Hounds — Of The Meteor Exclusive
Hounds of the Meteor: Complete Guide
Visuals and Art Style
One of the game's most defining features is its art direction.
- Character Art: The game utilizes highly detailed, semi-realistic character portraits that are vastly different from the chibi-style sprites often seen in pixel RPGs. This creates a jarring but effective contrast that highlights the personality and grit of the characters.
- Pixel Art: The environmental design and combat sprites use a moody, detailed pixel art style that complements the dark atmosphere.
8. Availability & Recommended Entry Points
- Japanese reprints: Shueisha Bunko edition (2003) and Yasuhiko Complete Works box set (2015).
- Digital fanscans: Available via manga archival sites (search: Hounds of the Meteor or Metoroido no Ken).
- Best read alongside: Lone Wolf and Cub (for tone), Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal OVA (for Meiji darkness), and Yasuhiko’s Giant Gundam manga for art comparison.
3. Plot Summary (Spoiler-Lite)
Setting: Alternate-history Meiji Restoration period (late 19th-century Japan). The crumbling Tokugawa shogunate is being overthrown by imperial forces, but shadow wars rage between assassins, secret societies, and foreign powers.
Protagonist: Ken Shirogane (a name evoking “sword” + “white metal”). A young, cynical swordsman who wields the “Meteor Blade” —a legendary, demon-cursed sword forged from a fallen star. The blade thirsts for blood and gradually corrupts its wielder. Hounds of the Meteor
Plot Engine: Ken is a rōnin (masterless samurai) who hunts down monstrous, supernatural outlaws called “Maggots” —humans mutated by exposure to residual “meteor energy” or dark arts. These creatures are not mere demons but tragic victims of the turbulent era. Ken is aided by a scrappy child sidekick, Mai, and a mysterious female doctor, Asuka, who seeks to cure the Maggots.
Major Arc: Ken discovers that the meteor that forged his sword also seeded multiple shards across Japan, creating other cursed blades and Maggots. He must collect or destroy them, all while resisting his own descent into becoming the very monster he hunts. Hounds of the Meteor: Complete Guide Visuals and
Phase 2: Approach & Setup
- Position Brawler between the Beast and your Snipers.
- Use Shifter to pre-set the correct element (check the Beast’s current aura color).
- Do not engage until Pack Cohesion meter is above 70% (indicated by howling icon).
Phase 3: The Hunt
- Open with Sniper – Volley Mark (if Scout marked a weak point).
- Brawler taunts – Use Howl of Challenge. This forces the Beast to face them.
- Shifter matches element – Reapply every time the Beast glows.
- Scout flanks – Rip the Sinew (rear attack) cripples mobility.
3) Scientific / astronomical angle (symbolic, not literal)
- Meteor showers and "trains": Meteors can leave trains of ionized gas; poetically these streaks could be likened to “hounds” tracking across the sky—swift, transient, and numerous.
- Example: Describing the Leonids as “hounds of the meteor” emphasizes their speed and pack-like appearance.
- Impact events as hunting forces: A meteor impact that causes cascading damage (fires, tsunamis, extinction) can be figuratively described as being chased by “hounds” (secondary effects).
2. Hound Classes & Roles
Each Hound has one of four classes. A balanced squad has at least one of each.
| Class | Role | Key Trait | Example Ability | |-------|------|-----------|------------------| | Scout | Recon, weak-point marking | High speed, low armor | Mark Prey – increases crit chance on target | | Brawler | Frontline tank, interrupt | High HP, knockback | Meteor Crash – stuns small enemies | | Sniper | Ranged DPS, precision | Low mobility, high burst | Rail Jaw – penetrates armor | | Shifter | Support, element swapping | Can change damage type mid-battle | Element Flux – cycles fire/electric/corrosive | weak-point marking | High speed
Tip: Always bring one Shifter. Elemental weaknesses change when a Beast enters its Enraged state.