FuRyu is teaming up with renowned author and scenario writer Romeo Tanaka to develop the characters, world, and story for its upcoming third-person shooter and survival horror game, Anomalith. Tanaka, celebrated for his work on visual novels such as Cross Channel and Stella of the End, as well as the light novel series Humanity Has Declined, recently shared insights into Anomalith’s narrative and the creation of its protagonist, Reona Minazuki.
When her friend vanishes inside an Anomaly Zone—a natural disaster-like phenomenon—17-year-old Reona Mizuki joins a government-supported organization called the Anomaly Zone Countermeasures Office as a Diver. Divers are tasked with exploring these zones to gather data that could shed light on the calamities. This role gives Reona a chance to search for her missing friend. During her inaugural dive, Reona discovers unique abilities that enable her to venture into uncharted territory within the Anomaly Zones, aiming to uncover their origins, locate her friend, and understand her newfound powers.
According to Tanaka, the game’s story will immerse Reona in a harsh environment, showcasing her thought process and decision-making as she confronts challenging situations. During development, the team debated whether to portray Reona as a seasoned professional or an inexperienced amateur, as this would significantly alter the story’s direction.
Tanaka references Resident Evil: Requiem’s dual protagonists, Leon Kennedy and Grace Ashcroft, to illustrate this dilemma. The choice was akin to deciding between a “Leon-style” or “Grace-style” lead: Leon is a battle-hardened survivor, while Grace is more ordinary, less combat-ready, and more prone to fear.
Tanaka explains that opting for an amateur protagonist like Grace would have shifted the game’s focus toward amplifying horror and the threat of otherworldly entities—a direction more suited for pure horror titles. Since Anomalith was envisioned as a “supernatural action” game from the outset, and considering FuRyu’s typical style, Tanaka opted for a “cool” protagonist with heroic qualities. Consequently, Reona was designed as a character with exceptional mental resilience.
Tanaka also noted that the SCP Foundation was cited as an early reference for Anomalith. Building on this, he conceptualized Reona as a character who, much like a Class-D personnel member, possesses an extraordinary aptitude for supernatural phenomena.
Despite her competence and occasional seriousness, Reona’s personality is far from one-dimensional. Based on the demo experience, her interactions with colleagues at the Anomaly Zone Countermeasures Office reveal aspects of her that don’t quite fit the typical Diver archetype. Notably, her conversations with the diver-turned-handler Yuiga Koda, who maintains a calm facade but panics under pressure, bring out unexpected reactions from her. Much like Leon Kennedy’s occasional dad jokes, Reona’s moments of lightheartedness make her more relatable to players.
ANOMALITH is scheduled to release on October 28 for PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2. A free demo is available on all platforms.