Arslan: The Warriors of Legend

Arslan: The Warriors of Legend (アルスラーン戦記×無双, Arslan Senki x Musou, roughly interpreted as "The Heroic Legend of Arslan x Unmatched") is the second video game adaptation of Yoshiki Tanaka's The Heroic Legend of Arslan and the sixth Omega Force third-party collaboration title. Its visuals and characters are based on the 2015 TV animated series adaptation which uses Hiromu Arakawa's designs from her ongoing comic adaptation.

The narration for the game is done by Eiichiro Suzuki.

The producer is Shigeto Nakadai and Tomohiko Aoki is director. Nakadai commented that he, Koinuma, and Aoki are fans of the novels. Koinuma approached him to do the project since Nakadai and Aoki happened to finished other works at the same time. Development for the game began near the same time as the TV series's production. Nakadai was not aware of the TV series at first and was surprised to learn about it. He apologized for the delay and hopes that the quality revisions will please players.

The Heroic Legend of Arslan Production Committee –the animation team for the TV series– are involved with production since the game is being made to appeal to viewers of the animated TV series. According to their development team, the x in the game's logo symbolizes searing warfare and is fashioned after Azrael's scar. The game's image colors are metallic gold and indigo blue to match the desert landscape and Arslan's eye color. Arslan: The Warriors of Legend will cover the first season.

Buy the game new to receive the Daryun "Lion Hunter" costume and weapon serial code. The Treasure Box edition has a comprehensive development databook, an original soundtrack CD, a crystal frame stand and a cleaning cloth. Gamecity Shopping is offering a clear file of the game cover as an exclusive. Various stores are offering character coasters for buying the game; Theta Mizunokuchi is offering a poster.

Gameplay
Normal attacks and charge attacks (undefined) remain the same as other Warriors games. Some charge attack finishers may be extended by pressing (undefined) more than once. Pressing and holding down L1 allows the character to assume a defensive stance and guard against attacks. Tilting the control stick while holding down L1 allows the character to evade in that direction by doing a dodge roll.

Every character has their own special skill to initiate with R1.

Archer characters can alter the angle of their shots by moving the camera.

Mounts are included, with controls that are altered from other Warriors titles; mounting/dismounting and the normal attack chain remains the same. Press L2 to perform the horse whistle to summon your horse; holding down L2 will have your character automatically mount the horse while moving. Tap to jump while mounted. There is only one charge attack available when idle. When the horse is in full sprint, press undefined to use its alternate charge attack.

While the player progresses through stages, they will find blu-ish "Heat Areas". Press R2 while in these areas to initiate a "Mardān Rush", a limited attack phase that allows players to manually control their own battalion to mow down enemies. Its effects vary on the troop type.
 * Cavalry - Command a mounted battalion to charge through enemy troops. Tramples over obstacles.
 * Infantry - Command a battalion of foot soldiers that thrust their spears forward. Quickest melee attackers.
 * Archers - Immobile projectile support. Aim the attack circle with the control stick and fire.

The player must rely on Mardān Rushes to unlock the "Finish Area" –a designated section of the map which only appears during these attacks– to proceed with stages. If the player fails to unlock the Finish Area in time, they have endless opportunities to retry. Build up combos or KO chains to hasten the Mardān Rush gauge. Rare conditions allow a chain of Mardān Rushes to be executed.

Characters can equip multiple weapons. Players can equip their secondary weapon(s) as soon as they obtain it in or out of battle. It is possible to use one character to unlock every possible weapon. Every character has at least two different weapon types equipped at any given time, while several characters can have up to three. Players can freely swap among a character's equipped weapons at any given time during battle, so it is up to players to choose and utilize the best weapon for the situation.

The game utilizes a "Charge Shift" system, which is a charge attack combo extension that allows characters to swap weapons mid-combo and continue chains. Charge shifts can be performed if the player's character has two or more weapon types equipped. Press R1 immediately after performing a standard charge attack to begin the Charge Shift and swap to the character's next weapon(s). After the swap, the combo string may be continued as normal with inputs until the end of the chain, or the player may choose to perform that weapon's combo finisher by pressing undefined. Enemies that are defeated by Charge Shifts are likely to give more experience and drop rarer loot.

