School-life RPG VARLET gets a pre-launch trailer - a rival to Persona?

Ahead of its launch on August 28th, VARLET, a school-life RPG, has received a pre-launch trailer which looks rather good.

Blending psychological intrigue, social dynamics and supernatural mystery, the game sounds like a contender for the Persona crown.

Set in the halls of Kousei Academy, the game explores digital dependency through the use of the school's Johari VR network - while intended to supply services such as online shopping and social cohesion, it also starts to promote online validation, and we all know how dangerous that can be.

Worse still, students are vanishing, with the rumours suggesting that mysterious "Glitches" are snatching them away once their desire for social acceptance reaches a peak, with monsters replacing them in the real world and nobody noticing the switch!

As part of the Student Support Services (SSS) team, you'll develop bonds with fellow members and try to battle both the glitches and the social pressures that fuel them. As you progress, you'll have to find a balance between light and dark, with your actions being split between the Light Triad (morality, sympathy & altruism) and the Dark Triad (Machiavellianism, psychopathy & narcissism). Each will reward you with different powers and abilities, but be careful of the path you choose.

The game promises a large number of possible relationships between students, but warns that not all may be what they seem.

Sounds intriguing - check out the trailer below: