Three Switch RPGs to Look Out For
There are various great games coming to the Switch at some point, but I’d like to focus on three that have caught my eye and seem to be especially interesting.
Chained Echoes
This fantasy RPG (created by Matthias Linda) looks like exactly the sort of thing I would wish to play, with a focus on striking artwork, narrative, turn-based combat (without random encounters, where you are even able to make use of the environment to help you in battle), and a sense of a real world to interact with. According to the Kickstarter page, it is set in a place called Valandis, and the game draws inspiration from both the Super Nintendo and the Playstation era in regard to the visuals and the music, respectively. My favorite snippet in the trailer is the one that shows the characters strolling through a market, but the use of Mechs is something that grabs my attention as well.
The game also offers the standard airship, but adds ways to customize and improve it as you play. There are a variety of characters, including a princess, a playwright and a con-artist, and the music from composer Eddie Marianukroh seems to be coming along well — I particularly like the “A Day in the Village” track, which reminds me a little of my time playing ‘Final Fantasy’ games. This was only funded earlier in 2019, so it’s hard to say when it will actually release (the estimated date appears to be late in 2021), but it really looks like something to anticipate. You can find the official site here.
Eastward
This title, developed by Pixpil and set for a 2020 release under Chucklefish, features art that makes me want to pause just to look over and appreciate it. The official site describes the work as “an action adventure game with RPG elements” influenced by “Mother” and “The Legend of Zelda.” You appear to play as a man and a little girl, and although it doesn’t seem to feature as many characters as the other two games mentioned here, the music and visuals of the work as a whole seem appealing; the soundtrack by Joel Corelitz in the trailer is pleasantly upbeat, and the world around you looks incredibly detailed.
This is perhaps the main thing that interests me about the game — it looks enjoyable simply to move around and interact with things and people in the world that Pixpil have created. The official site points to the story being an important part of the game, and this also has me excited and curious. You can see the official site here.
CrossCode
Interestingly enough, the game I am perhaps most looking forward to on the Switch is a port. “CrossCode,” a science fiction RPG developed by RadicalFish Games, has already been released for the PC, and was received well by critics. The plot revolves around a mute character named Lea and her attempts to regain her memories. I’ve only played the online website demo, but I await the actual release on the Switch, which should apparently be coming soon. According to the official site, the game has “a complete RPG system with leveling, equipment, consumable items and skill trees” and “A fast-paced combat system.”
This is another one with attractive visuals; the opening screen of the demo, where the protagonist looks out at the world as her clothes ripple in the breeze, makes for an impactful introduction. What I have heard of the soundtrack, by Deniz Akbulut, is probably my favorite out of the three games mentioned here, the title theme possessing a bittersweet quality that I particularly like. You can listen to that track at the official site, located here.
Are any of you also looking forward to these games? What would your own list look like? Comment and let us know!
