![]() You’ll also have to be careful since using the wrong attack on an enemy will make you lose Focus, adding an extra layer of tension to each fight. But while you’re collecting Focus, enemies can hit your weaknesses and do the exact same thing, raising the stakes the longer a fight goes on. Focus can stack up, allowing you to deal an abundance of damage once it maxes out. This is due to the excellent Focus mechanic, which makes the party gain Focus Points when striking an enemy’s weakness. The combat itself is some of the best I’ve seen in a traditional turn-based JRPG. Whether it be an attack, spell, buff, or status effect, everything is animated immaculately and with purpose. Since it’s presented as a 2D platformer outside of fights, the world of Orchanon feels as if it was created in a story book – each of its characters drawn with tender love and care, and they especially shine in combat. Every zone is drop dead gorgeous, especially in dungeons. Focus Your SkillsĪstria Ascending really stands out in its battles and its art style. Every enemy type has distinct abilities so fighting these minibosses adds even more variety to the creatures that you face, which is especially welcome when combat is the shining star here. While none of them are very interesting, additional guild missions that task you with killing special enemies for money, experience, and skill points can be. You’ll often be asked to defeat a certain number of enemies or find the quest giver a specific item, and little else. Do any of them take issue with being chosen as a demigod? Do any of them fear the inevitable death that is coming for them? These are the types of questions that I hope are explored, but how hard will the commitment be remains to be seen.As you explore Orchanon, you will also find plenty of side quests, but these are similarly straightforward and uninspired, doing little to make the world feel fleshed out. With these heroes chosen as demigods they are guaranteed death three years later. It isn’t particularly a necessity as it doesn’t hurt the gameplay’s quality, but it has been such a useful feature in many modern turn-based JRPGs of this century that it seems odd that it is absent.Īstria Ascending looks really promising, with, based on what I’ve played so far, great combat, fantastic visuals, and an interesting world to explore – but the latter is where I have my hesitations. Of course, many players will want to experience everything organically, but having the options for those who are newer or more casual with the genre to enjoy their experience in their own way is a huge win.ĭespite how much I enjoy the combat, one notable omission was the lack of a turn bar displaying the order in which the field would operate. Genre veterans know that this is relatively common when you have more party members than what is allowed in battle, but in Astria Ascending you can swap out up to your entire party if you want to in a single turn – and for good reason.įor instance, enemies respawning in dungeons can be disabled, difficulty can be changed on the fly, and there’s even a weakness indicator that can be turned on so you don’t have to use an ability or play the guessing game to figure out a threat's vulnerabilities. While there are eight party members throughout your journey, only four are usable in a battle. ![]() Whether it be abilities or a melee attack, you can use up to four focus points dealing up to 200% strength. ![]() But focus points don’t always go in your favor, as you can lose several at once if you attack an enemy who can absorb, resist, or nullify the damage type. A party member can also use their turn to focus and gain temporary points to help deal massive damage. By hitting your enemy’s weakness you will gain focus points. Where Astria Ascending defines its unique battle mechanics is with its focus system. In general, the environments and animations are drop-dead gorgeous across the board despite some unnecessary detail, but its turn-based combat is where it is at its best, with each slash and blast oozing with charm.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |