I Am Setsuna fared well on PS4 last summer, bringing simple yet refined RPG gameplay in a top-down, easily digestible style. The title re-entered the spotlight again this year during the launch window of the Nintendo Switch, where it was available via Nintendo's eShop from day one and enjoyed yet another wave of relative praise and popularity. Given the title's accolades for both its gameplay systems and unique art style, it makes sense that a follow-up from the same studio, Tokyo RPG Factory, would soon be on the way. Thanks to a new trailer, we now know said will follow-up will be called Lost Sphear, unveiled by Square Enix yesterday.
The game is again an RPG and channels classic genre trappings, with a story that centers around a young boy, Kanata, who discovers his hometown disappearing after awakening from a "devastating dream." You can check out the trailer below, as well as the exact description from Square.
Lost Sphear is scheduled to release on Switch, PS4, and PC simultaneously, a change from Setsuna's staggered multi-platform tour that began with a Japan-exclusive Vita version back in February of 2016. The game is also Tokyo RPG Factory's first physical release in the West, surely a milestone for the up-and-coming development group. At this early stage, the following features have been outlined by Square Enix for the game.
- SHAPE your own adventure in the vast world with Memory to restore locales.
- ENHANCED ATB Battle System offering more strategic freedom and movement in combat.
- SEAMLESS gameplay transition between overworld and battles.
- EXPLORE unique environments through an unforgettably gripping story.
Lost Sphear is already listed on Square Enix's online store for $49.99, with an expected release window of "early 2018." There's also an official site describing the game as "the next evolution in this new golden age of JRPGs." If Setsuna's charming, traditional stylings are anything to go by, then Lost Sphear may prove to be exactly that.
