There are many games that try to recapture what made the classics great but fail to replicate the feeling and just fall short. This is especially true when it comes to role-playing games, as some have tried to bring back the spirit of the golden age of 16-bit RPGs but end up creating something that feels lifeless instead. So, when an indie RPG comes along and actually does accomplish that goal, well then you need to sit up and take notice.
Rise Of the Third Power is a pixel art RPG that takes influence from classics like Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger on SNES but manages to have its own sense of identity as well. The game’s art style is gorgeous and while some of the battle animations could be a bit better, feels like a lost classic of the 16-bit era, but will modern touches. The game also manages to get something else right and that is the story, a key part of RPGs.
The story in Rise of the Third power is highly influenced by the real-world politics that occurred between World War 1 and World War 2, and while other games have taken influence, the story here does have some unique elements. It helps that the characters are all well written, have great dialogue and interact well with each other, making them feel more real. This is an engrossing tale that you will want to follow, especially via the side quests to understand better.
For those who just want the story, there is a story difficulty setting that renders most battles into near auto-win situations, but there are three other difficulty settings that offer variety to you. More than just a story though, the combat system is well designed and makes you think and strategize to get things right. You will need to focus on what moves to use and when, and what enemies to target for the best outcome.
There are no random battles here, as the monsters appear on screen, and you can avoid the fights if you want to. For those who want the battles, then you will need to be aware of how each character works and the unique aspects of both. You will also need to be aware of the combo meter that builds ups and adds new moves, some defensive and some offensive, and each adding new aspects to the combat to be aware of.
Rise of The Third Power has some other aspects that set it apart as well, including one of the bigger twists on the RPG formula. In this game, the entire party shares XP and levels up as one, and gains talent points which can be spent on passive bonuses that will affect the gameplay. You can still customize individual characters via obtaining relics, either by finding them or through side quests, and they will offer stat increases.
This is not the only way to customize, and you can equip accessories and level them up to make changes to characters to suit your liking. There is also a crafting mechanic that can be accessed easily as long as you have materials, but it does feel like more could have been done here. Still, while the game is a highly streamlined RPG, it feels streamlined in a good way, as if done with a surgeon’s precise skill rather than a blunt hammer.
Rise of the Third Power succeeds where so many games fail and manages to be a tribute that understands what made past games so good while adding in new ideas. Being able to control the movement of the characters with the right stick is a neat innovation, and inns having different beds that provide buffs for several battles also manages to offer something different. All said and done, this feels like a game that is on par with what it was inspired by and is a game new and old fans alike of RPGs can get into and is highly recommended.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided