D3P's new work "Zenshin Machine Girl" is a casual and fun hack & roguelike! An interview with Nobuyuki Okajima of the "Earth Defense Force" series and "Sister Chanbara"

 

So far, the "Earth Defense Force" series, the "Sister Chanbara" series, the "Dream Club" series, etc. D3 Publisher Nobuyuki Okajima, who has worked on numerous titles, has announced a new action game, Zenshin Machine Girl. It will be compatible with Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5 (PS5), and PC (Steam/Epic Games Store), and will be released on October 23, 2025.

This is an action shooting game in which the main character is a cyborg girl whose entire body is made of machinery, and challenges the structure of a high-rise dungeon that changes every time, and advances to the upper floors while obtaining various weapons. While the game is easy to play with an emphasis on exhilaration, the randomness of the map and acquired items, and the deep enhancement elements make it a casual and challenging game that can be enjoyed over and over again.

In this article, we bring you an interview with Nobuyuki Okajima, the producer of "Zenshin Machine Girl". We asked him about how the game, which is a completely new title from D3 Publisher, was developed, the story behind the production, and the concept behind the game.

Nobuyuki Okajima

Executive Producer of D3 Publishers. So far, he has worked on the "Earth Defense Force" series, the "Sister Chanbara" series, the "Dream Club" series, and the "SIMPLE series".

An idea that has been in the works for more than 10 years has finally been realized

──Please tell us about the concept of your completely new work, Zenshin Machine Girl.

Okajima

 This 

game was developed as a "hack-easy action game with roguelike elements." The main theme is the intense combat and destruction that the heroine of a full-body weapon takes place in the confined space of a high-rise building. It has a shooting TPS element and a slashing action element, plus a roguelike element that changes the structure of the floor.

──So the development is done by YUKE'S.

Okajima

: 

Yes. "Shikaku will appear again on the square earth!? Following Digibok Earth Defense Force 2 EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: WORLD BROTHERS (released in 2024), we asked Yuke's to do it.

──As a D3 Publisher, this is a challenge to new genres, but how did development begin?

Okajima

: The 

concept of an action game in which a woman with a cyborg-like weapon fights has been around for more than 10 years.

One of the reasons is that there have been works based on cyborgs and characters with weapons in anime and movies, but there were surprisingly few in games. As an aside, in terms of characters, I like Cyborg 004 from "Cyborg 009" and Talos from "Crusher Joe", and I am a person who feels melancholy and romance.

There have been several times in the past when I have thought about actually producing it as a product, but it has never come to fruition. However, as I worked with the creators of YUKE'S several times, I began to think, "Wouldn't these people be able to make something good with this idea that I had been working on for 10 years?" While explaining the outline of this title, I approached him about the production.

── The setting is "Showa 164", so there is an atmosphere of Heisei cyberpunk in the film, such as the latest gals and 1990s gal-like clothes. How did you decide on the time period?

Okajima

 When 

the enemy became a black company and the sick worldview in which working for Moretsu was a virtue was established, it was decided to spice up the tastes of the 1980s and 1990s.

We were originally talking about setting the date to "Showa 100", but recently we changed it to Showa 164. "If it's Showa 100, it's 2025 when converted to the Western calendar, and it's this year! That's what I ...... realized.

──Surely (wouldn't you have noticed it sooner...... ）。

Okajima

 Hmm? Something? Anyway, in the work, cyborg technology and biopunk technology are evolving, and there is a big gap between the world view of the game world and reality. However, 50 years from now, I wonder if there will be a chance...... As a result of thinking about it, we came to the conclusion that "the Showa era ended in 64, so let's add 100 to 64 to make 164." So, at first glance, Showa 164 is an odd number, but it is a very meaningful number.

──You can feel the unique taste of D3 Publisher everywhere. It smells like the "SIMPLE series" .......

Okajima

: 

Yes. In a good way, I would be happy if you could get the impression that it is a game that only we would have made. Again, in a good way.

──I'd also like to see the SIMPLE series version of Zenshin Machine Girl. By the way, the gadgets and the stage also have a unique taste, but were there any problems or difficulties during production?

