A race against time in Arcadia
Alma is an Automaton who wakes up in the ruined city of Arcadia after the war with the humans. Anima, the resource that gives Automatons sentience, is running out, and it is turning her friends into mindless killing machines called the UNSIGHTED. Alma's own life force withers away in real time, so every moment spent exploring or fighting counts. The city is large, with maps above and below the surface and plenty of shortcuts to uncover. When a path looks too tough, new uses for familiar weapons and tools often open the way forward.
Combat, chips, and choices
Combat rewards timing. You can build a loadout that fits how you want to play, from dual-wielding swords to mixing shuriken with a shotgun. Well-timed actions speed up reloads, and a perfectly placed parry can deal massive damage. Along the way you find chips that go into an upgrade tree, and chips can also be crafted. Each chip brings a different bonus, so builds range from fast and efficient to heavy and stylish. The ticking life force drives the story: wait too long and critical NPCs may already be Unsighted before you reach them. You can save other Automatons or drain them of anima to keep going, and the constant passage of time can lead to very different endings.
Playing together and coming back
You can bring a friend along through Arcadia with full-featured co-op, and Remote Play Together is supported. Beyond the main story, there are extra challenge modes: BOSS RUSH and DUNGEON RAID. The game is built to be mastered over multiple playthroughs, so a first run rarely shows everything Arcadia holds.