Akatsuki Blitzkampf
Akatsuki EN-Eins is a series of Japanese dōjin 2D fighting games, developed by the dōjin circle SUBTLE STYLE for Microsoft Windows and arcades. It takes place in an alternate 21 century in the year 200X - 20XX, but with a World War II era aesthetic.
Games
''Akatsuki''
The initial game in the series had three major revisions: Akatsuki Shisei Ichigō, Akatsuki Blitzkampf, and Akatsuki Blitzkampf Ausf. Achse.Akatsuki Shisei Ichigō is the first installment of the series, which was released in November 2003 for Microsoft Windows. As the game itself has no storyline, it is a prototype version of Akatsuki Blitzkampf, below.
Akatsuki Blitzkampf is a full version of Akatsuki Shisei Ichigō for Microsoft Windows, including additional characters, game modes and online play.
Akatsuki Blitzkampf Ausf. Achse is the final standalone revision of the first game for arcade and Microsoft Windows. After finding success on the Dōjin soft scene, on September 27, 2007, Monthly Arcadia magazine confirmed that the game would be launched as an arcade title, with the provisional name "Akatsuki Blitzkampf AC", published by SUBTLE STYLE itself. The first location test was held on November 23, 2007, at High Tech Land Sega AViON in Japan. It features improved graphical enhancements and re-introduces a new character known as Perfecti, who was originally a mere alternate version/palette swap of Mycale in the original Blitzkampf. The final release of Ausf. Achse was in Japanese arcades on February 20, 2008, for the Sega NAOMI system and published with the help of PIC company. Although Ausf. Achse being announced on March 29, 2019, to have a Microsoft Windows port, under the name Akatsuki Blitzkampf Type-A, the COVID-19 pandemic cause the release date and development to be delayed.
It is a common misconception that the subtitle is a misspelling of the German phrase "Auf Achse," meaning "on tour/on the road/on the move". In fact, the term "Ausf." is short for "Ausführung" and has been very common in historic German military nomenclature, meaning "option model" or "version". Therefore, "Ausf. Achse" literally means "option model with axle" or "moveable/mobile/non-stationary version". "Achse" also translates to "axis", and given the game's militaristic style, a very probable translation is "Akatsuki Flash Fight Axis Edition".
''EN-Eins''
The sequel to the first game and its updates has itself had two revisions: EN-Eins Perfektewelt and EN-Eins Perfektewelt Anastasis.EN-Eins Perfektewelt is a sequel to Akatsuki Blitzkampf Ausf. Achse, co-developed between Subtle Style and Rutubo Game Works and released in arcades. It was released on the System Board Y2 arcade system on June 25, 2010. The game was later ported to the Taito Type X² arcade board and released digitally via NESiCAxLive on February 22, 2012.
The subtitle comes from the German phrase "Perfekte Welt," meaning "Perfect World", referring to the new titular protagonist EN-Eins, the last surviving clone of his cloning batch who aims to defeat one of Knights Templar’s leaders, such as Valkyria for the sake of creating a perfect world. The game also re-introduces Mycale's replacement and former host, Kati as a playable character, as well introducing Anonym-Guard as a replacement for Anonym Merel Lambuth.
EN-Eins Perfektewelt Anastasis is an updated version of the sequel game, developed and published by Subtle Style. It was first released on NESiCAxLive arcade digital for the game's NESiCAxLive port's 10th-anniversary debut and to celebrate NESiCAxLive's 12th anniversary.
The subtitle comes from the Greek word "Anastasis," meaning "rebirth", which also represents Subtle Style's return to game development since the series appeared in certain games crossed over. As the series' creator Subtle confirm that the original release was in fact in the beta stage, this update, being an actual finalized version of the original release, not only adds completely re-worked artwork, UI, and an arcade storyline, it re-introduces Mycale in the body of Anonym Merel Lambuth which she stole at the end of the previous game and a playable version of Valkyria, as well as introduces a new character who is a motorcyclist Blitzsoldier known by the name Inazuma. Apart from the new version of Mycale and playable Valkyria, 2 unknown brand new characters were part of the crowdfunding however, the two latter's inclusions did not meet the funding's stretch goal for its full release plan by the time the funding ends.
