The DioField Chronicle
MSRP $59.99
“The DioField Chronicle contains numerous setup for potential sequels, however it does a strong job of laying down the correct basis to make that work long-term.”
Execs
Attention-grabbing private conflicts
Tactical battle system
Considerate sidequests
Compelling groundwork for a sequence
Cons
Enemy and mission selection is missing
Animations are janky
Development and pacing points
Sq. Enix has not too long ago been eager to publish extra middle-tier Japanese video games, together with the likes of Valkryie Elysium, Techniques Ogre: Reborn, and Harvestella, all of that are popping out inside mere weeks of one another. The writer appears to be all-in on new IPs, bolstering its dependable roster of surefire RPG hits. The DioField Chronicle is a vital a part of that technique.
The DioField Chronicle is a brand new IP from developer Lancarse and writer Sq. Enix that blends a political warfare story with real-time technique fight. It doesn’t look like a one-off deal for Sq. Enix; every thing from the sport’s story to its characters screams setup for a possible sequel. This could possibly be the start of Sq. Enix’s subsequent huge IP, as long as gamers are keen to be early adopters.
Regardless of some missteps alongside the best way, The DioField Chronicle creates a strong basis for a possible sequence with its participating battle system and attention-grabbing solid of characters. If that is the beginning of a brand new franchise, its future can solely get brighter from right here.
Political backdrop
The RPG’s story takes place on the Island of DioField, which is wealthy with deposits of the pure useful resource Jade. Totally different nations are keen on Jade, together with the Trovelt-Schoevian Empire, the Rowtale Alliance, and the Kingdom of Alletain. When the Alliance is defeated in warfare by the Empire, the latter turns its sights to Alletain. A mercenary group, the Blue Foxes, works intently with Alletain to handle varied requests from the royal authorities, which incorporates pushing again in opposition to the Imperial forces. The 4 heads of the Blue Foxes are Andrias Rhondarson, Fredret Lester, Iscarion Colchester, and Waltaquin Redditch.
What makes the Blue Foxes attention-grabbing are the beliefs that every of the heads holds, and the way they battle with each other. For instance, Lester believes that solely a king is ready to lead commoners to prosperity, whereas Colchester is an advocate of democracy. Throughout missions that require quelling class rebellions and riots, they butt heads over whether or not commoners looting an space justifies utilizing pressure.
The best way the story is instructed is just like Triangle Technique, one other Sq. Enix-published technique recreation that launched this 12 months. Between story missions, there’s a narrator that explains main plot occasions with book-like illustrations. Whereas this strategy is extra telling moderately than displaying, it contrasts with the precise cutscenes that target the dynamics between the heads of the Blue Foxes.
I’ve purchased in sufficient to see how future tales throughout the DioField universe might construct on them.
In a while within the story, the political tensions between Alletain and the Empire take a again seat in favor of the interpersonal quarrels between the Blue Foxes’ heads. Sure plot twists and irreconcilable variations between them drive the plot ahead and preserve it participating at a extra private degree, versus a grander lore one.
At sure factors, some characters have a falling out with one another. Regardless of these conflicts, the characters make certain the participant is aware of that this isn’t the final time you’ll see them—this undoubtedly screams sequel bait. That may be just a little annoying as a result of it leads to some unresolved plot threads. Nonetheless, the characters have cogent causes for being disillusioned by what the Blue Foxes group has turn into and I’ve purchased in sufficient to need to see how future tales throughout the DioField universe might construct on them.
Hearth Emblem: Blue Foxes
DioField’s gameplay consists of real-time technique battles and conversations with get together members outdoors of fight. Throughout missions, you’ll be able to deploy a complete of eight models, 4 of that are the primary models that you would be able to management. The opposite 4 are subunits that don’t take part immediately, however you’ll be able to name on their assist and particular expertise.
I do want that there was extra selection within the kinds of enemy models and mission targets.
It’s a fascinating battle system that required me to be tactical about the place I despatched my models. I might both focus all 4 on a single goal or cut up them between completely different enemies. Further rewards (talent factors, supplies, and so forth). are earned by finishing completely different aspect targets throughout missions, reminiscent of stopping any allies from being knocked out, discovering the treasure chest positioned on the battlefield, and ending the combat inside a sure time restrict.
I do want that there was extra selection within the kinds of enemy models and mission targets. Whereas there are escort missions each from time to time, they’re only a few in quantity and most missions boil down to only eliminating each single enemy unit. Even so, the cinematic that performs when activating particular expertise is a deal with. Every character class has an final talent that transitions right into a cutscene. A private favourite is the Cavalier’s Lance Strike that grabs the enemy, launches them into the air, and slams them into the bottom, inflicting spikes from the earth to protrude and harm different enemies throughout the assault’s radius.
Upgrading weapons and expertise is a comparatively simple course of. The usual reward for finishing missions is gold, which can be utilized to boost sure amenities to supply entry to extra weapons and expertise. The development is a bit lopsided, although. Within the early and center components of the story, I generally felt like I wasn’t robust sufficient and needed to grind a couple of aspect missions to afford new gear. Nonetheless, by the point I reached the top recreation, I used to be swimming in additional gold than I knew learn how to spend.
The aspect missions themselves present good characterization and backstories between Rhondarson and the plethora of different get together members. They’re paying homage to Hearth Emblem’s Help Conversations or Persona’s Social Hyperlinks. For instance, one aspect mission had me take down assassins that the church had employed as a result of considered one of my get together members was a defected member. One other get together member, hungry for revenge, needed to bloodbath your complete inhabitants of a fishing village as a result of their previous political enemies resided there, regardless of a few of them turning over new leaves and even beginning households.
A bit boring, innit
The members of the Blue Foxes reside in a base referred to as Elm Camp, and that’s the place nearly all the aspect missions and conversations happen. The world jogs my memory of the Garreg Mach Monastery hub in Hearth Emblem: Three Homes, besides that Elm Camp feels a lot much less alive attributable to it being a low-key mercenary base moderately than a full-fledged college with academics. There’s solely the minimal variety of NPCs wanted for issues like outlets and upgradeable amenities.
The DioField Chronicle is a promising new IP that has many good concepts anchored by a fascinating battle system and character dynamics.
It doesn’t assist that the sport’s colour palette in Elm Camp is moderately muted. I don’t count on the characters to have toothpaste-colored hair like Hearth Emblem Have interaction’s new protagonist. That will conflict with the general gritty tone of the sport, however I really feel like some brighter colours right here and there would have helped make it really feel extra visually distinct.
Whereas I really like the character portraits, drawn within the lovely and distinct Remaining Fantasy type by Isamu Kamikokuryo, the 3D character fashions and animations outdoors of battle might have used a bit extra work. Their faces look oddly porcelain and doll-like, most notably throughout cutscenes. And Rhondarson’s strolling and operating animations round Elm Camp seem like he all the time has a pebble caught in his shoe or he has to shortly discover the closest rest room.
Even with these inventive shortcomings, The DioField Chronicle is a promising new IP that has many good concepts anchored by a fascinating battle system and character dynamics. It’s very clear that Lancarse needs to develop the sport’s world and lore, and there’s undoubtedly potential right here. If a extra polished sequel addresses among the gameplay and development points, then the Blue Foxes’ subsequent journey can be one to look out for.
The DioField Chronicle was reviewed on PS4.
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