Shueisha to Release New Roguelite ANTHEM#9
The strategic gem-matching roguelite ANTHEM#9 is officially set to launch on PC via Steam on February 5.
Developed by koeda and published by Shueisha Games, the title will be available for 2,200 yen.
The game is preparing for a global audience by supporting English, Japanese, Korean, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese language options at launch.
ANTHEM#9 delivers a kinetic and cerebral experience by blending match-three puzzle mechanics with strategic deck-building and the persistent challenge of a roguelite.
Players take on the role of an agent for the international secret organization known as ANTHEM#9, which is dedicated to maintaining global balance and harmony by purging those who threaten world stability.
The core gameplay loop centers on combo battles where matching three colors of gems activates skills and unleashes destructive attack sequences.
Success depends on strategic deck construction within a limited time window to maximize damage output and trigger high-speed combos.
As agents delve into randomly generated dungeons, they will collect Attack Skills and “Blessings” to refine their arsenal.
An advanced layer of strategy involves customizing the colored gems required to trigger specific skills, allowing players to fine-tune their approach as they confront increasingly formidable foes.
Three agents are currently detailed for deployment:
Rubit, the protagonist, employs a cunning combat style utilizing a dagger and poison skills.
Her adaptability allows her to spend AP to change the color of her gems on the fly, keeping combos flowing even when the board is unfavorable.
Phannie is a hedonistic gambler whose flashy fighting style uses a gun.
He can spend AP to split double gems, perfectly synergizing with skills that trigger multiple times to unleash massive, high-risk, high-reward combos.
Beni, a self-proclaimed hero and martial artist, fights for the pride of her people.
She can use AP to consume gems in exchange for Shield, healing, or Attack buffs. Her fighting style emphasizes packing significant power into a single hit or establishing an ironclad defense to pursue justice.
The game is the debut title from creator koeda, who began development in 2021.
Despite starting without prior industry experience or a programming background later in life, the developer pursued game creation with passion and tenacity.
ANTHEM#9 has already received recognition for its quality, having been awarded the grand prize in the Shueisha Game Creators Camp Game BBQ Vol. 2 No Demo Division.
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