All the way back during E3 2015, TechRaptor managed to get an interview with the creator of the Senran Kagura series, Kenichiro Takaki. A lot has happened for both TechRaptor as well as the Senran Kagura series in the West since then, and so we sat back down with Mr. Life and Hometown himself to discuss their newest release, Senran Kagura: Peach Beach Splash (check out our impressions here), their ideas for the series going forward, and more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOzUutiUFyY&feature=youtu.be

Back when we talked with Kenichiro Takaki at E3 2015, the Senran Kagura series was having its, up until now, largest push into the West. With both Senran Kagura: Deep Crimson and Senran Kagura: Estival Versus on display for E3 attendees to play, Marvelous USA/XSEED Games showed their confidence regarding the series' potential future with western audiences. A confidence that seems to have only grown with the PC releases of both Shinovi and Estival Versus over the last few years.

While the Senran Kagura series hasn't been afraid to try and breach new ground in the past—2014's Bon Appétit comes to mind, with its rhythm game gameplay—it seems as if Takaki has been reaching for a wider array of genres to take the series in as of late. There's XSEED's own E3 focus, Peach Beach Splash, which turns the game into something of a third person shooter that reminds me of a mix between Splatoon, Vanquish, as well as certain aspects of the original Titanfall (particularly that title's "burn cards"), and then there's the most recently announced Senran Kagura title, that being the as-of-yet unnamed Nintendo Switch project. You've probably heard of it.

Regardless of where the series continues to head, it remains immensely clear that Takaki is a man of intense passion for his works. It's always a pleasure to get to talk with him, and I'm certain that he'll continue to surprise us with his projects going forward.

If you want to know more about this and other announcements happening at E3 then be sure to check out our E3 2017 Coverage Hub.