Grace of Letoile is the most recent retro RPG from KEMCO’s RPG meeting line, and it’s one among their higher entries I’ve performed as of late. You know 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. Well, that’s supplied you’re both wonderful with random encounters or received’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 move, Vedley at some point stumbles throughout a shady fellow, Achieitz, who presents him with the notion he can flip again time and save his dad and mom.
To try this, nevertheless, Vedley should make a pact with a Letoile (a dwelling doll) and workforce 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 grasp 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 must do the suitable factor on the detriment of working in the direction of their shared objective makes for an attention-grabbing get together dynamic. Moniya even will get to be greater than the third wheel as she wrestles with holding her brother secure 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 sophisticated relationships held my consideration all through. Some 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 parts. 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 stuffed with “dungeons” and numerous random battles. The story will drive you out and in of assorted 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 goals and letting you cycle via areas. It’s by no means that laborious to seek out your vacation spot, simply cumbersome with all of the random battles.
Did I point out the random battles? It’s troublesome to maneuver greater than 5 to 10 seconds with out being pulled into fight. Thankfully, the fights could 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 lets you achieve expertise at twice or three-times the conventional fee. The higher buy is the aforementioned capability to close off random encounters. You doubtless received’t must grind a lot, and skipping fights is a blessing while you’re backtracking to choose up a treasure chest you might have missed.
Each KEMCO sport has its personal fight gimmick, and this one has two. First, an Axel Gauge lets you decide how ceaselessly every get together member will get a flip. The extra usually you assault, nevertheless, the extra vulnerable you might be to wreck. I usually maxed out Vedley’s protection with armor and set him to assault ceaselessly. In boss fights, then again, I discovered it extra helpful to try this with my magic customers so they might buff and heal the get together as crucial.
Second, there’s a Chronos Gauge that form of works like an assault clock. Each character has 12 unlockable slots in which you’ll be able to place particular gems you’ve acquired. With every flip in fight, the energetic slot adjustments just like the hour hand on a clock. If the hour hand, because it had been, is on a slot the place the energetic attacker has a capability gem, utilizing that capability will considerably increase the Chronos Gauge. The fundamental profit is you possibly can then choose a workforce member to maneuver instantly after the energetic attacker. This is ideal for therapeutic, reviving a fallen fighter, or profiting from subject impact bonuses (like within the Trails of Cold Steel video games) that in any other case would’ve gone to an enemy.
These mechanics not often come into play within the random skirmishes, however they’ll usually be crucial to beat the sport’s quite a few boss battles. I due to this fact want there have been extra of them. Grace of Letoile focuses a bit too a lot on the story, forgoing facet 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 concerning the graphics? The animation? They’re OK. The dungeons are colourful and simple to navigate. Somewhat simple to foretell, too, when in search of treasure chests. A few them do turn into oddly complicated to work your approach via. 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.
It all provides as much as a sport that’s simple to push via, and simple to love alongside the best way. Grace of Letoile received’t problem seasoned JRPG followers, however it received’t insult them, both. Not gonna lie, that’s generally precisely what I would like from a retro journey.
