Kill la Kill - IF

Kill la Kill The Game: IF (キルラキル ザ・ゲーム -異布-) is an arena battle-action fighting video game being developed by APLUS and published by Arc System Works; released on July 25, 2019 on the Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.

The game features an original story written under the supervision of anime scenario writer Kazuki Nakashima. It happens in an alternate timeline from the anime series, branching out from Episode 8. The story is split into two chapters, but initially only Torn Spirits, Changing Fates will be avaliable, which follows Satsuki Kiryūin as the protagonist. After completing it, For Days Long Gone will be unlocked, which follows Ryūko Matoi as the protagonist. The chapters happen concurrently, and tell different prespectives within the same storyline.

Naturals Election
Satsuki announced the Honnōji Academy First Naturals Election, in which students must survive a seven-day battle against each other in order to stand out and earn Goku Uniforms. After these seven days passed, Satsuki announced the Sudden Death Runoff Election, in which students would have to scale five pillars that had sprung out in the schoolyard. In the end, the only ones who made it to the top were Ryūko and the members of the Elite Four: Ira Gamagōri, Hōka Inumuta, Nonon Jakuzure and Uzu Sanageyama.

The Elite Four proposed to Satsuki that each of them were to face Ryūko in single combat. Satsuki accepted the proposition, announcing the King of the Hill final battle, as well as informing Ryūko that should she manage to defeat the Elite Four, she would tell Ryūko the details involving her father's death. Ryūko managed to defeat the entire Elite Four easily, prompting Senkestsu to remark that something felt strange. He felt as if time was being compressed, and questioned how Ryūko was not tired at all after the consecutive battles.

As Ryūko was about to challenge Satsuki, the academy received three surprise visitors: Satsuki's mother, Ragyō Kiryūin, her assistant, Rei Hōōmaru, and the Grand Couturier, Nui Harime. Ragyō had come because the Primordial Life Fiber had reacted to something at the academy. She believed it was Junketsu, but upon arriving, she now realised that was incorrect, and suspected it may have been Senkestsu instead. Unperturbed, she requested Satsuki continue her battle. Satsuki procceded to defeat Ryūko with relative ease, forcing the latter to retreat.

Preparations
Over the next few days, using the data from the Naturals Election and King of the Hill battles, Satsuki commenced the Tri-City Schools Raid Trip in order to take over the remaining schools in the country, as well as to flush out the rebel organization Nudist Beach. When raiding their bases, it was discovered the members of Nudist Beach had already fled. Despite this setback, the Tri-City Schools Raid Trip was declared a success, as now all of the schools in the country had been taken over.

In the aftermath, at Kiryūin Manor, Ragyō showed Satsuki the Thread Palace, a chamber in their mansion containing the Primordial Life Fiber. She explained the history of how it arrived on Earth, as well as its purpose to awaken the COVERS and end humanity. She also explained their family's purpose to serve the COVERS' will. Once they left the chamber, they were joined by Rei, who informed Ragyō that preparations for the Cultural and Sports Grand Festival were ready. Ragyō then told her daughter to announce the festival.

Meanwhile, Ryūko and Mako Mankanshoku hung out in the slums of Honnō Town, where they were intruded by Nui. Nui offered to help Ryūko grow stronger, and summoned a Combat Enhanced COVER for Ryūko to fight. After she defeated it, Nui proposed that Ryūko fight her next, but she was then interrupted by a phone call informing her the Raid Trip was finished. Nui was surprised it was completed so quickly, and wondered if time was going faster. Before Nui left, she informed Ryūko that Satsuki was setting up the Cultural and Sports Grand Festival, and that she should come by and see it. Mako became curious, and started running towards Honnōji Academy, with Ryūko following.

Cultural and Sports Grand Festival
At the academy, the festival has begun, with Satsuki introducing the academy's guest of honor, Ragyō. On the stage, Ragyō gives a speech about how the world is to be ruled by the Life Fibers, and prepares to push a button that will release Life Fibers to devour everyone in the stadium. Before she can however, she is stabbed and slashed in the back by Satsuki, with Satsuki declaring her true intention to overthrow the Life Fibers.