The crowdfunding held by Subtle Style and its sponsored arcade center KO-HATSU for the new contents within Anastasis first started on April 26, 2022, until June 5, 2022. Game Center Will opened a tournament charity event of original EN-Eins Perfektewelt on May 29, 2022, to support the crowdfunding before the end of the funding date.
At the same time the official website opened on November 11, 2022, the location test was only for November 25 until 27, 2022 at the arcade centers Ko-Hatsu, Game Center Will, Maxim Hero, and Fantasista prefecture, before its initial launch. Originally, the game’s initial release was meant to be released at the end of 2022. However, on December 5, 2022, Ko-Hatsu and Subtle Style confirmed that the release date would be delayed to around 2023, in order to fix various gameplay issues based on the location test’s data. Following its wide arcade release in late February 2023, a proper full version of the game which includes crowdfunded playable characters and finalized contents is in the works, with the release date having yet to be revealed. Between the initial release and full release, each crowdfunded playables are added on December each years.
Gameplay
The game's playstyle is regarded as relatively "old school" in comparison to many other dōjin fighter releases such as Melty Blood, Eternal Fighter Zero, or Big Bang Beat, as many of the systems and conventions in the game are rather similar to several late 1990s fighting games made by companies such as Capcom. The game is slower-paced and focuses more on careful footwork and space control than the aforementioned games. The extra modes the game provides and the ways in which they are unlocked also resemble console releases of old fighting games, further reinforcing the retro feel. A signature feature of the series is the Reflector, a reversal-parry move that allows players to guard against incoming attacks without taking chip damages or cost guard gauge, and can only counterattack into Interceptor at close range, whether on the ground or in the air.In EN-Eins, the Reflector button can also be assigned to the D button for beginner-friendly use. When activating a burst-like move known as Perfektewelt by pressing A+B+D, the game will grant the player increased boosts, such as health regeneration, at the cost of no longer being able to use EX or regular Super moves once this state has been entered. Once the gauge limit of Perfektewelt depletes, players cannot use EX or regular Supers until the regular gauge returns to being usable in the following round. While in the Perfektewelt state before reaching the gauge limit, players can press A+B+D again to perform an Instant Kill-like attack while in close proximity, the "Perfekte Finish". EN-Eins also introduces a double jump-like air dashes, auto combos, and dash attacks.
The co-op-based modes does not appear in Akatsuki Blitzkampf Ausf. Achse's arcade version and the original EN-Eins Perfektewelt, with the former’s said port because of its arcade board game space limitations, while the latter was a beta like Akatsuki Shisei Ichigo. While the original Akatsuki Blitzkampf has both 2-on-2-based Team Battle Versus and a non-canonical Arcade mode which can be played by 1 - 4 players, the full version release of EN-Eins Perfektewelt Anastasis only has 2-on-1-based Dramatic Battle like in the Street Fighter series, but it follows the storyline of the first player who starts playing the game.
Synopsis
Akatsuki EN-Eins is set in an alternate Japanese Imperial year, Koki 266X A.D. up to 20XX AD, involving several characters that resemble the Nazis and soldiers of the World War II era and a bit from both Mediterranean and Scandinavian myths, among others. In-game visuals supplement this sort of specific militaristic theme and environment, portrayed by the flat and somewhat cubist character portraits and story sequence images. Akatsuki Blitzkampf is also the finalized version of its 2003 beta title Akatsuki Shisei Ichigō, involving many characters from the game. The series’ plot heavily focuses on unearthing ancient surroundings, reincarnations, cloning and godhood.In 195X, Imperial Army high-class technical engineer Akatsuki is transporting a new weapon, the "Blitz Motor", from Germany to Japan, when his submarine is damaged. Akatsuki is able to survive by using a Hibernation Unit to remain frozen in the submarine for 50 years. Later, in 200X AD, the submarine suddenly emerges in the Arctic Ocean. Akatsuki begins to carry out his final orders received during the war, which were to destroy the Blitz Motor to prevent it falling into enemy hands. However, various organizations begin to search for Akatsuki in order to gain the power of the Blitz Motor for themselves.
