Nights of Azure

Nights of Azure
Developer(s)	Gust
Publisher(s)	Koei Tecmo
Producer(s)	Keisuke Kikuchi
Artist(s)	Yoshiku
Composer(s)	Kazuki Yanagawa Daisuke Achiwa Hayato Asano
Platform(s)	PlayStation 3 PlayStation 4 PlayStation Vita
Release date(s)	JP: October 1, 2015[1] NA: March 29, 2016[2](PS4 only) EU: April 1, 2016[3](PS4 only) AU: April 8, 2016 (PS4 only)
Genre(s)	Action role-playing
Mode(s)	Single-player

Nights of Azure (よるのないくに, Yoru no Nai Kuni, lit. "land without night") is a 2015 action role-playing game developed by Gust and published by Koei Tecmo for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita.^[4][5][6] The PlayStation 4 version received a North American release on March 29, 2016,^[7] with a European release following on April 1, 2016.^[3]

Gameplay

The game features an RPG battle system where characters fight alongside contracted demons known as Servan. These demons can be summoned during battle through the use of SP, and are categorised into attacker and support types. As they become stronger through subsequent battles, they gain new abilities.^[8][9][10] The player accepts quests and performs customisations at the Hotel, when not taking orders to progress the story or battling enemies.^[11]

Arnice can also land attack chains using light, heavy and special attacks, with each chain gradually filling a transformation gauge. When full, the player can trigger a transformation which increases offensive power. Her demon form allows her to control flames, while her rabbit form focuses on speed and melee combat, and her phantom form improves her recovery capabilities.^[12] She is also able to transform her blood into different types of blood power weapons depending on the situation, such as daggers and longswords, which change her attack moveset and the abilities of summoned demons.^[9][13]

The game also contains an optional arena where players can take on various challenges and earn rewards, and these include battles with special restrictions placed upon them and fighting against enemies within a labyrinth.^[10]

Setting

The game follows the journey of two girls within an uncharted land known as Rusewall Island, where no one sleeps at night. After humans emerged victorious from the battle against the Ruler of the Night, the blue blood from the monster scattered and polluted those who bathed in it, changing them into creatures known as Jayou which steal night-time from the people.^[8][14]

Characters

• Arnice (アーナス, Arnas): The protagonist of the game, who is a holy knight serving the curia. She is part human and part monster, having had contact with the blood of the Ruler of the Night, has a bloodsucking ability which arises from her monster side, and can use her own blood to create a demon sword. Voiced by Mao Ichimichi.^[8]
• Lilysse (リュリーティス, Lyuritis): A saint who is destined to seal what remains of the Ruler of the Night, and is a close friend of Arnice. Voiced by Hiromi Igarashi.^[8]
• Christophorus (クリストフォロス, Christophoros): A pure-blooded ghost that lives within the opera house. Voiced by Tomoyo Kurosawa.^[9][15]
• Simon (サイモン): A hotel manager and cafe owner. Voiced by Masaki Terasoma.^[9][15]
• Corrine (コーリン): A member of the holy knights and Arnice's senior. Voiced by Ayane Sakura.^[16][17]
• Professor Alucard (有角教授, Professor Arukado): A self-declared researcher of monsters. Voiced by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka.^[16][17]
• Lloyd (ロイド): A merchant who is a realist. He is well-informed with apparitions and the curia, and has a hidden side. Voiced by Satoshi Hino.^[12]
• Mistral (ミストラル): A bewitching, pure-blooded apparition who leads visitors astray with her sweet fragrance. She seemingly seeks for the soul of the Ruler of the Night, although she is currently secluded to the palace. Voiced by Eriko Matsui.^[12]

Development

The game was developed under the leadership of development producer Keisuke Kikuchi who has previously worked on the Deception and Fatal Frame game series, while the general producer was Tadanobu Inoue. The character sprites and background art were illustrated by Yoshiku.^[4][18] The game, along with the other Social Gust game, Atelier Sophie, experienced delays in release citing final adjustments as the reason for delay.^[19]

First-print copies of the game featured DLC codes for Gust from Hyperdimension Neptunia as a subordinate demon.^[1]

Reception

Famitsu gave the game a review score of 32/40.^[24] The game sold a total of 79,227 physical retail copies across all three platforms within its first week of release in Japan.^[25] The simultaneous PSVita release of the game^[26] received negative reviews concerning its Japanese-exclusive PSVita release, due to the significantly reduced processing speed and comparatively low graphics, with the common complaint that the graphics for the PSVita were never properly advertised.^[27]

Upon its PS4 release in the West, Nights of Azure received mixed reception.

References

External links

• Official website