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DS

North America

Radiant Historia

by James Jones - March 4, 2011, 7:06 pm EST
Total comments: 16

9

I'd like to travel to an alternate timeline where I hadn't yet experienced this game and do it all over again.

Radiant Historia is Atlus' latest DS RPG. With the release of the 3DS, it could prove to be their final major effort on the system. If that is indeed true, then they have gone all out for Radiant Historia. Developed by a team with experience ranging from Shin Megami Tensei to Radiata Stories, Radiant Historia would be the perfect conclusion to their strong support for the DS platform.

Radiant Historia takes place on the continent of Vainqueur, which itself is divided among five states. At the core of Vainqueur lies an ever-expanding desert, which is slowly depleting the arable land. The desertification process has brought the religiously driven, technologically advanced state of Alistel into conflict with the powerful kingdom of Granorg.

Vainqueur

The lead character, Stocke, is a member of Alistel's military intelligence division. The game begins with him receiving a mission to rescue another intelligence officer, but before he can leave, his superior presents him with an old book known as the White Chronicle. When his rescue attempt goes awry, Stocke finds himself confronted by two children who inform him that the White Chronicle will allow him to revisit past experiences and alter their outcome.

Stocke, also known as "that guy in red."

It is that time travel mechanic that makes Radiant Historia unique and compelling. Early on, Stocke has to decide where to place his loyalties, and from that moment, two parallel histories diverge. Using the White Chronicle, Stocke can travel at various points along the timeline of each of these alternate realities. This allows him to revisit crucial decisions, seek knowledge from the other history to solve problems, and even alter the fate of characters. Stocke's ultimate goal is to use the White Chronicle to create the "true history," and stop the desertification.

What is so enthralling about this mechanic is the skill with which it is implemented. While there are moments where the game forces you to the other timeline, usually to resolve a barrier in the first, progress between the two is mostly non-linear. The fact each timeline contains its own story, with its own heroes and villains is impressive. Even the numerous mini-quests, most of which require taking a kernel of information from the quest-giver and using it to find your way within the two histories, provide their own compartmentalized form of non-linearity that can be readily appreciated.

The timeline

The actual combat borrows some elements from strategy RPGs. Enemies appear on a 3-by-3 grid, some taking up more space than a single square. Some characters possess skills that allow enemies to be knocked about the grid. Enemies closer to the front deal more damage, but are also more vulnerable, and they can be stacked on one another, allowing multiple enemies to be hit by a single attack. Later on, foes can even be knocked onto "traps" that the player can lay during their turn, causing a great deal of damage or even status effects.

The game's combat system also takes some inspiration from the timeline-surfing plot. While turn based, there is a great deal of flexibility in ordering. The battles list the next 10 turns on the top screen, but give the player multiple tools to alter that flow including: the ability to switch a party member's slot with the slot of anyone else (enemies included), the ability to erase enemy turns, and the ability to simply replace one party member in a turn with another. Chaining attacks increases their efficacy, and many boss battles require the use of complex turn strategy in order to simply stay alive while slowly bleeding their health.

Those barriers in the front row greatly reduce damage enemies behind them take.

Overall, combat generally proves rewarding, if sometimes frustrating. Often times, the field enemies seem to come in numbers that are unduly difficult for run of the mill encounters, though they can usually be avoided. Some boss battles tend to drag on, especially later in the game. Sometimes it feels like only one strategy has any hope of success. Even with those flaws, combat is enjoyable, as each member of Stocke's band has his or her own skill set, and the game rewards you for experimenting with them.

Visually, Radiant Historia is an attractive package that suffers from primitive sprites for your party and the standard RPG trope of re-colored sprites for your foes. Beyond the weakness in sprite design, the hand-drawn representations for the characters are immensely attractive and creative. The various sites of Vainqueur, which are rendered in 3D and portrayed from an isometric perspective, are visually interesting if not the most original (jungle village inhabited by beastmen, a city built with technology at its very core, a standard castle town, etc.).

Alistel prepares for battle.

The sound design of Radiant Historia is a thing of wonder. While the game features no voice acting and relatively limited (but solid) sound-effects, the music is possibly the best I've ever heard in a DS title. Yoko Shimomura, known best for her work on Square titles Super Mario RPG, Legend of Mana, and Kingdom Hearts, produced a composition that is both sublime and deeply complementary of the game's story. On more than one occasion I've found myself humming the game's theme, even with my DS locked far away.

Radiant Historia is a fantastic game. As an RPG it tells a distinct and occasionally stirring story, from a unique (and non-linear) perspective. Its combat has enough nuances to encourage experimentation, but is simple enough to enjoy without too much suffering. It looks good and sounds wonderful. The abundance of sub-quests, some of which are difficult to resolve, and the presence of multiple endings add a lot to what is already a 30 to 40-hour game. While the game isn't quite transcendent, it's still a fantastic title and should be on the must-own list of any fans of RPGs.

