by RadiumEyes, HSM team writer

The shimmering light of the setting sun passed through the gathered clouds, illuminating the great island ensconced in a sea that has somehow taken over a city. Around you are reminders of civilization – buildings and the occasional streetlight – but this peculiar construction command your attention; someone built this, and it lay abandoned for some time. Whatever the origin of it, the island now contains a large hub-like system, where people from across the nation converge to not only participate in a live-action show, but also to meet vendors and discover the “strangeness” of the world around them. Here, amongst a seemingly unending body of water, lies a singular man-made mound, the auspicious host of a company’s creative output.

Thus describes Granzella Plaza in Twilight, a new public space from the company that released Great Edo of Nippon. A few days ago, Granzella released this new public space – complete with a stage, a race and an exhibition of various items currently for sale, the illustrious island brings together all the disparate elements of the developer’s catalog into one space. Granzella itself describes it as a Hub Lounge built atop an abandoned man-made island; the accompanying video shows off the numerous interactive elements one will find within the confines of this mysterious place, reconverted into a showcase of Granzella goodness. You know you’re there when you find the full skeleton of a brachiosaur greeting you, its head looming over the environment as the undisputed “King of the Trophy Case.”

As this is presented as a core space, from which you can access all other relevant properties, Granzella provided a great area for exploration and socialization. The stage, the dominant feature of the Plaza, allows users to engage in a childhood dream – becoming a superhero for the moment and fighting with others for combat supremacy. You have numerous items at your disposal, from a giant hammer (something that would be right at home in Harley Quinn’s closet) to a cybernetic arm; fights are determined through a classic vein, wherein people exchange blows and/or defend, with the victor dealing enough damage to knock the opponent out.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the stars of the show – the U-Men, our friendly neighborhood sentai team (composed, naturally, of five members) with color-coordinated uniforms that fight against the ever-menacing forces of a man in black and his electronic device-inspired henchmen. Take to the stage, and you find yourself donning their weapons; you effectively become the U-Men for the sake of a thrilling show, and you get to determine the outcome of the battle. My article covering this year’s Bon Odori festival on Home briefly mentioned the U-Men and their place in Japanese culture; stage shows go back decades, and tokusatsu offerings are quite popular, with licenses such as Kamen Rider receiving adaptations. In a typical version, a host stirs up the audience and asks the audience to cheer on the featured hero – as one might expect, children are the primary audience, but these productions have their own unique charm.

Actively participating as the hero, however, brings the audiences directly into the story – instead of passive watchers, they become the protagonist of their own battle. Allowing people to interact with each other in such a fashion brings the hero show to life in a digital medium, where an active user base can find themselves in the boots of a sentai team member. Participation becomes more than cheering the hero on – you are that bastion of justice, and your mission is to both stave off evil and entertain the audience simultaneously.

However prominent it may be, however, the stage isn’t the only thing inhabiting this little world. Nearby, one can participate in a race, whether on foot or equipped with any of various locomotions available in the shops. The space gives you two options, a “flat race” (where the path is level) and a more curved road, with dips and rises that offer some challenge for aspiring entrants. These races are all single-player, and one can compare times with the adjacent leaderboard – which tallies up times across every Home region. Thus, your time will be weighed against everyone who participated, so those who wish to see their name on the leaderboard must keep that in mind when tackling the run.

As one might expect, freebies can be obtained in the space – be on the lookout for chests interspersed throughout. I’ve found five thus far, with some of them being stuffed fish; they make for great decorations, and I do enjoy the free Granzella picture frame. Keep your eyes peeled for any further free stuff, in the meantime – Granzella Plaza in Twilight rewards the curious, so stay active in your search for items.

Overall, the tranquility of the space complements the atmosphere – here we have a place to meet, and find all that Granzella has to offer. One can even use the available bus station (although I wonder how a bus would reach the island, given its seclusion, but I digress) to access other Granzella spaces. Take in the sights as you walk around; see the statue, examine all the items offered for sale, pick up some complimentary ornaments for your personal space. And don’t forget to relax and soak in the twilight; this part of the day marks the time when ghosts come out, and the setting sun casts a warm glow over the dome.

Share