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The official website for the Compile Heart/Dengeki Bunko/Dengeki PlayStation collaboration Divine Prison Tower: Mary Skelter has opened today, revealing the first glimpses into it’s world and gameplay, with new screenshots and information.

First up, let’s look at the setting.

Mary-Skelter_prison_img

Jail, known as a “living prison,” is an impenetrable human asylum.

Many decades ago, a city suddenly collapsed and a prison controlled by ominous creatures called “Marchen” was born.

As an inmate of Jail, a boy named Jack merely endured his life, deprived of all humanity and being tortured. He has long forgotten when it all started and gave up on his hopes and dreams.

As an inmate of Jail, a boy named Jack, who had forgotten how long it’s been since it all started, and whose hopes and dreams, peace of mind, and humanity were stolen from him, while being tortured day and night, had just been living.

But one day after being shut out from all light, a group known as the “Chishiki Girls Squad” rescues Jack from prison.

It was the fated start of Jack and the Chishiki Girls’ jailbreak attempt—

In order to take back everything that was stolen from them, Jack and the Chishiki Girls Squad carry out a jailbreak from the impenetrable Jail.

Next up, let’s look at the three characters that have been revealed. No voice actors have been provided yet for two of the three revealed characters.

Jack:

Mary-Skelter_jack

The protagonist. A boy who spends his days as an inmate in Jail. He’s a little timid, but also has a strong side. He is a kind-hearted soul who occasionally tries to protect his friends by throwing his own life on the line.

He’s taken by Akazukin, who came to save Alice, to break out of jail. As support for the “Chishiki Girls Squad,” girls who fight while wounded and wish to become women of power, they attempt to escape Jail.

Although, he’ll later also obtain a blood-type (Chishiki) ability and be discovered a “Chishiki Boy”…

Alice:

Mary-Skelter_alice
A girl who grew up with Jack from an early age. She was living as an inmate detained by the Marchen together with Jack.

She was confirmed to be a “Chishiki Girl” when she was saved by Akazukin, and fully demonstrates that power to break out of Jail. While she can usually judge things calmly, and is usually diligent and cool, she lays bare her emotions when it comes to Jack.

The voice actor for Alice has been revealed to be Sumire Uesaka.

And finally, Akazukin, which translates as Little Red Riding Hood:

Mary-Skelter_akazukin

A sometimes exciting, sometimes rough, hot-blooded girl who gallops into the prison. She likes that Jack has guts and enjoys having something to manipulate.

She is said to be the first-discovered “Chishiki Girl” and though rough, acts as an older-sister type that watches over the girls. However, her hot-blooded instincts can sometimes cause a panic.

Now onto the gameplay screenshots and a piece of concept art (the last screenshot of five is NSFW, just to warn you).

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Personally, I’m really interested in this title and am interested in seeing the direction Compile Heart and Dengeki take with it. The dark direction, combined with the moe visuals and dungeon RPG gameplay could be an interesting dungeon crawl for PS Vita.

Chances are I will end up importing the currently in-progress limited edition when it releases in Japan this year for 9,504 yen (though it’ll probably be cheaper). A regular physical edition will be available for 7,344 yen as well as a 6,340 yen digital download option for those with a Japanese PSN account.

Thanks for the translations, Gematsu.

Former Staff
Former contributor for Operation Rainfall whom has now headed out to pursue new challenges outside of games journalism. Their passion for games continues with many games of all kinds being on their list of games to play and games they love. Haru Okumura is best girl.