If there’s one thing Nintendo Switch already has in abundance, it’s JRPGs. There are classics from yesteryear, Triple-A odysseys from some of the biggest developers in the word and a healthy smattering of independently-made offerings. As Switch owners, we’re spoiled for choice, so if you’re bringing a Japanese-style role-playing game to the platform in 2019 you really need to have something pretty special to help it breach the surface of that turn-based ocean.
Unfortunately, Azure Saga: Pathfinder Deluxe Edition really doesn’t bring anything new to a crowded genre, but that doesn’t mean that this is a bad game or one worth avoiding due to a lack of quality. In fact, it’s quite a serviceable little title with plenty of things to like; it’s just the kind of game you’ll play, enjoy that almost instantly forget the moment you switch off your console. For some genres that might not be an issue, but JRPGs have often lived and died on their ability to stay with you long after the adventure ends.
So while it’s unlikely to leave a lasting impression, Indonesian studio MassHive Media’s turn-based sci-fi romp still has bags of charisma amid its mobile-centric presentation. This is a studio that clearly adores Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy and Secret of Mana, and it shows in everything from its enjoyable (if fittingly cheesy) story to the little tweaks to its tactical combat. You play as Synch, a young scientist who’s travelling the universe in search of the mythical planet of Azure. Turns out humanity is on its last legs, and this fabled world promises a fresh, resource-rich olive branch of survival.
While there’s no voiceover, the story itself has plenty of offer with a decent cast of characters bobbing in and out of your classic JRPG party tropes – including armoured-up knight Kishar, bow-wielding rogue Sellaire and... well, you get the idea. You’ll travel to new planets, recruit fresh members to your squad and strategically clear out monsters on your way to tracking down Azure. And while its cutscenes have a real amateurish quality to them, the hand-drawn models and illustrations used when exploring its isometric overworld are bursting with character and almost seem part of a different game entirely.
That isometric presentation has its pros and its cons. By dividing each area into a grid-like island, every location acquires a pleasing diorama aesthetic, but it also means your sense of exploration always feels very shallow. Some of the game’s strongest designs come in these truncated locations; it’s just a shame they’re a little too small to cast a full effect. It all adds to that semi-budget feel that permeates most of Azure Saga’s presentation. Even its soundtrack and audio feel a little on the cheap side.
Thankfully, the one area that Azure Saga shines the most is in its battle system. Considering you'll spend a good portion of your time in this mode, it's good to see that MassHive Media has taken note of the key components that make turn-based battles so enjoyable and replicated many of them here with confidence. Rather than commanding each member to attack individually, the game enables you to assign your target and move (ranging from regular attacks to unique skills that damage enemies or buff/heal your party members) until all three characters are ready to attack simultaneously (in a fashion not too dissimilar to Chrono Trigger or Valkyrie Profile). Having them strike together isn't for show, it also informs special group manoeuvres.
These United Skills differ depending on the characters you use and the choice of skills you select, so there's a fun challenge to mixing and matching different squad setups to unlock new variants. These special moves are perfect for taking down larger foes quickly and limiting the amount of damage they'll inflict. You can also scan enemies at any time during combat by pressing 'L'. It'll unveil some key stats about your foe, then reveal their health bar the next time you fight that species. Individually, you can also unleash more powerful Fury attacks, which work much like Limit Breaks from Final Fantasy VII. Much like everything else in Azure Saga, these attacks are over-familiar, but there are some helpful tweaks, including how these Fury attacks don't override your normal attack so you still have a greater sense of choice in battle.
But for all those helpful tweaks – including the fact XP is shared across your entire party, including those who weren't taken into combat scenarios – Azure Saga never innovates enough to overcome its own flaws. Its isometric overworlds are too often filled with scenery that blocks your view, or contain small environmental objects such as grass or flowers that serve as obstacles that have to be actively circumvented. The battle music is strong, with a wonderful Eastern quality to it, but the rest of the soundtrack is unremarkable at best. This is a game that desperately needs something unique about it to help offset the inconsistencies in its presentation and content.
Conclusion
We don't see many games coming out of the Indonesian development scene on Nintendo Switch, so it's a shame Azure Saga: Pathfinder Deluxe Edition doesn't bring anything new to a genre that's packed to the rafters with familiar mechanics and only the occasional glimmer of innovation. It's an enjoyable little JRPG with a serviceable battle system and enough genre tropes (including exploration, the occasional puzzle and the odd fishing mini-game) to at least satisfy veteran genre fans, but it's an adventure in dire need of an 'X factor' to help it stand apart on the eShop.
Comments 14
This is how I see basically every JRPG ever
I figured it looked and sounded a bit on the cheap side, but that's reflected in the price too. It's under $10 so it might be a fine little diversion.
Looks ok for the price, i might pick it up in the future. At least it does look better than most Kemco games.
Didn't know rpgs had to innovate and do something new to be good. Bye bye most rpgs.
>Largely forgettable JRPG
So... Most JRPGs
I don’t know how to describe the look of this game but I absolutely hate it. Looks cheap and generic, like a free iPad rpg.
Sounds good enough for me. There isn't that much more new and innovative that can be done with JRPGs. As a fan, I've accepted that.
"word" in para 1 should be "world". Editor Kincl lives to serve 😇
@PBandSmelly easy there buddy, I see you've been hurt. It's going to be okay.
This game looks fun to me. It's right up my alley.
This feels too generic and basic, I'll just stick to Dragon Quest XI S for my next JRPG adventure.
"If there’s one thing Nintendo Switch already has in abundance, it’s JRPGs." Literally the first sentence of this review annoys the crap out of me. There is a respectable selection on Switch to be sure, but hardly "abundance". That opening statement really just spits on the genre and rubs me the wrong way. It continues to do so by calling the genre crowded. I would like to see some numbers to support that claim as it seems like platformers, fighting games and metroidvania titles are far more common.
On topic the game sounds exactly like what it is, a 10 dollar bargain bin entry. In fact, it sounds a heck of a lot better than the average bargain bin title from when I was a kid. Asking a title like this to stand up to the likes of Final Fantasy or Xenoblade is absurd in the extreme.
It sounds good. It's strong where it matters and only has flaws in relatively unimportant areas.
As for the story, I've never understood NL's bashing for trope heavy stories. Just because there's not a lot of originality in the plot or characters doesn't necessarily make the story bad or even mediocre. Those tropes usually became popular for good reasons, after all.
Anyway, the review reads more like a 7 to me, at least better than Kemco's usual work. Add to future Wishlist...
I got it while on sale for like 7 bucks so as long as I'm getting my money's worth it's cool.
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