Senran Kagura Burst

Last updated
Senran Kagura Burst
Senran Kagura Burst European Boxart.png
European Burst cover art
Developer(s) Tamsoft
Publisher(s)
Director(s) Kenichiro Takaki
Producer(s) Kenichiro Takaki
Writer(s) Yukinori Kitajima
Composer(s) Akihi Motoyama, Kimiyo Ishida, Mutsumi Ishimura, Tomoyuki Hamada
Series Senran Kagura
Platform(s)
ReleaseSkirting Shadows
Nintendo 3DS
  • JP: September 22, 2011
Burst
Nintendo 3DS
  • JP: August 30, 2012
  • NA: November 14, 2013
  • PAL: February 27, 2014
Burst Re:Newal
PlayStation 4
  • JP: February 22, 2018
  • PAL: January 18, 2019
  • NA: January 22, 2019
Microsoft Windows
  • WW: January 22, 2019
Genre(s) Hack and slash
Mode(s) Single-player

Senran Kagura Burst [a] is a side-scrolling hack and slash video game revolving around shinobi, developed by Tamsoft and the first entry in the Senran Kagura series. It was originally published for the Nintendo 3DS in Japan as Senran Kagura: Skirting Shadows [b] in 2011; an expanded "director's cut" version was released in 2012, and received Western releases in 2013–2014. A remake, subtitled Re:Newal, was released for the PlayStation 4 in 2018 and Microsoft Windows in 2019. Senran Kagura Burst was followed up by Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus (2013) while a later follow up for the 3DS was released as Senran Kagura 2: Deep Crimson (2014).

Contents

Gameplay

The beat-'em-up sections of the game feature side-scrolling action gameplay. Here, Yagyu faces off against a group of enemy lesser shinobi. Senran Kagura Burst action gameplay.png
The beat-'em-up sections of the game feature side-scrolling action gameplay. Here, Yagyū faces off against a group of enemy lesser shinobi.

Senran Kagura is a side-scrolling "hack and slash" action game. [1] The player assumes control of one of five female ninjas. The more the game characters are damaged by enemies, the more their clothes are torn off. The information for each character's back story, major plot points, and general information on the universe of Senran Kagura is displayed in what is called the "novel", and is structured similarly to a visual novel. The novel is introduced at major plot points in the game story.

The main gameplay consists of battling through the world of the story. As the game progresses, the player's character levels up and gains new moves and abilities, and in-game content such as art work, achievements, music, costumes (of which there are 180), [2] and new characters are unlocked. The game is split into 5 chapters, with each chapter containing a number of main missions as well as optional missions. Once a story mission is complete, the mission can be played again with any of the unlocked characters. At the end of a mission the player is graded according to the player character's health, attack, and speed in completing the mission. Burst has two different routes to play through, instead of the one of the original. Before the start of a mission, the player can choose to activate "Frantic Mode": by removing the clothing except underwear, the player gets a massive enhancement in attack and speed but a considerable loss of defense.

Plot

Kept secret from the rest of the world, high school girls are secretly trained in the art of ninjitsu. Senran Kagura: Skirting Shadows revolves around the trainee shinobi of Hanzō Academy; Asuka, Ikaruga, Katsuragi, Yagyuu and Hibari, as they complete missions and battle against rival ninjas. Crimson Girls on the other hand follows the students of the dark academy, Hebijo Clandestine Girls' Academy; Homura, Yomi, Hikage, Mirai and Haruka.

Senran Kagura Burst includes an additional story, The Crimson Girls. [3]

Development

Producer Kenichiro Takaki's original inspiration for Senran Kagura was from a desire to create something that was very easy to understand but also very deep and detailed for those who appreciate beautiful female characters. [4] He had the idea for the game in April 2010 when he decided to develop a game for the then newly announced Nintendo 3DS. When thinking about what type of game to make for a 3D handheld, he decided that one of the things people most wanted to see in 3D were breasts. [5] He began making Senran Kagura's design document, and created a budget, characters, a plot and decided upon gameplay elements, after which he met with character designer Nan Yaegashi and scenario writer Yukinori Kitajima. The games feature character designs by Nan Yaegashi and scenario work from Yukinori Kitajima.[ citation needed ]

