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[Kyzer]

They have feet!

 

[duckroll]

From what I've heard, I Am Setsuna was a lot closer to current mobile JRPG trends than it was to Chrono Trigger or other classic 16-bit JRPGs, in visuals, gameplay style, and story. It's just that Square-Enix hammered the nostalgia aspect HARD in their marketing and a lot of nostalgic 16-bit JRPG fans don't play mobile games so they couldn't make the comparison.

It's nothing like a mobile rpg. More like a boring Steam indie game.

 

[NipplesAndToes23]

when it comes to upcoming games for fans of classic rpgs, I've got Octopath Traveler, Alliance Alive and two Romancing SaGa remakes to look forward to. Something like this or Setsuna just doesn't rate.

I'm going to look these up.

 

[Ombala]

Im intrested but 50$ cmon SE this looks very low budget and I see are not reason for that price.

 

[SciencePilot]

Looks decent enough. Cautiously optimistic that the team has improved since Setsuna. Hopefully it's good!

 

[DMiz]

This, artistically, looks worse than Setsuna (which had the benefit of taking place entirely in snow).

I do hope that we see the world map and the towns improve. The character design is already a bit lacking in comparison to Setsuna, which had some great and colorful designs to counter-balance its crew and white-washed world.

... Even so, I know I'm getting this regardless to support this development team...

 

[somecrazymember]

Never played I am Setsuna but i prefer its style compared to this one.

Was I am Setsuna also 50 bucks?

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

I'm interested to see more of this, although those visuals looked a bit rough. I guess it's partly down to the lack of snow this time around.

From what I've heard, I Am Setsuna was a lot closer to current mobile JRPG trends than it was to Chrono Trigger or other classic 16-bit JRPGs, in visuals, gameplay style, and story. It's just that Square-Enix hammered the nostalgia aspect HARD in their marketing and a lot of nostalgic 16-bit JRPG fans don't play mobile games so they couldn't make the comparison.

It feels more like a PS1-era RPG to me. Although they talked up Chrono Trigger some, Setsuna always felt more like something more tonally in line with what you would see on the PS1 rather than a 16 bit game.

 

[Megatron]

No. They showed Octopath Traveler by the Bravely team and Square announced Setsuna right after with a trailer on YouTube, which is by Tokyo RPG factory, the team handling Lost Sphear.

Oh cool. Well then I'm fine with this.

 

[i3allistic]

Was about to pull the trigger but that $8.99 Shipping tho ....

 

[thefil]

I wish all of the Square Enix SNES/PS1 revival games didn't feel the need to copy the cheesy, pseudo-philosophical, macguffin-focused scenarios from that era as well. Bravely Default, Setsuna and this all look gorgeous, and have all this opportunity to capitalize on their relatively low production values. But the scenarios are so unappealing. Even the PS1 FFs did it way better:

FF7 opens with you in an eco-terrorist group assaulting an industrial facility.
FF8 opens with you in summon-driven military academy, travelling for a special mission through a modern-looking city.
FF9 opens with you simultaneously kindapping a princess while pretending to put on a play, and sneaking into that play.

Bravely Default... the crystals are in danger!
Setsuna... the chosen one needs to save the world!
This game... the world is vanishing into nothing, can friendship and love overcome it?

Gross. The people making these games have no idea what the "good parts" of retro RPGs are, so they're just doing their best to copy everything without critical thought.

 

[pelicansurf]

The game's name triggers me.

 

[Shizuka]

Will there be no american release, even if limited? All I get is being redirected to the EU Square-Enix Online Store.

 

[Roubjon]

I wish all of the Square Enix SNES/PS1 revival games didn't feel the need to copy the cheesy, pseudo-philosophical, macguffin-focused scenarios from that era as well. Bravely Default, Setsuna and this all look gorgeous, and have all this opportunity to capitalize on their relatively low production values. But the scenarios are so unappealing. Even the PS1 FFs did it way better:

FF7 opens with you in an eco-terrorist group assaulting an industrial facility.
FF8 opens with you in summon-driven military academy, travelling for a special mission through a modern-looking city.
FF9 opens with you simultaneously kindapping a princess while pretending to put on a play, and sneaking into that play.

