Cosmo Machia confirm shoot ’em up TriggerHeart Exelica will release in 2024 for Nintendo Switch in the west, with Red Art Games as publisher. The Japanese version launched on December 14 for Nintendo Switch after a very successful Makuake crowdfunding campaign.
TriggerHeart Exelica was originally developed for Japanese arcades by Warashi, and the game first launched in May 2006. The game would release on SEGA Dreamcast in 2007 and Xbox 360 in 2008, followed by PlayStation 2 in 2009. In 2023, Cosmo Machia acquired the rights to the game in order to remaster the original game and create a franchise.
TriggerHeart Exelica Heads West for Nintendo Switch
In the west, Red Art Games will distribute the physical release of TriggerHeart Exelica in Europe, and Video Games Plus will handle the game’s distribution in North America. Red Art Games plans to reveal details about the game’s release date, physical editions, pricing, and pre-orders at a later date.
The Nintendo Switch version of TriggerHeart Exelica features a new “Arrange” Mode with difficulty adjustments and a Training Mode for newcomers. The game also includes Arcade Mode, Story Mode, vertical screen play, online rankings, and Sound Mode. Moreover, those with a Japanese Nintendo eShop account may purchase and download the
Lastly, here’s an overview of the story from the official website:
Story
Far away… In a system so distant that the light from its stars will never reach Earth… A war was drawing to a close
Exelica and Crueltear—humanoid weapons system called Triggerhearts developed by C.H.I.L.D.A., an interplanetary defense organization—were sent to join the fight against the autonomous combat unit known as the Ver’mith.
In the midst of the battle, just as they had taken the upper hand over the Ver’mith, Exelica and Crueltear were accidentally sent to Earth using an emergency teleportation gate activated by the Ver’mith.
Finding themselves on an unknown planet and without the strength to return home, the injured Triggerhearts were despondent as they did not even have the means to learn the outcome of the battle.
They had just about recovered from their wounds and had finally begun to consider Earth as a haven… when it happened.
A nightmarish vision filled the sky. The remains of the Ver’mith forces had arrived. The gate had re-opened…
Although the Ver’mith forces had departed at the same time as Exelica and Crueltear, the gate’s instability had caused a lag in their arrival.
The Ver’mith had chosen Earth as their new base of operations. The invasion had begun. Exelica and Crueltear knew they had no choice but to fight to protect their new home.
