Review: Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero (Nintendo Switch)

Nippon Ichi video games check my mind in ways in which most don’t. In the event you’ve ever performed a Disgaea or Labyrinth recreation (and you actually ought to have), you recognize what I imply. The methods required to work by them run intentionally and distinguishedly deep, and the identical might be stated of Phantom Courageous: The Misplaced Hero.

That is my first Phantom Courageous recreation, though the second accessible for Nintendo Change (Phantom Courageous: The Hermuda Triangle Remastered is included in Prinny Presents NIS Classics Volume 1). The sequence dates again to 2004, however you wouldn’t realize it from taking part in The Misplaced Hero.

Earlier than I get into why that’s, let’s check out the setup. We meet the characters Marona and Ash as they reminisce on their earlier journey (one you don’t have to have performed in an effort to hop aboard right here).

These two are rapidly attacked, nevertheless, and Ash mainly provides himself as much as purchase time for Marona to flee. Marona finally ends up on a mysterious island the place she meets a bunch of pirates with troubles of their very own, together with a younger phantom woman, Apricot, who longs to reunite along with her father. Marona agrees to assist this crew, realizing they’ll additionally help her in saving Ash.

That setup launches the participant throughout the seas of Ivoire to have interaction in quite a few turn-based battles. Don’t be fooled, nevertheless…this turn-based system is kind of distinctive, starting with the Phantoms. The characters you’re taking into battles are literally ghosts that most individuals can’t even see. Marona not solely sees them, however can confine these spirits to things on the battlefield. Whenever you greet a brand new degree, you’ll have the ability to assign your created celebration members to gadgets similar to rocks, flowers, and axes. The thing to which they’re assigned provides them completely different enhancements, however they’ll solely keep on the battlefield for a restricted variety of turns. After that, they return to phantom kind, and also you’ll have to assign a unique phantom to that or one other object.

With me? As a result of it will get extra advanced. Phantoms are available quite a few customizable courses with distinctive talents. Some courses can convey gadgets again to your base. Some can keep on the battlefield longer. After all, some include enhanced melee or long-range assaults, higher protection, or therapeutic abilities. Marona herself has distinctive talents you’ll have to put into play—dashing up an ally’s flip or preserving him on the battlefield longer. Marona even has the power to restrict a phantom to herself, giving herself the skillset of that phantom and further turns to make the most of. The nearer the friendship, the extra highly effective this capability turns into.

It’s an terrible lot to think about in battle, however the fight system affords you time to consider it. The motion is turn-based, and also you’re allowed to maneuver freely on the battlefield as you establish what motion to take. As you progress, a circle collapses round you. When it’s the dimensions of your character, you possibly can not transfer. You possibly can, nevertheless, again up the begin to strive one thing else earlier than committing. Many battles include devices you possibly can make the most of to your benefit (stopping your enemies from doing the identical). You’re additionally given quite a few methods to win, together with knocking enemies utterly off the map, which by no means stops being enjoyable. This freedom gives a low-pressure solution to experiment, however that doesn’t by any means make issues straightforward.

Though I used to be in a position to win the primary few ranges, I did so realizing I’d rapidly be overwhelmed if I didn’t get my act collectively. There’s a lot tinkering to do on and off the battlefield that it’s very straightforward to get confused. The tutorials assist, however they don’t adequately clarify most of the key strategic components and choices. In my first battle, for instance, my strongest fighter was unable to make use of his sword; the weapon was grayed out and unavailable in fight. Why? I don’t know. I’m positive it wasn’t a bug, simply one thing I did unsuitable within the setup.

Because of this, I delayed my progress (and this assessment) by merely replaying the early ranges quite a few instances (the sport provides you the power to take action) till I had a agency grasp on what I used to be doing. That helped loads, making the journey throughout Ivoire a lot simpler to battle by. That’s necessary, too, as a result of the sport not often stops throwing new gadgets at you. New Phantom courses open up extra talents similar to a Marina that gives passive abilities to your fellow pirates or the power to Salvage for gadgets. Afraid that wanted characters will get behind in ranges? Don’t be. You possibly can open a juice bar that shops expertise gained in battle, then reassign it as wanted down the highway.

Get the best Phantom class and you may even create randomly generated dungeons. Why? For expertise and uncommon gadgets, in fact.

In different phrases, there may be loads of recreation right here. There’s a lot to absorb, alter, and grasp that it virtually looks as if you’re serving to the builders check each concept that made the whiteboard. Besides that you simply don’t have to. Quite a few problem choices imply you possibly can power your self to make the most of all the pieces or you possibly can just about breeze proper by with nary a thought given to customized dungeons. You actually can play and have enjoyable with Phantom Courageous: The Misplaced Hero in no matter approach is comfy.

Sadly, it’s not a superbly pleasing expertise. There are some efficiency points (being requested to pick out between High quality and Efficiency in the beginning is rarely signal). This isn’t an enormous deal contemplating the turn-based gameplay, however it’s nonetheless bizarre when merely spinning the digicam can choke the visuals. Additionally, the controls are a bit clunky, making it troublesome typically to place your character correctly for assault. And eventually, having so many customization choices means too many screens to work by if you actually simply need to play; the sport by no means actually establishes a pleasant move.

Nonetheless, I got here to embrace all of Phantom Courageous: The Misplaced Hero due to its uniqueness. I’ve performed numerous SRPGs on the Change, and it will positively be some of the memorable. Give the demo a attempt to see if you happen to really feel the identical, however make sure you give it a truthful strive; this one takes some work to completely recognize, and Marona and her crew of phantoms are well worth the effort.