Following the teaser that was released earlier that innocuously showed nothing but an admittedly stunning key visual, Nippon Ichi Software has revealed that they are behind the development of Xicatrice, which is expected to be arriving on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch in Japan on June 29, 2023.
Described as a “superpowers x academy RPG”, Xicatrice is a new academy RPG that puts players in the role of a teacher at an academy whose students are mobilized as special units that take on dangerous missions in emergencies.
In a world where special powers known as Superpowers exist, the protagonist is appointed as a teacher in charge of students able to wield those powers. With the seven students, awakened to their superpowers and emotionally scarred, overcome the hardships that await you!
▍Xicatrice Official Trailer
▍ Xicatrice Announcement Trailer
▍ Xicatrice Story & Worldview
It has been about a century since mankind began awakening to the supernatural powers known as “superpowers.”
While some people used their powers to contribute to society, others abused them or ran wild without control. The incidents caused by superpower users never ceased. In response to these incidents, the state established the Anti-Abnormal Unusual Talent Team (AUT), a law enforcement agency composed of superpower users.
However, as the number of incidents increased, it became too much even for the AUT. It was then that the Reserve Anti-Unusual Talent Team (RAUT) was established under the pretext of watching over and training children who have awakened to superpowers. Despite being students, these teens are mobilized in the case of an incident involving superpowers.
The story begins in the year 2023, when a former AUT member, who lost their abilities after a certain incident, is assigned as the teacher in charge of RAUT 302.
▍ Xicatrice Gameplay
■ Raise your Students Through a Daily Curriculum
As the teacher of your class, players will be tasked with scheduling weekly lessons for your seven students. Using a system similar to games such as Tokimeki Memorial or Amagami, players will be tasked with managing the “basic stats” of their students such as stamina and judgment by allotting different curriculums.
Students only acquire skills when their own stats increase instead of through battles, so min-maxing your stats to hit up different skills is key. Basic stats also come to play in school life events such as regular exams.
Each student has subjects they excel and struggle with, changing up the stat growth of each parameter. School lessons aren’t the only way to raise your student stats. Go out with your students on the weekends for more stat gain!
In Xicatrice, time moves forward for every lesson or outing. Be sure to make the most out of each day to be ready for any battle.
■ Highly Flexible Skill Building
Once a skill is learned in a class, don’t forget to equip it for your character before heading to battle! Since there is a limit to the number of skills you can set, equipping the proper skills according to the enemy is the key to victory in Xicatrice.
Xicatrice features approximately 300 skills, including active and passive. Skills that, at face value seem innocuous may show their true value when combined with another skill.
Additional skill slots are unlocked as your student grows, allowing for more build options. Depending on the student’s basic stats, they may be able to perceive the enemy’s weaknesses and dangerous attacks before the battle. Picking the correct skills and party members allows players to take measures against tougher enemies.
■ Fight Alongside Your Students in Command-Based Battles
The seven students in Xicatrice will resolve cases involving superpowers such as the RAUT, fighting against “monsters” created by peoples’ negative emotions, as well as criminal superpower users.
Battles are command-based, in which students choose one action per turn from among a list of proposed actions. While you as the player cannot directly participate in battle, you will utilize your experience as a former member of the AUT to lead your students to victory with precise instructions.
During the battle, students will give their two cents for each turn based on the skills they have equipped. Fight your way through multiple encounters to reach the mission goal. Moving forward while managing each character’s HP and SP will be important to success.
■ The Consequences of Your Actions
If a superpowers user is unable to overcome their own emotional scars, they are consumed by their powers. If you fail to understand their personal struggles and are unable to lead on dangerous missions, then the results could be tragic…
Even if players reach a bad ending, or meet certain conditions, they can earn bonuses that help them progress through the game more favorably on a second playthrough.
▍ Meet the Students in Xicatrice
■ Toma Asahi – CV: Saho Shirasu
A first-year high school student who belongs to RAUT 302. She is an extremely serious honor student who is both athletic and studious and devoted to working with the protagonist. Her superpower awakened after she lost her family in an accident on her sixth birthday.
■ Haruki Suzuhira – CV: Fumiya Imai
A first-year high school student who belongs to RAUT 302. A cheerful and energetic mood maker who always has a smile on his face. While he tends to get easily carried away, he sometimes falls weak under pressure. He can get a little overexcited when he thinks about what he can do with the superpowers he has received.
■ Shizuru Nagamiya – CV: Ayasa Itou
A first-year high school student who belongs to RAUT 302. A beautiful girl characterized by her slender, long, black hair. Heart problems prevented her from athletics as a child. She thought she would be able to walk through life happily with the healthy body given to her after her superpowers awakened, but…
■ Wakaba Shinomori – CV: Hina Natsume
A first-year high school student who belongs to RAUT 302. She is a caring, athletic, and straightforward girl who speaks her mind. Until junior high school, she was expected to have a future in track and field, but after her superpowers awakened, she gave up on that future.
■ Yuichi Kamishiro – CV: Tetsuro Noda
A first-year high school student who belongs to RAUT 302. He is blunt and keeps others at a distance. He is looked up to by the other students for his high capacity for using his superpowers in actual combat. He has sworn revenge against a certain monster superpower user and has little interest in anything else.
■ Kei Namisaki – CV: Kanako Nomura
A first-year high school student who belongs to RAUT 302. Although usually calm, composed, and mature, she can also be somewhat meddlesome. Driven by righteous indignation, she has had the bitter experience of harming others as a result of using her superpower. By joining RAUT, she is given the opportunity to use her superpowers for the sake of justice again.
■ Ichika Otoha – CV: Emiri Suyama
A first-year high school student who belongs to RAUT 302. She speaks in a polite tone to all and has a gentle personality. Likely due to being bullied in the past, she keeps a bit of distance from the protagonist and other students.
▍ Online Store Exclusive Deluxe Packs and more
Nippon Ichi Software’s own proprietary online store Nippon1.jp has Xicatrice listed on their store page as of the reveal. The deluxe edition of Xicatrice includes an art booklet and a soundtrack CD containing all music tracks in the game. A separate deal lists the art book + OST CD without the game. Both are stated to be a limited run, so get your hands on the pre-order while stocks last!
■ Nippon1.jp Xicatrice Limited Edition: JPY$10,880 (without tax) /JPY$11,968 (tax included)
■ Xicatrice Soundtrack & Booklet: JPY$5,400 (without tax) /JPY$5,490 (tax included)
Other applicable online storefronts have their exclusive merch, so be sure to check out the game website’s product page.