Campaign Ends: October 1st
Platforms: Windows, Switch, PlayStation & Xbox
Whenever a new Metroidvania with RPG elements is announced, I do a little happy dance in my imagination. Fallen Tear: The Ascension is no exception; the first full title from Philippines-based studio Winter Crew, the game drops you into a vast and beautiful world inspired by Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Suikoden, and Zelda: Breath of the Wild. I’m excited!
The game’s narrative seems to be fairly standard JRPG fare, focusing on a young man named Hira whose long-dormant powers come to light after his village is attacked. Is this disaster (along with Hira’s sudden identity crisis) related to any troublesome elemental gods or ancient creatures? I would answer with a firm “maybe.” Seek out your true identity, heal a world in peril, and for all that’s good and holy, please try to get along with your brother Ravn!
Fallen Tear: The Ascension will have you trek across the land of Raoah and explore 26 unique biomes with some truly beautiful background art; I can definitely see the resemblance to Ori‘s lush landscapes! Make your way through the game’s non-linear world (which may contain floating platforms and spikes) while battling over 150 unique enemies, including the mighty Shroom Lord and at least two dragons. Learn new skills, use elemental blessings, and unleash your powerful demigod form! The main quest should take over 20 hours to complete, with multiple endings and enough side content (such as monster hunting) to easily double your playtime.
What really stands out to me gameplay-wise are the Suikoden-inspired Fated Bonds, recruitable allies with their own storylines and sidequests. Fated Bonds can be summoned during battle for direct attacks or passive upgrades, and may even grant you abilities or help you access new areas. If you need a break from exploring, spend time with your crew in the Temple of Oras, where you can craft items, go on quests, train for battle, or just have a bit of a chat. Be sure to nurture the relationships with your Fated Bonds, and see where the magic of friendship takes you!
Fallen Tear: The Ascension is truly a feast for the eyes…and ears! Adventure alongside the stirring sounds of lead composer Lukas Piel, featuring flutes by Sandro Friedrich and additional music by a very special guest: famed JRPG composer Motoi Sakuraba! Visually, Fallen Tear‘s beautiful graphics stopped me in my tracks (aka: stopped me from browsing Kickstarter any further so I could focus entirely on this game). The graphics bring to mind not only the Ori games but also Code of Princess, Dust: An Elysian Tale, and maybe even a bit of the Tales series and Wakfu, thanks to the anime-inspired character designs. Colorful, charming, and overall stunning!
Unsurprisingly, Fallen Tear hit its funding target in a single day and has cleared several stretch goals. Coming up next are rare and challenging monster hunts and a host of additional stretch goals. Fans of Metroidvania games and beautiful art should keep an eye on Fallen Tear: The Ascension. I’m looking forward to exploring the vast landscapes of Raoah once it releases in 2025. Until then, be sure to check out the demo on Steam. Happy gaming!
Crowdfunding Bonus Games
…but wait! It’s turning out to be a busy autumn for crowdfunding adventures, so I’d like to give a special shout-out to a few other intriguing titles!
First up is Shattered Souls, an otome game with costumes that I can easily imagine being worn by royal figures in classic portraits. Dark and tragic themes (including, but not limited to, revenge), an elegant fantasy setting, and seven handsome men to romance…oh my!
Next is Bitter Silver, a stylish visual novel inspired by Cowboy Bebop. As the Afro-Latina heroine Lucia Lopez, you’ll track bounties and uncover shocking mysteries in the vast darkness of space, but in this case, your small crew includes a robotic cat rather than an intellectually enhanced corgi.
Finally, don’t miss The Witch’s Bakery, an adorable RPG featuring bakery management, magical powers, and kitties with pointy hats! Strong Studio Ghibli and Atelier vibes for sure, and even Dordogne for the lovely French settings. I want to try the magical bread!!
PHEW! NOW it’s time to wrap things up. Happy autumn, and happy gaming!
Disclaimer: While it’s possible some of us at RPGFan may be backers of the games mentioned in these articles, this does not influence our coverage or our featured game choices. We make our selections simply based on the active campaigns we feel our readers might find interesting, and we are not given special access or perks by the developers.
tl;dr: We think these games show potential and want to share them with you.
