MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA is the newest entry within the Melty Blood preventing sport sequence, a spin-off that includes characters from TYPE-MOON’s visible novel Tsukihime. It’s the successor to 2021’s MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA, which was primarily based on the Tsukihime -A bit of blue glass moon- remake. Forward of its launch subsequent April, an early demo and media session had been held for the sport at Tokyo Recreation Present 2026. On this article, I’ll go over the brand new methods I acquired to check out within the demo, particulars on the brand new “Grand Situation Mode” revealed throughout the session, and a quick Q&A with the builders.
The brand new Act Mode and advanced Fast Beats
Beginning off with the demo. Probably the most noteworthy additions system-wise are Act Mode and the Lumina Gauge. Act Mode is a brand new enter mode being launched for the primary time with Twi-Lumina. The sport’s conventional enter scheme, then again, has been named “Duel Mode” to differentiate between the 2. Act Mode basically presents simplified controls, permitting you to make use of one-button particular strikes, dashes, auto combos, and extra.
The best way one-button particular strikes work is fairly normal: you may carry out command specials by combining a directional enter with the special-move button. For instance, a particular transfer with a quarter-circle-forward command might be carried out by urgent the special-move button whereas holding impartial, whereas one with a DP movement might be carried out by urgent the button whereas holding ahead.
One factor I observed throughout the demo was you could nonetheless carry out particular strikes utilizing their conventional instructions whereas in Act Mode. Notably, there was a transparent injury distinction between one-button inputs and conventional instructions. This isn’t primarily based on visible commentary of well being bar modifications, however moderately on the truth that the in-game combo injury show clearly confirmed that one-button particular strikes dealt about 10 % much less injury (although, in fact, these specs could also be topic to vary within the remaining launch).
Subsequent up is the auto-combo system. The unique sport already got here with an auto-combo function known as Fast Beat, however this has been taken a step additional in Act Mode. Particularly, Act Mode permits you to use three forms of Fast Beats by repeatedly urgent the A, B, or C buttons.
The A-button Fast Beat is similar as within the earlier sport, mechanically performing an aerial combo after launching the opponent and ending with an air throw. The B-button Fast Beat routes into the Gauntlet mechanic, a brand new system that I’ll get into in additional element later.
When used throughout a combo, Gauntlet modifications right into a combo-part model with an extended untechable time. Since this Fast Beat “loops” as soon as it routes into Gauntlet, repeatedly urgent the B button successfully leads to a looping combo that continues with Gauntlet enders for so long as the participant has Lumina Gauge remaining.
Lastly, the C-button Fast Beat transitions right into a route that results in an Arc Drive, or a brilliant. Since you may change between the three forms of Fast Beats throughout a combo, it’s attainable to, for instance, affirm {that a} ↓+A low assault has related, change to repeatedly urgent B to hold the combo via Gauntlet, after which change to C to complete with an Arc Drive.
The Lumina Gauge replaces the Moon Gauge
Lastly, the Lumina Gauge. Displayed beneath the well being gauge as a sequence of related stars, it is a new system that replaces the Moon Gauge from Sort Lumina. The Lumina Gauge will increase via particular actions. As soon as it’s full, performing an motion that consumes Lumina Gauge will trigger the participant to enter a “break” state. On this state, the participant can’t carry out any actions that devour Lumina Gauge, whereas incoming injury additionally seems to extend.
The Lumina Gauge usually decreases once you land assaults on the opponent, with an Arc Drive inflicting a very giant lower. It appears you’ll must fastidiously handle each the Lumina Gauge and Magic Circuit whereas making use of highly effective system mechanics that enhance the Lumina Gauge, all whereas avoiding a break state.
By the way, though the Moon Gauge itself has been eliminated, Moon Drive expertise stay and are one of many actions that enhance the Lumina Gauge.