The game was originally released in Japan for the Nintendo 3DS on September 22, 2011, as Skirting Shadows. [6] Senran Kagura Burst, an expanded director's cut version [7] containing both the Skirting Shadows story and a new story titled The Crimson Girls, [8] was published on August 30, 2012, in Japan, [9] and digitally through the Nintendo eShop on November 22, 2013, in North America by Xseed. [8] In Europe, Burst was released digitally on February 27, 2014, by Marvelous AQL, and physically a day later. Zen United also released a European limited edition of the game on the same day, titled "Life & Hometown Edition", which includes a t-shirt and a lenticular poster. [10]

Ken Berry of North American publisher Marvelous USA stated in early May 2013 that they had considered releasing Senran Kagura Burst digitally outside Japan, but that it was a "scary proposition due to the subject matter and difference in attitudes between Japanese culture and the more conservative culture ... in the U.S." [11] [12] On August 6, 2013, Xseed Games officially announced it would release the game digitally via the Nintendo eShop in Fall 2013. [13]

Reception

Senran Kagura was met by a wide range of reviews, from negative to positive. [14]

Multiplayer.it appreciated the story and combat, as well as the many quests and secrets that were available to unlock, but took issue with the variable framerate and the repetitive gameplay. [17] Metro criticised the game as sexist, but admitted the characters were a "likeable bunch". It also described the gameplay as "unbearably bad", but did appreciate the variety that the different player characters provided. [3] GameZone's Mike Splechta gave the game a 7.5/10, stating that if one liked "[their] anime chicks badass with a healthy dose of jiggle physics, Senran Kagura Burst satisfies on those levels" but warned that there were "painful framerate dips". [18] Gamestyle characterised both the visuals and dialogue as "creepy", but stated that the game was a "solid, if basic, side scrolling beat em up". [19] Pocket Gamer described the game as "an unabashed, tongue-in-cheek romp that will have you smiling and button-mashing from start to finish". [20] Hardcore Gamer appreciated the game's combat, customization options, and "wealth of unlockables and content", but warned those who would not appreciate the sexualisation of the game characters to stay away. [21]

The PC version of the remake was among the best-selling new releases of the month on Steam. [22] [c]

Notes

  1. ↑ Known in Japan as Senran Kagura Burst: Guren no Shōjo-tachi (閃乱カグラ Burst -紅蓮の少女達-, "Crimson Girls")
  2. ↑ Known in Japan as Senran Kagura: Shōjo-tachi no Shin'ei (閃乱カグラ -少女達の真影-, "Portrait of Girls")
  3. ↑ Based on total revenue for the first two weeks on sale. [23]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xseed Games</span> American video game localization company

Marvelous USA Inc.,, is an American video game company founded by former members of Square Enix USA. Founded in 2004, the company became a subsidiary of Japanese game company Marvelous in 2011, providing the localization and publishing services for video games and related materials. In 2024, the company only retained the Xseed Games brand for third-party published titles.

Ayane is a fictional character in the Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden franchises by Team Ninja and Tecmo. She debuted as a hidden unlockable character in the PlayStation version of the fighting game Dead or Alive in 1998, and has appeared in all of its sequels where she served as the protagonist of Dead or Alive 3, and has appeared in all of the series' spin-offs.

<i>Retro Game Challenge</i> 2007 video game

Retro Game Challenge is a Nintendo DS game developed by indieszero and published by Namco Bandai Games and Xseed Games in North America. It is based on the television series GameCenter CX, and Shinya Arino gave much input into the game creation process. The game was released on November 15, 2007 in Japan and February 10, 2009 in North America.

<i>Rune Factory 4</i> 2012 video game

Rune Factory 4 is a role-playing video game developed by Neverland and published by Marvelous AQL for the Nintendo 3DS. It is the sixth game in the Rune Factory series, and the first to be released on the 3DS. It was released in Japan in July 2012, in North America in October 2013, and in PAL regions in December 2014. An enhanced version, Rune Factory 4 Special, was released for the Nintendo Switch in Japan in July 2019 and worldwide in February 2020. It was also released for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marvelous (company)</span> Japanese anime producer and video game company

Marvelous Inc. is a Japanese video game developer and publisher, and anime producer. The company was founded in 1997 but formed in its current state in October 2011 by the merger of the original Marvelous Entertainment with AQ Interactive, and Liveware.

