whose channel it was, I remember my exact sentiments while watching the NPCs in their skivvies fade into oblivion. The thought that kept repeating in my head was, “What the hell is happening?” I continued to watch this interesting take on the JRPG genre, mainly because it looked like a lot of fun. Battling demons in the streets and alleyways of Tokyo in a game that graphically looked reminiscent of a PS2 game? I’m a sucker for that type of thing. Alas, I never pulled the trigger on picking up Akiba’s Trip: Undead ＆ Undressed.
However, I recently checked out the first few hours of Akiba’s Trip: Hellbound & Debriefed in anticipation of the game’s 10th Anniversary Edition remaster that is slated for release on July 20, 2021. The game plays almost exactly as I imagined, flaws and all. I’m absolutely enchanted with the 2011 version of the Akihabara district and its surrounding areas. And while I initially didn’t really care about the “strip combat” mechanic of Akiba’s Trip: Hellbound & Debriefed coming into the game, I have to admit that it’s actually pretty fun, specifically relating to the combo system.
Related: Here's Why Final Fantasy 9 Is Perfect For An Animated SeriesAkiba’s Trip: Hellbound & Debriefed – originally called Akiba’s Trip Plus in Japan – is the precursor to Akiba’s Trip: Undead & Undressed. The game comes remastered for PC, PS4, and Nintendo Switch, and features enhanced visuals, which is especially cool while exploring the streets of the Akihabara district circa 2011.
After trying to rescue your friend, you’re thrown into the role of an unlikely hero who takes on the seedy underworld of a vast vampiric conspiracy, armed with your own vampiric abilities and fighting… err, stripping techniques. More on that later. You join a band of Akiba Freedom Fighters whose goal is to get rid of the demon threat and make the streets in the otaku heaven safe again.
Walking through the streets of the Akihabara district is an absolute joy. Street layouts and shops are based on the real businesses that were operating there at that time, which is a fun way to experience real-life Japan without ever leaving the comfort of your gaming chair. While the characters themselves and their facial animations aren’t anything special – basically looking like a step up from the original Virtua Fighter game – the surrounding city looks great.
There’s a lot that goes into developing your character – far more than I’ve even experienced in my few hours of gameplay. You can customize your character’s outfits with various cosmetic items by purchasing them from stores or picking them up from slain enemies. I’ve personally never wanted to run around Japan dressed as a cat boy or astronaut, but I’m able to do so in this game. A plethora of other costumes can be unlocked throughout the game as you level up and earn money, as can special abilities and weapons that range in everything from swords to (my personal favorite) a loaf of bread.
The combat system is the biggest feature worth discussing, mainly since it’s also the game’s primary pull. I’ll be honest in saying that playing as a male protagonist and having to wail upon female enemies has always given me pause (quite the opposite when playing as a female protagonist and beating up male NPCs). This obviously extends to stripping off the clothes of female NPCs, maybe even more so. That’s basically the point of the Akiba’s Trip series, though – thus the word play for the game’s more than appropriate title. Granted, you’re technically stripping off the clothes of demons who take the form of humans – both male and female. But, if any aspect of that makes you uncomfortable, this game (and series) is not for you.
The combat system overall has its pros and cons. Hitboxes and the overall flow of fights can be a bit inconsistent and clunky. I often find myself fighting the camera as well, which is especially frustrating when taking on three or more enemies at once. Once you get into a groove, though, brawls can be pretty fun and engaging. Nailing combos is definitely the highlight of combat. Nailing back-to-back-to-back strips with quick-time event button pushes is incredibly satisfying. Stringing together a combo also makes fights end quicker, which I always appreciate, even more so when fighting a large group of demons.
I still have plenty more to experience in the game, but I’m really enjoying what I’ve played so far. If you’re already a fan of the series, you’ll no doubt enjoy what the 10th anniversary remastered version of Akiba’s Trip: Hellbound & Debriefed has to offer when it launches on July 20. Given the fact that it’s a prequel, it also feels like a good jumping in point for new players.
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