EN-Eins storyline takes place around ten years after Murakumo's defeat at the hands of Akatsuki. In 20XX AD, there was a small report of a collapse accident in the undeveloped Tibetan Tsampo Canyon. With Murakumo's fall from leadership, this allows the ancient witch Mycale and her partner, the battle maiden Valkyria an opportunity to take over "Gesellschaft" assets. A few months later, the world's chaos starts due to the simultaneous global terrorist attack by an organization claiming to be the "Neu Tempera Orden", the one secretly leading and end up revealing themselves as the organization's originator under the front name "Perfecti Cult". Taking on this chaos, a dark fight for the hegemony of the new world begins.
Characters
Introduced in ''Akatsuki Shisei Ichigō''
MycaleSai FritzKanae'''Introduced in ''Akatsuki Blitzkampf''
Marilyn Sue DajieDawei Ye LueAnonym Merel LambuthElektrosoldatErnst von Adler- '''Murakumo'''
Introduced in ''Akatsuki Blitzkampf Ausf. Achse''
- '''Perfecti'''
Introduced in ''EN-Eins Perfektewelt''
EN-Eins KatiAnonym-GuardTempelritter- '''Valkyria'''
Introduced in ''EN-Eins Perfektewelt Anastasis''
- '''
- 2 unnamed characters were originally planned through the crowdfunding stretch goal for their initial inclusion in this game’s full launch, with the second fighter originally set to be a non-playable true final boss of the updated game. However, in the end, the crowdfunding did not meet its goals for their inclusions in the updated game, by the time the crowdfunding ends, leaving their fates unknown.
Development
The founder of the dōjin circle Subtle Style, known as 'Subtle', had previously worked for a video game company helping develop numerous fighting games. After leaving the company in April 2000, Subtle founded Subtle Style and began development of Akatsuki Shisei Ichigō as a prototype first entry to the series. Shisei Ichigo released in November 2003 for Microsoft Windows, and would later receive a finalized version under the title Akatsuki Blitzkampf on April 30, 2007. Following the success of Blitzkampf, Subtle Style shifted to a focus on Arcades, and released the arcade-only update title Akatsuki Blitzkampf Ausf. Achse, powered by Sega NAOMI and published by PIC on February 28, 2008.Subtle later produced a sequel to Akatsuki Blitzkampf Ausf. Achse, known as EN-Eins Perfektewelt, featuring a new protagonist and updated gameplay. The initial release was published by Rutubo Games Work exclusively in the Japanese arcade, first on the SYSTEM BOARD Y 2 on June 25, 2010, before being released digitally via NESiCAxLive on February 22, 2012. The series was put on hiatus as Subtle became a recurring freelance sprite artist for French Bread. This resulted in Akatsuki appearing as a guest character in French Bread's game Under Night In-Birth, and then through French Bread's relationship with Arc System Works, appearing again in BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle. These guest appearances brought a new recognition of the Akatsuki EN-Eins series, particularly to unfamiliar Western audiences.
On March 26, 2019, it was revealed on Subtle Style's blog that Akatsuki Blitzkampf Ausf. Achse would be ported to Microsoft Windows, though it was subsequently delayed due to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving the release date unknown. Subtle Style has since been asked about a possible Steam release.
Ten years after the release of its NESICAxLive arcade port, just as the COVID-19 pandemic progressively decrease of Japanese arcade marketing, EN-Eins Perfektewelt received a finalized version under the title EN-Eins Perfektewelt Anastasis. The crowdfunding for the development of Anastasis ran from April 26, 2022, until June 5, 2022. Additionally, the crowdfunding was supported by a charity tournament of original EN-Eins Perfektewelt at Gamecenter on May 29, 2022. On July 18, 2022, Subtle Style and Ko-Hatsu revealed through the latter's Ci-En e-mail account that they chose NESICAxLive as the primary arcade platform for EN-Eins Perfektewelt Anastasis in response to the decrease of arcades and arcade cabinet manufacturers. At the same date, Ko-Hatsu confirmed that the current development on July is at 70%, planning, at the time, to be released in December 2022. However, the release date have been delayed to around 2023, due to last month’s climate, and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.