For my preview session, I was able to play the first two chapters of Akiba's Trip: Hellbound Debriefed. The story is set in the pop culture mecca of Akihabara, infested with supernatural creatures known as shadow souls, with their only weakness being sunlight. The main protagonist has been infected and must join up with an organization known as NIRO to stop the outbreak.

During the story segments, you'll mostly explore parts of Akihabara while fighting the shadow souls and visiting the various shops. There are lots of different gear and armor you can obtain to enhance the stats of your character. I spent a good hour running around collecting different weapons and clothes. The Sega arcade also featured a fun UFO catcher prize game for a chance to obtain items.

The gameplay is a beat-em-up where players must attack specific sections on the enemy's bodies. Clothes can be taken from the head, body, or legs. Combat seemed pretty straightforward, but there is a learning curve to the madness. Fashion magazines can be bought at the shops to learn how to strip off different types of enemy clothing without tearing it to shreds. One of my missions involved stealing headphones and a vest so I could impersonate a music band player.

Akiba's Trip: Hellbound & Debriefed seems like a wild ride with its hilarious beat-em-up strip mechanics and crazy characters. The game does a good job recreating Akihabara and all of its playfulness. I am excited to jump back in and continue living out a virtual nerd life.