Konami shows off Rhapsody in Scarlet's beast-summoning combat

Konami released a new gameplay trailer for Rhapsody in Scarlet, showing off the action-adventure game's beast-summoning combat. The publisher originally revealed the title during PlayStation's September 3 State of Play broadcast. This latest look details how protagonist Ellie Myers strings together magic and monster attacks in a 1920s New York setting. The combat looks fast.

The combat relies on a mix of close-range strikes, area-of-effect spells, and beast summons. Ellie fights alongside a companion named Sköll, chaining together abilities from a large magick arsenal. The trailer shows her riding an aquatic dragon across water and clashing with a volcanic boss monster. I want to see how fluid the transition between standard attacks and beast summons feels in practice, especially when the screen fills with particle effects.

A 1920s mafia problem

The game takes place in a stylized version of New York City. Ellie arrives in town to pursue a career as a jazz singer, but she quickly runs into a secret society of magic users operating under the soaring skyscrapers. She teams up with Ilya, the serious-minded leader of an elite magus organization called the Seekers. Ilya was raised by her father Harold, the head of the Sorcellerie Quarter, and she values order above everything else.

Naturally, she frequently clashes with the free-spirited Ellie, who refuses to be bound by rules or authority. The two characters investigate a mysterious mafia conspiracy that threatens the world balance. The premise isn't exactly groundbreaking anime logic, but it works well enough as scaffolding for a fast-paced action game.

Death jazz and magick

Konami is leaning heavily into the musical theme. The opening track, "HOT/COOL", is a collaboration between singer-songwriter Emi Meyer and the Japanese jazz band SOIL & "PIMP" SESSIONS. Meyer is a Kyoto-born, Seattle-raised artist whose 2015 release Monochrome topped iTunes Jazz charts. She brings a blend of jazz and contemporary pop to the soundtrack.

SOIL & "PIMP" SESSIONS provides the instrumental backing. The explosive group features an agitator, trumpet, piano, and bass. They are known for a high-energy style they call "DEATH JAZZ", a mix of raw energy and virtuosity that previously earned them the BBC Worldwide Award for John Peel Play More Jazz. It's a fitting musical backdrop for throwing fireballs at demons.

Unreal Engine across three platforms

Konami has been steadily increasing its console output recently, and an original action-adventure IP adds some variety to their usual lineup of established franchises. The decision to launch simultaneously on multiple platforms means most current-generation console owners will have access to it on day one.

Rhapsody in Scarlet is built on Unreal Engine. It's currently available to wishlist on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. Konami hasn't announced a final release date or pricing details on the official website, and the ESRB rating is still pending.