Summary

Pros
  • Fantastic non-linear gameplay and story
  • Great combat system
  • Stunning soundtrack
Cons
  • Character sprites are a bit plain
  • Some mini-quests are obtuse

Images

Talkback

Retro DeckadesMarch 05, 2011

Sweet, James. I haven't had time to read the review yet, but the game did just arrive from Amazon today, and I am glad to see that the numerical score is so good. Wondering if I should get Curse of the Sinistrals to round out my DS RPG collection before the DS fades away...

KDR_11kMarch 05, 2011

I wonder if it'll come to Europe.

James, you may have convinced me to put this game on my "to buy" list.

JourneysMarch 08, 2011

Good review. I am not quite done yet but my experience matches yours so far.  The music is great though it does get quiet at times in the game.  That was rather odd.  It didn't always seem to be for effect, it would just end.


This is a game with a significant story and large amount of dialog.  Really puts to shame some of those large AAA titles that try to do this and often get lost.


I mainly play RPGs and usually wait for the price to drop.  But as usual with Atlus, I am glad I picked this up quick.  Its out of stock in most of the usual places already.


For those who don't have it...hope they have a second printing.


This is a jewel.

Wow, is this game hard to find in the States? Amazon has it listed for $49.99? Gamestop's website has it listed for $34.99, though. Hmmmm. I'm really thinking about buying this game soon and I want to get it now before it's out of print.

SupaKirbMarch 08, 2011

Quote from: The_Dan_x

Wow, is this game hard to find in the States? Amazon has it listed for $49.99? Gamestop's website has it listed for $34.99, though. Hmmmm. I'm really thinking about buying this game soon and I want to get it now before it's out of print.

I actually think that you are looking at Atlus's/best_game_deals- price. Look on the side, Amazon is selling it for 34.99 like Gamestop, and so is Fry's I believe. And oh gosh, you are scaring me Dan! lol. I really hope that this doesn't go out of print.... I was planing on getting it later because of the 3DS, but now I might have to hold off on the 3DS so I can get my hands on a copy!

TJ SpykeMarch 08, 2011

It's a Atlus game, in a few months it will be difficult to find. They never have long print runs of games.

apdudeMarch 08, 2011

So far I'm enjoying this game and agree with James on much of his review.  But it confuses me at times because I don't really know what I'm supposed to be doing then I'll stumble around for a while and eventually get to where I need to be, then I'll think why didn't you tell me to "go to the top level of the fortress" instead of the vague instruction of "protect the fortress".  Also I find it doesn't seem to be of any benifit to fight everything because when I level up it doesn't make the next fight any easier.  And a tip to those who get this, make sure you make it to a story "node" before switching time lines or you'll have to repeat some things.

If you open up the "Camp" menu it often tells you want to do. If it just says ? then you just need to talk to people around you/explore the area.

apdudeMarch 08, 2011

That's what I usually do but there was an instance last night where a fortress gets taken over by the enemy and the instruction is to retake the fortress or something like that.  There was no one to talk to so I thought that meant walk around the inside an beat up all the random enemies and destroy the traps.  What it wanted me to do is walk straight up the middle through 3 screens and up some stairs to trigger the "boss" battle.  What could have taken 5min took over an hour.  This is nitpicking just a little bit but I think it could have been a bit clearer.

KDR_11kMarch 09, 2011

Let's hope Rising Star is interested.

viciouskillersquirrelMarch 12, 2011

I bought this game because of James' description of it on RFN.  It hadn't even been on my radar before that.

Thing is, it's taking AGES to get here.  It's been 10 days and counting.  :\

EDIT: 13 days and counting :(


Sorry for neglecting this thread, guys. Been sick then I was at PAX.

apdude, yeah there are moments where the game just gets obtuse. In retrospect I wish I had noted those in the review. I allude to them a bit, but it was in reference to the subquests, where often times it's not exactly sure what you're meant to do/

Fatty The HuttFebruary 06, 2012

There's been chatter on the boards and in podcasts about how this game is hard to find and expensive now.

Seems it is being re-issued soon. Amazon says pre-order now for release on March 19. Gamestop website also says pre-order, no release date mentioned.
Price on both sites: $34.99

(note, both sites I checked are the Canadina versions)

ejamerFebruary 06, 2012

Quote from: Fatty_The_Hutt

There's been chatter on the boards and in podcasts about how this game is hard to find and expensive now.

Seems it is being re-issued soon. Amazon says pre-order now for release on March 19. Gamestop website also says pre-order, no release date mentioned.
Price on both sites: $34.99

(note, both sites I checked are the Canadina versions)

Didn't know the reprint was confirmed, but Atlus did talk about the possibility on their Twitter account a while back. Great news for this game if it's successful enough to be reprinted - it is good enough that it deserves to get played by more people.

Last week @AtlusUSA - the official twitter account for Atlus in the US - asked a bit knowingly if people would be interested in a reprint.


I'd guess it's reasonably likely they intend to.

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Radiant Historia Box Art

Genre RPG
Developer Atlus

Worldwide Releases

na: Radiant Historia
Release Feb 11, 2011
PublisherAtlus
jpn: Radiant Historia
Release Nov 04, 2010
PublisherAtlus

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