God Eater buffet: details, screenshots, artwork

Namco Bandai has let loose an impressive salvo of details regarding their upcoming action-RPG for the PSP, God Eater. Lots of info here about the Aragami, the weapons at your disposal, and the hunters that accompany you into battle. Too bad there’s no word yet on a US release. Hit the jump for details, screenshots, and art.

Namco Bandai has let loose an impressive salvo of details regarding their upcoming action-RPG for the PSP, God Eater. Lots of info here about the Aragami, the weapons at your disposal, and the hunters that accompany you into battle. Too bad there’s no word yet on a US release.

Let’s tackle the Aragami first. As Andriasang reports, these are the big beasties you’re tasked with destroying. They have a bevy of moves ranging from up-close physical attacks to long range and non-physical ones. They can even mix these moves up depending on where and when you fight them. Aragami can also work out some strategic team-ups with other Aragami in the area. They also exhibit rage and hatred depending on the player’s level.

Three of these monsters have been introduced so far. There’s the Vajura, a large tiger-like Aragami from Eastern Eurasia with electric attacks, the flying Mediterranean Aragami Sariel, and Borg Kamuran, a fast scorpion knight from Great Britain armed with a wicked sword-like tail sting and a pair of shields.

To combat these monsters, players are armed with weapons called Deus ex Machina. A single button press can switch between a weapon’s blade, gun and predator forms. That last form is the one that actually does the “eating”.

In predator form, you can suck up Aragami skills and special attacks, letting you use the copied skills for a limited time to pass them off to your party members. You can also earn rare materials from them by attacking specific body parts. Successfully eating an Aragami triggers Burst Mode. Characters in Burst Mode get extra abilities like a double jump and a dash attack, but it only lasts for a limited time.

One defining difference between God Eater and the Monster Hunter series is that the former actually has a story mode. The single player mode also has you playing with three AI-controlled God Eaters across over 100 missions, unlike the latter which leaves you to fend for your own damn self. Until the Felyne companions came along anyway.

Unlike your fully customizable character, the AI companions are preset designs, but they do have their own distinct personalities and voice actors. So far, Namco Bandai has revealed five characters, although I’m not sure if they can all be chosen as companions or if some of them are NPCs. You can check ’em out below.

God Eater is currently tracking a fall release in Japan. Namco Bandai has yet to announce an overseas release. Here are a few more screenshots and a piece of art showing one of the most badass weapons I’ve seen recently.

• Video: Multiplayer action in God Eater promo vid
• God Eater: Namco Bandai’s new local multiplayer action RPG for PSP

Via Andriasang