Second Runner Up: I Am Setsuna
I Am Setsuna is the first title from Square Enix’s new studio, Tokyo RPG Factory. The team behind it were very vocal about wanting the game to emulate the classic JRPGs of the 1990s, with Chrono Trigger being a direct influence. For the most part the company succeeded with this sentiment, crafting an engaging RPG with a distinctly sad story.
I Am Setsuna focuses on a wandering swordsman named Endir, as he begins to escort a young girl named Setsuna who’s been picked as the sacrifice to save the people of her land. Across the game’s 20-30 hours you’ll encounter more characters that join your party, each with a bit of a tragic story of their own. Combat plays almost exactly like what you’d remember from Chrono Trigger, with characters taking turns and being able to join up for powerful combination attacks. It’s all presented in a gorgeous art style that evokes some of the aspects of sprite-based games, while still keeping things in 3D.
Everything backed up by a beautiful piano score that really helps nail the tone the game is going for. While it may be a bit shorter than some of the other big RPGs released this year, I Am Setsuna weaves a fascinating story of sacrifice, loss, and love. It’s definitely one of the more unique RPGs you could pick up from this year, and a nostalgic throwback for fans.
