Black Lagoon

Black Lagoon is an open-world Third-Person Shooter/Action-Adventure game co-developed by Capcom and Sega based on the anime of the same name. The game features reimaginings of various story archs from the titular anime as well as several original chapters. It is available in single-player, co-op multiplayer, and online multiplayer modes, many of which are inspired by GTA5's various online modes.

Directed by Jun Takeuchi (Onimusha 3: Demon Siege, Lost Planet: Extreme Condition), the game is scheduled for a late 2017 release for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.

Plot
A team of smuggling pirate mercenaries set in the crime-ridden coastal city of Roanapur, known as the Lagoon Company, attempt to take down a chain of mobs and assassins spread out all across Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, a deadly assassin, known as Roberta, is at odds with their allied Russian crime syndicate, Hotel Moscow, in an attempt to avenge her master, Diego Lovelace's death, placing her in the Lagoon Company's crosshairs.

Intro
The theme song from the titular anime, Red Fraction, plays in the game's opening intro:



Game Modes (Online/Multiplayer)

 * Welcome to Roanapur (Free Play)-As seen in GTA5's Free Mode, up to 16 players can play in an open-world Roanapur city, where all locations are open. Weapons, ammo and health packs are scattered all over the map. Also like in GTA Online, Friendly Fire and cops can be turned off.
 * Defend the Boat/HQ-Defend the Black Lagoon (Lagoon Company's Ship) or Lagoon Company HQ from the invading team in a beat-em-up-styled engine. As seen in the offline singleplayer during boss battles, the game uses Virtua Fighter/Shenmue and Street Fighter IV/V-inspired melee animations.
 * Team Deathmatch-Similar to Grand Theft Auto 5's Deathmatch, you kill as many opposing players as possible. The team with the highest score (kill count) at the end of the match wins.
 * Survival-Every man for himself. Outlast other players and enemy thugs/police in the streets of Roanapur with no respawns. The last man standing wins.
 * Bomb the Embassy-Similar to Capture the Flag, you must locate the bomb hidden within Roanapur, fight your way through mobs (and player-controlled enemies) and take it to the other team's HQ. After dying, you repsawn all the way back at the local hospital.
 * Death Race-Race and kill other players in cars armed with weapons, inspired from the movie Death Race.
 * Co-Op Multiplayer-Play the game's Story Mode with another player.

Characters

 * Revy - Also known as Rebecca Lee and the Lagoon Company's main mercenary. A Chinese-American born in Chinatown, Manhattan to an abusive father, she spent most of her life as a thief and murderer, having killed her father after being arrested, beaten and raped by a corrupt police officer (shown in a flashback early on in the game) in an attempt to flee from another of his violent tirades. A merciless and deadly, foul-mouthed assassin who takes maniacal glee in killing anything that moves.
 * Rock-The main male protagonist and former salaryman of the Asahi Industries until he was detained by the Lagoon Company (in the game's opening chapter), thereafter joining their ranks.
 * Dutch-A former Vietnam war veteran, he is the Captain of the Lagoon Company. He gives out missions to his clients, but will act if necessary, carrying a Remington 870 shotgun and a 629 Revolver with him at all times.
 * Benny-Works as the Lagoon Company's mechanic, computer specialist and researcher.
 * Roberta-Maid and main mercenary of the Lovelace clan, set out to avenge their father and head's death at the hands of Grey Fox which later puts her in Hotel Moscow's crosshairs. An extremely deadly and calculating assassin with near superhuman attributes, later exemplified by brutalizing Mr. Chang in a later part of the game and forcing him to sign ownership of the Hong Kong Triad over to the Lovelace Clan. This results in a deadly blood feud between the Lagoon Company and reigniting the feud between the Triad and Hotel Moscow.
 * Mr. Chang-Leader of the Hong Kong Triad (loosely based on the Sun Yee On Triad)'s Thailand branch. Reluctantly forced into a partnership with the Lovelace Clan at the hands of Roberta.
 * Balalaika- The leader of Hotel Moscow and veteran of the Soviet War in Afghanistan. Previously engaged in a feud with Chang's Triads in 1993 until a pact was settled. Routinely refered to by Revy as "Sis" while working together.
 * Hansel and Gretel-Two orphaned twin children suffering from 'Disassociate Identity Disorder' (the ability to swap identities). Deranged as a result of being forced to partake in pedophilliac snuff films as minors. Claimed and used as a decoy against Hotel Moscow by Yukio Washamine, leader of their archrival Washimine Group.
 * Shenhua-Trained assassin/hired gun under Mr. Chang. As part of a smuggling operation, she leads a bounty hunter crew attempting to transport TOW missiles via train in South Korea in an early chapter in the game. After foiling an attempted hijack by Revy in which she narrowly escapes with her life after using her assistant as a sidekick, the two later join forces in an attempt to bring down Roberta. Routinely works for and against the Lagoon Company throughout the course of the game in a love-hate partnership.
 * Sawyer the Wizard (Frederica Sawyer)-Shenhua's assistant and sidekick. Chainsaw-wielding woman who the Triads turn to for performing grizzly executions.
 * Lotton the Wizard-Conman hired by the Triad acting under the guidance of the Lovelace Clan. Serves as an aid to both Sawyer and Shenhua.
 * Eda-CIA agent posing as a nun of the Rip-Off Church. Often accomodates Revy in missions.
 * Rico-M60 machine gun-wielding priest of the Rip-Off Church.
 * Ginji Matsuzaki - Bodyguard of Yukio, leader of the Washimine Group, Hotel Moscow's arch nemesis group.
 * Shane Caxton-Vietnam War veteran. Leader of the American Gray Fox black ops unit hunted by Roberta in a quest of vengeance, compromising Roanapur's entire infrasctructure.
 * Janet Bhai-Runaway member of the Florida mafia.
 * Abrego-Leader of the Columbian Cartel. Involved in the attempted assassination of Caxton in Roanapur along with FARC terrorists.

