Evaluation: Arcadian Atlas (Nintendo Swap)

The Nintendo Swap has no scarcity of tactical RPGs. (I don’t suppose something on this planet has a scarcity of tactical RPGs.) And I’m cool with that. However how does an indie developer assist their entry stand out within the style? Within the case of Arcadian Atlas, it’s the soundtrack of all issues.

I’m going to begin there, as a result of it truly is essentially the most distinct side of the sport. Though set in a typical fantasy world, the soundtrack is mild jazz—like a ’70s-’80s film rating from John Barry. It’s an fascinating alternative, making a bizarre disconnect between what we’re listening to and what we’re seeing. That truly drives up curiosity within the early phases of the sport. As soon as I grew used to it, nonetheless, the gameplay itself wasn’t as efficient at carrying me by way of.

Arcadia is on the point of civil battle because the king’s dying attracts close to. The Queen-to-be might have nefarious plans, inflicting a cut up between our two heroes, the siblings Desmond and Vashti. One stays allegiant to the throne, whereas the opposite makes an attempt to guard the exiled princesses: Lucretia and Annalise.

It’s an intriguing story that saved me invested till it took a bizarre flip on the finish. Not a nasty flip, per se, simply an sudden one.

As you’d count on from a tactical RPG, Arcadian Atlas strikes you round a map for story growth and fight. Unlocking new areas additionally unlocks new objects to buy and troopers to recruit, and people recruits develop into a key component on the battle maps.

Though there are a number of essential characters you should utilize in your celebration, they often both aren’t sufficient or they’re not what it’s essential to spherical out your capabilities. So, you possibly can recruit and degree up mercenaries that can assist you in your approach. This prices cash, nonetheless, and that’s not straightforward to return by. Because of this, you’ll progress by balancing out your recruits and protecting everybody correctly geared up with upgraded weapons and armor. I needed to depend on my soldiers-for-hire extra usually than I’d have anticipated.

Leveling up is the principle key to development. Arcadian Atlas does provide you with some sidequests to maintain the method fascinating, however you’ll nonetheless must replay battle maps to realize some further expertise and money. Principally, you’ll want to do that proper after finishing the map the primary time. Unit placement and enemies will change, but it surely nonetheless forces redundancy that slows development greater than I’d like, particularly within the early phases.

The fight gameplay itself is pretty commonplace, however entertaining. You’ll start by deciding on and inserting your models, then making the most of terrain and expertise to—in flip—isolate and remove your foes. Enemies will nearly at all times take a number of hits, so buffing and therapeutic your models whereas debuffing the enemy is the one approach by way of. Your incapacitated troopers have to be revived inside a couple of turns otherwise you lose them. After all, it’s also possible to simply full the extent earlier than that occurs.

The sport has over 150 fight expertise to study throughout 12 unlockable soldier lessons. It’s rather a lot to deal with as you’re employed by way of the ability bushes, but it surely’s by no means overwhelming. I felt in command of my celebration from begin to end.

The sport’s retro visuals are high quality, working nicely in each docked and handheld mode. Stock and unit screens are straightforward to learn, though the dialogue textual content is a bit small.

Sure maps are more durable to see than others due to the lack to shift the digicam, nonetheless.

All of this combines to supply appropriate filler because the AAA Swap releases decelerate forward of Nintendo’s new console announcement. Arcadian Atlas seemingly received’t high your listing of all-time nice tactical RPGs. However if you happen to’d somewhat spend your time on a brand new recreation than replaying those which are on that listing, Desmond and Vashti just do sufficient to make this an journey price taking.