Family reputation often is important to a character. Arga has a lot of pressure because his father is the strongest Braver in the world, someone with skills who can defeat monsters and thus help the general population. That fact is never far from his mind, so when his ‘class’, a special skill that determines his use in the world unlocks and reveals itself as a Soul Alter class, the ability to turn into a preteen from his adult self, he feels betrayed as it seems a pointless skill. Can he help save the world with this unique talent in Alter Age?
Character creation isn’t a feature in Alter Age, nor is a large team, but neither are features whose absence is felt. Arga may only ever have both Lillieka and Elsie in his team, but using his Soul Alter skill changes not only their ages but their personalities too. Elsie loses her shy demeanour and turns into a confident adult. Lillieka’s rambunctious self is still a part of her but she becomes softer-natured. These differences make them feel like new characters whenever they are unleashed. There are many other NPCs with distinct characteristics who add to the drama-filled adventure.
Arga starts his journey feeling less than happy with his skill, despite it meaning that changing to the adult form leads to greater strength in battle, although his base status is an adult so the forced change to a younger boy form hardly makes him feel like a man. In order to be a Braver he needs a team, and that initially feels doomed as the only interested candidates are the two teen girls that are younger than him. The duo quickly prove themselves invaluable, both socially in the many random encounter monster battles and by encouraging boy Arga through various environmental obstacles. There are even dungeons that change based on which age a character is, which is impressive.
The terrain is straightforward to navigate, with the standard alert before a boss fight so the game can be saved just in case the party is defeated, which almost never happens. Walking initially is the primary mode of travel, but others include a simple horse and cart, which are fun to see on screen as it matches the old world atmosphere of this fantasy. There is the expected boat and air travel, with locations ranging from fish markets to mountaintops. There are some puzzles that require specific team members being a set age, making more use of the Soul Alter skill. This skill integration adds to how versatile Arga’s ability is, proving it’s not too inconvenient and has a great impact on those around him.
New features that haven’t been seen in other KEMCO titles include the Alter Pass. This is unlocked when a secondary type of currency, Brave Stones, are received from battle. Points are accumulated in the Alter Pass enabling various items to be won. However, the best prize for those with prior KEMCO experience is the ability to gain the main character from the RPG The Sword Elpisia. Working up to getting Alice adds extra excitement. There was a slight disappointment on realising Alice is more of a side kick than an actual team member whose stylish outfit can’t be seen on screen while travelling as the party leader, but don’t dismiss her battle usefulness, which makes a significant difference against bosses.
Even without Alice fights are enjoyable. Yes, some of the monsters are simply recolours, but they are varied in design. Several have extremely unique appearances that are both creepy and cool. One in particular would have fit perfectly on Arga’s team because of their fashion choices and fighting ability. It is one of the first times that an antagonist is wanted on a team, which made Alter Age a special experience.
Using Soul skills involves inevitable cooldown periods but that’s where the other magical spells come into play. These really pack a punch especially if the girls are in adult form. Strengthening weapons with the returning synthesis feature enables using a sword with a decent base technique to be retained because it is levelled up by consuming no-longer-wanted weapons. This serves more than a practical application; each weapon has a unique appearance that is visible in every battle.
Keeping gear that looks amazing until a new favourite comes along is convenient considering there isn’t an option to have cosmetic weapons on display. On lower difficulty levels any weapon will suffice and mostly doesn’t matter, but sometimes an innate weapon ability can turn the tide for tougher creatures. Using Soul skills strategically can take a bit of time to muster for tougher enemies. Thankfully there are plenty to practice on.
Another new feature in Alter Age that admittedly gets little use aside from a collection point of view is cooking. This is accessed from the main menu and needs only a few ingredients. Recipes need to be unlocked, but building up both a stash of ingredients and dishes helps mid to late game when the bonus effects of a cooked dish impact a battle outcome.
Unusually for a KEMCO title there aren’t multiple endings. There is post-game content of new dungeons and tougher bosses, but most will feel the game is done when the credits roll. There is plenty to be occupied with in the base game, though. Returning abilities like the real-world time daily roulette helps win both items and Braver Stones.
Upon acquisition through plot progression certain creatures can be summoned to help in battle. Choosing who is the holder of a summoned entity is a fun selection that can be on personal preference. The on-screen character portraits change expression depending on what is being discussed, an aspect that increases story dynamics. Despite being 2D the backgrounds seem to have texture on both walls and artefacts, adding to the immersion.
