Eternal Anima, a new Japanese RPG from Marvelous, draws inspiration from genre classics while introducing a novel combat mechanic that allows players to foresee and alter enemy actions. The game's narrative explores the theme of inherited responsibility and the impact of past choices on the future, set in a world where uncovering history is forbidden.
The development team boasts a pedigree that includes veterans from Final Fantasy and Persona. Director Katsuhisa Higuchi, who previously worked on early Final Fantasy titles and Chrono Trigger, alongside Kazushige Nojima, known for his work on Final Fantasy VII and Kingdom Hearts, are key figures. The narrative concept comes from Keisuke Makino, a contributor to Persona 5 and Metaphor: ReFantazio.
The story follows Wade, who possesses the ability to perceive the history of objects. Living in Urvis Ael, a world that has lost its true past, Wade becomes a fugitive as he embarks on a journey into history. His quest leads him to the submerged continent of Ambulis, approximately 200 years in the past, where he hopes to understand and potentially alter the course of events that led to his present.
During a demo, players experienced the early adventures of Wade and his companions in the Somber Woods on Ambulis. This area is depicted as a dying environment, suffering from the exploitation of its natural resources and a populace resigned to prayer rather than action. The protagonists, aware of the future consequences of inaction, are driven to change the continent's fate.
Eternal Anima's combat system integrates Wade's "Future Sight" ability, allowing players to see an enemy's upcoming actions and their timing via a progress bar. This knowledge is crucial for a "break" system, similar to Octopath Traveler's stagger mechanic. By exploiting enemy weaknesses and strategically delaying their attacks, players can "break" enemies, leaving them vulnerable to significant damage. This system transforms combat into a strategic puzzle, where players must optimize their turns not just for offense, but also to prevent incoming damage and manage a "Battle Points" (BP) system that enhances attacks and pushback capabilities.
"Through Future Sight you can see when enemies will attack, what attacks they will use, who will take damage and how much," explained producer Makoto Shioda. "Players peer into the future before choosing their actions, so their actions can change that predicted future." While simple encounters may not require deep tactical consideration, boss battles necessitate mastering this foresight to ensure survival.
The game also features a mechanic that prevents the repeated exploitation of the same enemy weakness, encouraging diverse combat strategies. While the core systems are presented as accessible, the depth for mastery appears considerable.
Despite its innovative combat, the game occasionally leans heavily on homages to its developers' past works. The robot companion M.O.S. bears resemblance to Robo from Chrono Trigger, and the village of La Boset echoes familiar JRPG tropes. However, the narrative premise, particularly the elders' misunderstanding of true environmental stewardship, offers an interesting twist on these established ideas. Director Higuchi noted that themes of "parallels to the real world we live in" are central to the game's focus.
As Higuchi stated, "While we did not consider our real-world legacy when deciding to make it the game’s theme, I can say that we did consider it as development progressed and factored in our feelings towards Japanese RPGs. I did develop a strong sense that where we are now is a culmination of all that has been passed down prior to today."