Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed

Lore & Background

The game's story follows a high school otaku protagonist, Nanashi, who is turned into a Synthister by the Magaimono organization but escapes. Set in Akihabara, the shopping district is invaded by Synthisters—creatures that feed on social energy and will to live. The only way to defeat them is by stripping their clothes off to expose them to sunlight. The narrative unfolds as a visual novel with dialogue choices that affect affection levels with characters, leading to different endings. Key characters include Tohko Sagisaka, the protagonist's childhood friend and neighborhood watch member; Shizuku Tokikaze, a girl with mysterious powers; and Soga Kagutsuki, the main antagonist who seeks to turn all of Akihabara into Synthisters.

Reader's Guide

Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed is significant for its unconventional combat system and its affectionate parody of otaku culture and Akihabara. The game received mixed reviews in the west, with critics praising its humor and amount of content but criticizing technical issues, frequent loading screens, and repetitive combat. Famitsu gave the PS3 and Vita versions a score of 33 out of 40. The game sold 33,476 Vita units and 20,230 PS3 units in its first week in Japan. Its legacy includes a Director's Cut released in April 2023 for Windows, Nintendo Switch, and PS4, and a third series entry, Akiba's Trip Festa, in November 2016. The localization by Xseed Games preserved original Japanese audio and text, including real-life Akihabara advertising.

Did You Know?

• The game features over 130 real-life Akihabara shops that the player can visit.
• A Director's Cut was released in April 2023 in Japan and July 2023 in the West for Windows, Nintendo Switch, and PS4.
• The game includes collaboration DLC costumes from Disgaea, Hyperdimension Neptunia, and Genshiken.
• The physical Vita version used standard Vita cards, not a 4GB cartridge; dual audio was a feature of the Western digital release.