RPGs Coming This Week, 7/14/24

B-Project Ryusei Fantasia – July 15th (Windows)

B-Project Ryusei Fantasia is difficult to explain, but here goes. It’s a visual novel about managing a fictional boyband that exists in real life and puts out music — think Gorillaz but for J-pop. You play as an assistant who bonds with the different members of B-Project, but the game stops short of otome territory; you can’t actually date any of these guys. And I think that’s fine, since some of the members are below legal age. Anyway, B-Project is a sprawling franchise that has produced an extensive discography, two mobile games, and even an anime over the years. This is one of, if not the first, times it’s ventured outside of Japan, so here’s hoping it finds a measure of success.

by Gio Castillo

Gestalt: Steam & Cinder – July 16th (Windows)

Editor’s Note: We’re reusing our write-up from the May 19th edition of RPGs Coming This Week, which was written before the game got delayed to July.

Gestalt: Steam & Cinder has been in various stages of “coming soon” for almost four years, and the debut title from Metamorphosis Games finally lands this week. If “steampunk Western Metroidvania action RPG” doesn’t sum it up, I’m not sure what will. Seriously though, Gestalt may wear its 16- and 32-bit inspiration on its sleeve, but looks determined to forge its own identity with its beautiful pixel graphics, tight gameplay, and a focus on narrative. We’re hoping the wait has been worth it, and if you want to get a taste of the game, there’s a demo version on Steam.

by Mike Salbato

Riviera: The Promised Land Remaster – July 17th (Windows)

Riviera: The Promised Land Remaster is a modern remaster of a WonderSwan Color and Game Boy Advance title from developer Sting. This remaster has been available to Japanese audiences via Nintendo Switch since February 28th and mobile devices from May 29th; the version coming to Steam will be the first time this remaster will be available to English-speaking audiences.

This remaster offers many of the quality-of-life features players have come to expect: game speed up to five times, an autosave function, and a skill boost system. Unfortunately, what this game also now features is the dreaded smudged pixels typical of many budget “HD” remasters coming out over the last several years.

RPGFan has no less than three reviews for this title, with the most recent being Patrick Gann’s review of the PlayStation Portable port. Patrick thought there were better games from Sting — such as Dept. Heaven series follow-up Yggdra Union — and didn’t think the game worthy of a replay for those who had experienced the GBA version, ultimately deeming the PSP port “unnecessary.” Patrick did, however, have some praise for the addition of quality voice acting, while also enjoying the soundtrack.

by Claton Stevenson

Dungeons of Hinterberg – July 18th (XSX, Windows)

Well if these ain’t the most striking visuals we’ve seen in a while. Dungeons of Hinterberg is an action RPG with a killer cel-shaded aesthetic and an excellent choice of setting, that being a fictional Austrian town styled after real alpine landscapes. Dining and dungeoneering are equally core to the experience here; expect to sample schnitzels before slaying suckers, all while traversing the environments in a snowboard. It’s an imaginative take on real life, and it’s sure doing a good job of making me want to visit Austria. Check out our preview of the Steam Next Fest demo for more.

by Gio Castillo

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn – July 18th (PS5, XSX, Windows)

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is a “Soulslite” action RPG. The gods have broken free, their armies of the dead overrunning the world and the only thing standing between the remnants of humanity and utter annihilation are Sapper Nor Vanek and her mystical, foxlike companion Enki. Together, the two traverse the different regions of the world to form a ragtag team of weary yet determined fighters to combat the gods’ hostile hordes. Can they survive the arduous trials that await them?

I’ve been curious about Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn since it was first announced. Its mix of magic with melee and shooting-based combat promises an interesting gameplay loop despite my usual terribleness when it comes to aiming in video games. The game’s premise and at times surprisingly colorful vistas are helping to draw me in despite my limited knowledge of the soulslite genre. The more I’ve seen of Nor and Enki working together in combat to take down even the most challenging of foes, as well as the quickly moving teleportation mechanic that helps them get to even harder-to-reach platforms with some strategic maneuvering, the more eager I am to give this action RPG a chance.

Hopefully, there’s enough powder left in Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn for an explosive spark to form with it coming this week!

by Audra Bowling

Darkest Dungeon II – July 15th (PS5, XSX, PS4, XB1, Switch)

Darkest Dungeon II is coming this week to PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch. This extremely grim roguelite hooked our own Nick Mangiaracina last year, and I imagine it might have a similar effect on console players.

by Gio Castillo