Who made this?
Level 5 – that’s right, the creators of Professor Layton, Ni no Kuni and Yo-Kai Watch – with help from Nex Entertainment, who helped with games like Bayonetta, Children of Mana, Resident Evil: Code Veronica and Shin Megami Tensei: Nine.
The lead designer, however, is none other than Yasumi Matsuno, the director of Ogre Battle, Final Fantasy Tactics, Vagrant Story, It is one of the writers on Final Fantasy XII.
What’s the premise?
The game is part of Level-5’s ‘Guild01’ series, consisting of four completely different games – Liberation Maiden (by Suda51), Aero Porter, Weapon Shop De Omasse, and this one. They’re not related to each other, but they’re interesting little experiments for the 3DS.
Unlike many other Matsuno games, Crimson Shroud is more like a tabletop RPG. That’s it yet an RPG, of course, but instead of crunching numbers in the background, you’re the one rolling the dice this time. Each character looks like a little board game figure and the production values are stellar.
Navigating the world with a map on the bottom screen, your group of ‘hunters – Giauque, Frea and Lippa – hunt down criminals and treasure. But one day, they stumble upon the legend of the extremely powerful Crimson Shroud, which is said to be where all magic originates.
Why should I play it?
If you’re a fan of Yasumi Matsuno, this should be a must-play game. It is one of the most exclusive games from the work of the legendary creator. The pace is slow and deliberate, meticulous and refreshing, and despite the dice roll, nothing is left to chance, so there’s no need to be intimidated by a “nat 20” incident. Unless you are trying to get some equipment to increase your defense or your power (since there is no leveling system here).
Also, can we mention the production values again? This game looks and sounds kind (the music is by longtime Matsuno collaborator and composer Hitoshi Sakimoto), even if it’s a little low-budget, and we love how it really feels like a tabletop game, with a master narrating your every move. And unlike many other RPGs, this is a lighthearted little adventure that won’t take you more than 10 hours if you’re not going for absolutely everything.
If you’re curious about Guild01 games in general, this trailer shows a snippet of three of them, but all four are available on the 3DS eShop.
How much does this cost?
$7.99 USD / £7.19 / €7.99. In fact, all four games in this series cost a lot, so you’re getting four games for just over $30 if you want them all.
We’ll be back soon with another 3DS or Wii U eShop recommendation. Let us know below if you already have this in your collection and share your thoughts. Also, feel free to nominate other games – we might feature those in the coming days as well.