<i>Unchained Blades</i> 2011 video game

Unchained Blades, titled UnchainBlades ReXX in Japan, is a 2011 dungeon crawler role-playing video game developed by FuRyu and published by Xseed Games for the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Portable.

Senran Kagura is a multimedia franchise created by Kenichiro Takaki and developed primarily by Tamsoft and Marvelous. The series debuted in Japan in 2011 with the release of Senran Kagura: Shōjo-tachi no Shinei for the Nintendo 3DS and debuted abroad in 2013 with Senran Kagura Burst. The franchise has since expanded into numerous video games, manga adaptations, anime series, and merchandise.

Hiromi Hirata is a Japanese voice actress represented by I'm Enterprise. She is best known for her role as Makoto Kikuchi in The Idolmaster game series. She was featured as a guest of honor at Anime Expo 2004. In video games, she voices Mao in Disgaea 3, Kamui Tokinomiya in Arcana Heart, and Miyabi in the Senran Kagura series.

<i>Exstetra</i> 2013 video game

Exstetra is a Japanese role-playing video game developed by Studio Saizensen and published by FuRyu, developer of Unchained Blades and Last Bullet. It was released in Japan on November 7, 2013, for the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita. Due to the expiration of ClariS's music license, the game can no longer be purchased digitally on Nintendo 3DS since May 30, 2018.

<i>Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl</i> 2013 video game

Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl is a 2013 role-playing video game for the Nintendo 3DS by Atlus. It is part of the Etrian Odyssey series, and is both a "reimagining" and a remake of the first entry. It was released by Atlus in 2013 for Japan on June 27 and in North America on October 1 and released by NIS America in Europe on May 2, 2014. It was available via both Nintendo eShop and retail at release.

<i>Lord of Magna: Maiden Heaven</i> 2014 video game

Lord of Magna: Maiden Heaven is a simulation role-playing video game developed by Marvelous for the Nintendo 3DS. It was released in Japan in October 2014 before an international release in June 2015.

<i>Dead or Alive 5 Last Round</i> 2015 video game

Dead or Alive 5 Last Round is a 2015 fighting game developed by Team Ninja and published by Koei Tecmo globally for home consoles and computers, and on arcades in Japan only. It is the third and final updated version of 2012's Dead or Alive 5, following Dead or Alive 5 Plus and Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate; notable changes from Ultimate include two additional characters and a graphical upgrade for the new generation of consoles.

<i>Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus</i> 2013 video game

Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus is a 2013 action video game developed by Tamsoft, and the second main title in the Senran Kagura series as the sequel to Senran Kagura Burst. The game revolves around four female ninja groups from dueling shinobi schools. The game was released in Japan for the PlayStation Vita on February 28, 2013, in North America on October 14, 2014, and in Europe on October 15, 2014. A version for Microsoft Windows released on June 1, 2016.

<i>Trails</i> (series) Video game franchise

Trails, known as Kiseki in Japan, is a series of science fantasy role-playing video games by Nihon Falcom that is a part of their larger The Legend of Heroes franchise. Trails features a large cast of characters and consists of interconnected story arcs set across different nations on the continent of Zemuria: Liberl, Crossbell, Erebonia, and Calvard. The first game in the series was released in 2004, with 13 main entries having been released to date.

<i>Famicom Detective Club</i> Adventure game duology

Famicom Detective Club is an adventure game duology developed and published by Nintendo for the Family Computer Disk System. The first entry, The Missing Heir, was released in 1988, followed by a prequel released the next year titled The Girl Who Stands Behind. In both games, the player takes on the role of a young man solving murder mysteries in the Japanese countryside.

<i>Senran Kagura: Estival Versus</i> 2015 video game

Senran Kagura: Estival Versus is a hack and slash video game developed by Tamsoft and published by Xseed Games, released for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita in March 2016, and on PC on March 17, 2017. It is part of the Senran Kagura series and a sequel to Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus. The game follows girls of rival kunoichi schools as they are teleported to a mysterious tropical island-like world and are challenged to fight for the secrets of shinobi lore. The game was praised for its gameplay and story, but its heavy fan service was controversial, with some reviewers calling the ecchi themes too intense for a casual player.

