Character Spotlight

PENNY BLOOD takes place in 1923. Why 1923? Well, let’s think about the history. This was right after World War I had ended, and people were reflecting on the importance of peace while also harboring a torrent of anger and division that would eventually lead to the next war. All they needed was for someone to light the fuse, and the flames of war would spread once more. The world of 100 years ago was a very perilous place.

Did anything pop into your mind as you read the above paragraph? Yes, that’s right – it sounds a bit similar to our own era, doesn’t it? It may seem silly for someone to make a game about fighting monsters in order to promote peace, but I’m trying to create a story that takes place 100 years ago yet also overlaps with our own time period.

Now then, I’d like to quickly go over the status of the countries that will appear in PENNY BLOOD.

First, we have America. 100 years ago, America had just enacted Prohibition, which prohibited the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages. This led the mafia to start underground production as a new source of capital, and these undercover transactions led to an increase in violent, gang-related crimes. The center of a new power network that would light up the world was being built in Manhattan, but it still lacked the necessary infrastructure, allowing shadows to remain in every corner.

The next country Matthew will visit after America is Japan – or the Empire of Japan, as it was known at the time. After a streak of wins in the Sino-Japanese War, the Russo-Japanese War, and World War I, Japan was in the middle of an imperialistic push to further strengthen themselves. Individual thoughts and beliefs became more controlled, and gradually a lack of peace became the norm across the land. In Japan, Matthew will first learn of the danger that’s only moments away from bringing the world to its knees, and through a fateful encounter, his true adventure will finally begin.

Meanwhile, we have China – 10 years after the fall of the Qing Dynasty, partitioned and half-colonized by the Great Powers. After erasing the former glory and power of the emperor, politicians vied for power, causing people to fear that a possible civil war would soon erupt. The peace and stability of great cities such as Beijing and Shanghai were also in shambles… In China, the ravages of time will swallow up every last one of Matthew’s hopes and dreams.

This brings us to Europe. After the exhaustion of World War I, the countries of this land had just begun to rebuild themselves. Of course, social inequality continued to run rampant, along with racial and ethnic discrimination. As the ambitions of those who wish to push the world away from peace continue to keep Matthew and his allies on their toes, they find themselves stunned at the depth of the darkness that can fester within people’s hearts. Regardless of the era, what people truly need is compassion and unity.

It is on this century-old stage that PENNY BLOOD will raise its curtain… Next, I’d like to pass the baton over to Watanabe-san, who worked on creating a beautiful image board for the time period.

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Hello! My name is Watanabe, and I work for STUDIO WILDROSE. It’s very nice to meet you all.

First, I’d like to begin by saying what a valuable experience it was for me to work on this image board. I have spent many years of my life drawing architectural perspectives, and never had any connection to the world of games. I didn’t even know what the word RPG meant… So when I was approached about designing the world of this game using my hand-drawn watercolor touches, it really threw me for a loop. The more details are added, the more you start to lose the hand-drawn touches, but if you start off with too bold of a drawing, you won’t be able to add details. It was quite the dilemma. This has always been the part I had to spend the most time on throughout the process, and I intend to continue using trial and error until I arrive at the proper result.

Lastly, I’d like to leave a short message here for all the fans out there who are looking forward to PENNY BLOOD.

I’m still an amateur when it comes to the world of games – more stumbling about in confusion right at the entrance, if you will – but the one thing I understand is just how vast Director Machida’s world design is. The stories that are about to unfold within that world are very exciting… So I hope you’re all excited as well.

Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity. I think one of the greatest characteristics of this game is its ability to overlap reality with fantasy in its own twisted landscape. The real-life story of 1923 will gradually shift over into a world of darkness, blooming into a dimension that far surpasses any manner of reality. Players will learn of events that never made it into the history books, learn of the transient nature of peace, and perhaps even turn away from some of the shocking events that occur. But no matter how painful or tough things may become, “we still have to live.” That’s the theme of PENNY BLOOD. I hope you’re all ready to witness history through Matthew’s eyes.