Alice Gear Aegis

Alice Gear Aegis (アリス・ギア・アイギス) is a Japanese mobile game developed by Pyramid and published by Colopl. It was released in 2018.

A console spin-off of the mobile game, titled Alice Gear Aegis CS: Concerto of Simulatrix, was released by Mages for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 in September 2022 in Japan, followed by a worldwide release in March 2023.

The game received an original video animation by Nomad in September 2021. An anime television spin-off, also by Nomad, aired from April to June 2023.

Media

Mobile game

The game was first announced on July 25, 2017; it was also announced to be developed by Pyramid and published by Colopl, with character designs from Fumikane Shimada, mech designs from Kanetake Ebikawa and Takayuki Yanase, and music written by Zuntata.[1] The game released on January 22, 2018, on iOS and Android.[2] The game was released on PC on June 4, 2019.[3]

Console game

Alice Gear Aegis CS: Concerto of Simulatrix, a bullet hell fighting game, was released in Japan by Mages on September 8, 2022, for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.[4] Published by PQube, a worldwide launch on the same systems released on March 16, 2023, release.[5]

Anime

In October 2020, it was announced that the game would be receiving an original video animation (OVA) adaptation.[6] The OVA, titled ''Alice Gear Aegis: Heart Pounding! Actress Packed Mermaid Grand Prix!'', was produced by Nomad and directed by Hirokazu Hanai, with Rikiya Okano designing the characters, Masahiro Okubo writing the scripts, and Zuntata composing the music.[7] It was released on September 15, 2021. Sentai Filmworks began streaming the OVA on Hidive on March 29, 2023.[8]

In January 2022, an anime television series adaptation of the game was announced. Nomad, Hirokazu Hanai, and Rikiya Okano all reprised their roles from the OVA as producer, director, and character designer respectively. However, Kenji Sugihara replaced Okubo as script writer.[9] The series, titled Alice Gear Aegis Expansion, aired from April 4 to June 20, 2023, on Tokyo MX and other networks.[10][11] The opening theme song is "Dash and Go!" by Aina Suzuki, while the ending theme song is "Just a little bit" by Marina Horiuchi.[13]

Sentai Filmworks licensed the series in North America, and streamed it on Hidive.[14] Medialink licensed the series in Asia-Pacific and Oceania (except Australia and New Zealand),[15] and streamed on the Ani-One Asia/Thailand YouTube channels; as well as Bilibili in Southeast Asia;[16] Catchplay+ in Indonesia, Singapore and Taiwan and MeWATCH in Singapore.[17]

Reception

The Alice Gear Aegis Expansion anime adaptation received mixed reviews. Alex Henderson of Anime Feminist reviewed the first episode, stating the world of fighting aliens in space seems "unrelated to the cutesy character storyline" which comprises the premiere, and called it "very silly" because the lore and tone, in Henderson's view, are "so at odds" with one another, with a refusal to engage with the sci-fi premise.[21]

See also

References

  1. https://www.4gamer.net/games/388/G038881/20170725050/ 4Gamer.net, July 25, 2017, retrieved January 22, 2022^
  2. https://www.4gamer.net/games/388/G038881/20180119093/ 4Gamer.net, January 19, 2018, retrieved January 22, 2022^
  3. https://www.4gamer.net/games/459/G045921/20190604055/ 4Gamer.net, June 4, 2019, retrieved January 22, 2022^
  4. Sal Romano. Alice Gear Aegis CS: Concerto of Simulatrix 18-second trailer Gematsu, April 21, 2022, retrieved April 21, 2022^
  5. Sal Romano. Alice Gear Aegis CS: Concerto of Simulatrix launches March 16 in the west Gematsu, February 15, 2023, retrieved February 15, 2023^
  6. Jennifer Sherman. Alice Gear Aegis Game Gets Original Video Anime in Summer 2021 Anime News Network, October 19, 2020, retrieved January 22, 2022^
  7. Crystalyn Hodgkins. Alice Gear Aegis OVA Reveals Title, Staff, Cast, Theme Song Artists Anime News Network, January 24, 2021, retrieved January 22, 2022^
  8. alice gear aegis Expansion: Don't Miss Mecha vs. Aliens Anime on HIDIVE March 29! Hidive, March 27, 2023, retrieved April 3, 2023^
  9. Egan Loo. Alice Gear Aegis Game Gets TV Anime Anime News Network, January 21, 2022, retrieved January 22, 2022^
  10. Crystalyn Hodgkins. Alice Gear Aegis Expansion Anime Reveals Cast, Visual, 2023 Premiere Anime News Network, July 24, 2022, retrieved July 24, 2022^
  11. Crystalyn Hodgkins. Alice Gear Aegis Expansion TV Anime Reveals April 3 Debut in New Promo Video Anime News Network, March 10, 2023, retrieved March 10, 2023^
  12. https://natalie.mu/comic/news/516071 Comic Natalie, Natasha, Inc., March 10, 2023, retrieved June 19, 2023^
  13. https://mantan-web.jp/article/20230123dog00m200014000c.html Mantan Web, January 23, 2023, retrieved January 23, 2023^
  14. Alex Mateo. HIDIVE to Stream alice gear aegis Expansion, Insomniacs after school, Otaku Elf, Too Cute Crisis Anime Anime News Network, March 16, 2023, retrieved March 16, 2023^
  15. Ani-One Asia - 🌸羚邦2023四月新番代理公告🌸 🌸Medialink April 2023 New... www.facebook.com, retrieved 2023-03-30^
  16. Tan Melvyn. Bilibili's Spring 2023 Anime List Includes KonoSuba Spin-off, The Ancient Magus' Bride Season 2, Skip and Loafer Anime Trending, March 30, 2023, retrieved April 18, 2023^
  17. 👧🏻《Alice Gear Aegis Expansion》 Ani-One Asia on Facebook, April 17, 2023, retrieved April 18, 2023^
  18. Sutōrī colopl.co.jp, retrieved April 3, 2023^
  19. Stream Alice Gear Aegis Expansion on HIDIVE HIDIVE, retrieved April 3, 2023^
  20. On'ea colopl.co.jp, retrieved April 3, 2023^
  21. Alex Henderson. Alice Gear Aegis Expansion – Episodes 0 – 1 Anime Feminist, April 4, 2023, retrieved April 21, 2023^