During the February 2023 Nintendo Direct, Level-5 made a grand return in the Americas and Europe. The developers promised the return of the Professor Layton and Inazuma Eleven series. Following behind is Akihiro Hino’s brand new detective RPG, DECAPOLICE. What was supposed to be a 2024 release has now been delayed to 2026. Here is the latest update about Level-5’s new game.
Harvard Marks’ Story
DECAPOLICE revolves around rookie detectives training under the Broadstone Police Investigator Division. The team will be led by the main protagonist, Harvard Marks, a graduate of Broadstone Police College. Before he became a detective, Harvard was involved in an incident that pushed him into arresting criminals. No one knew what this incident could be until Level-5’s September Vision 2024.
In the game’s newest trailer featuring DECAPOLICE’s theme song ‘City of Love’, Harvard shares about his mother’s death to Carl Oxford. He tells him, “I want to meet the person who murdered my mother.” Harvard and the Special Investigation Rookie Unit training in the Broadstone simulator, DECASIM. Its programming allows trainees to investigate past cases, whether solved or left cold.
The theme song trailer shows a scene of Harvard’s mom sitting dead on a chair. Her wrists are hung and strung like a puppet. Then it transitions to Harvard staring at the camera, determined to search for the culprit. The ending shows the Marks Family with a young Harvard with his parents. There is no information about the father at this time.
The Stitched Cat
Screenshot courtesy of Total Apex Gaming
On September 11th, Reddit user WereNoStrangers shared DECAPOLICE’s new cover art from the Tokyo Game Show website. Instead of Harvard Marks, a stitched calico cat wears his clothes. Below his torso is the night version of Broadstone with helicopters searching above the city. This is Harvard Marks’ DECASIM avatar or Puppet.
As players progress through DECAPOLICE’s story, they can swap between reality and virtual using the Virtual Connector Goggles. This simulation form was seen once during Level-5’s March 2023 trailer release. It was caused by a malicious hacker attempting to mess with the police force. Harvard’s cat form has become more relevant as a new clue is revealed in the theme song trailer. In the Marks Family photo, young Harvard can be seen holding a stitched cat doll.
According to the game’s official website, DECASIM is a forbidden world where memories of old cases lie. The stitched cat could be related to Harvard’s memories of his late mother’s incident.
Reasons For DECAPOLICE’s 2026 Release
Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino has announced that DECAPOLICE’s development has been pushed to 2026. The RPG was originally supposed to be released in 2023 but was held back for late 2024. However, this was seen as impossible as their largest project, Inazuma Eleven Victory Road consumed more work. Alongside the game is the film, The New Heroes’ Prologue to preview the story on Dec. 27th this year. Akihiro Hino also shares information about DECAPOLICE’s anime adaptation in development.
Level-5’s preparation to push for quality and care in their comeback titles reassures fans. They have learned from their past mistake with their final international game, Katrielle Layton’s Journey: The Millionaire’s Conspiracy Deluxe. Its lack of gameplay innovation and story in its Nintendo Switch port resulted in low sales of 30,000 units. It forced Level-5 to shut down its American and European branches in 2018. During that time, they only released games in Japan including Yokai Watch 4. While waiting for DECAPOLICE, Level-5’s returning titles will keep the fans company during 2025.
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