Release Date: 02/08/2018 (Out now Globally!)
Developer: Rideon Japan Co., Ltd
Publisher: Circle Entertainment
Genre: Tactical RPG
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch (compilation) Mobile Phones and 3DS (original releases)
Price(s): $14.99/€14.99/£13.59/¥1500
What Is This?
Mercenaries Saga Chronicles is a compilation of three tactical RPGs, Mercenaries Saga 1: The Will of the White Lions, Mercenaries Saga 2: The Order of the Silver Eagle, and Mercenaries Saga 3: Gray Wolves of War. These were originally mobile phone games, but MS2 and MS3 eventually made their way to the 3DS. Both ports were localized and brought over to the west courtesy of Circle Entertainment, but this is the first time MS1 is being released both on a Nintendo platform (or non-mobile platform period) and in the west.
Gameplay:
The Mercenaries Saga games are isometric tactical RPGs in the vein of Tactics Ogre and Final Fantasy Tactics. Players will field a small team of warriors in turn based battles that alternate between the entire Player team acting and the entire Enemy team acting while navigating isometric maps with varying terrain, each of which has their own bounty of hidden treasure.
Each game operates on a mostly linear chapter-based Story Mission structure akin to old-Fire Emblem, though players have opportunities to branch out into alternating stories depending on choices made during individual chapters. While the story is always moving forward, players also have the option of participating in Free Battles, which allow you to freely revisit old maps and fight remixed enemy teams without any story.
Along with Story Battles and Free Battles, the games also feature some post/end-game multi-level dungeons, a limited new game+ mode, and difficulty options to give you a ton of additional stuff to do on top of the regular experiences the individual games provide.
Character Building:
Unlike TO and FFT and their armies of generic soldiers with an open class system, Mercenaries Saga features a cast of named characters that you'll be spending the games with. Each character begins as in a set beginner class that can then branch out into two separate intermediate classes, each of which then branch out themselves into two master classes. Each class has its own set of skills (both active and passive) that can be carried over between unlocked classes. Skills can be upgraded by spending Skill Points earned at the end of combat. Class Promotions themselves are also acquired through spending SP, though each character has two master classes that must be unlocked by acquiring special items at the shop.
On top of gear and items won in combat, you can also deck your characters out with gear purchased from a shop always available from your camp between chapters. This shop updates as you progress through the story, so don't stick around too long in one place. There is also a item synthesis system that will give you limited item customization options.
What's New?
Aside from a massively upgraded resolution and reworked UI that drops the mobile phone UI carried over to the 3DS versions, MS1 and MS2 have been updated to include new mechanics and improvements introduced in MS3, effectively making the gameplay between each game identical.
Media:
FAQ
Q: How long are these games?
A: Each game averages around 20 hours.
Q: Is it possible to grind, or are you only able to ever move forward in the plot?
A: You always have the option of Free Battles, where you can go back and replay old maps with remixed enemies and no story scenes.
Q: Do enemies scale like in FFT/TO
A: No. Scenarios and Free Battles have set enemies, so you can level yourself accordingly.
Q: Is it possible to miss things?
A: Very much so, given you will actually need to play the games multiple times to see everything.
Q: What carries over on a NG+?
A: Unique items and specially labled gear, all unlocked classes, skills, and gold will transfer. You'll start back at level 1, but you will have all earned SP refunded to respend at your hearts content. NG+ runs also unlock special Free Battle scenarios to given you an additional challenge.
Q: Are the games really as choppy as that footage made them look?
A: Sadly, that's one legacy of their origin as low budget mobile phone games that we've not been able to escape.
Q: Can I ship characters in this?
A: Alas, this isn't Fire Emblem. You'll have to come up with your own support conversations in your own time.
Q: Is this digital only?
A: For now. Circle doesn't seem against eventually working towards physical releases of their Switch games, so it is possible we see this get a limited run. That said, this is strictly an eShop release until we hear otherwise.
Reviews
Nintendo World Report 7/10
Digitally Downloaded 3.5/5
RPGamer (in progress)
Community Advice (Coming Soon!)
Last edited:
