By Deanna Nguyen
After many years of English fans wishing, hoping and praying, Touken Ranbu -ONLINE-, the popular web browser game about training personified historical swords, is finally getting an English release!
Starting today, players can pre-register on the platform Johren.net and receive a handful of in-game bonuses once the game comes out.
Created and developed by Nitroplus and DMM GAMES, Touken Ranbu -ONLINE- takes place in the year 2205. The player assumes the role of the Saniwa who must protect history from Revisionists—demons attacking and altering the past—by materializing Touken Danshi.
Based on swords from Japanese history, the honorable warriors are at the Saniwa’s command, joining the ranks of the Blade Battalion. The goal is to forge, add and refine the Touken Danshi for battle at the Citadel and prevent history from steering off course.
Players can gather eight types of swords: Tanto (dagger), Wakizashi (side-inserted sword), Uchigatana (traditional samurai sword), Tachi (traditional samurai sword), Otachi (large sword), Naginata (pole blade), Yari (spear) and Tsurugi (straight, double-edged sword).
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At the beginning of the game, players choose a starter Uchigatana: Kashu Kiyomitsu, Kasen Kanesada, Yamanbagiri Kunihiro, Hachisuka Kotetsu or Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki. More Touken Danshi will join the Blade Battalion as the game progresses, either through the forge or in a drop.
Aside from collecting and stat-raising, players can also listen to their Touken Danshi’s conversations off the battlefield!
The Touken Ranbu franchise inspired two anime adaptations, the spinoff Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru, produced by Doga Kobo, and Katsugeki TOUKEN RANBU, produced by ufotable, as well as live-action films, stage musicals and stage plays.
Fans love the online web browser game so much that they launched a crowdfunding campaign and managed to raise over 35 million yen to restore the real sword Ishikirimaru.
Want to know more about the Touken Danshi? Follow the official Twitter account for additional game-related announcements and don’t forget to stream Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru and Katsugeki TOUKEN RANBU on Funimation!
