2021 marks 20 years since the popular manga seriesFullmetal Alchemistdebuted, and earlier this year, Square Enix celebrated the anniversary by announcing that it will be releasing abrand new mobile game based onFullmetal Alchemist. Back then, it hinted that it would have more to show before the end of the year, and now it has delivered with the first glimpse ofFullmetal Alchemist Mobilein action.
For the uninitiated,Fullmetal Alchemistwascreated by Hiromu Arakawaand is set in a world where a fantasy alchemy system allows people to magically rearrange matter. The story follows brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric after an attempt to bring their dead mother back to life with alchemy goes horribly wrong, leaving Edward missing an arm and a leg and Alphonse reduced to a soul bonded to a suit of armor. This sets them on a journey to find a way to restore their bodies, all the while encountering a large, memorable cast and uncovering plenty of dark secrets about their world.
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Fullmetal Alchemist Mobilewill let players reexperience that story in a whole new way.Square Enixconfirmed with a new trailer that the game will be released for iOS and Android devices in Japan next summer, and that it will be free-to-play with in-game purchases. So far, though, nothing has been said about a release outside Japan, so it remains to be seen when or if an international launch will happen down the line.
Gameplay-wise, details are still a little sparse, as the trailer and official website (as per Gematsu’s translation) focus more on how the game will tellFullmetal Alchemist’s story, featuring “numerous famous scenes” recreated in “beautiful 3D CG” as well as a full and “extravagant” voice cast. That said, Square Enix does show gameplay of Edward and Alphonse fighting a man atop a train with a fighting game-esque UI, and it teases that players will be treated to “exhilarating” and “heated alchemy battles” with fan-favorite characters including the Elrics, Roy Mustang, and more.
Plenty of manga and anime series likeDragon Ball,Naruto, etc. have managed to produce a number of popular game adaptations, yetFullmetal Alchemisthasn’t had much success in that regard. A few attempts have been made in the last 20 years, but none have come close to reaching the status shared by games likeNaruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja StormorDragon Ball FigherZ. It’s too soon to guess ifFullmetal Alchemist Mobilewill share the same fate or finally buck the trend, but with any luck, fans will get a game as unforgettable as the series it’s based on.
Fullmetal Alchemist Mobilewill launch in Japan in summer 2022 for iOS and Android devices.
