On September 24, 2026, Arc System Works’ all-new RPG, *Clifa: The God-Like One*, will be released for Nintendo Switch,PS5, and PC (Steam,Epic Games Store).
Arc System Works is known for bringing popular 2D fighting games such as *GUILTY GEAR* and *BLAZBLUE* to the world. Developed by Arc System Works and Unite Plus, this title features an innovative battle system billed as a “Tactical Counter Timeline RPG.”
The game’s designer and director is Satoshi Hirahachie, known for *CRYMACHINA*, while character illustrations are by Rorua.
The key visual, with its striking occult and ominous atmosphere, and the setting of Tokyo—where reality has been eroded by a catastrophe known as the “Collapse of the World” and supernatural phenomena run rampant—are intriguing enough on their own. However, the game’s biggest draw is undoubtedly its unique battle system.
In this article, we’ll be playing *Clifa: The Divine Visage* firsthand. We’ll deliver a report-style overview of the game’s appeal—based on our hands-on experience—covering not only the battles but also the story, steeped in a decadent atmosphere, and the characters rendered in a distinctive cel-shaded art style!
Note: We received a review copy from Arc System Works for the purposes of this article.
A mysterious investigator and an ordinary citizen on the verge of becoming a monstrosity—this mismatched male-female duo explores a collapsed Tokyo to uncover the truth behind the world’s downfall.
Set in the year 2030, this game takes place in a Tokyo ravaged by the cataclysm known as the “World Collapse,” where the city has fallen into decay and is overrun by cults, demonic drugs that corrode both body and mind, and monstrous anomalies.
The protagonist is Rena Hizuki, an investigator with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s Public Security Bureau, Foreign Affairs Division 5 (commonly known as the Public Security Mutation Response Division). The story begins when she heads out to investigate a contaminated zone and discovers Soma Hoshikami, who has been attacked by a supernatural entity and lies unconscious.
Soma had fallen into a state known as “in-between,” a hybrid of human and supernatural being.Legally, he had lost not only his citizenship but even his right to life, so he would normally be targeted for extermination as a dangerous entity. However, recognizing his unique ability to wield supernatural powers while retaining his human rationality, Rena, as an investigator, takes him under her protection as “found property.”
And so, this dynamic duo—a black-haired, bespectacled young man and a cool beauty—was born.
This story unfolds with the dual protagonists, Rena Hizuki and Souma Hoshikiri.
Male-female partnerships are generally a good thing, but the combination of a cool, mysterious older woman in the guardian role and a younger man who, despite being the one being protected, possesses the hidden strength to firmly support his partner is particularly compelling.
Souma Hoshikiri is a 20-year-old ordinary citizen who lost his family in a major disaster and earns a living working part-time as a delivery driver. The story begins when, while on the job, he falls victim to a supernatural phenomenon and finds himself in a state of “transition”—on the verge of mutating into a “Tier One” with supernatural powers.
With a stance typical of today’s youth—optimistic yet cynical, thinking, “I don’t have a family anyway, and life was tough, so if someone’s willing to look after me, I guess that’s fine”—he nonchalantly throws himself into this harsh situation.Although he’s a bit of a cynic, Soma is, at heart, a young man with a strong sense of justice. As the story unfolds and he gets closer to the truth, it will be fascinating to see how he comes to terms with himself.
Rena Hizuki, a Public Security investigator who fights supernatural phenomena, possesses the ability to foresee her own future, and during combat, a pattern known as a “stigma” spreads from her chest across her entire body (it’s pretty cool). With a past that includes sealing away her own “Tier One” ability, she is a character full of mysteries despite being the protagonist.
Rena gives off a very cool, high-achieving “workaholic” vibe. However, as she spends more time with Soma, her more carefree side gradually comes to light, and we also catch glimpses of a sensitive and vulnerable side stemming from her unique ability—this contrast is part of her charm.
The story unfolds in visual novel format and features nearly full voice acting. Ikumi Hasegawa voices Rena Hizuki, and Tosei Izuki voices Soma Hoshikami. Other characters are also voiced, adding dramatic depth to the story.
The story progresses as you investigate various points displayed on the world map. The game features a day-and-night cycle system, with events that only occur when you investigate at specific times of day. The truth behind the mysterious catastrophe that struck the world, as well as the motives of the shadowy figures operating behind the scenes, are gradually revealed.
The beauty of the desolate cityscape, teetering on the brink of civilizational collapse, and the witty banter between Rena and Soma set against this gloomy backdrop are highlights of the game. While you might want to take your time exploring Tokyo on the verge of collapse, you can’t afford to be too leisurely. That’s because each chapter in this game has a time limit known as “Reality Collapse.”
The number of days remaining until “Reality Collapse” is always displayed in the lower-left corner of the map, and once the deadline is reached, the supernatural phenomena plaguing the city will become more powerful. Since time passes after completing daytime and nighttime activities, the basic gameplay strategy is to aim to clear each chapter before Reality Collapse occurs.