Bosses

 * Sawyer the Cleaner (as Revy)
 * Hansel (as Balalaika)
 * Gretel (as Rock)
 * Mr. Chang (as Roberta)
 * Rico (as Mr. Chang)
 * Lotton the Wizard (as Revy)
 * Shenhua (as Revy)
 * Balalaika (as Roberta)
 * Ginji (as Revy)
 * Roberta (as Revy [final boss])

Bounties

 * Janet Bhai
 * Mr. Chin
 * Abrego

Graphics
The game features a blend of cel-shading and lighting to give it a very anime-like feel, similar to those seen in the PlayStation-exclusive Attack on Titan game. In an interview with producer Yun Takeuchi, the game has taken inspiration from AoT, also an anime-based game, for its use of such graphics. The combination of Sega's team (co-developers along with Capcom), no stranger to use of anime-styled graphics, and Capcom having used similar graphics in Street Fighter V is said to have tipped his hand in using cel-shaded-graphics.

Gameplay
Using the Unreal 4 Engine, Black Lagoon is by and large seen as a mix of Grand Theft Auto and Shenmue with open-world-style missions largely inspired by the former and boss battles inspired by the latter, using a mix of both gun and beat-em-up action. The game also an assortment of features, reminiscent of GTA and unique gameplay mechanics never before seen in single-player:


 * Unilateral Carnage-You are tasked with taking control of both hero and villain alike in game's single-player. While playing as Revy (or any of the Lagoon members), you have the freedom to kill civilians and gang members, even scavenge their money, which can be used to buy additional ammo and guns at The Rip-Off Church holdout, but in doing so, you will alert nearby gang members, thugs (as most of the population are criminals) and authorities, who will then try to apprehend you, much like GTA (but only if they're in close proximity). Additionally, you have the option of switching between Revy and one of Rock, Eda, or Balalaika upon entering checkpoints depending on the chapter, also in similar fashion to GTA.


 * ​ ​ While playing as Roberta, you're routinely given missions tasked with slaying the innocent (as well as the guilty), both civilian and authority figure alike. These range from shooting up strip clubs filled with dancers and prostitutes to raiding streets filled with civilians and taking down the Triads, Columbian Cartel, Hotel Moscow and other crime syndicates.


 *  Judge, Jury, and Executioner-  If successfully arrested, you'll wind up inside a Correctional Facility, where you will be detained awaiting execution via firing squad. While being escorted out of your cell, you may attempt to escape by assaulting the guards. However, they will then attempt to tase you, rendering you unconscious as they bring you out to the field if successful. Afterwards, you will be directed to a cinematic of Revy's firing squad execution, followed by a "You Are Dead" screen as seen in Capcom's Resident Evil games (the same message appears if you die in-game as well).


 * Reinforcements-Much like in GTA, you're tagged with a "Wanted" meter above your health bar. As distinct from GTA, however, it appears in the form of percentages rather than stars. The higher your wanted meter, the more gang (and possibly police) members you have gunning after you simultaneously. You can counter-act this in a number of different ways, from bribing police at the station to grabbing and using thugs as a shield while flanking other thugs, and calling in various forms of backup via full Psycho Meter (see below).


 * ​ Certain missions may also call for you to find and protect/cover certain allies at various parts of the map, such as Rock, Dutch, Eda, nuns (inside the Rip-Off Church) or CIA troops from an invasion of bounty hunters/gangs after calling upon you for backup as well.


