Developer Kemco and publisher Natsume are back with another JRPG to add to the pile of decent titles. This time for their Alphadia series: Alphadia Genesis might the first to get a console release however, and now with a new localization courtesy of Natsume. Although like most Kemco games, it exists with just being competent, and not aspiring too much. Still it feels like they put a bit more effort into this one.
The game’s setting is set after a big war involving the use of slave like clones who had freedom granted to them once their use as tools of war was banned. However their freedom is threatened once reports of them losing control over their autonomy and going berserk and killing their masters. This would mean all of clone-kind getting put into cyrostasis and their CPU brains being memory wiped. I guess they are genetically cloned cyborgs. Of course your protagonist Fray has to investigate these incidents, and save the world and clones …Typical stuff.
Move around a 2D map and go through dungeons. Encounter random battles and what you expect. But the twist here is 3D battles! Which of course, look just like they did it just to prove that Kemco can do something other than 2D games. Sort of. Combat is about as standard JRPG as the overworld is. You can attack, use skills, magic, items, defend, or alter your position between the front and back rows. Your character’s also have access to secondary magic spells through use of special rings. The rings can be found, developed, and enhanced to let you potentially learn new magic after leveling your skill levels with them on. The secondary spells aren’t permanently learned however, thus having the need to keep them equipped.
Visuals are a bit better than previous entries, but that’s not saying much. 2D sprites look decent but nothing standout, with the 3D models just looking like early Dreamcast quality. Music is a bit of mixed quality, with the non-battle music sounding only slightly better than the battle tracks. Once again, with nothing really standing out. The framerate is a bit lacking as are the battle animations. One thing that is nice though is that the game’s plot is a bit more ambitious this time around, also clocking in at 20-25 hours. Also the micro transactions have been purged, and now you gain the special currency gained from using micro transactions through finding hidden glowing spots. These points are then used to buy rare items and accessories from a specialty shop. These points can also be earned by fighting optional boss fights as well. Also, kudos for at least trying to include a small amount of voice-ating in the game, although none of it is dubbed. While there’s nothing in the game that will push it ahead of other Kemco games let alone other JRPGs, these games largely exist to fulfill a niche market. One that wants a short but entertaining JRPG for quick burst playing…kind of like junk food filling in a way. It’s only 15 bucks, so if you feel up to it, check it out. Although there are certainly better options out there, you could do worse than Alphadia Genesis.
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