Weapon stats are solely determined by that weapon's mastery level, reaching a maximum of level 10 for each of a character's weapons. The mastery level of a weapon is increased by defeating enemies with that weapon. Weapon Arts are different elemental arts that can be chosen for a weapon. Different weapon arts will offer different effects and finishers when applied, depending on the element. More weapon arts are unlocked through increasing the weapon's mastery level. The different weapon art elements are Power, Fire, Water, Wind, Poison, and Fusion. Weapon Arts for a specific weapon can be changed in the mission's pause menu.

Characters level up by gaining experience, which is earned by defeating enemies. Their stats can be further altered through supplementary Skill Cards that are dropped from defeated foes, as well as Recipe Books that can craft food items that are consumed before battle. Every skill card references an event or character from the 2015 TV series. There are over 200 cards in the game.

Skill Cards can alter a character's stats by providing various passive effects during battle, such as increasing the character's attack speed, or extending the duration of Mardan Rushes, just to name a few. Each character can only equip up to a maximum of 3 skill cards at any given time, and the effects offered by the card will remain in effect so long as the card is equipped. Skill Cards can be equipped before as well as during battles, allowing players to freely swap among Skill Cards during battle to adapt to different situations. Unlike Recipes, Skill Cards are not consumable items, and may be equipped on any character for any number of times once unlocked. Players only need to unlock and obtain a Skill Card once before it becomes available for use by every character.

Recipes can only be consumed before a mission, and only one recipe can be used per mission at a time, with its effects lasting the entirety of the mission. Recipes will cost the player in-game currency to cook. Recipes cannot be created without a Recipe Book, so the player must collect the Recipe Book for a specific recipe before it can be utilized. Once collected, the Recipe Book is kept forever, and does not have to be collected again, and any character can use it to craft the recipe.

Other details are:
 * Mission completion is ranked mid-battle with a letter grading scale. Higher scores reward bonus experience and items.
 * Cel-shaded rendering is done to be faithful to the animated designs. Still images and animated sequences from the TV series shall appear in the game.
 * Alternate costumes can be unlocked for select characters.
 * Five Arslan character image songs can be played during the Mardān Rushes. Players have to clear a side scenario on Hard or Harder and equip the marked skill cards to unlock them.
 * Online and offline co-op are available.
 * Downloadable content so far includes scenarios and costumes.

Story Mode
Battle briefings are omitted in favor of heavy in-battle cutscenes and dialogue. Characters that can be played during this mode are automatically determined for the player during select intervals in battle. Arslan and Daryun are available by default. Play through this mode to unlock additional playable characters.

Players can find and collect hidden recipe cards in this mode.

Free Mode
Same as other Warriors titles. Side story scenarios are implemented within this mode to include alternate character perspectives than those in Story Mode. Finish Story Mode and every side story scenario to unlock all the side scenarios. Downloadable scenarios can be played in this mode. Hilmes and Zandeh are playable in this mode.

Before starting a stage, players can access the optional Recipes feature. Pay the price for Elam's meals to gain various buffs.

Online Mode
Multiplayer mode. Players can join two player co-op missions for Story or Free Mode through quick match sessions or invites.

Gallery
Includes movies and event scenes from the game's story, illustrations, model viewer for all characters, and an encyclopedia detailing the terms found in Arslan's universe.

Pars

 * Arslan - playable
 * Daryun - playable
 * Narsus - playable
 * Elam - playable
 * Gieve - playable
 * Farangis - playable
 * Alfarid - playable
 * Kishward - playable
 * Kubard - playable
 * Tus - playable
 * Isfan - playable
 * Zaravant - playable
 * Andragoras III
 * Vahriz
 * Bahman
 * Hodir - voiced by Takaya Hashi. One of the aristocratic lords of Pars. Plots to use Arslan as his puppet and is slain by Daryun.
 * Husrab - voiced by Mitsuru Ogata. Prime Minister of Pars. Tried to evacuate the Queen from Ecbatana and is trampled to death by the Lusitanian army.
 * Garshasph - voiced by Kenji Nomura. Defended Ecbatana in Andragoras III's absense, and was killed by escaping slaves.
 * Shapur - voiced by Katsuyuki Konishi. Isfān's older half-brother and one of Andragoras's generals who is infamously bitter towards Kubard. Captured and tortured by Bodan before Pars citizens to terrorize them. Pleaded for citizens to kill him to protect their honor. Killed by Gieve.

