There is definitely no scarcity of turn-based RPGs out there on Swap as of late and an excellent better variety of retro-pixel indie efforts that current their strategic adventures in an more and more overused 8 or 16-Bit graphical model. Actually, we love them actually however it could undoubtedly really feel a bit wearisome at occasions prepping your self to dive into one more one among these oh-so-cute SNES-esque escapades. Comfortable Ray Video games’ Ikenfell is an additional addition to the console’s library that slots squarely into this model and it truly is a testomony to the standard of the writing and fight on supply right here that, regardless of our slight reluctance, ten minutes into this one we had been just about hooked. It might seem like simply one other cutesy RPG journey however in actuality what’s here’s a advanced little story that takes some surprisingly emotional turns and is bolstered by turn-based fight that eases you in earlier than presenting you with a correct problem to dig into.
Ikenfell tells the story of Magritte, an “bizarre” who units out searching for her sister Safina, a gifted and fashionable witch who has gone AWOL from the Hogwarts-esque Ikenfell College of Magic which she attends. Ikenfell has been positioned into emergency lockdown — one thing we are able to definitely all determine with proper now — as unusual happenings and magical calamities take over the campus and, as Magritte approaches, she is challenged by the college’s guardians, within the course of revealing that she too possesses the flexibility to wield highly effective magic. What ensues is a heartfelt story by which Magritte will get to know extra about herself, her sister and the true nature of the unusual world by which they exist via the chums, enemies and acquaintances Safina has left behind.
Proper from the opening moments right here, Magritte’s journey actually does seize you, it is full of an actual sense of surprise, of hidden magical prospects, and is populated by a various solid of well-written characters, a lot of whom are homosexual, trans or battling their very own sense of self-worth, id or place on this planet not directly or different — and all of that is additional complimented by a neat fight system that retains the various enemy encounters you will battle your approach via feeling remarkably contemporary and tactical for the story’s length.
Flip-based battles right here happen inside a grid system and start by permitting you — and one other two characters who’ll finally be a part of your celebration — to place your self inside a highlighted space earlier than selecting which assault or merchandise you want to use. As you progress and rank up you will unlock new magical talents and spells, every of which has a unique Space of Impact which is highlighted on the grid when you choose them and should be taken under consideration as you are deciding the place to position your character earlier than you strike. Issues begin off merely sufficient right here and you may spend the opening hour or so of this 10+ hour journey attending to grips with simply positioning Magritte to ensure that her assaults to land squarely on the heads of her enemies. Your default fireplace assault, for instance, can solely have an effect on a foe that is inside two grid areas straight in entrance of you and its AoE is only one sq. whereas the second spell you be taught impacts a cross-shaped space and might harm quite a few nasties who occur to linger inside its vary.
It is a neat system and shifting across the designated battle space, positioning your characters so as to get as a lot harm in towards a bunch of enemies as potential in a single flip turns into extra advanced and satisfying as the sport ups the ante and introduces foes who play soiled, summoning minions who lock down giant areas of the grid, lay invisible traps or solid spells which have an effect on your skill to maneuver round freely. Ikenfell then provides a Paper Mario-style timing ingredient to all of this which requires you to hit a button at precisely the best second as you assault or defend so as to maximise the harm you dish out or minimise that which you’re taking from an enemy onslaught. Completely time an assault and you will be greeted with a bit motion bubble exclaiming “nice!”, mess it up and you may earn your self an “oops!”. It is a easy little wrinkle however one which, alongside the fixed want to watch and consider you and your enemy’s positions on the battlefield, provides the entire thing a much-needed layer of technique.
There actually is rather a lot to the battling right here. You will must watch out for pleasant fireplace, particularly when laying down environmental traps of your personal and enemies all the time have some new ingredient to their assaults which must be taken under consideration. It’s possible you’ll end up up towards a bunch of foes who work in unison, for instance, one assuming the function of assailant whereas the opposite two present regens of well being and armour, requiring you to take care of them in a sure order to succeed. Others, such because the very first boss battle you encounter, cannot be broken in an significant approach straight and so you will must assault their exploding minions at simply the best time to make sure the following blast hits them.
All of that is additional enhanced by a powerful vary of enemy sorts, every of whom has their very own distinctive assault patterns and spells to get a deal with on, that means that issues by no means actually slide into monotony, regardless of how lots of the largely avoidable encounters you resolve to contain your self in as you examine the grounds of Ikenfell. This admirable selection in enemies does, nonetheless, additionally imply that you just’re continually launched to model new assaults and this will turn into a bit irritating at occasions as every one has their very own bespoke little animation which impacts hit timings and means you will possible end up getting bashed fairly exhausting earlier than you nail when precisely to hit that button and block many of the incoming harm. It is not an enormous deal, and we would definitely take the bonus of getting a lot selection over the detrimental of getting to restart a battle each every so often, however it may be disappointing to search out your self Ok.O.’d simply since you could not probably have identified an assault’s timings beforehand.
Fortunately, for many who are discovering the fight robust or tedious or perhaps simply wish to hold marching alongside via the story somewhat than spending a number of time battling, Ikenfell additionally permits you play via its journey with an Prompt Win possibility activated, that means you possibly can drop down right into a battle and instantly choose to conquer your adversary with none photographs fired, you will even earn a bit XP and hold levelling up your celebration within the course of. If this appears like an excessive amount of of a serving to hand, Comfortable Ray Video games has additionally supplied the choice to change the timing mechanic between handbook, semi-auto and full auto modes, that means there’s actually a degree of issue and problem to go well with any participant right here.
It is an impressively versatile system, we completely loved battling via the entire encounters right here, a few of which may be genuinely robust — particularly the handful of boss fights you will come up towards in later phases — however we are able to completely see how some might desire to only hold progressing alongside via the sport’s charming narrative and tricksy puzzle sequences somewhat than spend hours mixing it up with enemies. We also needs to give a shoutout to the sport’s very good soundtrack, the work of Aivi and Surassha — a duo finest identified for offering the music for Steven Universe — who’ve delivered an imposing seventy 5 observe effort right here, together with some chic acoustic efforts that completely underscore among the extra emotional moments in Magritte’s journey of self-discovery.
Efficiency on Swap, as anticipated from a recreation on this retro pixel model, is ideal in each docked and handheld modes and, total, this one’s a captivating little journey with a narrative that hooks you in shortly, retains you proper the best way via, and is complimented by a enjoyable battle system with loads of accessibility choices to go well with all ranges of participant.
Conclusion
Ikenfell is a captivating little turn-based tactical RPG that hooks you in shortly with a well-written story and powerful solid of characters and retains you locked in for its length with a surprisingly advanced fight system. There are accessibility choices right here to go well with all ranges of participant, a good suggestion contemplating how robust among the battles may be alongside the best way, and, total, it is a heart-warming and distinctive entry to its style that comes extremely advisable.
