The Little RPG Maker Game That Could!
A brief synopsis of a recent title I was unaware of until recently!
RPG Maker is a tool that allows its users to make their own RPGs, with its own built in tools, you don’t have to know much about programming as this does most of the work for you. Since it’s release in 1992, exclusively in Japan at first, it has seen many iterations and updates throughout the years with new content being released almost all of the time.
You might be familiar with some of the titles I am about to list:
Starting with Corpse Party:
(Source: The Angelic Reaper’s YouTube Channel)
A horror game made with RPG Maker Tsukuru Dante 98 and released in 1996, it is one of the earliest games to have seen remakes, even ports on the PSP, Vita and later, modern consoles such as the PS4 and Switch.
Another, slightly more obscure game made with RPG Make Tsukuru Dante 98, Peret Em Heru, is another example of how such a simple engine can produce something extraordinary.
(Source: Marsh’s YouTube Channel)
These are but some of the earliest examples of RPG Maker games. Using the assets provided along with the technical limitations of the software could produce some amazing results.
Not all of them were great, in fact, some of them were mediocre to, almost insultingly bad. Some of them using the program’s in-app assets almost exclusively.
One I’ve played and finished are a pair of games called The Chosen. The first game wasn’t so bad:
(Source: iirix’s YouTube channel)
It’s your standard JRPG with a bit of fanservice for the players, with the female party members in various states of undress. What purpose does this serve other than eye candy? I don’t know, but I am not wont to question the aesthetic choices of Little Big Lee. Fanservice doesn’t really bother me and before anyone questions it:
I’ve 100%’d it.
Its sequel, I’ve done the same thing on and that one was… I’m getting off topic here, this is hardly what I came here to talk about.
About a month ago, I came across a video by Majuular on YouTube, showcasing various RPG Maker games. Some quiescent, others, far less so.
(Source: YouTube)
While I was watching, one particular game caught my eye, that being Lawmage Academy.
This game (despite that it’s just a demo) is great!
Majuular describes it as Harry Potter meets Persona (in particular, 3, 4 and 5) and credit, where credit is due, is accurate. Made by Verinius, a one-man team from the Phillipines, developing the game in RPG Maker MV (at least I believe it is, he started development on it in 2018). As it is a demo, it’s also completely free on Steam and on itch.io and I highly encourage that you give it a go, if either of the above pique your interest because its fun and has many wholesome moments!
I. Story
You play as a newly enrolled candidate in the titular: Lawmage Academy, a magic school devoted to creating new Lawmages to aid the Magisterium in keeping the world safe from the various threats that Magusgaia faces. (Yes, the setting is called that). After being sorted into your house and not by a hat for once (but by a book) what do you do? Attend classes, learn spells, craft equipment, accessories and potions, make friends and fight monsters in the few dungeons this demo puts you in.
What will you learn?
How will you develop your Lawmage?
What friends will you make?
Well, that’s entirely up to you!
You have two calendar months in the game, 40 days and keep in mind that each choice you make can and most certainly will have consequences, as I learned in my 7 hour run. That’s quite a lot of content and replay value for the price of free and I most certainly am looking forward.
First, you are given a quiz, which will place you into one of the four houses:
Foxhelm: Which are the equivalent of Gryffindor, they are essentially battle mages with decent offensive capability.
Soulstice: Ravenclaws, specializing in magic in all its forms from offense, to healing.
Vissage: Hufflepuffs, if they were based, just kidding, members of this house lean more toward a balance of combat and magic, preferring instead to shield and preserve.
Drakewood: You would think that they would be as Slytherins are, pompous assholes striving for purely of magical bloodlines and you’d be right. Though there are some who value loyalty above all else, shielding and debuffing.
From there, the rest is up to you, but I highly suggest making good use for the time you’re given. Mid-term exams are at the end of the 40 day period and depending on how you spent your time will determine your promotion or expulsion from the Academy.
Good luck out there.
II. Gameplay
The dungeon crawling segments of the game are full of some pretty tough customers, so here are some tips to help you:
At a certain point you will choose a weapon: Swords, Spears, Bows, Staves, make note of their attack properties, they will become vital sooner that you think.
Certain monsters are weak to certain properties: Slash, Pierce, Bludgeon, Fire, Water, Electricity, Earth, Nature, Light and Shadow. They are often shown below monsters when you fight. Your weapons and spells contain those properties so make sure you equip your party and have a good mix of spells to cover any weaknesses your other members may have.
Fair warning: Monsters can kill you but you can kill most of them just as fast due to a certain mechanic which I will discuss.Auras: every living and non-living creature has an aura, represented by a green icon on or near your HP bar. Note the number, that’s how many hits you can take of a weakness before your Aura breaks. When it does, brace for impact, as every hit will now do more damage to you, also leaving you more susceptible to critical hits. The same also applies to your enemies and some of them have to take a large number of weakness hits before they break.
Your Aura is more than just a shield, with enough time, training, you can weaponize your Aura, though what it manifests as is determined by your choices in the game.
(Source: TheGameDawg on Youtube)
Similar to Persona, players and enemies follow the same sets of rules. Experimentation is key.
III. Conclusion
It’s a fantastic game and one I am watching with great interest, probably one of my favorite games of this year (the demo was released in 2019). A game that has gotten me to go through a second run of the demo to experiment with the different houses as well as different combinations of spells and equipment. If it’s one thing I value in my games, especially RPGs, it’s the ability to immerse me into the world and make me feel attached to the people in it. The demo is full of moments like this and the fact that it’s made by one guy makes it all the better.
Don’t take my word for it. Give it a whirl! You might enjoy it!
Many thanks to you readers out there!
May our paths cross again!
Author’s Note: This content I have no intention of monetizing and thus will always remain free.
Remember that you are not an -ist or -phobe for not respectfully declining to join in the delusions of a group of people that hate you.
You like JPRGs? I may have just the novella for you :3 Lord Of Bones is complete and I hope to have it published later this summer.
https://theblackknight.substack.com/p/the-league-of-iron-assembles