Get to know Giyu Tomioka, Shinobu Kocho, and Kyojuro Rengoku, three powerful members of the Hashira, the top-ranking group in the Demon Slayer Corps
Have a special look at Tanjiro Kamado (Hinokami Kagura), another playable character in The Hinokami Chronicles
You may have seen the exciting announcement last week that Sega is bringing Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles to North America and Europe for the Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One on October 15! Developed by the team at CyberConnect2, The Hinokami Chronicles is a high-octane arena fighter that lets players relive the memorable moments of “Tanjiro Kamado, Unwavering Resolve Arc” and “Mugen Train Arc.”
Before we get into our topic for today, let’s talk about the overall plot of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. Set during the Taisho Period in Japan, Tanjiro, a kindhearted boy who sells charcoal for a living, finds his family slaughtered by a demon.
To make matters worse, his younger sister Nezuko, the sole survivor, has been transformed into a demon herself. Though devastated by this grim reality, Tanjiro resolves to become a “demon slayer” so that he can turn his sister back into a human and kill the demon that massacred his family.
Today, we’ll be talking about three members of the Hashira (the highest ranked members of the Demon Slayer Corps) that are part of the playable roster in The Hinokami Chronicles: Giyu Tomioka, Shinobu Kocho, and Kyojuro Rengoku. And as a special bonus, we’ll also show off Tanjiro Kamado (Hinokami Kagura)!
Giyu Tomioka
First, let’s talk about Giyu Tomioka, one of the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps the Water Hashira, who uses “Water Breathing.” A quiet, stoic man, he is the one who recruited Tanjiro for the Demon Slayer Corps.
Shinobu Kocho
And then there’s Shinobu Kocho. One of the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, the Insect Hashira, who uses “Insect Breathing.” Whether it’s a human or demon, she’ll maintain a polite demeanor while never letting her smile fade.
Kyojuro Rengoku
Next, we have Kyojuro Rengoku. Yet another one of the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, he is the Flame Hashira who uses “Flame Breathing.” He’s cheerful and eccentric, but never one to mince words.
Tanjiro Kamado (Hinokami Kagura)
Finally, there’s Tanjiro Kamado (Hinokami Kagura). During the battle at Natagumo Mountain, Tanjiro remembers the memory of his late father’s kagura dance and applies that movement to learn a new Breathing Style: “Hinokami Kagura.”
These are just a few of the characters you’ll be able to play as when Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles launches for the Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One on October 15. Even better, those that pre-order the Digital Deluxe Edition will be able to play the game two days early on October 13! Stay tuned for more information as we draw closer to the game’s launch!
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles
SEGA
☆☆☆☆☆19
★★★★★
Please note this is the Standard Edition. Be aware there is also a Deluxe Edition available, so please ensure your selection before purchasing. [Launch Edition Bonus] Character Unlock Keys – Demon Slayer Academy Giyu Tomioka, Demon Slayer Academy Shinobu Kocho [Digital Standard Edition Content] · Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles Game · Digital Version Bonus: Character Unlock Key – Demon Slayer Academy Tanjiro Kamado *Character Unlock Keys allow immediate access to play as the indicated characters in Versus mode. [Product Description] Become the blade that destroys demons! In solo play mode, walk the path of Tanjiro Kamado whose family is slaughtered and sister transformed into a demon. Experience the story depicted in the anime “”Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba”” as Tanjiro fights to restore Nezuko’s humanity and battle the demon threat! Play Versus mode, which allows up to 2 players to battle in offline or online 2v2 battles with any combination of characters, including Tanjiro Kamado and Nezuko Kamado! With simple controls and exhilarating gameplay, rise up to become the strongest of the Demon Slayers! *A paid subscription to Xbox Live Gold is required to play Versus mode online. *The latest patch is required to access online play. *The content/specs may change without warning. *The Digital Version Bonuses are permanent bonuses. *The bonuses may be offered at a later time.
