Square Enix have announced the new game from Tokyo RPG Factory, the developers of old school retro-inspired I Am Setsuna and Lost Sphere. Their third title, which looks like it will follow similar design philosophies, is Oninaki. A trailer for the game, showcasing some gameplay and giving some basic details on its setting and story, was also released. Check it out below.

Unlike I Am Setsuna and Lost Sphere, Oninaki is employing a non-turn based, action-RPG combat system, and will see you taking on the role of a Watcher named Kagachi. Kagachi, as a Watcher, can move between the realms of the living and the dead, which he must do to save the souls of the Lost, in what is being described as a “story of life and reincarnation”.

Players will be capturing Daemons, which will serve the purpose of classes, with each Daemon possessing its own unique skills and abilities that can be called upon to manifest during combat. Capturing Daemons and choosing which ones to call to your aid during combat will be a vital part of the gameplay loop.

Oninaki is out this Summer on the Nintendo Switch, PS4, and PC. A more specific release date for the game hasn’t been given out.

I Am Setsuna, the excellent old school JRPG that Square Enix released for PS4 and PC last year, will also be coming to the Nintendo Switch for its launch. Nintendo, who have fostered an audience for JRPGs on their systems over the last few years, thanks to collaborations with Square Enix and Atlus, as well as their own in house efforts such as Fire Emblem and Xenoblade, are definitely interested in pushing this game for all it’s worth.

And this new trailer for the game, which you can see below, definitely establishes the worth of the game in question- there are loads of the accolades that were heaped upon the game in this video. They go along well with the footage of the game itself, which, it helps, looks fantastic.

I Am Setsuna will be available digitally for the Nintendo Switch upon launch, which means March 3 worldwide. Stay tuned for more information.

I Am Setsuna, Square Enix’s rather charming ode to old school JRPGs that was released exclusively on PC and PS4 last year, will be coming to the Nintendo Switch, too- the game was confirmed or the Switch at Nintendo’s Switch event two weeks ago. Now we know that the game will be launching on the Switch on March 3, right alongside the system itself.

Until now, I Am Setsuna‘s status as a launch title had been confirmed only for Japan- this confirms that the game will be available for new Switch owners to try out at launch in North America too. A European release date for the Switch version of the game has still to be confirmed- but given that the Switch is entirely region free, I imagine this is going to be less of a problem now than it used to be.

Like it was on the PS4 and PC, I Am Setsuna will be digital only on the Nintendo Switch, too, at least for the western release. Nintendo Switch launches worldwide on March 3

Often times, it’s hard to start a game, take a short game (say a week), then come back and remember all those controls. But, as time goes by so does our memories fade away; those of the games of yesterday: we forget the strategizing of character classes, the mages of black and white magics, the trivial side quests that often lead to nothing so great. And at last, we forget our roots.

We forget them because with time we too have moved on to bigger games, more immersion, more precision, more story, and more gameplay. I Am Setsuna from Tokyo RPG Factory wants us to remember those golden days of our past — they want us to go back and appreciate the genre that has come so far and is still evolving with each new game. Does that mean I Am Setsuna is a stunningly great game brought forward into today’s world? No. Not at all, but it helps for those of us that grew up in the 1990s with classics that Setsuna is trying to reproduce.

I Am Setsuna is set in a forever snowy world where winter has come and stayed. A massive monster roams the great lands destroying everything in its path, with a passion for complete an utter destruction of the world. As the world inches ever closer to its inevitable end, a great sadness befalls over the survivors of this nightmarish winter hell and it’s up to the main protagonist Endir to save the day.

"There are tones of brighter colors within the game sparsely used, and that makes them feel that much more special when you get past all the sadness before them."

Endir is a mercenary who is destined to protect the female Setsuna as she’s set to give herself up for sacrifice, to help end the bloodshed and bring peace back to the world. Now, this may all sound cliché for many JRPGs, especially those found back in the 1990s, and it is. The great melancholy that strangles the planet feels like it was torn right out of a “How to” guide for making a classic RPG. Especially with its isometric angle, and yes, even an airship.

Most modern day JRPGs are beyond gorgeous; what Square Enix does with their Final Fantasy games, or even the vastness of the Star Ocean series, RPGs are about epic proportions and beautiful detail. I Am Setsuna may not be as huge as some past and present JRPGs, but it does give a large enough scale that lets us appreciate the beauty of it all. Its doomsday-style scenario and world setting of relentless snow and ice are extraordinarily cool. The tones Setsuna rehashes and forcibly sets into our minds while playing match the setting quite well. The colors, often whites and grays, are usually offset by a unique enemy that’s modeled in a very old fashioned sort of way. There are tones of brighter colors within the game sparsely used, and that makes them feel that much more special when you get past all the sadness before them.

As the game progresses, you will be joined by other team members, just like in most other JRPGs out there. Each one will be a different class of character, with different HP, MP, Combo attacks, and abilities. Each character carries a story of their own that adds to the world’s tone and their struggles of how they came to be. With that in mind, the battle mechanics are turn-based just like in traditional JRPGs. One hit per character either before or after the enemies’ turn. Nothing unique or substantially harsh about it. This is how I enjoy my RPGs, because as I’ve pointed out before, this is how I remember them. Unfortunately, the game gives off large moments of gameplay instructions without any real examples to show for it. There are moments when I was sitting back and trying to remember a certain concept for what the game was trying to push. And then there are those moments deep in the game where I often forgot about certain moves or ideas that were lightly spoken of early on in the game.

