In line with this initiative, they have unveiled plans for yet another commercialized tie-in with a popular anime/manga franchise in the form of “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Isekai Chronicles.”
To be frank, I find it surprising that this isn’t just another ordinary arena fighter. Instead, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Isekai Chronicles will be an action RPG clearly based upon the immensely popular Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken isekai franchise created by the author “fuse”.
This game marks the first real adaptation of the property into a video game, disregarding the city building mobile gacha game “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime ISEKAI Memories,” which went live back in October 2021.
The game is clearly designed for fans of the franchise. However, it will adhere to the original main story, allowing players to step into the shoes of the reincarnated slime Rimuru Tempest as he transforms a humble Goblin village into the formidable Jura Tempest Federation.
By following the main story, newcomers to the Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken franchise can immerse themselves in its narrative and gradually become acquainted with it.
For avid fans of the series, the unfolding of the story is well-known to them. Therefore, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Isekai Chronicles also features two original narratives crafted by the author “Fuse,” introducing fresh characters to the mix in the forms of the “Goblin’s Revenge Arc” and the “Religious Nation Arc.”
Considering Bandai Namco’s current situation, characterized by recent financial difficulties attributed to underwhelming game sales, likely influenced by the company’s full adoption of Western ESG ideologies in its products (as seen with the inclusion of genderless “body type” denominations in SYNDUALITY: Echo of Ada), this franchise presents an ideal opportunity for them to improve their ESG scoring effortlessly.
Given the series’ focus on Rimuru Tempest, a man reborn as an unusual slime creature, who eventually adopts a highly feminine humanoid form, his anadromous transformation aligns seamlessly with Larry Fink’s agenda.
Certainly, another element inherent in shounen franchises is the inclusion of fanservice. In “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime,” there’s an abundance of highly attractive female characters vying for Rimuru’s attention, often depicted engaging in playful or suggestive interactions, such as smothering him amongst their breasts.
From the brief trailer, it appears that Bandai Namco hasn’t arbitrarily censored character designs, such as Shion’s busty figure. However, it’s likely that overt fanservice, like breast jiggling, won’t be prominently featured in the game.
In terms of gameplay, “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Isekai Chronicles” seems relatively basic. Sporting a charming chibi style, the core gameplay loop centers on 2D side-scrolling battles, showcasing flashy combo moves and unique abilities for each character.
Additionally, the game incorporates a city-building element, allowing players to construct and expand their burgeoning nation.
As the story unfolds, players can add structures and residents to their city, while also likely undertaking side quests to strengthen relationships with key characters, as achieving maximum affinity with them will unlock a special move associated with that particular character.
Bandai Namco is pulling out all the stops when it comes to platform support, with “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Isekai Chronicles” set to launch worldwide on August 8th across PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series, and Nintendo Switch systems.
The game is undoubtedly geared towards fans of the Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken franchise. However, considering how the series unfolds, I genuinely wonder if it’s even possible to face defeat and lose in-game.
It’s apparent that the game was developed on a small budget, and whether it’ll be worth your investment is entirely subjective and up to debate. Nevertheless, as a fan, I hold onto a glimmer of hope that it’ll at least be somewhat enjoyable.
I at least hope its palatable enough to pirate the game because it looks a lot like another anime game churned out by Bandai Namco with little afterthought, and I suppose the lack of fanservice does certainly hurt its chances as well.
If you put your mind to it, franchises like Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken, KonoSuba and possibly Overlord are perfect candidates for large-scale JRPG releases, given their rich lore and expansive worlds, rather than producing censored slop in the form of Blue Protocol, we want more quality releases with budgets as large as Tales installments.
While I doubt this is a resurgence of Bandai Namco, given their allegiance towards BlackRock’s ESG initiative, at the very least That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Isekai Chronicles might be a bump in the road to failure for the company. I’m just glad it’s not another arena fighter.
