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XSEED Games is pleased to bring gamers freshly-sliced story details about their upcoming and highly-anticipated PlayStation Vita action-platformer title, Sumioni: Demon Arts. Literally translated from Japanese as “Ink Demon,” Sumioni: Demon Arts is set in a fantasy world where players guide an ink figure through a landscape painted on a canvas backdrop in classical Japanese “sumi-e” style. The game uses the PS Vita’s touchscreen controls to allow players to manipulate the game’s world, creating platforms or summoning magical allies with the swipe of a finger.

The world of  is one of melancholy and anguish. Years prior to the game’s opening, two evil men named Seimei and Fukujou successfully conspired to overthrow the Chancellor of Japan, Michisada, and his loyal aide, Tengan. But after this successful coup, Fukujou betrayed Seimei, attempting to steal all the glory for himself. Furious, Seimei invoked a forbidden incantation to unleash an ancient demonic energy, which he then used to do away with the traitor Fukujou and rule the land through intimidation, violence and fear. He kidnapped Michisada and his daughter to use in his twisted rituals, and threw the aide Tengan in prison on false charges. It seemed as if no one could stand in his way.

As time went on the land was driven further into despair by Seimei’s relentless oppression. Tengan, now old and frail, decided something needed to be done. Having heard rumors of an ancient Inkdemon named Agura sealed away within the borders of his prison long ago, Tengan began to toy with the idea of releasing this creature into the world and sending it off to put an end to Seimei’s tyranny. Despite the objections of his Inkgod companion, Shidou, Tengan gave his life to do this very thing, awakening a very confused and irritated Agura.

After a bit of coaxing, Agura finally agreed to help their cause and, along with another phoenix-like Inkgod named Yomihi, these unlikely heroes took off towards the capital to stop Seimei and the growing evil presence he had summoned years before.

In Sumioni: Demon Arts, players are given control of Agura on his quest to destroy Seimei and save Japan. Along the way platforms, strings of fire and jets of water can be drawn into existence at will on the PS Vita’s touchscreen, and Agura’s two Inkgod companions can each be summoned to perform massive, screen-filling attacks.

Sumioni: Demon Arts, developed by ACQUIRE and published by XSEED Games, is currently in production and will release on the PS Vita system in spring 2012. Boasting 30 stages and multiple endings, Sumioni offers completionists plenty to look forward to. XSEED Games will be sending out more product info in the coming months.