Developer Rice Games has recently announced a new title that is intended to teach players how to speak Japanese. Shujinkou, a 2D JRPG slated for release sometime in 2021, will take gamers on an adventure while teaching them to both speak and write the language.
Players will learn the three different Japanese writing systems—hiragana, katakana, and kanji—which they will use as weapons to advance in the game. In-game text is in English, romaji, and Japanese, allowing players to associate Japanese characters with their meaning while also learning pronunciation.
With a visual style that is at times reminiscent of Okami, the action-adventure game first released in 2006, Shujinkou features over 50 hours of gameplay. The game will offer multiple ways for players to learn Japanese while completing a number of missions that are varied enough to keep the instruction interesting.
Rice Games says that Shujinkou will take learners from JLPT N5 to N3. The Japanese Language Proficiency Test is the officially recognized method to gauge a person’s level of fluency in the language and ranges from beginner to fluent, or N5 to N1. However, the game will also provide enjoyment to players who already speak Japanese well.
Learning a new language can be a tough endeavor for many, particularly Japanese. Considered one of the most difficult languages for native English speakers to master, every bit of assistance that adds motivation and interest could be of great benefit. For those who already enjoy video games, Shujinkou could be that helping hand that makes a difference.
Shujinkou will be released on PC, PS4, and Switch in 2021.
Source: DualShockers