Such feedback is important for the bug-fixing we will continue to do on Earthlock 1, but it is also valuable input into the process of making the next game! So who should we begin inviting as we build this community? We feel it seems natural to invite anyone who took the time to write a review, give us feedback or report bugs. With the community involved early we think we can make an even better game this time around.Īs soon as we have something to share and talk about for Earthlock 2 we will engage with our community and involve them as much as possible. This is something we were not able to do with the first game. In a few months we will set up a new community for Earthlock 2. The great thing about making game number two is that we now have a wonderful community of players along with us. We are super excited and look forward to sharing it with you. It's a little lacking in originality, and players who haven't played many older JRPGs might find it to be a bit antiquated, but genre fans looking for a well-crafted old-school experience should find this game to be a delight.It is a very exciting phase to go into early production of a game. Tl dr - Earthlock is a Turn-Based RPG that evokes PlayStation 1 & 2-era JRPGs like Final Fantasy and Grandia, with a polished presentation and some really inventive gameplay systems. While it's lacking in modern refinements and doesn't have an especially strong personality of its own, it captures the essence of what made this genre so good back in its glory days, and fans of that sort of game should find this a welcome addition to their Switch library. Still, if old-school JRPG-style goodness is what you're looking for, you should be delighted with Earthlock. Also, players who aren't well-acquainted with old-school JRPGs might find this game's lack of modern refinements to be more 'antiquated' than 'quaint'. I can't say I felt drawn into the game's story or felt particularly strongly about most of its characters, save for the adorable Gnart, a tusked 'hogbunny' who was rather adorable. What's more, players can be placed in pairings that enhance the stats of both characters in the pair in a unique way, giving players more options to mix up their party to make it fit their playstyle.Īs for the flaws, while this game looks good and feels polished, it can also feel a bit generic. In addition, every character has two 'stances' they can swap between in battle, changing how the character plays. Rather than using MP, this game has an energy system that has players deciding whether to use their energy for a big attack now, or store it up for later. The gameplay also has some interesting things going on here. There are some clunky animations here and there, such as when NPC characters turn or when party member Olia akwardly swings her spear around in her victory animation, but for the most part this game looks very good. if this game were released a few generations ago, none of these things would have been noteworthy, but it does seem a bit outdated today.Īside from the unimpressive overworld, and disappointing pop-up of enemies, the game's graphics are largely very good, with a clean, slightly-cartoony look, nice little details sprinkled throughout, and a unified sense of style. Dialogue here is largely text-based, the world map is simplistic and unimpressive-looking, environments aren't very interactive. That said, this is decidedly an old-school experience, and the game bears the hallmarks of that throughout. This absolutely baffles me, since in my experience with the game I found it to be extremely polished, with a solid presentation and well thought-out gameplay. When reviewing a game others have reviewed, I like to get a feel for what others are saying about it, and here I've seen some other reviewers claim that Earthlock lacks polish.

This game is the first of three in a planned trilogy, and the Nintendo Switch version includes extra options not seen in earlier releases, such as improved camera movement and slightly-improved visuals. Fans of the likes of Final Fantasy, Grandia, and Skies of Arcadia looking for a return to the silver age of the genre will find this game to be made with them in mind. Earthlock, elsewhere subtitled Festival of Magic, is a Turn-Based RPG that evokes the feel of classic JRPGs on the PlayStation 1 and 2.

Earthlock 2 switch