During the ID @ Xbox Twitch game showcase, Artisan Studios unveiled the trailer for their newest project: the hand-drawn JRPG Astria Ascending.
Astria Ascending it was developed in partnership with the publisher Dear Villagers and features contributions from JRPG developers, with a score by Hitoshi Sakimoto (Final Fantasy 12, Vagrant Story), narrative by Kazushige Nojima (Final Fantasy 10, Final Fantasy 7 Remake) and art by CyDesignation (Akihiko Yoshida and Hideo Minaba).
The game is set in a world where chaos is approaching and you take control of the demigods. This crew of eight heroes is in charge of the fate of the world. Each character has its own story, explored in five cities, 25 dungeons and 30 to 50 hours of gameplay.
Along with tuned turn-based combat, players can experience some side missions and mini-games, including an original fantasy-themed token game.
“In Astria Ascending, we wanted to explore how people cope with extraordinary times,” said Artisan Studio game director Julien Bourgeois. “Each hero has his own perspective, but it is the relationships they form with each other that really bring the story to life.”
“Seeing this world come together was a delight,” added Guillaume Jamet, head of publishing at Dear Villagers. “And it’s an honor to have so many legends on the team helping – like a childhood dream coming true. Astria Ascending is more than a tribute to the classics. It is the perfect next step in our ambitious JRPG publishing line. “
Here’s more about the game:
- Epic tales: Fight for the future while considering the past; sacrifice everything, don’t renounce anything. The story of Astria Ascending was developed in part by writer Kazushige Nojima, known for his work on Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy VII Remake.
- Living landscapes: Travel through the world of Orcanon, a richly imagined and fully animated 2D landscape with five cities and a dynamic climate system.
- Unforgettable characters: Choose from eight customizable characters, spanning a variety of races and fantastic abilities, and assemble a diverse team of heroes.
- Rewarding combat: work together to save the world by engaging in strategic turn-based battles using the innovative focus point system.
- A treat for the ears: with music and SFX by composer Hitoshi Sakimoto (Final Fantasy XII, Valkyria Chronicles), Astria Ascending is an exciting joy to hear.
The game is coming to PC, Switch, PlayStation 5 and 4, Xbox Series X / S, Xbox One and Game Pass in 2021.