The post-Danganronpa era of games from Kazutaka Kodaka and his team at Too Kyo Games has been very compelling so far, and TRIBE NINE is stepping up to the plate as another must-play title. Developed jointly by Too Kyo Games and Akatsuki Games, TRIBE NINE is an action RPG that borrows elements from baseball and the Danganronpa franchise to deliver a wholly unique experience.
The recent TRIBE NINE closed beta was the opportunity I needed to get my hands on the new RPG, and I was certainly surprised. At the same time, my expectations for a new Kodaka-led title were met, which is a positive since Danganronpa and Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE make for very memorable games. Fortunately, TRIBE NINE still manages to stand out on its own here.
TRIBE NINE Brings Familiar Twists and Turns
Set two years after the anime series, the story of the TRIBE NINE RPG takes place in Neo Tokyo, a futuristic version of Japan’s capital that’s ruled by the game of Extreme Baseball, or XB for short. At least, this was the case until a mysterious antagonist, Zero, showed up and turned XB into a killing game known as XG, also known as the Ultimate Death Game. Before that, players are introduced to TRIBE NINE in a strange and fascinating way—loading up the save data for the protagonist’s RPG on his console.
I was thoroughly intrigued when the game started in retro Dragon Quest-like fashion with protagonist Yo Kuronaka in a village fully rendered with 2D sprites. After fulfilling some strange requests for the village’s Goddess Statue, Kuronaka becomes aware of some unknown figures that appear to be defying the very laws of nature, as he knows it. It turns out that the village was a ruse, and Kuronaka was brainwashed for two years into believing that he was this world’s hero. He’s been held captive in 24 City, which is overseen by Zero, the mastermind behind Japan’s ruinous state.
Batter Up!
After Kazuki Aoyama and Q, alongside Yo’s childhood friends Tsuki Iroha and Sui Yakumo, rescue Yo, players are introduce to the game’s combat system in the first exploration level. Like many other RPGs, the protagonist may enter battle by launching a preemptive strike with his baseball bat, running into enemies, or being attacked by enemies in the overworld.
In battle, the protagonist and his two other allies will fight their enemies until all of them have been cleared off the field. The combat is reminiscent of Honkai Impact 3rd, with each character having a base combo, a special attack, an ultimate attack, and the ability to sprint and dodge.
Overall, combat feels very satisfying, despite its repetitive nature. Throughout the course of the beginning level, the game introduces additional mechanics such as a Perfect Evasion, the Tension Phase gauge, companion assists, and more. Such mechanics give TRIBE NINE it’s own unique flair while making the cast feel more like an actual team.
Playing the Right Cards
Tension Cards play a big role in the game’s combat, as they can grant effects and bonuses that can significantly affect the course of a battle. For instance, the Quick Play Tension Card given in the beginning level allows you to automatically evade enemy attacks. This is certainly great for players new to action games or those wanting to focus on the story more than combat.
Each card requires a condition to be met in battle in order for the effect to activate. One of the only drawbacks of Tension Cards is that it will become inactive in a battle if it’s activated too frequently. Despite that, Tension Cards are extremely useful, so it’s worth filling out all five slots per party.
The beta gives a select amount of Tension Cards for free, and 13 characters were available as well. Since in-game purchases weren’t available in the beta, the presence of gacha mechanics wasn’t felt here. However, it’s worth noting that both new characters and Tension Cards may be drawn from gacha. New Tension Cards will also be available for free via in-game tasks in the full release.
TRIBE NINE’s Trash Tribe Rises, and Falls
While attempting to escape 24 City, Yo and the group run into Zero, who really lives up as the mastermind of this game. The shocking events that occur cause Yo to make a drastic choice: put the fate of the group on the line in a game of XB against Zero. The group teams up against Zero, in what they would later be referred to as the Trash Tribe.
The XB essentially serves as a Class Trial from Danganronpa or a Reasoning Death Match from Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE, as the player must pick the right belief or phrase in order to challenge a question or prompt by the opposing force. However, it’s a game of baseball, so you must also factor in the ball coming your way as a batter or the pitch you will make as the pitcher. This adds a layer of complexity and uncertainty for each choice you make.
Despite Yo and the team’s efforts, it’s clear that Zero will get what he wants no matter what. After a major loss, the group is taken to Shinagawa City, where everyone regroups as the Trash Tribe, the coalition of star XB players that will do what it takes to go up against Zero. This is where players are introduced to the overall premise of XG, the Quest system, and the Shinagawa hotel that acts a sort of hub and hideout for the group. Unfortunately, Trash Tribe has to work from the bottom up, as Zero splits the group in half to make life harder for them.
Danganronpa Fans Should Keep an Eye on TRIBE NINE
It’s clear that TRIBE NINE shares a similar mythos with the Danganronpa franchise and other Kodaka works, but it has a unique identity that will set it apart from the rest. The intriguing premise surrounding XG and the different cities in Japan, along with the powerful players in the NUMBERS group, certainly left me with questions I needed answers to by the end of the beta. This is great, though, as it makes me curious about where the story will go in subsequent chapters in the full game.
Although the beta was short, it completely sold me on the story, thanks to its blend of mystery, drama, and comedy. The game’s combat is easy to pick up, but it has depth thanks to each character’s abilities and the Tension Card system. Danganronpa and RPG fans will definitely have a fun time in TRIBE NINE, and I’m interested in seeing how Akatsuki Games and Too Kyo Games are building up the game for its release, as new features are being developed for it.
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TRIBE NINE is coming soon to Android, iOS, and PC via Steam.
