GAME
OF THE
DAY
Saint Seiya : Awakening
Burn up! My Cosmo!
The origins story for Saint Seiya : Awakening can be traced back to the ’80s, which marked the beginning of a golden age for manga and anime. As the iconic Japanese art forms gained increasing international popularity, one of the biggest successes of this time was the Saint Seiya series, by Masami Kurumada.
Seiya is an orphan who obtained sacred armour and became one of 88 Saints – mighty warriors with the ability to unleash powerful energy, called Cosmo. Together with his friends, Seiya embarked on epic adventures, which often culminated in earth-shattering battles.
Kurumada’s themes of fire-forged friendships, heroism, redemption and sacrifice, complemented by an elaborate visual style, struck a chord with fans. And his works went on to influence other famous artists, such as Tite Kubo (of Bleach fame), Clamp group (Cardcaptor Sakura) and Yasuhiro Imagawa (Mobile Fighter G Gundam).
It’s no wonder then, that Saint Seiya : Awakening treats its subject matter with the utmost care and attention. In fact, the developers worked closely with Kurumada on the role-playing game – he contributed to things like the core battle system.
The result is a marvel to behold, as the game retells Seiya’s story, from his humble beginnings to monumental battles against the armies of Poseidon and Hades. The Saints’ signature moves, such as Seiya’s Pegasus Meteor Fist or Shiryu’s Rising Dragon Punch, are faithfully recreated with stunning graphics. A huge cast of over 80 characters allows you to form your dream team, while new characters and story chapters are constantly added, covering ever more of the Saint Seiya universe.
The best part is that Awakening doesn’t just retread old ground. With permission from Kurumada, the developers have created new side stories, filling in gaps from the original storyline. They also bring the series into the 21st century with augmented reality (AR) technology, allowing you to bring the Saints into the real world in full three-dimensional glory. For newcomers or longtime fans, Awakening is a stellar entry point into this magnificent universe. Get fired up to burn your Cosmo!