Satsuki actives Junketsu and does battle against Ragyō, eventually succeeding in severing her head using Bakuzan. After defeating her, Satsuki next targeted Nui. This prompted Nui to perform Mind Stitching on the Elite Four, sewing basting thread into each of their brains, and mind-controlling them to fight Satsuki for her. Satsuki fought the four of them and destroyed each of their Goku Uniforms, thus freeing them from the Mind Stitching. Nui then swiftly knocked the weakened Elite Four off the stage using her Scissor Blade.

At this time, Ryūko and Mako arrive at the academy, and Ryūko saw Nui using the other half of her Scissor Blade. Ryūko confronted Nui and she revealed to her that she was the one who killed her father. Ryūko, now enraged, began to attack Nui, her blood getting hotter.

Satsuki was forced to subdue Ryūko, and shreded Senkestsu to pieces. As Ryūko passed out when falling from the stage, she managed to hold on to a piece of Senkestsu, the scarf. Mako hurriedly dragged the unconscious Ryūko and her Scissor Blade out of the academy.

Satsuki then turned around, only to be sucker punched by a revived Ragyō. Ragyō explained that Bakuzan could not sever all of the threads connecting her head to her body, and with a single thread she could always regenerate. She then noticed that Senkestsu had been destroyed, and became amused, noting that they were ahead of schedule. She ordered Nui to transfer the Thread Palace to the basement of Honnōji Academy, and Nui quickly left to do so.

Satsuki fought Ragyō again, this time even succeeding in stripping her of her dress. As Satsuki taunts her mother, the whole academy began to tremble. Shirō Iori informs her that the Thread Palace had suddenly appeared underneath Honnōji Academy. As Satsuki expressed her disbelief, Ragyō explained that the Life Fibers could transcend space. Ragyō then ordered Nui to bring her Shinra-Kōketsu, which Nui did so, though remarking that it was incomplete.

Donning Shinra-Kōketsu, Ragyō defeated Satsuki in one hit, blasting her away until she collided with a wall. She then summoned an army of COVERS from the sky, who began devouring students in the stadium. Nui continued working on Shinra-Kōketsu as per Ragyō's command.

As Satsuki attempted to fight against the waves of COVERS, the Elite Four came to assist her, wearing new Goku Uniforms that were made by Iori. With the Elite Four handling the COVERS, Satsuki dashed towards Ragyō and Nui to stop them, but she was too late as Nui had finished her work on Shinra-Kōketsu. Ragyō then absorbed Rei into Shinra-Kōketsu, fully completing it.

Satsuki lunged at Ragyō, but Ragyō managed to easily deflect her strike and knocked her away. The Elite Four came to help her, but they were all easily defeated by Ragyō. Ragyō then performed Mind Stitching on all of them, including Satsuki, making them mindless puppets. Ragyō then headed towards the Thread Palace, allowing Nui to do whatever she liked.

Ryūko Returns
Back at the slums, Ryūko regained consciousness and was determined to repair Senkestsu. As Ryūko prepared to leave for the academy, Nui appeared once again, intending to kill Ryūko. Before Ryūko started fighting in nothing but her underwear, Iori arrived, holding a briefcase containing all of Senkestsu's missing pieces. He had collected and patched up the pieces himself, and offered it to Ryūko.

Senkestsu repaired himself by merging with his pieces, and Ryūko proceeded to fight Nui, seemingly killing her. Ryūko then asked Iori what was his reason for helping her. Iori explained that he needed her help to save Satsuki and the others, elaborating on the events that had transpired at the academy. While still suspicious, Ryūko agreed to help him as repayment for helping to restore Senkestsu. As Ryūko, Mako, and Iori headed towards the academy, Nui's body turned into a small paper cutout of herself, revealing it to be a clone.

Upon arriving at the academy, Ryūko, Mako, and Iori inspected the Mind Stitching on the stationary Satsuki and the Elite Four. Without warning, Satsuki and the Elite Four came to life and readied themselves for battle, forcing Ryūko to defeat them all. After being knocked out, Satsuki and the Elite Four regained their consciousness, though they still could not move their bodies.

When Ryūko considered attempting to cut the Mind Stitching using her Scissor Blade, Nui appeared once more. Nui explained that Ryūko had merely killed one of her clones, and then produced an army of clones of herself. Ryūko struggled to fight against the army, which prompted Mako to encourage her to get more weapons. As Ryūko was confused on where she could find more, Satsuki told Ryūko to use Bakuzan.

