PlayStation 4 Archetype Arcadia

Salvation lies only in an ancient online game

A fully voiced visual-novel adventure of endings and rebirth unfolds in a world of despair, brought to collapse by a mysterious disease.

Peccatomania, the Original Sin disease, drives those afflicted to harm themselves and others. To save his younger sister Kristin, who has developed the illness, Rust logs into the full-dive online game Archetype Arcadia, regarded as the only way to suppress its symptoms.

Inside this game, where people transform their memories into avatars and fight, he finds memories he should have lost, hope, lamentation, joy, betrayal and inescapable death.

What truth awaits within this gruesome story guided by supposedly lost memories?

A desperate, brutal tale in an apocalyptic virtual world

After the collapse of human civilisation, Rust steels himself to enter the ancient online game for his sister's sake. What he encounters is a world utterly different from reality, yet broken in much the same way.

Battles in which players pit avatars created from their memories against one another shape a strange world filled with loneliness. As Rust becomes entangled in the world's collapse and many upheavals, the story presents harsh, dark developments with a compelling intensity that makes it difficult to look away.

Through its gruesome ordeals, this tale of endings and rebirth confronts you with the strength needed to live. Its overwhelming scope may even change the colours of your own world.

Memories that should have been lost

People fight inside the game using avatars born from their memories. Rust, too, is forced to encounter precious memories he should have lost, along with other people's powerful recollections.

When he comes into contact with their pasts and exposed emotions, what future will he have to face?

More than 1.2 million Japanese characters and around 50 hours of play

The scenario contains over 1.2 million Japanese characters, with approximately 50 hours of play anticipated. A single creator produces this immense scenario and every illustration in the game.

This is a gruesome and cruel story, sometimes beautiful, told on an overwhelming scale.

Companions—or something else?

Rust's beloved younger sister; a lovable figure adored as everyone's idol; a mysterious girl whose true thoughts are difficult to grasp; a girl who protects herself with an untroubled smile; a young man seeking to end the world...

The many compelling characters who appear before Rust sometimes block his path and sometimes extend a hand with a smile. Are they really his allies?

Discovering what they conceal deep within their hearts, as it gradually comes to light, is another of the story's attractions. Raw emotions collide in developments that are candid, unsettling and lively.

Every part of the story is fully voiced, lending vivid presence to its many twists and encounters.

Scenario, illustrations and music from distinctive talents

R of Water Phoenix, who created the disaster-world adventure Saiaku Naru Saiyaku Ningen ni Sasagu, handles the entire scenario and all illustrations alone.

R vividly depicts deep darkness woven through a devastated world and a gentle gaze emerging from despair, together with hope and numerous luminous illustrations.

Nonoto of STUDIO CARNAVAL, who composed music for Raging Loop and Death Match Love Comedy!, provides dramatic sound that also deserves your attention.

Return easily to passages you have already read

Simple access to previously read chapters and sections makes rereading during the story comfortable. The skip function also lets you pass over text you have already read with ease.

PlayStation 5 upgrade

Owners of the physical PlayStation 4 version can obtain the downloadable PlayStation 5 version as a PS5 upgrade at no additional charge.

This disc-based upgrade requires a PlayStation 5 console with a disc drive. It is unavailable on the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition, which has no disc drive.