Sword of Convallaria is a new turn-based pixel art RPG inspired by Japanese classics such as Final Fantasy Tactics and Tactics Ogre.
Sword of Convallaria is an Upcoming Pixel-Based Tactical RPG
Sometimes, going back to your roots is one of the best feelings in the world. We have had such a great resurgence in CRPGs lately with the likes of Baldur’s Gate 3, and even Solasta. However, not everyone likes the Western flavor that these games usually come with. Instead, they find solace in titles such asTactics Ogreor Final Fantasy Tactics.
Enter Sword of Convallaria, a new tactical RPG based on classic turn-based Japanese titles. It retains much of the DNA that makes the genre special: pixel art graphics, tons of characters, in-depth combat, and a charming aesthetic. However, it does bring the genre into the future with some enhancements. Well, let’s see what Sword of Convallaria has to offer.
Wake Up, We’re Already Here
Players act as the leader of the fabled Sword of Convallaria Mercenary group. The story is set in the country of Iria within the continent of Rodinia. This is a small country that is extremely rich in magical resources, specifically the Luxite minerals. Our character suddenly finds themselves in a dungeon which they eventually escape from.
Iria is a war-torn country that is mired in conflict, both from outside its borders and within. It is our character, as well as the various mercenaries that we find along the way, who can spark hope within the country. We will need to make tough decisions that not only decide the fate of our comrades but the fate of the entire land.
The developers have expressed that the consequences of your choices can weigh heavily on you and your allies. They expect there to be at least 7 different endings to the game, letting players shape their own fates.
A Mercenary’s Life
The story is all well and fine, of course, but fans of the genre are definitely curious as to how the actual gameplay works. As the leader of the Sword of Convallaria, the player will encounter and recruit various mercenaries throughout their travels. There is a diverse number of classes to choose from, as well as unique and interesting personalities attached to them. As expected, we can also have tons of customization options as there are stats upon stats upon stats.
One character, Beryl, is a gem-slinging mage. She sometimes just throws whatever’s in her bag of tricks instead of casting actual magic. Talk about the simplest solutions being the best. We also have the more traditional classes such as Archers. These characters can make use of a skill called Alert Shot which is basically an overwatch ability.
Other classes in Sword of Convallaria can knock enemies back, like in most RPGs. However what differs here is that you may just knock enemies over ledges, forcing them to fall into oblivion.
Another Dimension to Sword of Convallaria
Keeping foes’ movements controlled seems to be quite the big thing in Sword of Convallaria. Aside from the aforementioned spartan kicks to their doom, players will also need to keep the environment in mind.
See a boulder just innocently sitting on top of a ridge, minding its own business? you’re able to strike it down, causing it to roll over and flatten any enemies that may be unsuspectingly standing in its path. See a precariously placed oil barrel, just waiting to get hit? Launch a fire arrow and enjoy the ensuing fireworks.
Remember that grass is also quite flammable, allowing you more strategic choices than most games in the genre. You can ignite these innocent plans with the oil barrels, or even powerful magic like a flaming meteor. Talk about overkill. This will create even more difficult terrain that your enemies will need to navigate through. Create a choke point and just funnel your foes into their doom!
The Neo Pixel Style
As evident by the trailer and screenshots, Sword of Convallaria makes use of a pixel art style, and it does it well. The visuals will definitely invoke some fond memories of classic turn-based JRPGs, as the title definitely pays homage to those.
What Sword of Convallaria does differently though is that it takes these 2D sprites and places them within an engine capable of 3D effects. This, alongside a beautiful lighting engine, allows the title to create some extremely good-looking scenes. The environments and characters are given depth, and it “creates a nuanced interplay of light and shadow”. Speaking of which, there are over 300 individual maps, and 1000 stages crammed into the title.
The team also states that the NeoPixel style approaches color differently. Where other titles in the genre have more “saturated colors”, Sword of Convallaria takes on a more muted hue when it comes to colors. It makes use of more realistic tones, hopefully creating a scene that can be conducive to the game’s more grounded story.
The Sword of Convallaria
Developer XD’s Sword of Convallaria has no set release date just yet, except for “Fall of 2023”. The game will be released globally, as well as multiple platforms. It has garnered such a positive response so far, even getting under the radar of Yasumi Matsune, known for directing and producing the inspirations of this upcoming turn-based RPG.
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