404 GAME RE: SET (pronounced Error Game Reset) was a free to play bullet hell/RPG gacha mobile title created by Sega released in Japan on April 25, 2023 based in a world where Sega is the villain and their arcade creations are personified into humanoid women.
The game was announced on February 10, 2023. An early preregister prologue released on April 17, 2023.
The game's cancellation was announced on October 30th 2023, and was shut down on January 5, 2024.
Plot[]
This is a world completely controlled by Sega.
Sega control everything from infrastructure to entertainment, Sega has taken control of everything, and has distorted the real world from Tokyo, to New York, to Taipei to Paris.
One day in Shibuya at 13:23, the player is approaching Sega for an interview. Whilst chatting to their friend on the phone via text, they are sent an app stating they have been chosen to save the world. As the player waits to cross the street, a red ferrari skids across the busy roads and runs him down, seemingly killing the player.
Upon waking up, the player is greeted by Ribbon, who introduces herself as the navigation character of the 'save the world' game. She explains she managed to take the player's consciencenous into cyberspace inside their phone and save them before they died to the traffic incident. However, if the player's conciousness were to return to their body at current, they'd simply die from their injuries. In order to save themselves fully, "Player-San" must play a game and defeat the area's boss.
A monochrome young woman with glowing red eyes referred to as Out Run appears and Ribbon declares she must be defeated to remove the source of evil. Out Run is willing to fight them, but Ribbon realises they currently stand no chance in a fight currently. In order to combat Out Run, Ribbon breaks time and space and summons future allies of Player-San to help in the fight. After defeating Out Run, Player-San's body is returned to the incident, but this time the Ferrari stops just short of them, no longer controlled by Out Run.
As the player becomes relieved at this, he is contacted by a mysterious person called "X" who claims to have made Ribbon save them and wants to converse with them. They reveal the world they are currently living in is incorrect, and has been distorted by Sega and that Out Run is one of the "Casts" Sega have control over that have the power to change the world. After beating Out Run, a part of reality was corrected as a result. As such, X wants the player to continue to aid their Resistance against Sega by fighting more Casts in order to to restore the world to it's correct form. The player is told they have little choice as Out Run targetting them was not a coincedence.
Upon returning home, the player's cleaning robot is hacked by Ribbon in order for her to communicate with them in the real world.
After resting Ribbon announces they have been contacted by X to pursue Out Run. Using them as an example they show the player how Sega have manipulated history using Out Run, abolishing driving safety acts, and getting into the Sports Car industry making huge profits as a result. After their previous battle Out Run had been weakened, Ribbon suggests they track her down and beat her up quickly. Upon finding Out Run, Out Run declares she refuses to allow the safety act occur as she wants driving freedom, and offers the player money.
Upon defeating her Out Run changes forms into her Anode form, remembering the terrible things she did. Ribbon assures her that Sega manipulated her desire of freedom and twisted her into performing actions she did not want to do. Out Run cannot forgive herself, and Ribbon suggests she help the player from here on instead. Now with a clear direction, the player sets out to purify the Casts and restore the world to the way it once was.
Gameplay[]
Combat in 404 Game Re:Set is performed by tapping on the screen to fire attacks at approaching enemies. The Cast the player is using can be moved left and right by swiping on the phone, although they can only move with the rectangular control area giving limited space to move around.
Objects with sparkling auras can be destroyed to power up the Casts during combat, with them able to power up in combat a total of three times.
Both player and enemy Casts are able to launch huge unavoidable damaging attacks known as "Burst Skills" once they build up enough gauge by doing damage to their enemies. These are unique abilities that can turn the tide of battle easily.
Enemy Casts are capable of causing 'glitches' that affect the screen display, making it harder for players to avoid their attacks. They also have weak points that can be hit to stun them and deal more damage when broken for the remainder of the fight.
Characters[]
- Ribbon: The navigator character. She is the first Cast players will obtain. Bright and peppy she helps guide "Player-San" through their adventure, saving them from certain death and attempting to help purify her fellow Casts taking the fight against Sega, Namco and Taito.
Sega Casts[]
- Out Run: Responsible for killing the player. Out Run's desire for freedom has been twisted by Sega into a disregard for public safety and responsibility. In her Cathode form she is obsessed with money and status, attempting to buy the player off and hire them to help create a world where everyone can drive freely. In her Anode form she regrets these actions, but still holds freedom in high esteem and wishes to protect those weaker than hers freedoms. She is based off of Sega's original Out Run title.
- After Burner: The antagonist of the second chapter. She is behind the creation of fighter jets that are created by Sega that are so simple to use you can use them like a video game. Her Cathode form is obsessed with fighting evil, although has a twisted view of what is evil, believing those who are weak and need of protecting all the time are the true evil ones. She believes that giving the weak the ability to fight with these simple jet fighters is correct.
- Virtua Fighter:
- Altered Beast:
- Bonanza Bros:
- Columns:
- Crazy Taxi:
- Daytona USA:
- Dynamite Deka:
- Fantasy Zone:
- Fighting Vipers:
- Galaxy Force:
- Golden Axe:
- Hang On:
- House Of The Dead:
- Pengo:
- Puyo Puyo:
- Rail Chase:
- Samba de Amigo:
- Space Harrier:
- Thunder Blade:
- Virtua Cop:
- Virtua Racing:
- Zaxxon:
Namco Casts[]
- Dig Dug
- Mappy
- Pac-Man
- Ridge Racer
- Xevious
TAITO Casts:[]
- Arkanoid
- Darius
- Kiki Kaikai
SNK Casts:[]
- Fatal Fury
Capcom Casts:[]
- Street Fighter
Trivia[]
- The beta version prologue had players fight Virtua Fighter and After Burner as well as Out Run.
- Two Sega themed Casts were accidentally leaked but never made it to the game before shutdown; one based off of Sega Bass Fishing, and the other based on Derby Owner's Club.[1]
Gallery[]
