Alter Age is a JRPG with turn-based fight, developed by EXE Video games and revealed by KEMCO. This title permits the participant to discover an enormous world by means of crisp pixel artwork, enjoyable characters, and an fascinating development system. Nonetheless, this recreation comes with loads of bells and whistles which will or will not be wanted.
With RPG titles, I desire a sturdy story. The fight system is essential, however I would like it to assist a stable storyline. Sadly, Alter Age lacks within the story division.
You play as Arga, a younger man striving to be a Braver so he can ultimately face his father in battle. His father is thought to be the strongest on the earth (and the chief of the Bravers). Arga holds a grudge in opposition to him for abandoning him and his sick mom a few years in the past. Typical household points stored the characters shifting from one place to the subsequent, however I wasn’t engaged. I misplaced curiosity within the story the extra I performed the sport. The forged repeat themselves loads, and the stakes really feel too low.
That doesn’t imply the characters themselves are dangerous. Arga is a powerful protagonist and, as a way to be a Braver, he must have a particular talent. As soon as woke up, Arga realizes his talent is Soul Alter, which permits him to swap between being an grownup and a preteen. It sounds ineffective, however the recreation makes use of it nicely and it’s definitely distinctive from some other RPG I’ve performed.
Arga’s Soul Alter doesn’t simply work on him, although. It additionally works on his occasion members, Elsie and Lillieka. They’re two younger ladies who be a part of Arga on his journey and, when Arga is an grownup, the women are younger. However when he turns right into a preteen, the women change into adults. Relying on Arga’s age, completely different conversations and aspect quests will seem with NPCs. In battle, preteens gained’t hit enemies as laborious, however the price of their MP is decreased, to allow them to nonetheless use assist spells. By doing so, they’ll earn Courageous Hearts, which give their grownup type a lift in assault harm. Swapping their ages in battle permits one other degree of technique in fight.
Nonetheless, given all the opposite upgrades and expertise you earn all through the gameplay, I grew to become so overpowered that I hardly ever used the Soul Alter in battle. I solely used it within the dungeons when a puzzle referred to as for it.
How did my occasion get so overpowered? Let’s speak about these bells and whistles I discussed earlier.
As with most RPGs, Alter Age makes use of a leveling-up system through expertise factors earned in battle. Arga, Elise, and Lillieka improve all their stats by leveling up. As well as, their respective weapons will improve their assault and their armor will improve their protection. There are additionally strengthening objects you could give to any character at any time. These things will improve their HP, MP, velocity, power, and all the opposite stats. You’ll earn these power objects through chests within the dungeons, merchandise spots within the overworld, rewards from battle, and so on.
There’s additionally a synthesize mechanic the place you may merge outdated weapons and armor along with the brand new, growing its degree and stats. Weapon Up stones and Armor Up stones are additionally objects you’ll discover all through and can be utilized to synthesize. I like and hate this mechanic.
I prefer it since you’ll earn a lot gold in-game that there’s little must promote outdated weapons and armor. Having the ability to recycle them to strengthen the characters’ present assault and protection is an excellent thought.
Alternatively, I don’t prefer it since you’ll change into overpowered shortly. Not solely does this make the sport simpler, however the retailers lose their novelty. When taking part in RPGs, I sit up for testing the armory store in each city. There’s one thing satisfying about seeing which new and particular weapons I may give my characters. Seeing the “plus” beside sure stats makes me giddy as a result of who doesn’t wish to get stronger?
Sadly, it obtained to the purpose the place I’d go into a store within the subsequent city solely to see that the subsequent set of weapons and armor would truly lower my characters’ stats. I had a lot gold that I purchased them anyway after which synthesized them straight away, in order that they didn’t go to waste, but it surely was nonetheless a bummer to enter a store and don’t have any motive to purchase something.
Every character solely has one kind of weapon they’ll use, too. Arga wields swords, Elise has a rod, and Lillieka makes use of a scythe. Their magic assaults, in my view, are the place they shine greatest. Arga makes use of earth, Elise makes use of water, and Lillieka makes use of fireplace magic.
The occasion also can grasp passive expertise by means of the usage of phantom stars. You get phantom stars by incomes them as battle rewards or, mostly, utilizing the composter. You may put something into the composter (besides weapons and armor) and when you attain 100 factors, it’ll spit out one phantom star.
Cooking can also be within the recreation. You could find components within the overworld, earn them as battle rewards, and attempt to combine them collectively to make recipes. The recipes will flip into meals that act as battle objects, similar to boosting your assault energy for a sure period of time. I didn’t use the cooking mechanic. I didn’t care. I attempted it as soon as for the sake of the evaluation, however the components I threw collectively didn’t create an precise meal. It’s trial and error. I knew I’d get pissed off, so I threw no matter components I discovered into the composter for the passive expertise.
I wasn’t joking once I mentioned Alter Age has all of the bells and whistles, and I don’t suppose this recreation wanted all of that. The longer you play, the extra you’ll get used to all of it, but it surely’s overwhelming at first.
Regardless of being overpowered for many of the recreation, I do imagine the fight system is its strongest characteristic. Battles are turn-based, and every character’s velocity stat decides the flip order. Between bodily assaults, magic assaults and assist, and the Soul Alter talent, battles can get fairly fascinating. There’s loads of technique concerned, although I discovered it greatest to stay to the bodily and magic assaults. It’s how I most well-liked to play, despite the fact that I believe the Soul Alter is fairly distinctive.
There’s a Rush Gauge that, when it reaches 100% by hitting enemies, you may unleash a gaggle assault. Once more, I obtained to the purpose the place I used to be so overpowered that I barely obtained to make use of it. My occasion would defeat all of the enemies earlier than the gauge reached max. Once I did get to make use of it, similar to in boss battles, the bosses had a lot well being that the group assault barely made a dent of their HP. That’s to not say it’s a ineffective mechanic in-battle, but it surely was a hit and miss for me.
If it is advisable to grind, otherwise you’re combating weaker enemies, there’s a helpful auto-battle perform you could toggle on and off. Grinding is simple, too. The sport provides you Encounter Bells you could activate and off within the overworld and in dungeons. One decreases the encounter fee of untamed battles and one other bell makes it so that you’ll encounter a battle each single step you are taking. This mechanic was helpful when there was a selected boss I couldn’t get previous. Expertise factors are beneficiant, too, so grinding a few ranges doesn’t take lengthy in any respect.
The dungeons in Alter Age are bland. Infrequently, you’ll encounter a puzzle, however the characters will determine it out for you in a cutscene. Each dungeon is basically strolling round, entering into a few battles, after which making it to the subsequent boss. The graphics are cute and the dungeons look good, however apart from the surroundings and map layouts, all of the dungeons are functionally the identical.
When beginning a file, the sport helps you to select an issue degree: unparalleled, straightforward, regular, laborious, or very laborious. The one replayability you’ll get out of this title is in order for you extra of a problem. In any other case, I discovered myself going by means of the motions simply to get to the top. The story wasn’t partaking sufficient for me to wish to relive it.
Alter Age has an important artwork model and the music’s a bop. I’d completely add the soundtrack onto my online game playlist. Nonetheless, the gameplay was an excessive amount of at occasions. I believe the builders had been formidable with the quantity of mechanics and options which are included. But, the sport ran easily, which is definitely a plus.
General, Alter Age is value testing for those who’re a fan of RPGs. You’ll nonetheless sink an excellent quantity of hours into the sport. I’m glad I performed it, however I’m unsure I’ll play a brand new file anytime quickly.
