Ara Fell: Enhanced Edition Review (Switch)

Game: Ara Fell: Enhanced Edition
Genre: RPG
System: Nintendo Switch (also on PC, Xbox One, iOS)
Developers|Publishers: Stegosoft Games | DANGEN Entertainment
Price: US $14.99|AUS $ 27.00| CAD $ 19.83|UK £16.19| EU € 16,19
Age Rating: US E| EU 12+
Release Date: 26th March 2020

Review code used, with many thanks to Dangen Entertainment.

Ara Fell involves a clash between vampires and the other races (mainly humans and elves), with the protagonist, Lita LeCotta, caught in the middle of it all. You find out about an important stone curse that took place in the past, and this lore is essential to the story going forward. The narrative of the game in general made me think of my childhood, when I would read every fantasy book I came across. I particularly liked the genre (and still do) so the game felt somewhat like finding a new, cosy, fantasy tale to enjoy. It has the feel of something small and charming, rather than subversive and dark. Exactly my style.

Story

The aforementioned Lita is a skillful archer with a bold and fierce attitude. Another main character is Adrian, a friend from her village; the game opens on the two of them attempting a foolhardy scheme, and their interaction feels natural with its mix of humour and seriousness.

The other two main characters are Seri Kesu (a renowned mage with a confident air) and Doren, a learned and secretive type. The characters aren’t the deepest, but they work, in that they interact in a way that often feels natural. The plot is mainly basic, but it also offers some elements that I didn’t expect, and once you complete the story you unlock a short epilogue section that can be accessed from the menu. I enjoyed the story, and even felt that it could easily lead into a great sequel if the developers wish it. That being said, if you want a story and characters that will leave a big impact on you, this may not be the game you want. (The most memorable aspect of the plot to me was a certain twist, but even that is lacking in a way.) It won’t dazzle you, but it will keep you interested.

Gameplay

The gameplay also works well. You move using either the left analog stick or the directional buttons, with the A button being to confirm/engage with something, X to bring up the menu (which has a lovely retro style) and B to cancel. You can swim too, and there is a pleasant sensation when you plop into the water conjured up by a slight delay in getting in and the sound effect that goes with it. There are a lot of different characters for you to interact with, so if (like me) you enjoy running around and talking to people in games, that is certainly a feature here.

The turn-based battles are enjoyable, with an interesting mechanic that reminded me a bit of the limit break in the Final Fantasy games, but one that applied to the entire party. A bar slowly fills up as you fight and if you wait until the bar reaches the very end you can employ some very powerful techniques in regard to both attack and defence. There is also a neat crafting system, where you gradually upgrade your items and weapons by using things that you gain from fighting, shopping, and foraging.

Another lovely touch is that your HP and MP automatically refills after every battle, which takes a lot of the worrying out of your time playing. There is, however, an injury system, where your character will be less effective if they die during battle; this can be healed by going to an Inn, or speaking to a certain merchant.

In terms of lore, Ara Fell handles this aspect well; much like in other games, you can read bits and pieces of history while you play. Unlike other games, though, Ara Fell doesn’t overload you with codex entries. The selection is fairly small, and the entries themselves are succinct and revealing.

Visuals and Music

The visuals of Ara Fell are handsome, and I particularly enjoyed the snow that drifts down while you explore the opening area. If I had to make one complaint — and it’s not a big one — it would be that the character portraits for the dialogue boxes can sometimes look a bit variable and rough. This isn’t a big deal, however, especially when the game as a whole does well with visuals.

The soundtrack is also impressive. My favourite track was probably the one that plays during some cave sections, but the opening menu theme is a good one, and so are the battle themes. The tracks have the same kind of distinctive feel that make the Super Nintendo era soundtracks so beloved by people even now.

Conclusion

Ara Fell works on every level — story, music, visuals, and gameplay. It’s likely that you’ll like it more if you adore classic JRPGs, but even if you don’t it has a lot of great points and makes for a fun experience. There is something really comforting and pleasant about playing this game. Perhaps it’s how it appeals to my nostalgia, or maybe the game is just crafted with a lot of charm. I’m confident that it will appeal to a lot of gamers out there.

Final Verdict: I like it a lot