Namco Bandai's Monster Hunter clone promises team-based high speed hunting action. It's called God Eater because you play as a God Eater, who wields a "god machine" weapon against divine-like creatures known as Aragami.

So what does a weapon capable of eating gods look like? This:

The weapon has three forms: blade form, gun form, and predator form. You can switch off between these with a single button press as part of the game's Deus Ex Machina system.

In predator form, your weapon literally eats away at the Aragami, sucking up their skills and special attacks. You can use these copied skills for a limited time, or you can pass them off to friends.

Successfully eat an Aragami, and you'll enter into Burst Mode. This gives your player extra abilities for a limited time. You'll be able to perform a double jump and a dash attack.

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Like Monster Hunter, you can select the area of the Aragami's body that you want to attack. This allows you to earn rare materials.

The Aragami are more than just your everyday foe. In addition to up-close physical attacks, they can perform long range attacks along with non-physical attacks. They have rage and hatred assigned on the player level, and make their movements based off these fluxing parameters. They also have different actions and movements depending on the field of play and missions, and will also often strategically team up with other Aragami.

Namco Bandai has introduced three Aragami so far:

Vajura

A large tiger-like Aragami from Eastern Eurasia who can unleash a powerful electricity attack via the cloak-like thing on his back. There are some reports that the area of his back that the cloak protects his weak spot, but the cloak is normally sealed shot, so it's hard to aim for this area.

Sariel

A large Aragami from the Mediterranean. She unleashes a light attack from the evil eye above her forehead. She's normally in a floating state, making her a particularly tough foe for beginners. It's apparently possible to stun her by shooting the eye, although this is of course difficult while avoiding her light attack.

Borg Kamuran

A scorpion knight from southern Great Britain, this Aragami attacks with its giant, sharp tail. It makes use of fast movements and jump attacks, and can also protect itself via its two shields. Apparently, you're supposed to make it loose its footing.

From left to right: Vajura, Sariel, and Borg Kamuran.

Outside of these unique enemies and the weapon changing system, God Eater promises one major difference from Monster Hunter: a full story mode. When playing single player, you'll fight along side three computer controlled God Eaters, working through over 100 missions.

Unlike your own character, who can be freely customized, the computer controlled God Eaters are all of pre set designs. They even have voice actors. Namco Bandai shared today names, artwork, and voice actor details for a few of the characters:

• Lindo: voiced by Hiroaki Hirata
• Alyssa: voiced by Maya Sakamoto
• Soma: voiced by Kazuya Nakai
• Kota: voiced by Daisuke Sakaguchi
• Sakuya: voiced by Sayaka Ohara

From left to right: Lindo, Alyssa, Soma, Kota, and Sakuya.

There are other characters beyond these. Namco Bandai promises more details in a future update.