Dual-wielding her Scissor Blade and Bakuzan, Ryūko was able to destroy the army of clones, disarm Nui of her Scissor Blade, and cut off both her arms. As Nui became distraught, Ragyō returned. She created new arms for Nui, then teleported both her and herself away to the Thread Palace.

From observing Ryūko's battle with Nui, Iori realised that by cutting Life Fibers from both sides simultaneously, they cannot regenerate. Using this same method by borrowing Ryūko's Scissor Blade and Bakuzan, Iori freed Satsuki and the Elite Four from Ragyō mind stitching. Ryūko returned Bakuzan to Satsuki, now using Nui's Scissor Blade combined with her own, forming the Rending Scissors.

Satsuki informed Ryūko that Ragyo and Nui were headed for the Thread Palace, and also explained what the Primordial Life Fiber was to her. Ryūko was disinterested in the latter information, having only the single goal of getting revenge for her father. She then parted ways with Satsuki, confidently headed off towards the Thread Palace determined to kill Nui, with Mako following behind.

Satsuki decided to send the Elite Four after Ryūko to protect her, while she herself would go free the students from the COVERS and arrange for their rescue. Before she set off, she asked Iori to make two swords out of Bakuzan for her, aiming to improve her effectiveness at cutting Life Fibers. The Elite Four departed for the Thread Palace as Iori created Bakuzan Gako and Bakuzan Kōryū.

Confrontation At The Thread Palace
Ryūko and Mako arrived at the Thread Palace first, and Ryūko was shocked at the sight of the Primordial Life Fiber. Feeling uneasy, she told Mako to stay back, and Mako headed outside the palace doors. Nui then descended to the ground with a small army of Combat Enhanced COVERS, and Ryūko began to fight. In the midst of battle, the Elite Four came to assist Ryūko, and together, they defeated the COVERS and seemingly killed Nui once again.

As the fighters recuperated, Senkestsu sensed the flow of time in the Thread Palace was unstable, and pondered what was causing it. The Elite Four then left to go aid Satsuki, while Ryūko stayed behind and deactivated Senkestsu. Mako then came to Ryūko's side, but Ryūko turned around and swung her Scissor Blade at her.

Mako catched the blade with her hands and snapped at Ryūko. Ryūko then called out Nui's bluff of disguising as Mako, noting that Mako would have had drool on her face. Annoyed, Nui removed her disguise, deciding to finally fight with her real self, and Ryūko activated Senkestsu in respose. The two enemies began to fight for one last time.

As Ryūko fought Nui, Satsuki finally arrived at the Thread Palace, only to be met by one of Nui's clones and an army of COVERS. With the assistance of the Elite Four, she managed to defeat them all, while Ryūko on her own managed to successfully kill the real Nui. As Nui was dying, she tried to convince Ryūko that Satsuki was the one who ordered for the theft of the Rending Scissors, and consequently her father's murder. Ryūko was not fazed, and responded that if that were true, she knew Satsuki likely had a good reason. With that, Nui finally perished.

Ryūko temporarily left the palace to go check up on Mako, who was sleeping soundly at the palace doors. Once assured of Mako's safety, Ryūko headed back into the palace to help Satsuki.

After defeating the clone of Nui, Satsuki now set her targets on the Primordial Life Fiber. However, she was confronted by Ragyō, and a final battle ensued. Intially, Satsuki's and the Elite Four's attacks seem to do nothing to Ragyō and Shinra-Kōketsu. Then Ryūko joined the battle, and in a combined effort, they were able to destroy Shinra-Kōketsu and defeat Ragyō.

As Ragyō laid on the ground, she mused that Ryūko was "the singularity". When questioned by Satsuki, Ragyō explained how the Life Fibers had the power to interfere with reality, and the world they stood in was a creation of Junketsu, having taken Satsuki's dreams of the future and manifesting them into a new reality. Ragyō stated since her Life Fibers were stronger than Junketsu's, she could have taken over the distorted world, were it not for Ryūko's existence.

