Renowned Japanese indie studio PenGames has revealed that its enchanting visual novel combined with a shooting game, ULTRA0 (pronounced “Ultra Zero”), is set to arrive on June 2 for PC via Steam. The game offers a narrative-driven pseudo-3D shooter experience that seamlessly shifts between combat sequences and visual novel segments, all presented with charming pixel-art visuals.
ULTRA0 unfolds in the imaginary N Country, a land plagued by years of unending monster assaults. With the population nearing extinction, brave young girls step forward to defend their homeland, taking up arms against colossal kaiju on the front lines of battle.
The combat portions of ULTRA0 are designed to be approachable for newcomers, featuring intuitive controls that allow players to dive into high-octane battles without a steep learning curve. Players primarily manage the protagonist’s movement via the analog stick—note that ULTRA0 currently supports controllers exclusively—and attacks are automatically unleashed when enemies are locked onto, freeing players to concentrate on evasion. Bombs and special abilities can be activated with a single button press for added tactical depth.
As you progress through ULTRA0’s stages, you’ll gather upgrade items that let you pick one enhancement from three random choices. These upgrades can bolster stats like attack strength, firing velocity, and cooldown durations. Occasionally, item effects may be amplified up to threefold, offering powerful temporary advantages.
The visual novel segments delve into the personal stories of the girls waging war against the kaiju. The narrative unfolds in episodic chapters, each spotlighting a different protagonist. The opening chapter introduces Shirogane, a skilled fighter serving in the elite Area 81 unit. Renowned for repeatedly rescuing her comrades with her exceptional combat prowess, she is tasked with eliminating an unidentified giant kaiju.
Story elements remain woven into the gameplay through a smartphone-inspired UI that appears at the screen’s edge. Here, real-time messages from allies appear, covering everything from tactical battlefield updates to casual everyday chats among the girls, gradually enriching the game’s world and character development.
PenGames is the creative studio of indie developer Peng, who previously gained acclaim for the demanding 2D precision-platformer MOMIBOSU, which boasts a “Very Positive” rating on Steam. Peng has been sharing development insights on ULTRA0 for some time, and the game is now finally set to launch with an official release date confirmed.
ULTRA0 is slated to launch on PC via Steam on June 2.