Sword of Convallaria

Sword of Convallaria is a game with a mission – to rekindle the fire of those lovely isometric tactical RPGs retro gamers love so much. Mission accomplished, I'm glad to say.

The market's pretty saturated with tactical RPGs trying to recapture that Final Fantasy Tactics magic. But Sword of Convallaria had me hooked from the first mission.

Maybe it was the gorgeous "NeoPixel" art style that somehow manages to be both nostalgic and cutting-edge. Or perhaps it was Hitoshi Sakimoto's masterful score (yes, THAT Sakimoto, Final Fantasy fans) that made every battle feel epic. Whatever it was, I found myself losing track of time in the best possible way.

Tactical Twists

The combat system here is like meeting an old friend who's gotten really into CrossFit – familiar, but with some impressive new tricks. Sure, you've got your grid-based movement and positioning that tactical veterans will immediately recognize. But then you start discovering how terrain features like cliffs and boulders aren't just pretty set dressing – they're vital tactical tools.

Sword of Convallaria nails the "tactical" part in the term "tactical RPG." Remember those satisfying moments in Disgaea when you'd pull off a perfect combo? This game delivers those in spades, but with its own clever twists.

Carve Your Own Path

Unlike many tactical RPGs that railroad you through a fixed story, Sword of Convallaria lets you shape both your narrative and your town. Every choice feels weighty, whether you're deciding which faction to support or which buildings to develop first.

As much as I enjoyed the Disgaea series, I feel like that narrative was missing from most modern tactical RPGs. Even the recently released Metal Slug Tactics didn't do it for me in the same way that Tactics Ogre once did – which is what made me love Sword of Convallaria even more.

Every decision you make has a real consequence, and you can see how that affects the town where most of the story takes place. There's also a relationship system that mostly affects how your units work in tandem, reminiscent of modern Fire Emblem games. I may have spent way too much time trying to see all possible character interactions. No regrets.

Retro Modern Visuals

We can't discuss Sword of Convallaria without mentioning how gorgeous the NeoPixel art style looks. It's clearly influenced by the recent "2DHD" craze set by games like Octopath Traveller or, more appropriately, Triangle Strategy.

The game features detailed character sprites that pop against beautifully lit backgrounds, and the battle animations are just sublime. When you trigger a special move and the camera swoops in dramatically while the screen blooms with effects, it's pure eye candy.

The presentation is elevated even further by the stellar Japanese voice acting. Having veterans like Inoue Kazuhiko and Yuki Aoi bring these characters to life adds so much personality to every interaction. And that Hitoshi Sakimoto makes the game feel like the modern Final Fantasy Tactics we've all been waiting for – but most likely we'll never get.

Pros

• Deep tactical combat that rewards creativity
• The "NeoPixel" art style looks absolutely gorgeous
• Meaningful choices that actually impact the story
• Hitoshi Sakimoto

Cons

• Town management might feel overwhelming at first