Bravely Default... the crystals are in danger!
Setsuna... the chosen one needs to save the world!
This game... the world is vanishing into nothing, can friendship and love overcome it?

Gross. The people making these games have no idea what the "good parts" of retro RPGs are, so they're just doing their best to copy everything without critical thought.

These are some super selective and broad summaries you are giving here.Nostalgia is strong though, so I'm not surprised. I Am Setsuna starts out with a main character who is hired to kill someone who turns out to be a sacrifice.

 

[thefil]

These are some super selective and broad summaries you are giving here.Nostalgia is strong though, so I'm not surprised. I Am Setsuna starts out with a main character who is hired to kill someone who turns out to be a sacrifice.

Fair enough. If anything though, I'd retroactively apply my criticisms to a game like FF9, which devolves into the same macguffin/friendship stuff.

 

[Curler]

Will there be no american release, even if limited? All I get is being redirected to the EU Square-Enix Online Store.

Maybe just your region? I was able to order just fine on the NA store.

 

[Roubjon]

Fair enough. If anything though, I'd retroactively apply my criticisms to a game like FF9, which devolves into the same macguffin/friendship stuff.

I do love all those Final Fantasy games, but if I didn't say the FF8 Balamb Garden intro doesn't make me sleepy I'd be lying lol. FF7 is ace though.

 

[DiipuSurotu]

I wish all of the Square Enix SNES/PS1 revival games didn't feel the need to copy the cheesy, pseudo-philosophical, macguffin-focused scenarios from that era as well. Bravely Default, Setsuna and this all look gorgeous, and have all this opportunity to capitalize on their relatively low production values. But the scenarios are so unappealing. Even the PS1 FFs did it way better:

FF7 opens with you in an eco-terrorist group assaulting an industrial facility.
FF8 opens with you in summon-driven military academy, travelling for a special mission through a modern-looking city.
FF9 opens with you simultaneously kindapping a princess while pretending to put on a play, and sneaking into that play.

Bravely Default... the crystals are in danger!
Setsuna... the chosen one needs to save the world!
This game... the world is vanishing into nothing, can friendship and love overcome it?

Gross. The people making these games have no idea what the "good parts" of retro RPGs are, so they're just doing their best to copy everything without critical thought.

FF7/8/9 are closer to the modern style of JRPGs than the oldschool JRPGs that Setsuna/Sphear is inspired by.

 

[thefil]

FF7/8/9 are closer to the modern style of JRPGs than the oldschool JRPGs that Setsuna/Sphear is inspired by.

Yeah, I guess I just want them to be inspired by a different era. Or go full dragon quest and make it more whimsical, less melodramatic. It's probably more on me than them.

 

[QuiteWhittle]

$50? I'll wait for it to reach the price point I didn't buy Setsuna at...but would have, had Setsuna not looked like a total snoozefest.

 

[Shizuka]

Maybe just your region? I was able to order just fine on the NA store.

Weird, I live in Brazil.

 

[Easy_D]

How come it looks less impressive than I Am Setsuna with the Vita cut out of the mix?

 

[Mory Dunz]

Looks kinda eh

 

[DiipuSurotu]

How come it looks less impressive than I Am Setsuna with the Vita cut out of the mix?

Setsuna creatively used snow as part of its art style to great effect. People didn't like it however so now they've removed the snow.

 

[franklyshankly]

Never played I am Setsuna but i prefer its style compared to this one.

Was I am Setsuna also 50 bucks?

No, Setsuna was 40 iirc. 50 dollars for this game seems really high. Can't imagine it's going to sell well until a large price drop.

 

[whyamihere]

Setsuna looked kind of boring. At least this one has colors? But $50 is steep.

 

[Artanisix]

$50 for this? LUL

 

[Purple Cheeto]

Setsuna creatively used snow as part of its art style to great effect. People didn't like it however so now they've removed the snow.

The snow was fine, the lack of environmental and dungeon variety was not. There were like 4 dungeon skins with 2-3 texture swaps per set.

 

[Lumpy Onion]

Looks pretty bland judging from those shots. Setsuna didn't interest me much and I can't say this does either.

This is coming from someone who would gladly play most SNES and PS1 JRPGs today.

