In trailers, Lost Eidolons knows how to convince with dramatic and graphically appealing scenes. But what is it that really makes this tactical role-playing game special?
Skepticism and anticipation are often close together. The best example of this is the tactical role-playing game Lost Eidolons. Because this game immediately captivated me with its dramatic trailers. And that”s no wonder, because here, from front to back, dishes are served up that I have never gorged myself on.
Lost Eidolons goes for dirty low fantasy, showcasing a coherent fictional version of the Middle Ages, offering character development and tactical turn-based combat. All things I can get excited about time and time again.
But although all this made me instantly rejoice, a little scepticism crept into my mind. So I took a closer look at this strategy game. If you feel the same way, you can learn more about the game behind the fancy trailers here.
Table of Contents
What is Lost Eidolons about?
Lost Eidolons is developed by the Korean studio Ocean Drive, for which about 50 people work. The Asian influence can also be seen in the look of Lost Eidolons, but in general Lost Eidolons looks more like classic Western Low Fantasy than Asian High Fantasy of the Lost Ark or Final Fantasy brand.
The world of Lost Eidolons also has a western flavour. For their game, the team came up with a continent called Artemesia, which is primarily influenced by the High Middle Ages. Of course, besides knights and longswords, there are also magical powers and supernatural monsters.
In terms of content, Lost Eidolons is about an impending civil war. For Artemesia is ruled by an empire that has subjugated the original seven kingdoms. We experience the story of a simple mercenary named Eden who resists a personal injustice and as a result becomes embroiled in the turmoil of civil war.
Even though Lost Eidolons is in some respects a role-playing game, we do not determine the character and decisions of our hero ourselves. Eden is a character in her own right, whose story we cannot influence but can follow along with.
For whom is Lost Eidolons suitable?
The developer studio of Lost Eidolons knows very well how to put together exciting trailers with staging and music. But don”t let that completely fool you. Lost Eidolons is not an action-heavy fantasy epic, but offers above all a strategic claim. If you enjoyed Heroes of Might and Magic in the past, for example, or have fun with Fire Emblem, then you”re on the safe side.
The battles are therefore turn-based and thus automatically a little less dynamic than in real time. Essentially, each round is divided into three phases. First, you give orders to all your units and send them across the square grid. Then it”s the AI-controlled allies” turn. Then the enemy army finishes the round.
To win a battle, you have to position your units cleverly and choose the right attacks and actions. But there are also synergies and special manoeuvres, depending on which class you are currently acting with. We are supposed to be able to recruit 20 different characters as Eden, each of whom plays a smaller or larger role in the story.
A special feature of the turn battles of Lost Eidolons are the environmental effects. Magic, for example, can change fields or combine changed fields with other effects. For example, poisonous mist on burning ground triggers a large explosion.
The game outside the battles
Because fighting always gets boring, there are a few moments of rest and growth in Lost Eidolons. In the camp of Eden”s mercenary army, you can roam freely as your protagonist in the third-person view and engage in a few activities.
First and foremost, it”s time to improve Eden and his companions in sparring matches. You can also change your equipment or buy new ones. You may even assign your units different jobs in the camp, further developing their skills in a certain direction. Also, conversations with characters can influence their opinion of you and move the story forward.
What do we like, what remains unclear?
What do we like
- The setting: Dark low fantasy may not be rare, but done well such a setting can still produce very exciting stories. It won”t appeal to everyone, but those with a penchant for Game of Thrones or The Witcher will feel right at home here too.
- The visuals: Even though Lost Eidolons is not a triple-A production, the graphics are quite respectable. Animations, effects and textures seem to be on a pleasingly high level.
- The variety: With 20 characters, Lost Eidolons offers a large number of figures that we can level up and optimise. Strategically, too, there seems to be quite a bit of options with the ground effects and many abilities.
This remains unclear
- Is the story any good? Lost Eidolons enters contested territory and offers very few real unique selling points. If it is to hold its own, the story must offer more than the genre standard.
- Is it challenging? As I haven”t had the chance to play Lost Eidolons yet, it remains questionable how well the battles are designed and balanced. Round tactics in particular thrives on complex battles that not only offer strategic variety, but demand it. Let”s wait and see whether Lost Eidolons succeeds in this.
Turn-based tactics is certainly doing well in 2022. Games like King Arthur or Hard West 2 have set a high bar. Whether Lost Eidolons reaches this level remains to be seen. It shouldn”t be long until the release. Currently, the studio is still planning for the third quarter of 2022.
Editor”s conclusion
I really like the look of Lost Eidolons and what I have seen of the gameplay so far is also positive. It does have its bumpy moments and the trailers promise a little too much bravado in my opinion, but you only know how motivating turn-based tactics are when you”ve played it.
For me, Lost Eidolons stands and falls with its story and with whether the world has a few exciting facets. Even though I love Low Fantasy, there is still too little that catches my eye. I”m still missing the spark of inspiration that sets Lost Eidolons apart from the masses.
