Turn-based RPGSea of Starshas finally revealed a release window following its announcement trailer at Nintendo’s Indie World showcase. The game is a love letter toclassic RPGs such asChrono Trigger, which inspired much of its gameplay.
Sea of Starsis a prequel to developer Sabotage Studio’s debut titleThe Messenger, a side-scrolling platformer. The game was fully funded on Kickstarter in just seven hours, following its announcement in early 2020. Initially advertised for “consoles and PC,” its latest trailer confirms that one of these consoles will be the Nintendo Switch.
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The trailer forSea of Starsshowcases its turn-based combat and fantasy setting, as well as itsdistinctive pixel art style. Protagonists Zale and Valere must join forces to defeat the evil Fleshmancer, using magic powered by the sun and moon.Sea of Starsis home to a vast world for the player to explore, encountering monsters and formidable boss enemies along the way. According to the trailer,Sea of Starsis slated for a Holiday 2022 release, placing its launch roughly one year from now.
Sea of Starsis heavily inspired bybeloved JRPGChrono Trigger, as evidenced by its aesthetic similarity as well as its turn-based battles. Yasunori Mitsuda, composer ofChrono Trigger’ssoundtrack, is featured as a guest composer onSea of Starsas well. The game also takes some inspiration fromSuper Mario RPG; timed attacks play a crucial role in increasing damage output, a key component ofSuper Mario RPG’scombat.
If the trailer is anything to go by,Sea of Starslooks to be a promising addition to the Nintendo Switch’sgrowing roster of indie titles. Though clearly reminiscent ofChrono Trigger’s16-bit pixel art,Sea of Starsbenefits greatly from modern hardware, with smooth animations, sprawling map design, and dynamic lighting. By turning a contemporary lens onto the nostalgic character of 90s-era JRPGs, Sabotage Studio pays homage to the games that inspiredSea of Stars, while adding their unique touch to the genre.
Though a release date has yet to be announced, a Kickstarter update from Sabotage Studio has clarified that this will be revealed sometime next year, alongsideother platformsthe game will be available on. For now, the studio has promised not to rush the development ofSea of Stars, with an emphasis on quality over compromise. Still, fans can expect a release sometime in Winter 2022, with more updates sure to come.
Sea of Starslaunches in Holiday 2022 for PC and Nintendo Switch.
