Akatsuki Games will release the life-or-death action RPG TRIBE NINE on February 20 for the PC (Steam), iOS and Android. Pre-registrations for the mobile version are currently open on the App Store and Google Play. Ahead of the release, AUTOMATON interviewed Tribe Nine’s director Yasutaka Soejima, who talked about the satisfying “trial and error” cycle implemented in the game.
With an original concept created by Too Kyoo Games (home to the creators of Danganronpa), Tribe Nine’s aims to set itself apart from the fierce competition in the gacha game market with an emphasis on storytelling and a cast of unique characters. But it also has action, and Soejima analyzed what makes Japanese action games enjoyable to come up with a “winning strategy” for this aspect of Tribe Nine.
“When we thought about what else Tribe Nine should have to make it stand out (apart from its storytelling and characters), we realized that designing the game ‘so that it feels good when you lose’ could be our winning strategy,” Soejima comments.
According to the director, “one of the unique strengths of Japanese games is that they allow players to enjoy the process of trial and error in a positive way.” Soejima explains that this comes down to making it so that players can feel enjoyment even in failure, as well as a palpable sense that their losses are leading them to growth.
Tribe Nine incorporates this principle, with a careful balance of difficulty and progression that aims to keep players motivated to try again no matter how many times they lose, ultimately providing them with a sense of growth and accomplishment.
TRIBE NINE releases on February 20 for the PC (Steam), iOS and Android. Pre-registrations for the mobile version are currently open on the App Store and Google Play.
