Originally written as a novella in the late 1980’s, The Heroic Legend of Arslan has been adapted to manga and anime numerous times, with the most prominent being the 2013 release of a manga series by famed illustrator, Hiromu Arakawa (the creator of Fullmetal Alchemist). It tells the story of the young crown prince of Pars, Arslan, as he is forced out of his kingdom when his father, the King, is betrayed anddefeated and his domain conquered. Arslan and his few companions must re-assemble an army and fight against overwhelming odds to regain his throne and liberate his kingdom. Through his exploits, he reaches emotional maturity, while the series also tackles underlying issues of slavery, religious fanaticism, betrayal, and humanity.

The game adaptation of this magnificent story seamlessly blends the fast-paced tactical action gameplay indicative of the Warriors franchise with a stunningly engaging narrative. Using cell-shaded graphics and basing all character design on the anime series, Arslan: The Warriors of Legend delivers a gaming experience designed to fully immerse the player into Arslan’s universe.

A demo of Arslan: The Warriors of Legend will be available for download via the PlayStation Network on January 12, 2016 and will include a mission from the first stage of the game, taking players through a short tutorial session using two key characters: Arslan, the Prince of Pars, and his protector Daryun. Additionally, the demo will showcase a set of new moves and powers developed for Arslan: The Warriors of Legend, such as the Mardan Rush & Weapon Arts special attacks.

KOEI TECMO has also announced a new Free Mode feature that will delight fans of the anime! As anyone who has watched The Heroic Legend of Arslan will know, Narsus’s page Elam is a culinary genius, and his cooking often delights his co-travelers during their quest. This gastronomic side of Elam’s has now been incorporated into the battle preparations!

During the course of the game, players can locate and collect recipe books hidden throughout the story mode. These can be used in Free Mode prior to battle to give the controlled character an ability boost. The various foods, such as Lamb Skewers, Stewed Chicken, and Potluck Soup can provide different effects such as increased health, attack boosts, healing, bonus gold, bonus experience, and more!

In addition to controlling army units, the game also features new battle moves for individual characters, such as the Chain Strike. As the story progresses, playable characters will gain access to different weapon types. Chain Strike allows for a real-time switch between available weapons while executing a power attack, which brings more variety to the action and can be used to prolong combos!