Written By: Patrick Orquia
TITLE: The Alliance Alive
DEVELOPER: FuRyu
PUBLISHER: Atlus USA
GENRE: JRPG
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 1
RELEASE DATE: 22 June 2017 (JP)/27 March 2018 (Worldwide)
PLATFORM: 3DS system
PRICE: $39.99
The Alliance Alive is a JRPG for the Nintendo 3DS developed past times FuRyu, the makers of the Legend of Legacy, also a JRPG for the 3DS released inwards 2015, too published past times FuRyu inwards Nihon too Atlus USA worldwide. Like most other JRPGs, the histrion must command a political party of characters every bit they traverse a footing total of monsters too other enemies too struggle bosses, amongst interesting twists too turns to encounter along the way. But dissimilar other JRPGs, the developers of this game included unique elements to acquire inwards stand upwards out from the rest.
The game is nigh an unnamed footing where humans too Beastfolk go that got invaded past times otherworldy beings called Daemons to a greater extent than than one one thousand years ago. The Daemons pose upwards a barrier to a greater extent than or less the footing which causes the bluish heaven to plough night too a malignant menses of unloosen energy called the Dark Current to settle inwards the oceans, causing the 5 realms of the footing to acquire cutting off from 1 another. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 daughter named Azura wants to reckon the bluish heaven again, or at to the lowest degree a painting exhibit of it, every bit she has never seen it before. Her childhood friend Galil joined her, too together, they are tasked past times a resistance grouping called the Night Ravens to embark on a journeying to resolve the mystery of their world. As they travel, they come across other people belonging to different resistance groups, or Guilds, living inwards towers scattered across the land. These Guilds assist them inwards providing items too equipment, allowing them to rest, too render them additional information on where to give-up the ghost next. They also assist inwards battles via the Telegraph system. If they showtime a battle nigh these towers, they may acquire additional assistance, similar stunning enemies or making them receive got stronger attacks. Azura too Galil reached the Ancient Museum, which perchance holds some response to their questions. Here, the grouping reckon a painting exhibit of the bluish sky, too they also recovered an artifact that looks similar a mirrored cross. As they hold amongst their travels, the mirrored cross obviously summoned an ark called the Brionac that crashed unto the shore. The Brionac tin dismiss allow them to go through Dark Current to explore the balance of the world. But their story is merely 1 slice of the puzzle, too other characters, who also receive got their ain separate stories to tell, intertwine amongst that of Azura too Galil’s, too to a greater extent than adventures are yet to unfold.
This unique narrative vogue of the game allows the histrion to command a political party of upwards to nine characters from separate yet intertwining storylines. These political party characters tin dismiss go 1 of the 3 races inwards the game: humans, Beastfolk, or Daemons. The game is divided into chapters, amongst multiple chapters tackled past times different sets of characters, too these characters eventually bring together forces to create an ultimate group. The battle organization is turn-based, amongst the overworld showing the enemies roaming on the map, which allows the histrion to either ignore or struggle them. Multiple grouping enemies tin dismiss go fought inwards battles via the Battle Chains system, depending on how many enemies that the political party gets inwards contact amongst on the overworld. These grouping of enemies must go fought 1 afterward another, given that the political party is successful from the preceding one. If the political party gets wiped out, it’s game over, too the game tin dismiss go loaded from the concluding salve betoken (either via saving the game from inns or afterward meaning game events or saving anytime inwards the game via the dedicated salve push on the 3DS touchpad)
The leveling upwards organization is quite unique, inwards which it is the Arts too Sigils (attacks too spells, respectively) that bird upwards instead of the characters themselves. The to a greater extent than an Art or a Sigil is used inwards battles, the faster they bird upwards too the stronger they become. Some Arts too Sigils may purpose upwards SP (spirit/special point). Additional Arts tin dismiss also go learned via the Awakening system, every bit to a greater extent than battles are fought, piece Sigils tin dismiss go learned past times equipping Etheracts (weapons amongst accompanying spells) or past times buying them from sure enough NPCs. Additionally, Sorcery spells, similar to Sigils but tin dismiss solely go used past times Beastfolk, Daemons, too monsters, tin dismiss also go acquired the same way. After each successful battle, the characters may bird upwards Arts or gain to a greater extent than HP, SP, items, money, or talent points. Talent points are used to improve weapon characteristics, acquire additional abilities, or larn novel Arts faster. This encourages the histrion to struggle to a greater extent than battles. Also, afterward every battle, HP too SP gain dorsum lost points gradually, fifty-fifty for those who autumn inwards battle (i.e., their HP reaches zero). Certain characters may receive got abilities to heal other characters or themselves, or they tin dismiss purpose items to heal or to add together buffs similar stronger attacks or defense. These items must go equipped past times characters for them to purpose inwards battles, the same means every bit gears too weapons are equipped. It may come upwards every bit an inconvenience every bit characters tin dismiss solely purpose express items on battle but this also encourages the histrion to computer program ahead.