"When it comes right down to the wire, I am Setsuna tries to identify itself as a 1990s love letter to the older fans, and quite possibly people who are just learning of this early-style genre today."

The fantasy setting is a great platform for video game music and I am Setsuna is no exception. Always playing on the melancholy tones while out in the vast lands of the world, there are often hymns of something greater to come. But greater doesn’t always mean good. There are moments when there are tones of greater evil, but there is always a time of hope within the musics fantastical melodies.

When it comes right down to the wire, I am Setsuna tries to identify itself as a 1990s love letter to the older fans, and quite possibly people who are just learning of this early-style genre today. It gets a lot of the elements correct but the lack of momentum at times, and the confusing controls make it not quite as perfect as I’d like to remember my JRPGs being.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 4.

Ghostbusters

We know what you’re thinking. “Ghostbusters? The game based on the remake? Are you serious?” Well, the good news is that FireForge Games action title, which supports co-op, will feature a brand new cast of characters. In fact, they seem to be high school students. We can sense your enthusiasm waning but hey, Extreme Ghostbusters had high school students and it was a pretty good show. Yes? No? July 12th is the date so yeah. Get hyped.

Furi

Unfamiliar with The Game Bakers’ Furi? It’s every bit as trippy as it is compelling. This third person hack and slash title is comprised of nothing but boss fights, one-on-one duels that rely entirely on skill and your reflexes as you battle for freedom. If that weren’t enough, Afro Samurai creator Takashi Okazaki is in charge of character designs, lending even more flair in the visuals and combat. Keep an eye out on July 5th for its PC and PS4 release.

Necropolis

Harebrained Schemes’ next big game…isn’t a Shadowrun title. That’s cause for attention but Necropolis is more than a deviation from the norm. It’s a third person action RPG set in a labyrinth full of treasure and danger. Not only will the environments be constantly changing but you’ll even encounter other dead adventurers as enemies. If that weren’t enough, up to four players can traverse into the labyrinth together, hopefully holding hands as they die.

Song of the Deep

Insomniac Games’ Song of the Deep isn’t quite what you’d expect from the developer behind Sunset Overdrive and Ratchet & Clank. As its first game with GameTrust, GameStop’s publishing initiative, Song of the Deep sees players as Merryn heading under the sea to rescue her father. With a rudimentary submarine, Merryn will encounter various phenomenon in what’s essentially a Metroidvania-esque adventure. Song of the Deep will be out on PS4, PC and Xbox One on July 12th.

I Am Setsuna

An RPG on the theme of sadness may not necessarily tickle your fancy but I Am Setsuna – which is out on July 19th for PS4, PC and PS Vita – will channel the golden age of RPGs as per Square Enix. How will that translate to the West? Regardless, it’s an old-school RPG from Square Enix’s new Tokyo RPG Factory. That’s reason enough to check it out.

Obduction

If you’re a fan of the Miller brothers and their Myst series, then Obduction is a return of sorts. Cyan Worlds’ first person adventure title sees the player kidnapped by aliens and exploring several foreign worlds in an attempt to return home. Along with the traditional puzzle solving that we love (and loathe) Myst for, Obduction is set to feature the same visually arresting locales and laid-back exploration that its predecessor is known for. Time will how well this plays out in 2016 but you can play Obduction yourself on July 26th to find out.

Monster Hunter Generations

Released in Japan under the name Monster Hunter X, Monster Hunter Generations will be heading to North America and Europe on July 15th for the 3DS. Along with the trademark combat that the series is known for, Monster Hunter Generations will feature different hunting styles for weapons, new Hunting Arts (which essentially act as special moves that have to be charged up every once in a while). And really, it’s a Monster Hunter title. If you love those games, you’ll love this.

10 Second Ninja X

10 Second Ninja X is a fast paced sidescroller in which you need to complete each level in 10 seconds. Don’t expect any hand holding and checkpoints – what does this look like, a walk in the park? The game has 100 levels with 40 levels remastered from the original game to essentially create a brand new experience.

Square Enix’s gorgeous looking I Am Setsuna, the incredible looking JRPG, has just received a brand new trailer ahead of E3. The new trailer shows off the game in all of its old school glory (although admittedly, the voice acting in the trailer seems to be kind of rough).

If you’re excited enough to want to secure your copy of the game right now, then the good news is that you can, at least on PC via Steam- preordering will also entitle fans to receive a special music track from composer, Tomoki Miyoshi. The game costs $40 on PC and on PS4, and it will be a digital only release.

You can check out the trailer for yourself below, and tell us what you think of it. Is this the kind of game you can see yourself getting interested in? Will you be getting it? Let us know in the comments.

Square Enix will formally announce I Am Setsuna, a brand new JRPG from Tokyo RPG Factory, at the Game Developers’ Conference this week, but some early information on the game was announced today regardless.

The title is due out on PlayStation 4 and Steam this summer. The aim of this new game is to translate the glory of 16- and 32-bit JRPGs to the modern gaming context- much like Square Enix’s own Bravely Default from a few years ago.

Not much else is known about the game right now- for instance, we don’t know why Square Enix have decided to skip out on localizing the Vita version of the game (although we can probably guess). I imagine that some impassioned Vita fans will have a few words to say to Square Enix about that pretty soon.