tldrdailynews.com logo

Eternal Anima: Time-Traveling RPG from Chrono Trigger Veteran Katsuhisa Higuchi

3 min read
Source: Game Informer
Eternal Anima: Time-Traveling RPG from Chrono Trigger Veteran Katsuhisa Higuchi
Photo: Game Informer
TL;DR

Eternal Anima is a new time-traveling JRPG by Marvelous, directed by Chrono Trigger lead programmer Katsuhisa Higuchi. Set in a flooded world, protagonist Wade uses 'Future Sight' to predict enemy actions in turn-based combat, allowing players to alter the past to save the future. The game, featuring a team of industry veterans, launches March 4, 2027, on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, and PC.

Key points

  • Directed by Katsuhisa Higuchi, former lead programmer on Chrono Trigger and veteran of 40 years in JRPGs.
  • Producer Makoto Shioda emphasizes the theme of 'legacy' and passing down wisdom across generations.
  • Combat features 'Future Sight,' letting players see all enemy actions on a timeline to strategically 'break' them.
  • Protagonist Wade uses Psychometry to view past memories and inherit abilities from historical figures.
  • Development started over five years ago, with a team including Square Enix and Persona veterans.
  • Release date is March 4, 2027, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, and PC.

Background

Eternal Anima was revealed during a September Nintendo Direct, initially resembling Square Enix's HD-2D style but featuring a unique bokeh-enhanced art style. The game's development began over five years ago, with the team working remotely during lockdowns. It follows a trend of modernized nostalgia in JRPGs, similar to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Persona, but aims to innovate through its time-travel mechanics.

How outlets are covering it

Game Informer praises the combat as 'smart and novel,' feeling like 'a god playing with action figures,' but criticizes the chibi character designs for clashing with the painterly visuals. Anime News Network highlights the involvement of industry veterans like Kazushige Nojima and Hitoshi Sakimoto, emphasizing the 'legacy' theme. Kotaku notes the game's strategic depth but criticizes it for feeling like a 'greatest hits compilation' with derivative elements like the robot sidekick M.O.S. resembling Chrono Trigger's Robo. All sources agree on the innovative 'Future Sight' combat system but differ on the game's originality versus homage to past classics.

Why it matters

Eternal Anima represents a significant entry in the JRPG genre, blending classic time-travel mechanics with innovative combat systems. The involvement of veterans from Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy, and Persona signals a potential revival of the genre's golden age, while its thematic focus on legacy and environmental consequences resonates with contemporary concerns.

What to watch

The game is scheduled for release on March 4, 2027, across multiple platforms. Further details on the story, antagonists, and additional continents like Wistregen, Himeshiro, and Rotala are expected to be revealed closer to launch.

Topics:technologygaming#eternal-anima#gaming#jrpg#katsuhisa-higuchi#marvelous#time-travel
Share this article
  1. Eternal Anima Preview: Strive How I Want To  Game Informer
  2. Interview: Chrono Trigger Lead Programmer on Directing His Own Time Travel JRPG, Eternal Anima  Anime News Network
  3. One of the Most Intriguing RPGs of 2027 Plays With Time Brilliantly  Polygon.com
  4. 'Eternal Anima' Returns To The Past To Create A Modern JRPG  Nintendo Life
  5. New RPG From Final Fantasy Persona Vets Borrows From The Past To Ask How We Can Save The Future  Kotaku

Want the full story? Read the original reporting

Read on Game Informer