When someone says strategy RPG, the first things that come to mind are Fire Emblem, Tactics Ogre, and Final Fantasy Tactics. Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch initially seems like the next-best-thing: a tactical RPG that clearly draws inspiration from Nintendo classics but tries to add its own flair with roguelite elements. This game is part of the Lost Eidolons series, which I am encountering for the first time. Is it worth playing? Let's find out!
Shipwreck and stereotypical RPG amnesia
The story begins with a shipwreck on the island of Anaeiros. Our hero or heroine, with the practical RPG stereotype of amnesia, remembers nothing except a mysterious letter from a loved one mentioning the name "Silvio." He is the key to everything. Although he doesn't know who he is, our hero remembers very well how to slice enemies with his sword, so he soon starts cutting through everything in his path to find answers.
There isn't much character personalization aside from choosing a gender, and no matter what you name yourself, although you are addressed by your name in the text, you are still universally referred to as Ashe. You are soon joined by a few survivors: Inquisitor Evie, who has come to investigate traces of ancient magic on the island, and sailor Marco, a reserved type with a thoughtful look. Soon you will have the option to recruit new characters, and you send a total of 5 into battle.
During loading, I can see my past battles and choices on the left side
Tactical battles that require brainpower
The combat is the best part of the game. It is not shallow and does not allow for foolishness: terrain and elements play a role. Fire spreads across grass, wet ground conducts electricity, and toxic puddles explode when ignited. Characters use primary and secondary weapons, which opens up many possibilities. Depending on the type of armor, the effectiveness of weapons varies. The XP system greatly resembles Fire Emblem: Each attack grants XP, and fighting side by side strengthens character bonds and their combo actions. After leveling up, you choose one of the offered perks.
A hellish puppy came to meet us and took out half the enemy army
Even on standard difficulty, there is no room for trampling opponents. You will be outnumbered, and any mispositioning can result in the loss of soldiers. I often lost Evoe because I placed her within reach of enemies. The AI emphasizes taking out your fragile casters and healers, and you really need to be careful. Fortunately, characters are not permanently deleted like in Fire Emblem, so your nerves remain somewhat intact. Animations can be skipped, and turns can be sped up – a small thing, but it saves hours of life.
Between battles: camp, equipment, and decisions
Outside the battlefield, things slow down. You do not move freely; instead, you select options through menus and scenes by pressing buttons: conversations with party members, camp activities, shopping, or planning the next mission. After each battle, you arrive at a small crossroads in roguelite style, offering multiple routes with potential battles. One may offer gold, another resonant stones – currency for unlocking passive perks and new skills, and a third might just lead to a camp where you can improve relationships or equipment and rest a bit.
Character avatars remain expressionless during conversations
The class system is flexible; it all depends on the perks you choose while leveling up, and the combinations of different characters offer various approaches to battles. The game lightly flirts with roguelite progression as it encourages you to experiment and combine, although in practice it can feel like too many menus, numbers, pop-ups, and clicking. The UI is not bad, but it is less readable on a smaller screen.
A story of grand ideas
Lost Eidolons attempts to tell an epic saga of a fallen empire, a corrupt kingdom, and a rebellion that could change the world. On paper: great, but in execution, just average. The recruitment system and character relationships, along with romance options, bring some depth, but the dialogues can disappoint, especially the main character's. At times, I feel like I’m playing with the Avengers with their one-liners like “we’ll handle this easily, let’s go take them out” or “as long as I remember how to swing a sword!” which break the tone of the game and feel like they were written by an overly confident AI. Characters in cutscenes are stiff avatars, static and expressionless, and even solid voice acting cannot convey emotions. I haven't delved too deeply into the story yet; maybe it will catch me more later.
After leveling up, we choose a new mastery
Performance on Switch
The game runs smoothly on the Switch, with minimal loading times in both modes. However, the textures are noticeably weaker compared to screenshots on Steam, character models are grainy, and the lighting effects are muted. It's not ugly, but it's clear that the port was made with the original Switch in mind. Sound? A standard fantasy loop with occasional "heroic rock" motifs during battles, enough to fill the silence, but far from unforgettable.
The crossroads offers us different options
It's worth a try!
Lost Eidolons is not a new Fire Emblem, but it's a fair attempt. Beneath the generic dialogues lies a good tactical system, flexible character development, and a series of challenging battles that make you think. If you don't mind a slightly weaker presentation and occasionally clumsy UI, you'll get a solid sRPG for about twenty hours of brain-teasing. At 30 euros, a fair price. I think the game is particularly unfortunate because Final Fantasy Tactics recently came out, so strategy fans might still prefer the old master of the genre.
A copy of the game for review purposes was provided by the development studio Ocean Drive Studio and publisher Kakao Games
