I also wrote them down in different categories rather than writing an inclusive "walkthrough" so to speak. As far as indie RPGs go, Ikenfell carries more originality and heart than anything else out there.Note: All of the collectibles in this guide are in the order I found them, so this may not be the most efficient way to go about collecting them. It may not have the high-end production of some of the other big releases in the genre, but the game uses its humble graphics to create a world players will enjoy being a part of with a cast of characters that will leave a lasting impression. Anyone willing to give it a chance in 2020 will find it to be one of the most unique and memorable RPGs of the year. Ikenfell on Xbox One is a special release one of those games that will be appreciated more in hindsight years down the line. It goes back to RPGs of yesteryear when awesome artwork had to make up for primitive character sprites.
The key artwork in particular has a lot of personality, especially in the character designs. Fans of Steven Universe will appreciate the musical input from the series’ composer too. Although the game goes for a dated graphical look, the attention to detail is still strong and the animations are quite fluid. The visual presentation is strong despite the simplistic graphics, and it has a lot in common with Celeste. Each boss encounter is more creative and satisfying than the last, encouraging players to be creative and strategic rather than to waste their time level-grinding. Unlike most RPGs where bosses are just overpowered tanks with HP levels through the roof, the bosses in Ikenfell are experimental in their design, with most battles having a clever puzzle element – victory has more to do with figuring out their weakness than blasting high-powered spells. The strongest aspect of the game design is the boss battles, and the ingenuity of these encounters become clear early on.
The gameplay variety is strong here, with a lot of depth to the battle system especially as new spells are learned and more characters join the fray with their unique playstyles. Furthermore, there is a relatively more subtle parry system which requires timing a button press just before an enemy’s attack lands on a character.
This is a system some Xbox fans will be quite familiar with from Lost Odyssey, which makes combat more engaging than most turn-based romps. When initiating spells or attacks, it’s about being in place on the right section, but the actual action involves timing a button press just as the circle closes in. The combat flows well here, as characters are able to move freely around the grid before carefully figuring out the best spell to use. This becomes especially apparent in the inventive battle system, which combines turn-based sensibilities with the grid-based approach of strategy RPGs. The writing is packed with emotion, the dialogue flows well, and there is a genuine sense of humour too.Īs an RPG, Ikenfell tries to take after the conventions of Japanese RPG titles than anything else. The setting and all the moving parts manage to bring the world of Ikenfell to life in ways even the best of RPGs often struggle with. These characters, even in their stylistic presentation, feel very real their experiences much appreciated and welcome in video game narratives. Ikenfell does a great job at building its lore and setting, and with the focus on character development it doesn’t take long to captivate a player’s attention and for them to genuinely care for the game’s diverse cast. On this basis alone Ikenfell as a game achieves something that will allow it to stand the test of time beyond 2020. Although it is all part of a fantastical setting with all sorts of magical creatures, the underlying themes are very much human and relatable. There’s a lot to love about the story here, and a lot of it is character-driven too, with most of the archetypes based on modern society constructs which makes this tale both timely and contemporary. As soon as this fiery power is unlocked the adventure immediately kicks into high gear and the narrative never slips up. Having gone missing, our hero suddenly unlocks a hidden magical potential she never knew. She’s in search of her older sister Safina, a promising student at the school who built quite a name for herself in short time. The story follows protagonist Maritte as she steps into a mysterious forest located at the outskirts of a magical school – the titular Ikenfell itself.