 * Bounty Games-Within certain checkpoints of Roanapur, you're treated to a series of mini-games/side missions. You may answer bounties in which you're tasked with finding and killing various mob bosses as Revy to reap large monetary rewards. Additionally, you're also given "Time Attack" missions upon entering select checkpoints within Roanapur, where you must kill as many civilians as possible in 2 minutes and are scored on such. These missions can be played and completed while controlling either Revy or Roberta.


 * Bullet Time-You may also make use of limited "Bullet Time" effects (irrespective of character), as seen in The Matrix films and Max Payne games, indicated by your Bullet Time meter located within your Psycho Meter.

Psycho Meter
Unique to the game is the inclusion of an all new Psycho Meter, which is akin to a Stamina Meter seen in Call of Duty Black Ops III. It appears in the form of a circle around your Bullet Time meter. It slowly replenishes at a constant rate which can be accelerated by racking up kills in a chained combo. Via your Psycho Meter, you reap various skillsets/abilities, which can be swapped out:
 * Wall-running-can be used and cancelled anytime. You can rapidly fire your gun(s) while running alongside a wall or side of a vehicle and use it to take out hordes of enemy troops, Neo-Nazis, and bounty hunters in bunches. Useful in levels/missions featuring trains and enemy vehicles.
 * Assist Characters/Aircraft-Call in various forms of backup to clear the wave of enemies, from flanking allies such as Dutch, Eda, Rock, or Balalaika (which one is dependent on the chapter) to launching an aircraft to take out enemy helicopter(s) via torpedoes following a Wanted Meter of 90%+ or swarms of enemies on foot via machine guns,  even switching to it to clear the air of lines of helicopters and streets of enemy thugs/gangs for a limited time via manual control after a Character Switch until your Psycho Meter runs out (all of which have separate icons). During this brief time period, Revy will be AI-controlled with a health meter flashing above her head many feet below.
 * Reverse Bullet Time-With a full Psycho Meter, you are granted the all-new "Reverse Bullet Time" ability in which time is rewinded a couple of seconds as enemy mercs/gunfire approaches you. During this time, all nearby enemies future attack movements within the ability's time span are outlined in slow motion as it switches to an infrared screen, giving you a clear shot at your enemy(s) as you utilize your counterattacks. Your character's movements and attacks are then captured at the speed of light as it reverts back to real time in order to make up for lost time. Ideal for boss battles, particularly ones involving enemy henchmen assisting him/her in the background.

Vehicles
Vehicles are also a prominent part of the game with buyable upgrades/parts and the ability to purchase new cars, similar to GTA. Unique to the game, however, is the ability to purchase mountable side weapons and other gadgets to your vehicle(s):


 * Machine guns


 * Side missiles

As an added bonus, you can carry several or all of these weapons at a time.
 * Flamethrowers
 * Spikes
 * Escape hatch-Allows you to fly out of the sunroof and shoot people many feet in the air.

In addition, you may store up to 3 different vehicles at a time in the Lagoon Company's garage. You start out with a 1968 Plymouth Roadrunner, the Lagoon Company's base car. However, the following cars are available for purchase later on in the game:
 * 1992 Nissan 24SX Turbo


 * 1993 Porsche Boxster Convertible
 * 1994 Chevy Corvette ZR1
 * 1990 Dodge Viper VM02
 * 1994 Lamborghini Diablo VT


 * 1995 Ford GT 90

Controversy
The game was mired in controversy from the start. It was originally given an "Adults Only" rating by the ESRB due to intense violence, gore, strong language, including frequent uses of the "F" word (mainly uttered by Revy during cut scenes and game play), drug use and graphic depictions of nudity and sexual content, which included a controversial chapter in which you play as a nude Revy posing as a hooker at a strip joint in order to lure gangsters in a planned shootout in one of the game's early missions. This would be followed by numerous sexually-implicit comments and innuendos, including whistles and uses of the "F" word in a sexual manner directed towards Revy. In order to get the game knocked down to a "Mature" rating, said chapter and other instances of sensitive material were removed from the game.

"Make no mistake, we had every intention of creating a GTA clone, and this was the perfect license from which to do it," says director Jun Takechi. "However, we wanted to make sure it actually wound up in gamer's hands. We made whatever changes were necessary to get the game to a suitable rating."

Trivia

 * The game was initially given an "AO (Adults Only)" rating by the ESRB due to its intense violence, strong, borderline excessive foul language (including rampant use of "F" bombs), and use of drug and strong sexual content (as true to the anime, rated "TV-MA"). However, the devs made a few subtle changes to the game's content in order to get it to an "M".
 * An unlockable playable demo and exclusive "Red Band" trailer (complete with expletives and over-the-top violence, dubbed "The Version They Can't Show You At E3" in the intro) was included in Square Enix vs. Capcom released earlier in the year, also co-developed by Sega and Capcom along with Square-Enix.