The latest iteration of Arcana Heart 3 finally comes overseas for a Steam release this holiday season.

Long before Skullgirls, Koihime Enbu and Vanguard Princess, 2006’s Arcana Heart was one of the first titles to truly popularize the idea of an all-female fighting game, despite the concept predating Examu’s franchise through such games as Asuka 120% Final Burning Festival, Glove on Fight and Rumble Roses. The current trilogy of Arcana Heart titles are known for flaunting a 2D “Moe” anime aesthetic, paired with frantic combat and basic customization through stat-altering “Arcana” perks.

Arcana Heart creator Examu took to Kickstarter this past Summer with the intent of localizing Arcana Heart 3: LOVE MAX SIX STARS!!!!!! for North America; to the delight of local fans, the crowdfunding campaign reached its initial funding goal before its closure in August. The North American version of SIX STARS!!!!!! will include the majority of its Japanese arcade counterpart content at launch, featuring new character “Minori Amanohara” and the Arcana “Ichor, Arcana of Blood”; funded stretch goals have insured the PC version will receive an exclusive new character and Arcana ability- “Shark Girl” and “Paracelsia”- though both items will be administered as paid-DLC to those who did not participate in the Kickstarter campaign. For players unwilling to jump into the competitive “Online Network Play” option, Arcana Heart 3: LOVE MAX SIX STARS!!!!!! offers a plethora of offline modes; “Story”, “After-Story”, “Survival Score Attack”, “Trial”, “Time Attack”, “Versus” and “Training” Modes will all be available at launch.

The system requirements are as follows courtesy of Steam and PC publisher Arc System Works:

Minimum:

• OS: Windows 7/8/ 8.1/10
• Processor: Intel Core2 Duo
• Memory: 2 GB RAM
• GPU: nVidia GeForce 7900 GT or better, AMD Radeon X1900, nVidia GeForce GT 620 (Windows 8.1)
• DirectX: Version 9.0c
• Network: Broadband Internet connection
• Sound Card: Direct Sound

Recommended:

• OS: Windows 7/8/8.1/10
• Processor: Intel Core i5/i7
• Memory: 4 GB RAM
• GPU: nVidia GeForce 8800 GT or better, AMD Radeon HD3700, nVidia GeForce GT 650 (Windows 8.1)
• DirectX: Version 9.0c
• Network: Broadband Internet connection
• Sound Card: Direct Sound

The official store listing is now live, but pre-orders have yet to open through Steam. Eager Arcana Heart have the alternative option of pre-purchasing SIX STARS!!!!!! through BackerKit; funds will go towards the “Dark Heart” DLC character stretch goals from the original Kickstarter campaign.

Arcana Heart 3: LOVE MAX SIX STARS!!!!!! is expected to release sometime this December exclusively for PC. The previous version, Arcana Heart 3: LOVE MAX!!!!!! is currently available for PS3 and PC via Steam.

Source: Examu
Image courtesy of Examu, Arc System Works