Phantom Brave first made its mark on the PS2 back in 2004. While PlayStation enthusiasts might remember the original, Nintendo fans likely got their introduction through the Wii’s Phantom Brave: We Meet Again in 2009 or the more recent inclusion in Prinny Presents NIS Classics Volume 1 for the Switch.
If you’re planning to dive back into the action, you’re probably counting down to Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero’s launch on the Switch this January 30th. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the series, this release promises something special, particularly if you’re a fan of those strategy RPGs with that unique Disgaea style of storytelling and graphics.
Just recently, the Pure Nintendo team had the chance to join an online preview session hosted by NIS America, where we connected with Kento Jobana from the development team. For me, this was an introduction to the Phantom Brave universe, and I managed to glean several key takeaways during the session. I’ve gathered my thoughts and impressions below for your convenience.
Right off the bat, don’t worry if this is your first Phantom Brave experience. The Lost Hero, though touching on characters from past installments, stands on its own as a grand adventure. The story orbits around Marona, a young explorer navigating the vast ocean world of Ivoire, aiding those in need. But things take a twist with a ghost fleet causing chaos, and it’s up to Marona to rally a crew capable of saving the day.
As is typical with Nippon Ichi titles, you can expect a delightful mix of humor layered over some darker plot elements. The game’s developers emphasize player freedom, allowing you to shape your journey. There’s a wealth of customization options that could be overwhelming for newcomers. You can set the game’s difficulty from the start, whether you’re looking for a breezy narrative experience or a more challenging deep dive into game mechanics. Keep in mind, once set, difficulty can’t be altered.
Player customization is expansive, with 51 character types to create diverse builds. Your choices in unit creation affect which shop features you unlock. For instance, a chef opens up the juice bar, an angler enables treasure salvage, and an engineer gives you the capacity to build and enhance combat gadgets.
If a mission calls for a unit you don’t have, no worries—you can create and level one quickly using “juice points.” Be sure to manage these points wisely to keep your team ready.
Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero diverges from conventional character choices, introducing roles such as chefs and musicians, each bringing their own distinctive abilities to the game. The strategic depth in discovering and utilizing these units in combat is sure to captivate players.
Customization doesn’t stop at character development; players can also design their own ships and dungeons for exploration and enhancement, though details on these features were light in the demo. More complexity to look forward to!
Combat-wise, the game embraces a turn-based system within an isometric grid. Characters operate within a move range circle, shrinking as they roam. You’re not only maneuvering for attacks but positioning characters near objects to transform them into your custom creations, each with limited moves before disappearing. Certain units can be linked to “gadgets” like cannons, unless claimed by foes.
As for the game’s performance on the Switch, it’s hard to say—our preview wasn’t conducted on the console. However, the turn-based mechanic shouldn’t demand heavy processing, and the interface seems clean enough for handheld use.
For me, stepping into the Phantom Brave world without prior knowledge was a lot to digest. There’s bound to be more to uncover as we approach the game’s January release. Plus, a demo will be out soon for those eager to test the waters.
In the meantime, visit nisamerica.com/phantombrave-the-lost-hero/ for more details. Also, take a peek at the Limited and Deluxe Edition physical releases available for preorder right now.
