The 90s Anime Vibes Are Immaculate in Full Metal Schoolgirl on PS5

90s anime meets Onechanbara melee combat and over-the-top Earth Defense Force action in the impeccably old school Full Metal Schoolgirl.

Developed by Yuke’s – and curiously due out one day after the Japanese studio’s other upcoming project Double Dragon Revive, on 23rd October – the title sees you take control of two cyborg high school girls as they rise up against an evil corporation which is exploiting its workforce.

The official premise, as described by producer Nobuyuki Okajima on the PS Blog, is as follows:

“The battle takes place in a 100-story skyscraper. Standing in your way are the working dead, corporate slaves who have been turned into cyborgs and forced to continue working even after their death. The floor layout and security systems, including traps, change every time you attempt to advance, so you’ll have to go through tons of trial and error as you make your way to the top floor.”

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So this very much sounds like a roguelike, then, where you’ll acquire stronger weapons and fresh loadouts over time.

“If you get a game over, you’ll lose your weapons and equipment and will have to start over from the first floor,” Okajima explained.

“However, you can use the materials and rewards you obtained from defeating enemies, as well as the money you earn from your livestream(?!), to perform enhancement modifications and improve the basic performance of your Machine Girl.”

The full game will have over 100 weapons, so there’ll be plenty to experiment with as you make your way up the skyscraper.

If you’re already sold on the game, then pre-orders will begin from tomorrow, on 2nd July. You’ll get a couple of Onechanbara-inspired costumes for purchasing prior to release, while the Digital Deluxe Edition will include the ‘Now I’m Pissed’ cat accessory for your characters in three different colours.

There’s even a 10% PS Plus discount for those who fancy it.

But are you tempted by what you’ve seen? We must admit, we love the old-school anime vibes, but as a roguelike that mix of melee and ranged combat is going to need to feel impeccable for this project to succeed, isn’t it? One to watch, perhaps.