NC's new subculture title, 'Astraea Oratio', is set in a fictionalized version of 1989 Tokyo. This unusual era setting has sparked various discussions, and Dynamis One Art Director Kim In recently shed light on why this specific period was chosen.

Astraea Oratio participated in Comiket, held at Tokyo Big Sight from August 15 to 16. Through an interview with Art Director Kim In, NC revealed specific details about the game.

As previously mentioned, the game is set in a fictionalized 1989 Tokyo. It adopts the 'shin-denki' genre—a sub-genre of urban fantasy originating in Japan, characterized by supernatural elements invading the modern world—and follows a government official in a magic-related department as they encounter various characters. The genre gained popularity from the 90s to the early 2000s, with notable works including The Garden of Sinners, Shakugan no Shana, and the Persona series.

Regarding the choice of 1989 Tokyo, Art Director Kim In stated, "As the game is themed around magic and the shin-denki genre, I felt that Japan and Tokyo could serve as the central stage. There are many works in the market set in the near-future or Western locales, so we wanted to try something different by exploring 'nostalgia'."

The core themes of Astraea Oratio are magic, shin-denki, and administration. Magic is expressed as something alien blending into daily life in ways citizens don't notice. Art Director Kim In explained, "For example, a house overgrown with foliage might be wedged between buildings, or a character dressed as a witch might be standing in a crowd without anyone noticing. We want to start and expand the world from such lighthearted, curious questions."

Regarding the shin-denki aspect, he emphasized a cold image. Art Director Kim In explained, "The image of shin-denki felt more like winter than summer, with a strong contrast between day and night. So, we focused on blue to convey the cold air of winter, while balancing it with spring-like pink and green to ensure it doesn't become too dark."

Finally, administration was adopted as a material to add unique characteristics to the magic. Art Director Kim In mentioned, "We are focusing on maps and landmarks that can represent administration. In addition, we wanted to convey the bureaucratic atmosphere by adding analog props such as suits, neat documents, ID cards, stamps, nameplates, and business cards."

Another keyword is 'lyrical analog'. Art Director Kim In said, "We wanted to capture the texture of the era when shin-denki was popular. We pondered how to present familiar material in a fresh way, but concluded that it was better to preserve the classic charm of the genre rather than forcing a twist. I believe 'analog' is the best way to capture that classic feel."

He added that he was deeply attracted to the lyrical sensibility of the prologue written by scenario director isakusan, which led to setting 'lyrical analog' as the core keyword. The overall art style and direction were handled by DoReMi, and the background design was handled by feev99.

Art Director Kim In added, "We are striving to showcase visuals that fit current trends while centering on 'lyrical analog'. For visuals based on actual locations like the Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower, we are enhancing quality through on-site research. We even walked through Minato City several times for research."

As mentioned, Astraea Oratio participated in Comiket and showcased a teaser art book on-site. Art Director Kim In said, "It was a guide created to synchronize perceptions with fellow developers and collaborative departments. After the full-scale teaser, I thought it would be great to share it with fans as well. I hope you enjoy it as an element to lightly understand the world and characters before the Astraea Oratio narrative unfolds."