That said, there’s no stressful sense of being rushed. If you refer to the information gathered at investigation points and the hints displayed on the map, the story will progress without any issues. You can also view investigation reports on various incidents and social media posts from people caught up in the world’s collapse. Each is packed with detailed information, and by deciphering these, you can gain a deeper understanding of the game’s world.
Since viewing this information doesn’t consume Action Points, it’s a welcome feature that—even within a time-limited system—you have the freedom to immerse yourself at your own pace.
As Rena and Soma solve incidents occurring one after another across Tokyo, they draw closer to the truth behind the world’s collapse. Amid these harsh circumstances, the two must also confront their own destinies.
A sense of exhilaration straight out of a fighting game! A unique battle system where you combine diverse skills to land spectacular counters
True to its name, “Tactical Counter Timeline RPG,” this game lets you read the battle situation on the timeline, strategically land counters to deal massive damage, and turn the tide of battle.
The timeline displayed on screen allows you to predict the timing and type of enemy attacks. By “pre-selecting” the appropriate skill in advance, you can trigger a counter. While “counters” are often thought of as “high-difficulty moves that require reading your opponent’s movements and inputting commands instantly at the precise moment,” this game’s timeline system lets you strategically activate counters. As a result, even though it’s an RPG, you can enjoy aggressive command-based battles reminiscent of fighting games, where you read your opponent’s movements and proactively aim for counters.
Enemy attack attributes are divided into three colors: red, blue, and yellow. By matching a skill of the same color as the enemy’s attack, you can trigger a counter, dealing massive damage accompanied by spectacular visual effects. Additionally, you can switch between Rena and Soma at any time.While controlling the currently selected character as your main, you can issue commands to your buddy to unleash attacks freely.
You might think, “Isn’t it easy if you can predict the opponent’s attacks?” But in the fast-paced, real-time battles, controlling two characters while reading the timeline and accurately selecting from a wide variety of skills is surprisingly nerve-wracking. Players unaccustomed to the fast pace of action games might find it confusing.
But don’t worry. You can slow down the action at any time during battle! By doing so, you can calmly analyze the opponent’s attacks as they appear on the timeline and decide which skills to use and when.
By utilizing this slow-motion feature, you can enjoy the game as a strategic command battle or fight in a fighting-game-style where you unleash skills instantly in real time—allowing you to play however you like, depending on your skill level and mood.
In addition to the three types of attack skills, there’s a wide variety of non-attack skills available, including those that weaken enemies or heal allies, as well as supportive passive skills that provide constant effects. Skills can be obtained with a certain probability during battles or learned by spending Research Points during the exploration phase. The joy of collecting these skills is another charm of this game.
You can set the skills you’ve collected in your “Skill Palette” according to the situation and your preferences. Freely combine them to create your own custom “Skill Palette” and land spectacular counters!
The wider strategic scope—where the more powerful an attack skill is, the harder it is to land a counter, and where attacks with the white attribute (which are immune to counters) must be parried or guarded against—is both challenging and fun. The game is also packed with unique systems, such as the “Psychological Gauge,” which determines whether a catastrophic “Catastrophe Move” (guaranteed to result in a Game Over) is triggered.
There’s a lot to learn at first, and you might feel a bit lost until you get the hang of it. However, there’s a thorough tutorial right from the start, and above all, as you play while letting yourself be swept up in the exhilaration of “It’s a little tough, but so cool!” you’ll find yourself mastering the battle system before you know it—so feel free to dive right into this world with confidence.
During battles, Lena and Soma—rendered in a cell-shaded style—dash all over the screen, unleashing one flashy attack after another. It’s just cool the whole time. The visuals that highlight each character’s unique personality extend all the way to the result screen, making for battles that keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
Above all, Lena and Souma’s cooperative attack—the Buddy Counter—is absolutely thrilling! You’ve got to experience the thrill of successfully triggering it on your own!
“Clifa: The God-Like,” a new IP from Arc System Works, features a unique system that—once you get the hang of it—lets you enjoy intense, thrilling battles filled with a sense of speed and exhilaration, as if you’ve become a pro gamer.
Even if you mainly play turn-based command battles or visual novels, you can experience combat similar to that in fighting games or ARPGs, where you pull off flashy combos and counter moves.By incorporating the unique expertise and technology honed by Arc System Works—the studio behind fighting games like *GUILTY GEAR* and *BLAZBLUE*—the game has been crafted into an RPG with a truly distinctive playstyle.
Isn’t one of the greatest joys of gaming the “excitement of experiencing a system unlike anything you’ve seen before”? I felt that *Clifa: The Divine Countenance* is precisely the kind of title that delivers that kind of fresh sense of wonder. While the timeline system may be confusing at first, once you start landing counters, you’ll discover the joy of shaping the course of battle with your own hands.
This is a must-play title not only for those who want to enjoy exhilarating, stylish battles but also for fans of male-female buddy teams who can rely on each other!
*Clifa: The Divine Visage* will be released on September 24, 2026, for Nintendo Switch,PS5, and PC (Steam,Epic Games Store).