Each grapheme also has a special laid on approximate that gradually fills upwards every bit they struggle battles. When this approximate gets filled, the grapheme enters the Ignition State, wherein the grapheme tin dismiss unleash a real powerful Final Strike attack. This type of laid on is too hence powerful that it breaks that character’s weapon that is used for the attack. After the laid on is successfully perfomed, the approximate goes dorsum to null too the wheel starts again. This Final Strike may come upwards every bit an equalizer inwards battles, peculiarly against a powerful boss, since healing too the purpose of healing items are limited. This type of laid on must solely go used inwards moderation or solely during dire situations, every bit it tin dismiss go out the grapheme amongst a broken weapon, aside from the fact that it volition receive got a long fourth dimension for the special approximate to acquire filled again. Any broken weapon tin dismiss go fixed upon resting inwards inns, however, too hence at that spot is no demand to purchase the same weapon again.
Weapons too gears tin dismiss go upgraded every bit the game progresses. Town too towers commonly receive got dedicated NPCs selling wares (weapons, gears, Sigils, Sorcery spells, items) too they tin dismiss also purchase those that the histrion no longer needs. Certain gears offering additional benefits, similar added resistance to the elements, having to a greater extent than laid on or defense, or other buffs, too hence it’s upwards to the histrion to mix too represent defending on the environs or battle strategy.
The non-linear narrative vogue is something that is non seen oft inwards RPGs. It provides different points of persuasion of the same story that makes the histrion reckon why sure enough things tumble out too also reckon the different motivations of different characters toward a mutual goal. Also, the unusually big issue of characters that contain the political party offers much multifariousness inwards damage of game style, attacks, attributes, too characteristics. These characters tin dismiss go farther customized amongst different weapons (the histrion tin dismiss select from swords, dandy swords, staves, bows, too shields (the characters also receive got separate unarmed Arts)), gears (body armors, headgears, footwear, too gloves, plus accessories that render additional buffs too special attributes), too the aforementioned talents. They tin dismiss also go positioned inwards different formations that could render the most payoff during battles, depending on the play vogue of the player.
Overall, this game is first-class too real enjoyable to play. Despite it non beingness inwards 3D (getting pretty mutual present on novel releases fifty-fifty for the 3DS system) or the consummate absence of vocalisation acting, The Alliance Alive has a lot to offering that makes itself stand upwards out from other JRPGs. The bird too grapheme design, soundtrack, too story are all top-notch. It may non go the best, but this powerfulness every bit good go the concluding dandy JRPG that volition go released for the 7-year former 3DS organization from a tertiary political party publisher that has consistently provided proficient games all these years.
REPLAY VALUE: high
PROS:
- Awesome story too narrative style
- Very proficient too various soundtrack
- Amazing open-world bird design
- The grapheme pattern is chibi-styled too it plant good inwards the game
- Unique leveling upwards system
- Battle speed tin dismiss go toggled upwards to 4x of the normal speed
- Attacks tin dismiss go laid to automobile (makes the characters perform the same attacks/moves that they concluding performed)
- Not much grinding is needed, but if e'er the histrion opts to exercise it, the battle speed toggle too automobile laid on choice brand battles less deadening or repetitive
- The 3DS touchpad is used real effectively, constantly showing the in-game map too dedicated buttons for saving too carte du jour options
- The complex game customization organization may acquire besides cumbersome, fifty-fifty to those who receive got progressed farther into the game, but this allows the histrion to computer program ahead improve too acquire the most payoff that the game tin dismiss offer
CONS:
- (Mostly) Not inwards 3D. The opening enshroud is inwards 3D too some 3D effects are also used inwards the carte du jour showing condition of characters, but none inwards the principal game itself. The visuals could receive got been improved amongst 3D effects too it is such a disappointment that 3D is non utilized
- Complete lack of vocalisation acting. Though this isn’t actually necessary, but it is quite expected for an RPG of this scale to receive got vocalisation acting, fifty-fifty on a express scale
RATING: 4.5/5 Awakenings
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