Left Alive details Mikhail’s story, basic game progression, and more

How will you progress? The choice is yours.

Following today’s new trailer and screenshots, Square Enix has released new information on Left Alive, introducing the young Wanzer pilot Mikhail’s story, the basic progression of the game, and more.

Get the details below.

■ Story: A Young Pilot, Alone on the Battlefield
Mikhail is a young Wanzer pilot driven to the battlefield due to the war that broke out in Novo Slava. Many of his comrades fell to the enemy’s overwhelming strength, and before he knew it he was the only one left on the battlefield.
In trying to reunite with his comrades that survived, he runs into freelance journalist Patrick on the streets of Novo Slava.
Patrick asks Mikhail for a favor. In exchange, Patrick will tell him an escape route. While he may not be trustworthy, cooperating and learning the escape routes is the only way to survive—.

While this one request is only the beginning, players will get wrapped up deep in the shadows of this war, including the theft of a New Type Wanzer.
■ New Characters
Ivan Nikolaevich Zajtsev
A Wanzer pilot belonging to the enemy army that blocks Mikhail’s path forward. Judging by the characteristics of his suit, Mikhail presumes that he is a cooperator of the northern nation Zaftra, which is fighting against the Garmonian army that invaded Novo Slava. Entrusted with a secret mission to uncover the Wanzers developed in secrecy in Novo Slava, he is chasing after a man named Bunin who is said to be involved.
Patrick Lemaire
An E.C. France-born freelance journalist. A man with a suspicious aura about him who, despite being caught in the middle of a war, tries to cut a deal with Mikhail. His sources forecasted the outbreak of war in Novo Slava, so he came to cover it. He is following evidence of a New Type Wanzer data theft said to be happening in the shadows of the war.
■ Wanzers
Zenith HW2
A Wanzer manufactured by the company JADEMETAL-Lyman. The second generation of the HW series created to be a global standard machine, this unit’s roller dash function is more powerful than existing units. It is said that “its faults are that it has no faults.” It exhibits stable performance from all aspects, and has many fans among the mercenaries and armies of countries all over, even veterans.
■ Basic Game Progression
The player lacks materials and is all on their own, while the enemy is a fully-equipped army. In addition to soldiers, there are also drones, tanks, and Wanzers to be on the lookout for. But there are many ways to slip through the battlefield, and those various means will unfold depending on the enemy situation and your own play style.
There is no “one way” to fight and defeat the enemy. At certain times you may hide, and at other times you may use items to deceive the enemy. You will not be able to survive unless you utilize various means.
Fighting with Weapons
If your power and skill are sufficient enough, taking on the gun fight from up-close may be an option. By exploring the map, you may be able to secure a number of bullets. There are also various other types of weapons in this world, like metal pipes and shovels, that you can use to unleash powerful attacks from up-close.
Escape the Enemy’s Sights and Avoid Batle
Always fighting is reckless, and frankly not a possible option. Even things that are unlikely to be useful in battle, like smoke candles and fireworks, can be used to control enemies if properly utilized. And by combining these items with other items, you can make even more effective items.
One way to get by is through stealth action: utilizing the obstacles around you to hide and keep out of the enemy’s sights to avoid battle. However, hiding is not necessarily always the best option. If a strong enemy such as a tank discovers you at close range, there is the likelihood of instant death.
Utilizing Items and Wanzers
Evading every enemy is nearly impossible, and there will be situations were battle is unavoidable, but the protagonists cannot sufficiently obtain ammo in their cornered situations. Use the materials scattered across the maps to “Craft” various items, and think up ways to repel enemies with minimized risks. Also, if you are lucky enough to be able to steal an enemy Wanzer, you can turn the situation around in an instant.
—Auto-Target: Utilize a crashed enemy drone as an automatic turret that fires at nearby enemies.
—Electric Wire: Deals damage to the reinforced exoskeleton suits worn by enemy soldiers, paralyzing them for a fixed period of time.
—Boarding a Wanzer: Enjoy heated battles by boarding Wanzers.
Find Alternative Routes
There is not always just one route to get to where you have to go. In situations where it looks like there are many enemies to get past, try looking around to find an alternative route.
—Enemies have begun constructing a base upon the shortest route to your destination. You’ll be in danger if you get any closer, but there may be another way.
—By exploring, you might find an area where there are little enemies. It will take longer to get to your destination—is this the route you will take?
—An enemy Wanzer is on patrol, so this route is hopeless. There seems to be no choice but to turn back.
—Whether you take the shortest route, or you look for a safer alternative, the decision is yours. However, searching and moving around the area itself also comes with the risk of being detected by enemies…
■ Enemies
Soldiers
The soldiers of this era are equipped with reinforced exoskeletons, and have stamina that far surpass the basic capabilities of a human being. Nevertheless, you may be able to defeat them in a one-on-one fight, but if they call for backup, you will be driven to defeat in the blink of an eye. Taking on a group without a plan is a major risk, and even if you manage to repel them, you will likely end up losing a lot of items.
Battle Drones
An unmanned weapon that moves around the sky surveying the area in search of enemies. If it detects the player, it will descend and attack. While easier to damage than a soldier and less likely to be a threat by itself, it has the ability to alert nearby enemies of your presence. And if they attack, you will be surrounded by enemies in an instant.
Tanks
Tanks are deployed in vital areas alongside soldiers and serve the role of searching for enemies and keeping a lookout. For players, it is nothing more than a threat—-if it discovers you, you will likely die. Basically, try to keep away from tanks, but if it cannot be avoided, you may have to find some way around it.
■ Map Information
Through “Koshka,” the artificial intelligence that supports the protagonists, waypoints to get to where you are going next and your destination can be displayed on the map at any time. In addition to your destination, you can display various other information useful for determining your progression route.
Thee is never just one route to get to your destination. Whether you take on the shortest route while slipping past the enemy’s line of sight, search for a relatively safer alternative route, or repeatedly explore to collect as many materials as possible, the choice is entirely yours. Utilizing various information and items to open up a path to your destination on fields full of enemies is one of the main highlights of this game.
Map Information
Destination – The destination displayed by Koshka. This is the place you are trying to get to.
Area Alertness – A rough idea of the enemy’s battle potential can be understood by the “Alertness” displayed on the map. Places with high alertness have many enemy soldiers, as well as formidable foes, so it is safer to make your way to another location. Also, if you cause a disturbance through things like battle or explosions, the Alertness of that area will increase, but the Alertness of the surrounding area will decrease. Depending on how the you conduct yourself, you can use this as means to create a safe path forward.
Alert – Areas indicated by a red circle. These are areas where enemies are mainly on guard, and are extremely dangerous for the player.
Caution – Areas indicated by an orange circle. While not “Alert” level, these areas are still somewhat dangerous.
Safe – Areas indicated by a blue circle. These are relatively safer areas with fewer enemies.