A recently formed video game company, Rabbit and Bear Studio, has announced a brand new IP, a JRPG that hearkens back to the old-school style of RPG gaming and when it was absolutely dominant in the 1990s. The title is called Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, and it’s being produced by a few key members of one of the all-time greatest JRPG series in history, Suikoden. One man in particular behind this project is one of the creators of Suikoden, Yoshitaka Murayama, who will be serving as the game’s Director. Joining him are longtime veterans Junko Kawano, Osamu Komuta, and Junichi Murakami, all of whom have worked with Murayama at one point or another at Konami.
The studio also released a reveal trailer for the brand new title, albeit a very brief one. Still, it gives us a good look at the direction the game is going in, and from what we’ve seen thus far, it’s a beautiful mix of 3D and 2D art styles combined with a unique JRPG combat mechanic. The premise of the game is about a boy who is going through the turmoils of war who makes a friend on the other side of the battlefield. From here, bonds are created, and some are broken as the ongoing conflict changes the landscape for everyone involved.
Since this is essentially a new Suikoden, the game will also feature a massive cast of characters, 100 to be exact. In addition, there will also be a fortress building simulator you can utilize and even a guild system to house within it. Rabbit and Bear are trying to crowdfund the game through Kickstarter, which will go live from July 27-August 28. The funding goal will be set at $500,000 for a PC release, with stretch goals for a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch version of the game. If completed, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes will have a tentative release time frame in 2022.
For those who don’t know, Suikoden began life on the PlayStation in 1995 with the first title in the franchise. While the game was successful in its own right, it was the sequel, Suikoden II, that put Konami’s series on the map. Hailed as one of the best RPG’s of the 1990s, Suikoden II was critically acclaimed for its unbelievably huge story, cast of heroes, and excellent gameplay. The franchise saw a few more entries on both the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 before it was put on hold and the development team was moved around for other projects.