 

[dickroach]

I know it's been mentioned, but it really does look like a mobile game

Setsuna got a pass because it was the studio's first game, and people were hungry for an old school RPG published by Square(!!!).

 

[Zetta]

I was all in until that price, now this is a buy after a price drop.

 

[paragonpro]

This made me get back into i am setsuna, then i remembered why i stopped playing, i hit a boss i absolutley cannot beat

 

[Vamphuntr]

Art style looks really simple and unappealing considering the 50$ price tag.

 

[ElephantShell]

Looks cool but I hope the combat and systems aren't overly similar to Setsuna.

 

[Shin-Ra]

The game's name triggers me.

Everyone has a lisp.

 

[Giolon]

Neat! I'm glad Tokyo RPG Factory is getting a chance for another go around. I still have to play through Setsuna on my Switch.

That price isn't going to do them any favors though.

 

[Caronte]

Looks generic to be honest, but I like the music. Also I don't understand why the interface looks like a mobile game.

 

[LiquidMetal14]

Not bad.

I'd take a Radiata Stories type game at this point though.

 

[megalowho]

Still respect the initiative behind Tokyo RPG Factory but have to agree this looks dreadfully bland, from the story setup to the visual style, even for a throwback. They must be confident they have something to price it at $50, hope it delivers for those interested.

 

[Ushay]

Was expecting something a little more 'grand' in scale. Ah well..

 

[Jampsuliini]

I'm pretty sure the UI is just placeholder (at least I hope so...)

 

[Poppy]

i am setsuna was pretty bad man. or at least aggressively mediocre. mostly just nostalgia baiting with the overall style but lacked any sort of soul or purpose. bad characters and story, subpar graphics, blah blah blah. some people like the music but i didnt think much of it. i got to the last dungeon or so and stopped playing out of apathy.

i dont have faith in tokyo rpg factory and this looks like more of the same. at least theres no way setsuna is worth more than 20 bucks, so if this plans on being like 40 dollars again then man. fool me once...

 

[ZombiePlatypus]

Dunno why there is hubbub over the UI. It looks like nothing to write home about, but I'm not seeing anything particularly offensive about it. Just pedestrian. I'm more concerned about the story and characters being good. Is this team the same team that made BD games?

 

[Shizuka]

aggressively mediocre

I've never seen two words describe a game so perfectly before.

 

[ksamedi]

Man did that trailer look boring. I get that they want to produce old school style rpgs but if your budgdt is so low at least go for a unique look or mechanic.

 

[dickroach]

Man did that trailer look boring. I get that they want to produce old school style rpgs but if your budgdt is so low at least go for a unique look or mechanic.

the thing is that it doesn't look old school. it looks like indie/mobile games from 5 years ago.
they shoulda went straight 2D sprites.

 

[Option-]

I wish all of the Square Enix SNES/PS1 revival games didn't feel the need to copy the cheesy, pseudo-philosophical, macguffin-focused scenarios from that era as well. Bravely Default, Setsuna and this all look gorgeous, and have all this opportunity to capitalize on their relatively low production values. But the scenarios are so unappealing. Even the PS1 FFs did it way better:

FF7 opens with you in an eco-terrorist group assaulting an industrial facility.
FF8 opens with you in summon-driven military academy, travelling for a special mission through a modern-looking city.
FF9 opens with you simultaneously kindapping a princess while pretending to put on a play, and sneaking into that play.

Bravely Default... the crystals are in danger!
Setsuna... the chosen one needs to save the world!
This game... the world is vanishing into nothing, can friendship and love overcome it?

Gross. The people making these games have no idea what the "good parts" of retro RPGs are, so they're just doing their best to copy everything without critical thought.

Great post, exactly on point. As somebody said, it seems like a game "by paycheck" and now that they understood the engine, they added color.

It´ll still be a solid game though but nothing inspiring and definetly nothing worth 50$.

 

[Mister Wolf]

the thing is that it doesn't look old school. it looks like indie/mobile games from 5 years ago.
they shoulda went straight 2D sprites.

If they had to take the time to draw 2D sprites the game would be 60 dollars.

 

[Rad Shadow]

2d sprites would be the tits!

 

[killatopak]

I'll play it on PC unless this isn't Unity.