Battle Against The Primordial Life Fiber
Satsuki became stunned by the revelation that the world was just her dream, and stood still as the Primordial Life Fiber came to life. It released Life Fiber threads, attacking Satsuki and Ryūko. Ryūko dodged the attack as the Elite Four came to Satsuki's rescue. The Primordial Life Fiber then began to absorb the Life Fibers of the fallen bodies of Ragyō, Nui, and the numerous COVERS the group had beaten. After absorbing all the Life Fibers, it transformed from its cocoon shape into a fetus-like creature, and focused its attacks on Satsuki. The Elite Four stayed back to defend Satsuki as Ryūko launched her attack against the Primordial Life Fiber.

Ryūko attempted to cut the Primordial Life Fiber's left arm using her Scissor Blades, but it somehow reattached the arm to itself, showing it was not made of ordinary Life Fibers. The Primordial Life Fiber then released more Life Fiber threads, some of which piereced Junketsu. This seemed to snap Satsuki out of her trance, but she began seeing visions of an alternate timeline, scenes of her and Ryūko fighting together against Ragyō.

As the battle became more desperate, Senkestsu informed Ryūko that the Primordial Life Fiber was not only absorbing Life Fibers from their world, but also from other timelines, absorbing from these other worlds' pasts and futures all at once. He stated that as long as the Primordial Life Fiber had Life Fibers to absorb, it could continue to regenerate.

The Primordial Life Fiber flew towards Satsuki, and the Elite Four came in between them in order to shield her. The Primordial Life Fiber let out a roar against them, which destroyed the Elite Four's Goku Uniforms as well as Junketsu. It then rose into the air, breaking through the ceiling of the Thread Palace. It had also somehow taken Mako along with it, and Ryūko jumped into the sky to sever the thread attached to Mako and save her.

Not willing to accept defeat, Satsuki willed Junketsu to restore itself by absorbing Life Fibers from the destroyed Goku Uniforms. Junketsu not only was repaired, but underwent a transformation into a powered-up state known as Junketsu Shinzui. Iori then appeared, informing Satsuki that he had made repairs and enhancements to Junketsu by using all the Life Fibers from the Goku Uniforms left at the Academy. The Elite Four and Iori wished Satsuki luck, as she flew off after the Primordial Life Fiber.

After saving Mako, Ryūko witnessed Satsuki flying with the repaired Junketsu and was bewildered. Seeing her, Senkestsu was now confident that the flow of time was distorted, with Satsuki being able to compress time to her will. Senkestsu further confirmed that what Ragyō had said was true, that this world was Satsuki's delusion. Ryūko decided to still try and save Satsuki, and made towards where Satsuki was fighting.

Reality Falls Apart
Aboveground in the courtyard of Honnōji Academy, the sky had seemingly shattered. Life Fibers hung from the sky, connecting to the Primordial Life Fiber as it continued to absorb them from other realities. Satsuki threw a flurry of attacks at it, but it kept regenerating its wounds. Eventually, Satsuki was consumed by her rage, becoming unconscious, yet still fighting on pure instinct.

Ryūko, Mako, and the Elite Four arrived at the courtyard and watched as Satsuki repeatedly attacked the Primordial Life Fiber. Ryūko shouted at Satsuki to get her attention, but it was to no avail. Inumuta theorised that the Primordial Life Fiber would be unable to defeat Satsuki, as if this world was born from her delusions, then that act would be self-destructive. When asked by Gamagōri why Satsuki in turn could not defeat the Primordial Life Fiber, Inumuta speculated that the Primordial Life Fiber was drawing Life Fibers from other dimensions. However, Inumuta noted that once all Life Fibers from the past, present and future were absored, the world would reach critical mass. If the world had reached critical mass in the eventual moment Satsuki woke up, Iori proclaimed that the world and everything in it would end.

Ryūko was determined to fight Satsuki and wake her up before this occured, but she was stopped by Inumuta and Iori, who said it would be a futile effort with her and Senkestsu's current strength. Ryūko questioned their resolve to protect Satsuki, and Mako provided encouragement. Inumuta re-evaluated their situation, and proposed that because the Life Fibers resposible for creating the distorted world were woven into Junketsu Shinzui, removing it from Satsuki might wake her up. With this plan, the Elite Four and Iori in only their underwear began to repeatedly throw themselves at Satsuki, attempting to rip Junketsu Shinzui off. But it was to little success, as Satsuki was easily able to swat them away each time.

