Grace of Letoile is the newest retro RPG from KEMCO’s RPG meeting line, and it’s considered one of their higher entries I’ve performed as of late. You understand the look, and also you’ll acknowledge the varied story tropes, however the fight mechanic does sufficient to push the sport towards the highest of KEMCO’s catalog. Effectively, that’s supplied you’re both advantageous with random encounters or gained’t thoughts spending $1.99 to make them cease.
Grace of Letoile begins with a younger boy, Vedley, attempting to show to his dad and mom simply how courageous he’s. This, in fact, straight results in his dad and mom’ deaths. Unable to forgive himself because the years go, Vedley sooner or later stumbles throughout a shady fellow, Achieitz, who presents him with the notion he can flip again time and save his dad and mom.
To do this, nevertheless, Vedley should make a pact with a Letoile (a residing doll) and crew as much as overcome the opposite Letoiles and steal their Sertzes. Vedley turns into the Maschelle of a Letoile named Ajin, and—alongside along with his sister, Moniya—units out to vary his dad and mom’ destiny.
OK, you don’t want to know the terminology at this level. What issues right here is that not everybody straight associated to this quest shares the identical motivation. Ajin, the to begin with Letioles, is extra involved about stealing her sisters’ Sertzes than she is with Vedley’s household life. In truth, her frustration with Vedley’s have to do the best factor on the detriment of working in the direction of their shared aim makes for an attention-grabbing occasion dynamic. Moniya even will get to be greater than the third wheel as she wrestles with conserving her brother protected from not solely his enemies, but additionally his ambitions.
The plot takes the twists and turns you’d predict as different characters come and go, however the story’s brisk pacing and complex relationships held my consideration all through. A number of the dialogue is stiff, however by no means annoyingly so.
What I actually loved, nevertheless, is the best way seemingly random NPCs ended up changing into catalysts for main story components. Our heroes actually ought to’ve been higher about having key conversations in public locations.
So, the story and characters in Grace of Letoile are a couple of notches above the standard KEMCO fare. That’s excellent news. The higher information is I can say the identical for the gameplay.
As you possibly can inform from only a single screenshot, the sport performs just like the JRPGs of yore. You’ll discover a world map crammed with “dungeons” and numerous random battles. The story will drive you out and in of varied cities the place you possibly can relaxation, improve your weapons and armor, purchase provides, and push the plot alongside. I do want the map was extra useful at pinpointing aims and letting you cycle by way of places. It’s by no means that onerous to seek out your vacation spot, simply cumbersome with all of the random battles.
Did I point out the random battles? It’s tough to maneuver greater than 5 to 10 seconds with out being pulled into fight. Fortunately, the fights may be enjoyable, relying upon whom you’re up towards. Most enemies are fodder. Grace of Letoile ranges you up so rapidly that there’s actually no want for the standard KEMCO DLC choice that means that you can achieve expertise at twice or three-times the conventional fee. The higher buy is the aforementioned skill to close off random encounters. You doubtless gained’t have to grind a lot, and skipping fights is a blessing if you’re backtracking to select up a treasure chest you’ll have missed.
Every KEMCO recreation has its personal fight gimmick, and this one has two. First, an Axel Gauge means that you can decide how steadily every occasion member will get a flip. The extra usually you assault, nevertheless, the extra vulnerable you’re to wreck. I sometimes maxed out Vedley’s protection with armor and set him to assault steadily. In boss fights, alternatively, I discovered it extra helpful to try this with my magic customers so they may buff and heal the occasion as obligatory.
Second, there’s a Chronos Gauge that form of works like an assault clock. Every character has 12 unlockable slots in which you’ll place particular gems you’ve acquired. With every flip in fight, the lively slot modifications just like the hour hand on a clock. If the hour hand, because it had been, is on a slot the place the lively attacker has a capability gem, utilizing that skill will considerably increase the Chronos Gauge. The principle profit is you possibly can then choose a crew member to maneuver instantly after the lively attacker. That is excellent for therapeutic, reviving a fallen fighter, or making the most of subject impact bonuses (like within the Trails of Chilly Metal video games) that in any other case would’ve gone to an enemy.
These mechanics hardly ever come into play within the random skirmishes, however they are going to usually be obligatory to beat the sport’s quite a few boss battles. I subsequently want there have been extra of them. Grace of Letoile focuses a bit too a lot on the story, forgoing aspect quests and the enemies you’d encounter with them. That’s good for pacing if the narrative is the promoting level, however it robs the play of some superior fight enjoyable.
So, how in regards to the graphics? The animation? They’re OK. The dungeons are colourful and simple to navigate. Considerably simple to foretell, too, when searching for treasure chests. A few them do change into oddly complicated to work your manner by way of. So, once more, it’s simply $1.99 to show off random encounters. The battle animations are barely animated, though a few of the magic results are form of cool.
All of it provides as much as a recreation that’s simple to push by way of, and simple to love alongside the best way. Grace of Letoile gained’t problem seasoned JRPG followers, however it gained’t insult them, both. Not gonna lie, that’s generally precisely what I need from a retro journey.