Okajima

: 

I've never been worried. If I was worried, I wouldn't make a game like this (laughs). However, it may have been difficult for the creators at the development site.

As an example, the enemies in this game, the "Working Dead", say something when they are destroyed, and even those words are kneaded with the taste of the 1980s, the end of the Showa era, and the early Heisei period. Even though it pays homage to the Showa and Heisei eras, I think there were many things that the younger creator generation did not understand. They did a lot of research.

──In the Showa and early Heisei eras, black companies were not uncommon.

Okajima

 That's right. I think it was a time when the term and concept of black companies did not yet exist. If anything, I belong to the generation that became a member of society in an era where overtime work was still the norm.

In order to complete the composition of "a cyborg high school girl gets on a huge corporation and takes revenge", the setting that the enemy giant corporation is a black company was indispensable, and I think it became an important piece. It's easy to understand as a justification for revenge, isn't it? Thanks to the existence of the term "black company."

── The development of this game is black...... There is no such thing, right?

Okajima

: 

I don't think so (laughs).

──That's good (laughs). This game has such a Showa feel, but why did you include modern elements such as "the battle is live-streamed and you can earn money by throwing money" in the game?

Okajima

 This is an idea from Mr. Yuke's. I think the concept of "distributing and getting tips, and earning money for remodeling" existed in the early stages. This game is set in a Showa-like setting, but the technology is developing in a strange place, so I think it's a great idea with a sense of mismatch. Well, it's an idea that an old man like me who is not of the distribution generation does not have.

──The creators of YUKE'S are also taking the initiative to come up with ideas.

Okajima

: 

Absolutely. My job is to be the producer in charge, so I set the direction of the product and make adjustments, but I don't say much about it, even if I have creative ideas. My role is to ask professional creators to come up with ideas, and then make a choice.

──I see.

Okajima

 As 

with the small story of the Showa ~ early Heisei period that I mentioned earlier, we have worked together on several projects, and I trust him, and he has helped me a lot.

The character models are also anime-style, but the body and movement are close to the realistic taste, and we aim for a line that will be accepted by a wide range of players. Speaking of Yuke's, I had an image that he seemed to be good at muscular characters, but in this work, he created very enthusiastic and cute protagonists.

──It's certainly a cute model. By the way, there are two main characters in this work, Ryoko Aravo and Akemi Minami-Azabu, but are there any differences in the story, events, performance, etc., depending on the characters you choose?

Okajima

 There 

is no difference in performance no matter which one you choose. Machine Girl appears in a mechanized but not yet finished form. Therefore, the performance is changed by the player to enhance and modify.

The storyline is almost the same, but these two have very different personalities, so there are some differences in the content of the dialogue, such as the secondary characters and the responses to the enemies. I feel that the contrast between these two has something in common with Meg and Non in the TV anime "Meg-chan the Witch" (broadcast in 1974~1975).

Unfortunately, I don't know much about ...... work. When did you make this work?

Okajima

 It's Showa. Don't you know the cornerstone and milestone of magical girl anime?

──No~, that's really ....... I was born in Heisei 8 and .......

Okajima:

 You're young. Then it's obvious that you don't know. Wait a minute....... Yes! May I? Take a look at this first. (Pull out the PC without hesitation). This is Meg, the witch. And this is non. It looks quite different, doesn't it?

The two have different personalities, and the viewers are divided into the cheerful Meg faction and the cool non-faction. In the same way, two types of girls were indispensable for this work, "Zenshin Machine Girl", Ryoko Aravomi and Akemi Minami-Azabu, a girl who looks like a bright gal and a girl who feels cool and twangy!

Okajima P suddenly became a Showa talking uncle.

── I see. Very well understood.

A work for those who like "Sister Chanbara" and those who are not good at action

──Some people may feel that this game is similar to "Sister Chanbara" because the enemies are zombie-like and the setting is set in which girls fight with weapons, but will the gameplay feel and gameplay be quite different?

Okajima

 That's right. It's true that even though it's a cyborg, the main character is a woman, and the fast-paced action has something in common. The fact that we have prepared Aya's battle uniform and Saki's uniform from "Sister Chanbara" as pre-order benefits and first-time benefits is also appealing to those who like "Sister Chanbara".