Silvermask's Forces

 * Hilmes - playable
 * Kharlan
 * Zandeh - playable
 * Saam
 * Alzang - voiced by Hiromichi Tezuka. One of the Zahhāk Gurus, a cult of sorcerers with ancient connections to the Pars Kingdom. Has the ability to phase his body into the ground.

Lusitania

 * Guiscard
 * Etoile
 * Balcacion
 * Bodan
 * Clemence - Defender of Chasoom. He played a role in the capture of Maryam, and is cruel towards heathens. He falls for an ambush plan at Chasoom and is killed by Daryun

Sindhura

 * Rajendra
 * Gadevi
 * Jaswant - playable
 * Karikala II - voiced by Hideyuki Umezu. The grievously ill king of Sindhura and Rajendra and Gadevi's father. His failure to name his decisive successor leads to a civil war between the two princes. Eventually issues the Duel Before the Gods to deter his sons from killing one another. Dies to his illness.
 * Mahendra - voiced by Tetsuo Kanao. The Grand Vizier of Sindhura, Jaswant's lone benefactor, and one of Prince Gadevi's supporters. Kind-hearted yet obligated by duty to serve the prince. Regrets decision when faced with prince's cruelty. Fatally impaled during disputed results of the Duel Before the Gods.
 * Gauvin - voiced by Yasuhiro Mamiya. One of Prince Gadevi's generals and commander of Gujarat Castle. Defects to Pars and Rajendra's forces but is misled by Jaswant to launch a night attack. Foiled by Narsus's plan and killed by Daryun.
 * Taara - voiced by Shouto Kashii. One of Prince Gadevi's generals and vice commander of Gujarat Castle. Sided with Gauvin and killed by Farangis during night attack.
 * Daravada - An officer of Gadevi. Fights at Kaveri River and is killed by Kishward.
 * Pulakeshin - One of Prince Gadevi's generals. Vice commander of Gujarat Castle. Despite being blessed with a powerful body, he loses his life to Daryun.
 * Puladalata - voiced by Shunsuke Takeuchi. One of Prince Gadevi's generals. Killed by Daryun.
 * Bahadur - voiced by Taiten Kusunoki. Prince Gadevi's champion for the Duel Before the Gods. Gigantic and beastly man who cannot feel pain and will fight to the death. Compared to a shark. Killed by Daryun.

Other

 * Haltash - voiced by Itaru Yamamoto. Alfarid and Melain's father and leader of the Zott clan of mountain bandits. Killed by Silvermask.

Stages

 * Atropatene Plains
 * Ecbatana
 * Greater Kashan Region
 * Parsian Settlement
 * Imperial Sewers
 * Mount Basur
 * Kashan Castle
 * Peshawar Castle
 * Gujarat Castle
 * Zabul Castle
 * Saint Emmanuel Castle

Related Media
Advertisements for this title are played or announced during the TV series's broadcasts and its web radio program, Radio Yashasueen!.

Participants of the official quiz and Twitter/Facebook campaign have a chance of winning an autograph from voice actors who appear in the game if they answer every question correctly. All contestants can receive a free wallpaper for their smartphones. The campaign begins July 3 (JST).

Nakadai and Aoi Eir, the vocalist for the TV series's first ending, went on stage to present the game July 27 at the 2015 Hong Kong PlayStation Japanese Animation, Comic and Video Game Event. Snippets of this game was shown during the SCEJA Press Conference 2015. This game is one of the titles that had a playable demo at Koei-Tecmo's Tokyo Game Show 2015 booth. Manami, one of the booth girls, was in Farangis cosplay. The game was presented on stage on September 17, September 19 and September 20 (JST).

Nakadai did another live demonstration in Famitsu's Tokaigi TV on September 23, 21:00 (JST). During the program, he announced a press conference to celebrate the game's completion scheduled for September 24, 13:30 (JST); Yusuke Kobayashi (Arslan) and KENN (Gieve) were the voice actor guests. Both actors acted a short in-character exchange for KENN's stage entrance. Manami briefly went on stage with her Farangis cosplay. Another sneak-peek NicoNico Live broadcast shall show September 29, 21:00 (JST). The same voice actors from the press conference are guests with Natsuki Hanae (Elam) joining them.

A limited edition Arslan PS4 model will be up for purchase in white or black colors. Unlike previous special models, purchasing it will not include any other bonuses or a copy of the game.

The trial version shall be up for download September 24.