<i>Senran Kagura: Peach Beach Splash</i> 2017 video game

Senran Kagura: Peach Beach Splash is a 2017 third-person shooting video game in the Senran Kagura series, published by Marvelous and developed by Tamsoft. It was released for PlayStation 4, followed by a Microsoft Windows version in 2018. The game focuses on the Peach Beach Splash water gun tournament, to which female ninjas from various factions are invited, and where the winning team has any reward it wants. Players take the roles of the ninjas, and fight in various kinds of game modes, some of which are online multiplayer battles, and some of which are single-player.

<i>The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II</i> 2014 video game

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II is a 2014 role-playing video game developed by Nihon Falcom. The game is a part of the Trails series, itself a part of the larger The Legend of Heroes series, and serves as a sequel to The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel.

<i>Senran Kagura: Bon Appétit!</i> 2014 video game

Senran Kagura: Bon Appétit! is a 2014 cooking-themed rhythm video game and a spinoff in the Senran Kagura series. The game was released on the PlayStation Store for PlayStation Vita, while an enhanced version subtitled Full Course was released in 2016, which was also ported to Microsoft Windows.

Kenichiro Takaki is a Japanese video game producer known for his work on the Senran Kagura franchise.

References

  1. ↑ campbell, evan (2014-09-19). "Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus Release Date Revealed". IGN . Archived from the original on 2014-10-26. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  2. ↑ Holmes, Jonathan (2011-07-05). "Senran Kagura media blowout talks everything but gameplay". Destructoid . Archived from the original on 2014-10-27. Retrieved 2014-10-27.
  3. 1 2 Hargreaves, Roger (2014-03-07). "Senran Kagura Burst review – booby prize". Metro. Archived from the original on 2014-10-26. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  4. ↑ "The Designer Behind 'Senran Kagura' Explains Why His Games Are Full of Barely Clothed Women". 18 November 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-12-01. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
  5. ↑ Ashcraft, Brian (14 April 2011). "What This Man Really Wanted Was To See Breasts In 3D". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  6. ↑ "閃乱カグラ -少女達の真影 (Senran Kagura -The True Shadows of the Girls)" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2018-08-30. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  7. ↑ "Senran Kagura Burst Re:Newal coming west for PS4 and PC this fall". 11 April 2018. Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  8. 1 2 "Senran Kagura Burst Will Be Out In North America Next Week - Siliconera". www.siliconera.com. Archived from the original on 2013-11-11.
  9. ↑ "閃乱カグラ Burst -紅蓮の少女達 (Senran Kagura Burst - Crimson Girls)". Archived from the original on 2015-11-07. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
  10. ↑ "Senran Kagura Burst Gets "Life And Hometown" Edition In Europe - Siliconera". www.siliconera.com. Archived from the original on 2014-03-01.
  11. ↑ "Marvelous USA Considers Senran Kagura Burst's Digital Release". Anime News Network. 2013-06-27. Archived from the original on 2013-10-03. Retrieved 2013-07-01.
  12. ↑ MacGregor, Kyle (2013-05-07). "XSEED: Localizing Senran Kagura a 'scary proposition'". Destructoid . Archived from the original on 2014-10-26. Retrieved 2014-10-27.
  13. ↑ "Xseed Games Secures Publishing Rights to Senran Kagura Burst for Nintendo 3DS". Anime News Network. 2013-09-11. Archived from the original on 2013-09-12. Retrieved 2013-09-15.
  14. 1 2 "Senran Kagura Burst for 3DS Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2018-11-11. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
  15. ↑ "Senran Kagura Burst Re:Newal". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  16. ↑ "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1524". Gematsu. 13 February 2018. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  17. ↑ La Via Colli, Christian. "A letto i bambini". Multiplayer.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2014-10-26. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  18. ↑ Splechta, Mike (18 November 2013). "Senran Kagura Burst Review: Schoolgirl romp". GameZone. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  19. ↑ Gulliver, Adam (2014-02-26). "Senran Kagura Burst Review". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  20. ↑ Diener, Matthew (20 November 2013). "Thanks for the mammaries". Pocketgamer.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2014-06-02. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  21. ↑ Bradley (2013-11-14). "Review: Senran Kagura Burst". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on 2014-10-26. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
  22. ↑ "Best of 2019: New Releases". Steam . Valve. 26 December 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-12-28. Retrieved 2019-12-28.
  23. ↑ "A Look Back - The Best of 2019". Steam . Valve. 2019-12-26. Archived from the original on 2019-12-28. Retrieved 2019-12-28.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.