However, unlike "Sister Chanbara," a swordplay action game where you can slash enemies and score combos while moving stylishly and feel the exhilaration, "Zenshin Machine Girl" will focus on TPS combat using machine guns and other gunfire. Of course, you'll also need to engage in melee combat with chainsaws and blades, but the ratio will depend on your playstyle.

In addition, although the game is easy to play, the map and drop items are exciting with an element of luck, and the direction is to create a work that emphasizes strategy, such as customization of the main character, boss battles, and map gimmicks.

Pre-order and first bonus "Sister Chanbara" Aya's battle uniform and Saki's uniform.

──It's true that compared to "Sister Chanbara," it has a more casual atmosphere.

Okajima

 That's right. In terms of ratings, "Sister Chanbara" is CERO Z, and it is assumed that it will not be sold to anyone under the age of 18.

── In that case, do you tend to refrain from extreme depictions...... Is it like that?

Okajima

: 

This film is rated D. There are expressions aimed at people over 17 years old, so they contain extreme depictions according to the age category. An example of a depiction would be the expression of the enemy's defects and the expression of the main character's costume.

Would you mind asking me more about the costumes of the main characters?

Okajima

: 

Absolutely. As for the appearance of the main character, the elements that can be changed are costumes and accessories. As you progress through the game, you will be able to unlock different colors of uniforms, which are the initial costumes.

As I mentioned earlier, in addition to the "Sister Chanbara" costumes that come with pre-order bonuses, various costumes will be released as DLC (downloadable content), so please look forward to that as well. In addition, you can attach fashion items that make you feel the Showa and Heisei era as accessories.

──I see, I can't wait for the release. What is the estimated time to complete the main story itself?

Okajima

 If you play for the first time and the difficulty is normal, it will take about 10 hours to go up from the first floor to the 100th floor...... I think. But until you get to that point, I think it will actually take more time to train weapons and protagonists. It might be better for this kind of game to make the time it takes to complete one lap a little more compact, but .......

──There are easy, normal, and hard difficulty settings, but what are the differences?

Okajima

 It's still being adjusted, but the items you can pick up don't change much even if you change the difficulty, and the strength of the enemies changes. It is difficult for those who are looking for chewy action, and even if you are interested in it but are not good at action, if you use it in conjunction with the enhanced mod, we have adjusted it so that you can go to the ending.

──Is there an element of replay after clearing the game?

Okajima

: 

It's still a secret...... Right. When I say secret, it's like saying "there is"! (laughs)

── Even if you put a secret on it?

Okajima

: 

It's okay. If it's just a "secret", it's .......

── So it's a secret. By the way, are there any online or multiplayer elements?

Okajima

: 

No, there is none. We try to make it a work that can be enjoyed only because it is offline-only, so that you can enjoy it in a way that you can enjoy it alone for a day, or you can enjoy it casually while drinking beer and eating snacks.

Aiming for a game that does not betray users who are interested in it

──Lastly, what do you want to achieve with Zenshin Machine Girl?

Okajima

: 

Seriously, it's ....... At the moment, we are working hard together with everyone involved to release a work that will satisfy users on October 23, 2025. In particular, what we are aiming for is not to disappoint those who have seen the announcement of this product or read this interview and are interested.

──I see, is the game already complete?

Okajima

: 

Of course, not yet. Something?????? Even a problem?

── No, no! Right now, it's in the final push. …… By the way, when you think of Mr. Okajima, I think of the "Earth Defense Force" series, but can we expect more from that series in the future?

Okajima

: 

Oh no, today I'm just talking about "Zenshin Machine Girl". I can't say anything else. Naturally, a secret.

- Secret.

Okajima

: 

That's right. It's a secret.

──In that case, it will be a story about "being" movement, just like the replay element of "Zenshin Machine Girl".

Okajima

 Oh...... Oh I see? Then, silent. Silence is the answer.

Okajima P became a producer who never said a word. First of all, keep an eye out for "Zenshin Machine Girl," which is scheduled to be released on October 23rd!