VA-11 Hall-A Developer Sukeban Games Announces 'Active Time Action' Game .45 Parabellum Bloodhound f

VA-11 Hall-A developer Sukeban Games has unveiled .45 PARABELLUM BLOODHOUND, an "Active Time Action" game that combines real-time and turn-based combat. The game will be available for PC through Steam and will make its debut at BitSummit Drift from July 19 to 21.

Introducing a new world and characters from the award-winning studio behind Cyberpunk Bartender Action: VA-11 Hall-A.

.45 PARABELLUM BLOODHOUND offers a captivating mix of real-time and turn-based combat, appealing to players of all skill levels.

Getting Personal

Follow the raw tale of Reila Mikazuchi, a killing machine emerging from depression, seeking to rebuild her life by doing what she does best. She knows the consequences of her path, but is her greatest foe really in front of her gun?

Key Features

Experience the "Active Time Action" battle system, perfect for both newcomers and veterans.

Explore seven meticulously crafted, atmospheric stages with hand-placed encounters, dialogues, and riddles.

Enjoy detailed lo-fi visuals that enhance the texture of this rich cyberpunk world.

Immerse yourself in a gripping storyline waiting to be uncovered.

And here are some additional details from Sukeban Games’ Christopher Ortiz:

What is .45 PARABELLUM BLOODHOUND? It's an “Active Time Action” game, which might sound a bit nonsensical, but we enjoy a bit of nonsense.

In short, you move and dodge in real-time while waiting for an Action bar to fill, its speed determined by character and weapon stats. Once filled, you can stop time and plan your offensive.

.45 PARABELLUM BLOODHOUND

The battle system's inspiration comes from one of my personal favorites: Parasite Eve, though the similarities end there.

I’ll discuss this more another time. The pitch: You play as Reila Mikazuchi, a washed-up mercenary whose glory days are behind her. In a last-ditch effort to reclaim her life, she returns to the battlefield, only to discover the real enemy isn’t in front of her gun.

—The game’s heroine, Reila, designed by me with help from Merengedoll.

The entire game unfolds within these atmospheric environments filled with meticulously crafted encounters. Players will explore, uncovering secrets hidden throughout the world, and engaging with a diverse cast of characters. Additionally, each level culminates in thrilling boss fights.

We are currently targeting seven chapters, with five of them already playable from beginning to end. Most of the features and the storyline are finalized, and we don't anticipate significant changes from this initial description. However, there's always room for adjustments to ensure we release it in a timely manner.

Release Timing?

I won't provide any specific timelines here to avoid a situation like with N1RV Ann-A (though we have an internal one). Ideally, we're aiming for sooner rather than later. Initially, I planned to announce the game officially only after its completion, but selling games has become more challenging. It's not 2016 anymore, so to give this game its best shot, we need to start now and gather those wishlists and engagement.

In short: it'll be ready when it's ready.

Expect monthly development logs (which I've been writing for years, though I've fallen behind for valid reasons), and progress updates on my Twitter and Sukeban's channels.

N1RV Ann-A?

No updates on that front, unfortunately. I know that's the main event everyone wants to hear about, but .45 PARABELLUM BLOODHOUND is currently much further along in development, and I'm focusing all my efforts on it for the foreseeable future. Once we ship it, the possibilities will be endless.

Who's Behind This?

I'm taking on the roles of writer and director, alongside a close friend who prefers to remain anonymous, serving as the programmer and co-creator. Together, we've developed the story, gameplay, and characters over many years. Merengedoll, known for their work on VA-11 Hall-A kids!, has been instrumental in designing characters, enemies, bosses, and overseeing production. Juneji, also from VA-11 Hall-A kids!, is handling the soundtrack and contributing to some 3D work. Additionally, we've brought in a project manager for the first time to keep things moving at a steady pace.

If you're familiar with my previous solo projects, you'll have an idea of the vibes and storytelling style to expect, for better or worse.

Stray Notes

We're planning to have Spanish, English, and Japanese localizations ready from day one (hopefully more, but these are the ones we can manage at the moment).

There are no plans for a downloadable demo as maintaining a separate build would likely drive us crazy. The current incarnation of the project has been in development for about two years after a couple of restarts, but if we want to get nostalgic, the programmer and I have been discussing something like this since high school. It really makes you think. Unlike my contributions to VA-11 Hall-A, which drew from a mix of subtle and bold inspirations, this time I've tried to isolate my creative process from external influences as much as possible, except for the initial spark for the battle system and other mechanics. Making games requires a lot of effort, so I aim to deliver a uniquely "Sukeban" experience, whatever that might entail.

For Those in Japan: Play It at BitSummit Drift!

If you're in the Kyoto area, you're in luck! You can experience the first chapter of the game at this year's BitSummit Drift on July 19 (business day), 20, and 21.

Be sure to check it out!

We plan to showcase the game at more events worldwide in the near future, although we don't have many details at the moment. Stay tuned.

For those who can't attend, we'll be releasing the game's first trailer on [July 19]! You can find it on our YouTube channel.