A Tactical RPG Cast in the Roguelite Mold
It appears that tactical RPG games are somewhat like buses, in that you don’t see any for a while, and then two come along at once.
No sooner have I finished the review for Rise Eterna 2, than a new one hoves into view over the horizon.
Going by the name of Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch, and coming from Ocean Drive Studio and Kakao Games, this time around there is a bit of a twist on the formula: they have introduced a roguelite element to the gameplay.
Normally this is enough to make me run screaming for the hills, but I must admit my curiosity got the better of me and I sallied forth into a strange new world.
Amnesia and Alchemy
The story of these games needs to grab you and not let go all the way through, and preferably not resort to hackneyed old cliches. Having said that, when we start Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch, our character is suffering from amnesia, which luckily has never been done in a game before…
Still, we are shipwrecked and when we awaken, we meet a witch, in a veil in case you were wondering. She promises to bring us back to life (because it would appear that we died, you see) as long as we do something for her: become her Champion and defeat her enemies.
Accepting the deal is the only option (otherwise it would be a pretty short game, you see) and from there we find ourselves waking onto an island where the dead won’t stay dead, where imperial enemies have discovered the secrets of alchemy and life and death, and where the only person who can sort it out are our motley band of soldiers. What could possibly go wrong?
Modern Look, Classic Grid
The main screen that we spend most of our time on is the usual tactical RPG kind of deal, a large arena covered in in a grid pattern. On this grid is placed an array of enemies and points of interest, and our team, the design of the characters we can play as, and the creatures they fight is very well done. The game feels more modern in its execution than a lot of tactical RPGs, with the ability to zoom and rotate the camera to give the best view of the action, and this comes in very handy.
There are other screens to enjoy too, with the most often seen of these being that which sits between arenas, where we choose what we are going to face on the next mission. Other than that, the hub that is visited when a run is either successful or (more likely) not allows the chance to level up using resources; those gathered through the missions. All in all, everything works really well, and even the animation on the movement and attacks of the various creatures and players is very good to see.
Sound is another good point, with fully voiced cutscenes and conversations in place. The voice acting is a proper highlight, from the surly Marco to the chipper Evie. So, nothing to complain about here. and so we finally move on to the meat of the game: the gameplay.
Streamlined Strategy and Dual Weapons
Anyways, have you played a tactical RPG before? In case you have been living under a rock or something, I’ll explain the basics.
You’re given a team of players, and each one of them can move a set distance on the grid, and then they can perform an action. The gameplay here is a little more streamlined than in some tactical RPGs, mostly as there are no action points to spend or anything like that. No, we are free to swap weapons and then still attack, which makes a nice change. Each character has two weapons they are equipped with, ranging from massive greatswords to spell books. Using the right tool in the right situation is always tricky to figure out, but very satisfying when you do.
Bonds, Biomes, and Brutal Difficulty
The team in Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch is composed of five characters from a possible roster of nine, and the recruitable characters are quite interesting to find, as we have to not only uncover clues about their identity, but also persuade them to join us. Mixing the party up is always a good thing, and finding a mix of classes that works for you is pretty easy.
Also, while that adventuring is taking place, your characters will form bonds that can have real effects on the battlefield. As can the rewards that are collected after every battle: resonance stones can be used immediately to power up the team’s weapons and armour, and then there are other things we can find that only are usable at the hub. Permanent upgrades are to be found on the skill trees that are accessible between runs.
The runs work differently every time, with a variety of biomes to visit. Each follows a similar path, in that there are various nodes we need to pass through on our way to a boss fight, but the nodes are different each time, and there are usually two (but sometimes three) choices of the type of node we can encounter. These can provide gold, loot, or even take us to a campsite where we can rest the team. And yes, this is vital as the team’s health doesn’t recover between battles. And, should a team member’s health hit zero, they are forced to retire until the next node, so keeping the team healthy is vital.
An Endlessly Fascinating and Challenging TRPG
Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch does quite a lot of things different to the norm, but it all comes together in a delightful way. The roguelite elements add a note of jeopardy to every fight, and the sheer variety of gameplay makes it almost endlessly fascinating. With a difficulty level just short of brutal, this is one that will keep challenging you for a good long time.
Important Links
Build Devastating Skill Synergies in Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch – https://www.thexboxhub.com/build-devastating-skill-synergies-in-lost-eidolons-veil-of-the-witch/
Buy from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/lost-eidolons-veil-of-the-witch/9PM4ZCV66H6H/0010
Go Deluxe – http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/lost-eidolons-veil-of-the-witch-deluxe-edition/9NNB5S0CTDRP/0010
