Alvastia Chronicles

Genre: Turn-Based JRPG

Players: 1

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Review:

Alvastia Chronicles is a Turn-Based JRPG that looks like it was ported straight out of the early part of the 16-bit era, but in fact this game was originally released to Smartphones in 2018. The Smartphone version was loaded with microtransactions, and the game’s structure still reflects this, even though the majority of the microtransactions were removed in the transition to the Switch. The result is a game that feels like a microtransaction-fest, but… isn’t.

However you feel about that, to the game’s credit its unique origin does mean that it has some interesting game systems going on under the hood. In addition to the standard turn-based JRPG combat, players can also “recruit” (more like “collect”) various helper characters to back your main party up in battle, each with their own stats and characteristics that give bonuses when pairing them with other characters. This, along with a nice equipment synthesis system, are clever elements that helps the game to feel less generic. And hoo boy, does this game need the help.

While there are some clever gameplay systems at work here, just about everything else about this game absolutely screams generic 16-bit RPG. There’s a distinct lack of personality in every element of the presentation.

The story uses tired fantasy RPG tropes about sealed evil being released, a mute hero from a doomed village, the works. This is made worse with a clunky, awkward localization that does the game no favors, and makes the game’s more interesting game systems needlessly confusing.

The graphics and sound are also terrible here – the visuals are pixelated in a way that shoots straight past nostalgia and goes straight to “reasons why we don’t miss 16-bit RPGs”, with repetitive tile sets and completely forgettable character sprites. And the chiptune music goes back and forth from “forgettable” to “annoying”.

As old-fashioned Turn-Based JRPGs go, Alvastia Chronicles does some interesting things with the mechanics that may catch the interest of fans of the genre. But the presentation here is absolutely atrocious, and has none of the charm we tend to associate with true classics of the genre. All but the biggest genre fans are probably best passing this one by.

tl;dr – Alvastia Chronicles is a Turn-Based JRPG with a 16-bit style. There are some interesting game systems here, such as a collectable roster of helper characters. However, the presentation is so generic and just plain bad that only the most dedicated fans of the genre are likely to find this game of much interest.

Grade: C-

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