The upcoming
Left Alive is Square Enix's brand new shooter with elements of survival that's being created by the legends and stars of Japanese video game development. The famed group includes producer Toshifumi Nabeshima (the
Armored Core series), art designer Yoji Shinkawa (the
Metal Gear Solid franchise), and illustrator Takayuki Yanase (
Ghost in the Shell: Arise, Xenoblade Chronicles X).
The game will have players exploring the long history of humanity's failures, as they take control of three protagonists during the invasion of Novo Slava in 2127. The title is set in the
Front Mission universe, and the DualShockers crew recently had a chance to interview Nabeshima and Producer Shinji Hashimoto and asked why they decided to not include the name
Front Mission in the title.
"
We thought it was a way to show the newness of the franchise, and it would help to have a different name to show that it’s a new direction. It’s still very much Front Mission," Hashimoto explained. "
We know that some know and love Front Mission. All the lore is still very much the Front Mission universe. The names, the Wanzers, the locations, the historical events in the series are all there. People who know Front Mission will get straight away that this is a Front Mission game. The name Front Mission is very closely tied to the idea of the traditional simulation strategy style of gameplay. To give that impression of a different genre of game, we changed the name."
The
Armored Core and
Front Mission series' fans shouldn’t be worried, as the developers paid a lot of attention to creating a balance between the sections in which you’re on foot and those in which you pilot a Wanzer, the series’ staple mechas. The action-packed sections is not the only thing
Left Alive will have to offer, as the game will also feature multiple endings and dialogue-based choices.
LEFT ALIVE tells a human story of survival from the perspective of three different protagonists during the devastating invasion set in war-torn Novo Slava in 2127. Experience the massive power gap between man and machine in pulse-pounding encounters: face off against powerfully armed troops, armored vehicles and towering mechs. Uncover the full story behind the war through the eyes of three different characters: as you progress through the game, experience multiple story paths each requiring bold decisions with desperate consequences.
Left Alive will be available for PlayStation 4 and Steam on the 5th of March.