Lost Sphear (Jan. 23)
Lost Sphear is the newest title from Tokyo RPG Factory, the developer responsible for 2016’s I Am Setsuna. Like that title, Lost Sphear is a throwback to the JRPGs of the 90’s, both in look and design, updated for modern consoles like the PS4. The game features a retooled version of the Active Time Battle system used in I Am Setsuna, which was based on classic systems found in games like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI. This time around, the game follows a young man named Kanata who, along with his childhood friends, searches for a way to stop the mysterious white fog that is slowly destroying their hometown of Eru.
While I Am Setsuna was fairly short and had its own set of flaws, the game did manage to successfully emulate the JRPGs of yesteryear. With a focus on emotional storytelling and a gorgeous piano soundtrack, it was one to remember. Now that the developer has one game under its belt, hopefully Lost Sphear can really help them expand into something new, instead of just focusing on being a throwback game. For JRPG fans, this is definitely one you’ll want to pick up near the end of the month.