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles Digital Deluxe Edition
SEGA
☆☆☆☆☆19
★★★★★
Please note this is the Deluxe Edition. Be aware there is also a Standard Edition available, so please ensure your selection before purchasing. [Launch Edition Bonus] Character Unlock Keys – Demon Slayer Academy Giyu Tomioka, Demon Slayer Academy Shinobu Kocho Early Access – Available from October 13, 16:00 UTC [Digital Deluxe Edition Content] · Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles Game · Character Unlock Keys – Demon Slayer Academy Nezuko Kamado, Demon Slayer Academy Zenitsu Agatsuma, Demon Slayer Academy Inosuke Hashibira · In-game Costumes – Butterfly Mansion Patient Wear for Tanjiro Kamado, Zenitsu Agatsuma, Inosuke Hashibira · Slayer Points (8,000 Points) · Digital Version Bonus: Character Unlock Key – Demon Slayer Academy Tanjiro Kamado *Character Unlock Keys allow immediate access to play as the indicated characters in Versus mode. *Slayer Points can be exchanged for in-game rewards. (8,000 Points can unlock access to 2 characters.) *In-game Costumes can be used in Versus mode. [Product Description] Become the blade that destroys demons! In solo play mode, walk the path of Tanjiro Kamado whose family is slaughtered and sister transformed into a demon. Experience the story depicted in the anime “”Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba”” as Tanjiro fights to restore Nezuko’s humanity and battle the demon threat! Play Versus mode, which allows up to 2 players to battle in offline or online 2v2 battles with any combination of characters, including Tanjiro Kamado and Nezuko Kamado! With simple controls and exhilarating gameplay, rise up to become the strongest of the Demon Slayers! *A paid subscription to Xbox Live Gold is required to play Versus mode online. *The latest patch is required to access online play. *The content/specs may change without warning. *The Digital Version Bonuses are permanent bonuses. *The bonuses may be offered at a later time. *Some of the items included in this set can be obtained through other products. Please be careful about duplicate purchases.
Author: Zachary Reese, Comms Specialist, Sega of America
This post originally appeared on Xbox Wire
While it’s a relatively niche series, especially in the West, Valkyria Chronicles has a dedicated fanbase. With the original and Valkyria Chronicles 4 – which story-wise is around the same timeline as the first game – both available on Nintendo Switch, meanwhile, we’ve been able to enjoy this quirky take on turn-based strategy/combat.
Anyone unconvinced in Japan, or those that have a valid Nintendo Switch Online account for the country, will have the chance to try out the first game in a Trial from next week, between 5th – 11th July. After the trial concludes both the original and 4 will be discounted by a third on the Japanese eShop.
We’re certainly fans of both games, though presumably due to porting challenges the newer title actually performs better on the Switch; that said, considering the genre you can certainly enjoy the original despite some occasionally choppy frames.
Of course, the game trials in Japan don’t always sync up with Western markets, though the trend often has a new offering following in Europe and North America a little while after the Japanese equivalent. We had a Descenderstrial in late April, so perhaps another one will be on the way soon.
Would you like Valkyria Chronicles to be the next Nintendo Switch Online trial outside of Japan, or do you have another choice? Let us know in the comments!
Despite this, the Japanese studio has continued to increase its number of employees. In the latest update (via the official company website), it’s been revealed its headcount has gone from 261 employees in December last year to 272, as of this month. Nintendo Enthusiast shared a detailed breakdown of the company’s expansion:
(Released Xenoblade Chronicles 2 in December 2017)
December 2017 – 150 employees
April 2018 – 163 employees
August 2018 – 171 employees
(Released Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna – The Golden Country in September 2018)
November 2018 – 184 employees
January 2019 – 193 employees
April 2019 – 209 employees
June 2019 – 215 employees
September 2019 – 224 employees
December 2019 – 236 employees
April 2020 – 248 employees
(Released Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition in May 2020)
August 2020 – 254 employees
December 2020 – 261 employees
April 2021 – 272 employees
Whatever it is Monolith Soft is working on – it’s likely to be just as big as its past projects. They might even be assisting with the upcoming sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Within this latest studio update, some additional data was shared – revealing 27.6% of company employees are female, 72.4% are men, while the average age is 36 years old.
What do you think we might see next from Monolith Soft? What would you like to see it work on? Leave your thoughts below.
