1920s New York has never looked quite like this. Konami has unveiled Rhapsody in Scarlet, a stylish new action-adventure that throws magick, mystical beasts and a mysterious mafia organization into the middle of the Jazz Age.
Currently in development for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam, Rhapsody in Scarlet puts players in the shoes of Ellie Myers, a young magus who travels to New York with dreams of becoming a jazz singer. Unfortunately for Ellie, her new life in the city is about to become considerably more complicated.
Behind the bright lights, bustling streets and nightlife of 1920s New York, a secret conflict involving magick users is already underway. Ellie soon finds herself caught in the middle of a conspiracy involving a mysterious mafia organization, forcing her to put her supernatural abilities to use against enemies threatening far more than just the city.
Konami’s first look at Rhapsody in Scarlet showcases an action system built around combining magick with the powers of mystical beasts. Players will be able to chain together attacks from different ranges and switch between beasts during combat, giving them plenty of opportunities to change their approach depending on the situation.
Close-range attacks, long-distance abilities and area-of-effect techniques can all be mixed together, with the game encouraging players to experiment with different combinations rather than simply relying on one powerful ability. Switching between beasts will also allow Ellie to access different skills and adapt to changing encounters.
That could make for some particularly flashy combat, and the first footage certainly seems intent on making sure Rhapsody in Scarlet lives up to its stylish name.
Of course, the combat is only one part of what makes Konami’s new game stand out. Rhapsody in Scarlet is taking players to a period that isn’t exactly a common setting for supernatural action games. Its version of 1920s New York draws inspiration from the architecture, automobiles, fashion and nightlife of the era, creating a backdrop where the glamour of the Jazz Age sits alongside a much darker hidden world.
And yes, there is plenty of jazz.
Music is being positioned as an important part of the game’s identity, with jazz-inspired tracks accompanying Ellie’s journey and helping establish the atmosphere of the period. The game’s theme song, “Cool/Hot,” is performed by SOIL & “PIMP” SESSIONS with singer-songwriter Emi Meyer, bringing a swing-infused sound to the game’s supernatural world.
The song was featured during the latest KONAMI PRESS START broadcast, which also included comments from members of the development team and offered a closer look at the game’s setting and creative direction.
Ellie’s story will also introduce her to Ilya Jones, a talented young magus associated with an elite organization known as the Seekers. What begins as a series of encounters with the mysterious mafia organization gradually pulls Ellie and Ilya deeper into a conflict that could have consequences far beyond New York.
Ellie, voiced by Cherami Leigh, is introduced as someone who arrives in the city with relatively straightforward ambitions. She wants to pursue her dream of becoming a jazz singer, but her abilities as a magus make it impossible for her to remain on the sidelines once the supernatural conflict begins to escalate.
Ilya, voiced by Hannah Grace, is already familiar with the world Ellie is only beginning to discover. Her connection to the Seekers places her directly in the growing conflict, eventually bringing the two characters together as they attempt to uncover what is really happening behind the scenes.
There is still plenty we don’t know about Rhapsody in Scarlet, including when the game will actually launch, but its premise alone makes it one of Konami’s more unusual upcoming projects. A supernatural take on 1920s New York gives the developers plenty of room to play with the contrast between the era’s glitzy nightlife and the dangerous world hiding underneath it.
Throw in a young aspiring jazz singer who can wield magick, mystical creatures that can be commanded in battle and a shadowy mafia conspiracy, and Rhapsody in Scarlet certainly isn’t short on ideas.
Whether all of those elements ultimately come together as well as they do in the reveal is something we’ll have to wait to see. For now, however, Konami has introduced a game with a setting and aesthetic that are difficult to mistake for anything else.
Rhapsody in Scarlet is currently available to wishlist on Steam, with Konami expected to reveal more about the game in the future.
Konami has released both an Announcement Trailer and a Story Trailer to introduce the game, giving players their first substantial look at the characters, setting and supernatural action.