The indie game development Endless Shirafu announced that its latest PC shoot ’em up, ∀stralbringer -Shaded Arkarium- will officially make it on Steam in late December 2023. The game supports Japanese audio and Japanese and English text and its alpha version will be available for early access starting today.
The story unfolds in a world devastated by the advancement of science and technology. The protagonist, who has lived a normal life in the Arkarium, is suddenly targeted by an entity known as Eternity. With the help of Maya and Serae, the protagonist delves into the mysteries of the Arkarium and Eternity.
▍∀stralbringer -Shaded Arkarium- Gameplay
∀stralbringer -Shaded Arkarium- is a 2D STG controlled with the mouse, allowing for a variety of actions such as long-range and close combat attacks, defense, and counters through single-button inputs.
The game eschews traditional shoot ’em-up elements such as cross-key or lever-based movement, speed restrictions, and item-based attack method choices. It also includes hack-and-slash elements, allowing players to customize and upgrade their character’s equipment.
Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the game plunges the player into a massive isolated platform called Arkarium, where the protagonist, who has led an ordinary life, suddenly becomes a target. Assisted by the mysterious girl Maya and the shadow buyer Serae, the player must unravel the world’s mysteries.
