Comiket 83 Preview: Astebreed

As some of you know Comiket 83 will be underway over the Christmas break in Japan – starting on the 29th and ending on the 31st. There’s going to be so much going on there this year, so we’ll do our best to pick out some of the choice moments from what’s on show there. If you’ve got anything in particular you’ve got your eye on – do let us know in the comments!

In the mean time, I thought I’d pick out something that I’ve personally got my eye on – namely Edelweiss’ Astebreed – the spiritual successor to Ether Vapor Remaster.

If you’ve picked this up from our store, you’ll know that it’s arguably the finest looking title available – it’s a beautifully made shooter that shifts through a number of perspectives as you fly though the game’s stages. Astebreed is very much in the same mold, only – as you can see from the shots – Edeweiss have really raised their game on the visual front.

I think one of the most pleasant things about following a particular doujin circle is watching how they progress. This is certainly true of people like Zun – where, as you look back through their catalog of titles, you can see how they’ve improved in ability – how they introduce different mechanics.

eXceed Collection is a really great example of this too – looking at Gun Bullet Children, the step up and shift in mechanics to Vampire Rex and then the mechanic refresh and production values of Jade Penetrate – there’s something inherently heartwarming about it.

Suffice to say then, Astebreed marks a huge step up this time for Edelweiss – the backgrounds in particular are gorgeous. They haven’t shied away from the spectacle of their special effects and they’ve upped the offensive options available to you (are those melee attacks I spy there!)

For those of you who aren’t as excited as I am – you’d do well to change your minds by checking out the trailer!