Meet the Vigilance Committee and Bureau of Delusions.
Acquire has released a new set of Akiba’s Beat information and screenshots, detailing the latest set of characters, which were first introduced in Weekly Famitsu, as well as the game’s Imagine Mode and other elements.
Get the information below.
■ Akihabara Vigilance Committee
Leader (voiced by Katsuyuki Konishi)
Leader of the Akihabara Vigilance Committee. He is called Leader by his team members, but his real name, age, and such are entirely unknown. He is a man of justice who loves Akihabara more than anything, and out of desire for its peace destroys the eroded delusions that have overtaken it.
A 16 year-old, second-year high school student. While she looks young, her behavior is also childish. She loves the arcade and winning prizes. She worries about her younger twin sister Aoi’s shy personality and joins the Vigilance Committee. She often takes on the attitude of an older sister-type.
Aoi Hoozuki (voiced by Masumi Tazawa)
16 years-old. The younger twin sister of Akari Hoozuki, and an Akihabara Vigilance Committee member. Compared to Akari, she is quiet and gentle, but is actually more level-headed than her sister, and is always worrying about Akari and the Leader.
■ Bureau of Delusions
Mikado Kurosaki (voiced by Junichi Suwabe)
Director of the mysterious organization known as the “Bureau of Delusions.” As the Bureau of Delusions is not an organization known by the public, its existence is mostly shrouded in mystery. He considers delusions necessary for the better development of the world.
Kasuga Yuuki (voiced by Yasuaki Takumi)
28 years-old. General manager of the Research and Development Office. He is tall and stylish, and can handle anything easily with intelligence. He is seemingly an acquaintance of Reiji and takes on a condescending attitude towards Asahi and company.
Mari Toujou (voiced by Rina Sato)
26 years-old. Head of the Research and Development Office at the Bureau of Delusions. She is a woman and elite investigating the “Delusion Contractor” known as Kanon. She never breaks her calm attitude, but seems to have some sort of connection to Reiji.
■ Mysterious Black Marketeer
Shareko Ube (voiced by Rie Murakawa)
A mysterious black marketeer who appears in a variety of places, such as the Delusion Palaces and Akihabara. From its body figure and voice, it is presumed to be female, but actual details are unknown. (Editor’s Note: We’re referring to Shareko as a “she.”)
She is constantly thinking of business and tries to earn money in every way possible. In the Delusion Palace, she has her own shop called the “Private Market,” and in Akihabara, she brokers quests.
■ Imagine Mode
In battle, you can trigger “Imagine Mode” by unleashing the “Imagine Gauge” that you accumulate by attacking. A glowing set of headphones will appear around the character to indicate that Imagine Mode is ready to activate. The stages of your Imagine Gauge will increase based on your progress in the story, and the stages of Imagine Mode will change based on your equipment.
■ EX Skills
While in Imagine Mode, by inputting a button press after the attack in a specific skill, you can trigger a powerful EX Skill, which features a cut-in for each character.
■ Imagine Field
When your Imagine Gauge is completely filled and you trigger Imagine Mode, a headphone cut-in will appear on the screen and an “Imagine Field” will trigger.
Imagine Field is a flashy battle mode with a dedicated presentation tailored toe each song and character. It shuts out the sounds of the outside world and immerses the character in the sound of the music, intoxicating them with delusions.
On the screen, you’ll see “Total” and “Rate” percentages. Total indicates the scale of the attack power dealt to the enemy, while Rate denotes the scale factor that accumulates the Total. Within an Imagine Field, the Rate changes based on the climax of the song, and based on the way you fight, is accumulated to the Total.
During the hook of each song, the Total scale factor that you’ve accumulated up until that point is added to your attack, so you should fight skillfully while leading into that high point in order to ensure your chance for simultaneous attacks.
In addition to dedicated presentations tailored to each song’s tempo and theme, an Imagine Field also offers various field designs tailored to each character.
There are 12 total songs that are used in battle. Original character songs have been written for each of the game’s seven playable characters, as performed by the cast…
Asahi Tachibana – Toshiki Masuda
Saki Hoshino – Azusa Tadokoro
Riyu Momose – Erii Yamazaki
Yamato Hongo – Nobuhiko Okamoto
Kotomi Sanada – Sumire Uesaka
Reiji Shinomiya – Kenn
Mizuki Aihara – Kensho Ono
Additionally, voice actor and artist Yuuko Kawanishi will appear in the game as herself (her first name in the game is spelled in Katakana, whereas in real life her first named is spelled in Hiragana) and participate in four songs.
The theme song of the game—“Again” by ClariS—can also be used after you clear the game.
■ Imagine Mode and Other Characters
Asahi and company are not the only people that can activate Imagine Mode. Two people from the Bureau of Delusions, who have a deep connection to the delusions, can also trigger the mode and will stand in the party’s way as formidable enemies.
Not unlike a personal computer, Akiba’s Beat offers the “Personal Weapon.” Just like your PC, you can customize your Personal Weapon. You can buy parts at shops, but there are also rare parts only obtainable in the Delusion Palaces and such.
From left to right, pictured above is:
Asahi’s Sword-Type Personal Weapon: Daybreak
Riyu’s Staff-Type Personal Weapon: Honey Bunny
Kotomi’s Sickle-Type Presonal Weapon: Rose
Mizaki’s Gun-Type Personal Weapon: Eclipse
Saki’s Dual Blade-Type Personal Weapon: Spica
Yamato’s Axe-Type Personal Weapon: Ivan
Reiji’s Spear-Type Personal Weapon: Cicada
Customizable Elements
You can customize the following elements:
CPU – Increases your AP.
Motherboard – Increases the level of your Personal Weapon.
Hard-Disk – Increases the number of song equipment.
Graphics Board – Increases the level of your Imagine Mode.
Memory – Increases the stats of your physical and magical attacks.
■ Sub Scenarios
As you progress through the story, there will be sub scenarios that trigger based on a variety of conditions. There are also episodes that don’t appear unless you clear the main story. Through these sub scenarios, you’ll be able to gain a better understanding of the backgrounds of each of the main characters and their connection to the world. Outside of the main characters, there are also various sub events.
Akiba’s Beat is due out for PlayStation 4 and PS Vita in Japan on October 13, and in North America this winter.