Gauntlet feels a bit like Road Fighter 6’s Drive Affect
As talked about above, Gauntlet has additionally been added as a brand new system mechanic that will increase the Lumina Gauge. Activated by urgent A+C concurrently, Gauntlet is a dashing overhead assault with armor from the very starting of its startup. It may be used to retaliate whereas absorbing an opponent’s assault, whereas a Gauntlet carried out after the opponent’s can result in a form of “Gauntlet counter.” If it hits an opponent close to the nook, it might additionally wall splat them and lead right into a combo. For gamers conversant in Road Fighter 6, its total really feel is kind of much like Drive Affect. Nevertheless, there are some essential variations: Gauntlet can’t be adopted up right into a combo when it hits in the course of the display, and though it’s an overhead assault, it might nonetheless be blocked.
As I briefly talked about within the clarification of Fast Beats, Gauntlet additionally modifications properties when used throughout a combo. It turns into an assault with an extended untechable interval that launches the opponent, permitting it to perform as a combo extender at the price of Lumina Gauge. The demo additionally allowed us to check out the brand new character Len and launched some changes to present characters, together with a further particular transfer for Shiki, in addition to modifications that enable sure particular strikes for use with out spending Arc Drive. Nevertheless, it was troublesome to cowl every part throughout the 15-minute demo session, and there’s a good likelihood some specs will change within the remaining model.
The Grand Situation Mode penned by Kinoko Nasu
The Grand Situation Mode – one in every of Twi-Lumina’s main new options – was additionally detailed throughout a media session separate from the demo. That is basically the sport’s story mode, that includes a situation newly written by Kinoko Nasu.
The general UI evokes Tsukihime -A bit of blue glass moon-, with the mode consisting of visual-novel-style segments the place gamers learn textual content throughout all the display, and journey game-style sections that includes character sprites alongside a message window on the backside of the display. Some sections additionally use pixel-art character sprites, whereas battles can seem relying on the story’s development and the alternatives made. These will not be merely battles towards the CPU, both; because it seems gamers will generally face devoted characters with particular skills unique to the Grand Situation Mode.
Most notable of all, nevertheless, is the sheer quantity of content material. The Grand Situation Mode’s story reportedly accommodates round 20 hours’ value of playtime, which is an distinctive quantity for an accompanying mode in a preventing sport. It won’t be an exaggeration to say that TWI-LUMINA is a sport that mixes a preventing sport with a visible novel.
Q&A with director Kamone Serizawa
Lastly, here’s a temporary take a look at the Q&A session held throughout the joint media session. The questions had been answered by sport director Kamone Serizawa of French-Bread.
―Implementing a mode this closely targeted on the story in a brand new title looks like a reasonably daring change in route. Was there a specific purpose behind this determination?
Serizawa:
As you say, that is fairly a brand new endeavor, and we’ve got put a substantial quantity of effort into it by way of growth sources. The Melty Blood sequence has been round for a very long time, so the muse of the sport itself is effectively established. We even have loads of expertise, and we’re assured that we are able to make a preventing sport that’s correctly entertaining each time.
Nevertheless, if that’s all we provide, in the end, solely present followers and preventing sport followers will play it. One of many main appeals of the TYPE-MOON model is the eventualities written by Kinoko Nasu, so we needed to take advantage of that and usher in a brand new viewers. We additionally needed to convey the attraction of preventing video games to these gamers. That’s why we determined to place a lot effort into the Grand Situation Mode.
―Was the introduction of the Act Mode motivated by the same purpose?
Serizawa:
Sure, we launched it in order that gamers who buy the sport for the Grand Situation Mode and aren’t skilled with preventing video games can nonetheless correctly get pleasure from it and expertise what makes preventing video games enjoyable.
―The earlier sport featured collaboration characters from Destiny. Will characters like these be concerned within the Grand Situation Mode this time?
Serizawa:
Since it is a situation mode centered on Tsukihime and Melty Blood as its spinoff work, collaboration characters will mainly not play a task.
―Current characters have additionally obtained changes. May you inform us concerning the idea behind the stability changes?
Serizawa:
We’ve got adjusted each character in order that gamers can method them with a recent feeling as a brand new sport. As for our total method, I believe there have been some features of the earlier sport that had turn out to be just a little difficult, so we’ve got organized these parts and made them extra intuitive to play.
―Thanks very a lot.
MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA is scheduled to launch on April 22, 2027, for PC (Steam), PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Nintendo Swap and Nintendo Swap 2.