Nihon Falcom teased a mysterious new project in their business roadmap last December, but it was the February Nintendo Direct that finally pulled back the curtain. We are trading the neon lights of Tokyo for a fictionalised, capital-city Kyoto in 'Kyoto Xanadu: Cherry Blossom Dance' (hereinafter 'Kyoto Xanadu').

Revealed during the Nintendo Direct on the 5th, this new action RPG from Nihon Falcom reimagines modern Japan with Kyoto at its helm. You step into the shoes of 'Ray,' a teenager who awakens as a 'Qualified' protagonist. As a new transfer student at the Hirasaka Academy—a hub for those gifted with supernatural abilities—you are tasked with braving the dangers of the 'Otherworld.'

The combat system is a split affair, balancing 2D action focused on elemental gimmicks and strategic play, alongside technical 3D action. When you aren't fighting, the game shifts into a social simulation. Expect to boost stats in class, forge bonds with classmates, scout out local Kyoto eateries, engage in special events, and manage an action card deck.

Looking back, the original 2015 'Tokyo Xanadu' followed students battling monsters in a fictionalised Tokyo, featuring a mix of slice-of-life adventure and combat using 'Soul Devices.' Whether the move from Tokyo to Kyoto will bring more than just a change of scenery remains the burning question for fans.