Senkestsu warned Ryūko that taking on Satsuki in their current state would be very reckless. Ryūko then suggested an idea, asking Senkestsu if he could mimic the Primordial Life Fiber's ability to absorb Life Fibers from other realities. Senkestsu concured with the idea, and tried it. Ryūko and Senkestsu began to absorb an enormous amount of Life Fibers from the shattered sky, even stealing Life Fibers that were connected to the Primordial Life Fiber. With all the Life Fibers absorbed, Senkestsu transformed into Senketsu Kisaragi, with power now rivaling Junketsu Shinzui. The Elite Four and Iori gave their blessings to Ryūko, and she made her way towards Satsuki for one final battle.

End Of The Dream
Ryūko fought Satsuki in an intense battle, which Ryūko eventually emerged as the victor of. She performed her finishing technique against Satsuki, shredding Junketsu Shinzui to pieces as well as leaving Satsuki unconscious. However, Senkestsu was unable to mantain his Senkestsu Kisaragi form, and detransformed into only a piece of his scarf. Ryūko asked Senkestsu on his well-being, and he stated although he was in pain, he would be fine.

Ryūko then asked Senkestsu what would happen to them once Satsuki woke up and the world disappeared. Senkestsu hypothesised that they would simply be returned to the point in time before Satsuki's delusions began, believing that time would have barely passed in that original reality.

When Satsuki eventually came to, Ryūko gave her Rending Scissors to Satsuki, and told her only she could end the distorted world. Satsuki now understood and accepted that this world was her own dream, taking the Rending Scissors and jumping off the Honnōji Academy tower, launching herself towards the Primordial Life Fiber. She then used the Rending Scissors to cut a mental projection of herself in two, which ultimately ended the dream and the reality.

Satsuki stood in a white void as the reality ended around her. The Elite Four, Iori and Mako began to disappear, and eventually, only Ryūko and Satsuki were left. Satsuki expressed her gratitude towards Ryūko, while Ryūko was nonchalant about it, and they decided they would meet each other once again. In the end, they too disappeared as the reality finally ended.

Waking Up
In Torn Spirits, Changing Fates, Satsuki woke up in the middle of the night, and remarked that she had a bad dream. The next day, she came out of the academy, and met Ryūko, who aggressively stated she had a question for her.

In For Days Long Gone, Ryūko had a nightmare about having a fight with Satsuki, where Satsuki destroyed Senkestsu. She woke up in a panic, and remarked that it was a weird dream. Suddenly, the siren for Honnōji Academy's No-Late Day event went off, frightening Mako awake. She quickly ate and got dressed as she told Ryūko to get dressed, much to Ryūko's confusion.

Playable Fighters

 * Ryūko Matoi
 * Kamui Senketsu
 * Kamui Senketsu with dual Scissor Blades
 * Senketsu Kisaragi (Story Mode Exclusive)
 * Satsuki Kiryūin
 * Kamui Junketsu
 * Kamui Junketsu with Bakuzan Gako & Bakuzan Kōryū
 * Junketsu Shinzui (Story Mode Exclusive)
 * Nonon Jakuzure
 * Ira Gamagōri
 * Hōka Inumuta
 * Uzu Sanageyama
 * Nui Harime
 * Ragyō Kiryūin
 * Ultimate Double Naked DTR/Aikurō Mikisugi and Tsumugu Kinagase (DLC Fighter)
 * Mako Mankanshoku (DLC Fighter)

Trivia

 * A countdown website launched on June 15, 2018, announcing the collaboration between Studio Trigger and Arc System Works. When the timer ended, a message appeared about watching DARLING in the FRANXX episode 21. An announcement commercial played during its air and the website went live shortly after.
 * In the Japanese title of Kill la Kill The Game (キルラキル ザ・ゲーム -異布-, KILL la KILL the GAME: IF), the "異布", pronounced "if", means "strange clothes".
 * To promote the game, Ryoka Yuzuki (Japanese voice actor for Satsuki) appeared in an episode of the BlazBlue radio show.