Arcadian Atlas Review – A Brand New Classic

In my opinion, a game can only be labeled “retro” or “classic-like” when it goes beyond mere visual aesthetics and manages to capture the genuine essence of old-school gaming. As a game reviewer, I’ve encountered numerous titles attempting to evoke a retro vibe, but unfortunately, many fall short of achieving that nostalgic appeal. However, there are exceptional games that successfully transport me back to the days of firing up my cherished PS2 (which, for me, qualifies as retro) and immersing myself in the captivating late 90s gaming experience, providing the escape I craved after a long day at school. One such game that rekindled that emotion for me is Arcadian Atlas.

Arcadian Atlas does more than just imitate the appearance of a classic JRPG, it embodies the very essence of those beloved titles that left a lasting impression on my youth. Its charming visuals, reminiscent of a bygone era, immediately transport me to a time when pixel art reigned supreme. But it’s not just the visuals. The game’s sound design plays a pivotal role in the nostalgic journey, hitting all the right notes and evoking that distinct retro ambiance.

However, what truly sets Arcadian Atlas apart is its engrossing narrative. The game takes its audience and its world seriously, with an engaging story that pulls you deep into its universe. Playing Arcadian Atlas feels like stumbling upon a forgotten gem, a cult-classic JRPG that, had I discovered it during my teenage years, would have undoubtedly dominated my life. It effortlessly captures the magic of that era, easily enveloping me in the same enthralling gaming experience that defined my youth.

The tale of Arcadian Atlas weaves a gripping narrative of political upheaval, cunning intrigue, and star-crossed love entangled in the flames of conflict. It all begins with the untimely demise of a beloved king, leaving behind a power vacuum in his wake. Seizing this opportunity, his newly-wedded queen brazenly declares his two daughters as illegitimate heirs and cunningly positions herself to ascend to the throne.

This move ignites a chain of events that plunges the kingdom into chaos. One of the king’s daughters, driven by an unyielding desire for the crown, embarks on a relentless and brutal campaign to claim the throne, sparing no cost in her quest for power. The other daughter, however, sets on a journey of self-discovery, stumbling upon a potent but perilous newfound identity that adds further turbulence to the already tumultuous realm.

Amidst the turmoil of war and political machinations, two lovers find themselves trapped in the crossfire. Bound by their profound affection for one another, yet torn apart by opposing loyalties and ideals, they are left with no choice but to take sides in this harrowing civil war. Their hearts torn asunder, they must grapple with the agonizing decision of aligning with either camp, knowing that their choice could ultimately dictate the fate of the kingdom and, in turn, their own destinies.

As the stakes escalate and the lines between allies and enemies blur, the story of Arcadian Atlas unfolds, offering a gripping and emotionally charged narrative of power, love, sacrifice, and the profound impact of choices made in the throes of war. No character feels truly wrong or in the right, weaving complex threads of morally grey actions that make it hard for you to choose a side yourself. Characters you love will reveal their true selves in shocking acts of cruelty or will be lost forever to selfless sacrifice. You never know what to expect and the story respects you too much to simply spell it out for you.

The gameplay in Arcadian Atlas is as captivating as its narrative is compelling, with an engaging turn-based combat system that sees you assembling and battling entire parties of warriors. The four different character classes create a surprising depth of strategy in each encounter, with each character type having a wealth of different moves and various strengths and weaknesses to consider. This is greatly amplified by the fact that you’re given total freedom with how to field your team.

The four classes cover the spread of a typical RPG party. Cavaliers are frontline fighters who wield swords and shields or longswords. Warmancers are mages capable of devastating elemental magic. Rangers are archers, and Apothecaries provide healing and buffing potions and can revive downed party members. You can run a totally balanced party if you’d like, or experiment and create the team of your choosing. The best part is that you don’t have to wait until the mid to late game to get creative with your party composition.

Very early into the game, you gain the ability to recruit randomized characters and equip them as you see fit. While you’ll more than likely end up replacing these characters with ones introduced in the story, their expressive sprites have a way of getting you attached. More importantly, however, this ability to recruit all and any number of the classes at the start of the game gives you the option to create any kind of team you want right off the bat. While it wasn’t super viable, I had a team of four Cavaliers and one Apothecary for a long time simply because I liked how the sprites looked.

The sprites are supremely beautiful and manage to be shockingly expressive in minimalistic ways. Subtle glances to the side and wide, shocked eyes convey a surprising amount of expressiveness that I certainly wasn’t expecting. The pixelated sprites are so expressive and vibrant that they’re almost betrayed by the hand-drawn character portraits, which feel less alive than the sprites they’re representing.

One of the aspects of Arcadian Atlas that most triggered my aforementioned nostalgia was the soundtrack. The score is totally unique and resembles a bygone age when RPGs were more experimental. The soundtrack is exclusively jazz beats, a choice that totally works for the game and is atypical of the fantasy RPG formula which is usually more focused on orchestral sounds and epic scores. It reminds me a lot of the time I spent with games like Yu-Gi-Oh: Duelists of the Roses and the Final Fantasy series, and more importantly was just a super welcome change of pace that I genuinely enjoyed listening to.

Try Hard Guides was provided with a PC review copy of this game. Find more detailed looks at popular and upcoming titles in the Game Reviews section of our website! Arcadian Atlas is available on Steam.