My name is Ryota Matsushita, and I’m the director of Koei Tecmo’s upcoming action-RPG, Fate/Samurai Remnant.
The Fate series tells the story of the Holy Grail War, in which seven Masters summon Servants — historic Heroic Spirits from the East and West — to battle over the Holy Grail, a magical object that can grant any wish.
The original story became a huge hit in Japan as an adventure game, and has since been adapted into an animated TV series and movie series, with the stories of the characters whose fate is affected by the Holy Grail War depicted in each work gaining a strong following.
The latest title in the series, Fate/Samurai Remnant, is set in 17th century Japan, and involves players fighting in a new Holy Grail War –the Waxing Moon Ritual – as a Master, the samurai Miyamoto Iori.
A Holy Grail War full of secrets and unpredictability
Fate is a series that requires some creativity when introducing its appeal to friends, especially if you want to avoid spoilers, as the secrets that color the story are themselves a part of its charm.
First of all, each Servant is not known by their actual name. This is because each Servant is a renowned historical figure, and if their true identity were to be known by the enemy, their anecdotes would reveal their battle style and weaknesses.
Their battles are also not fought fair and square in a Colosseum, with the right to participate unfairly taken away from the participants after a succession of unfair developments unfold, involving conspiracy and deceit!
In Fate/Samurai Remnant, the protagonist, Miyamoto Iori, is caught up in such an unfair battle against his own will. Iori is attacked in the middle of the night at his home by Rider, a participant in the ritual, and is nearly killed in the first battle. He then summons a Saber class Servant.
Buddy actions between Master and Servant
The game progresses through battle and exploration sections from Iori’s point of view, with Saber following alongside.
Iori is a master of swordsmanship who is also capable of using fire magic.
However, even Iori’s sword and magic are no match for the Servants and the monsters that appear under the influence of the Waxing Moon Ritual (many of which take the form of traditional Japanese monsters).
In order to counter their unrealistic power, it is necessary to borrow the tremendous strength of his Servant.
With a single swing, Saber can blast away legions of monsters and push away enemy Servants with the force of their violent water currents.
Saber is a selfish, free-spirited fighting genius who will watch over you from a subtle distance while Iori is fighting enemies. But if you are in a pinch, Saber will quickly intervene and help you out.
In the midst of a fierce battle with the enemy, Saber shouts, “Iori, now! Come here!” This is a signal for the two of them to cooperate in unleashing their techniques. Taking Saber’s hand, you can use a variety of Link Strikes–such as launching an aerial blow that blasts Iori with a stream of water, or riding Saber’s sword together and charging at the enemy on a magic jet ski.
The combined attacks can also be triggered by Iori calling out for Saber’s help. These techniques, called Affinity Techniques, can be released at any time by consuming the Affinity Gauge through command operations, and can be incorporated into combos.
A samurai town where Masters and Servants reside
As the name suggests, the Affinity Gauge is a power that is charged by the affinity between Saber and Iori, and it can be accumulated not only through their battles together, but also in the exploration part of the game.
While Saber acts like a ruthless fighting machine in most instances, they are also very interested in the unfamiliar culture and lifestyle of 17th century Japan. Iori acts as a sightseeing guide, introducing all the new sights and food stalls.
But that’s not all, as there are cats and dogs throughout the towns. Not only are the pets adorable, but they are also healing spots for the two main characters.
The talking magic book
Need help learning technical terms or Fate history? Time to consult the Crimson Codex, a talking magic book will help you with characters, historical terminology, game guides, and even GPS navigation if you need it.
Fate/Samurai Remnant hits stores September 29 on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
Do you have what it takes to survive the Holy Grail War? You won’t believe where Iori and Saber’s wishes take them.
