When it comes to handheld role-playing games, it’s hard to make an impression. The market is currently very crowded with games in the genre, particularly on the DS. Most of them, like the the numerous Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest remakes, are typically set in a fantasy world, and though there have been plenty of unique RPGs released on the DS, it’s still difficult to stand out. Matrix Software is attempting this daunting feat with Nostalgia, a steampunk role-playing game set in an alternate 19th century. Released in Japan late last year, the game is being published by Ignition in North America and set to come out on the DS in September. I got a look at Nostalgia last week, and though it seems like a typical fantasy RPG at first, there are some interesting and unique elements that made me want to give it a try.

When I initially got a look at the world map in Nostalgia, it seemed very reminiscent of the DS remake of Final Fantasy III. This isn’t surprising, given that Matrix Software was the developer responsible for bring FFIII and IV to the handheld. As the game was demonstrated in front of me, the world map soon became familiar for another reason: I saw London, Cairo, pyramids. This world was our world, it was Earth, but it was different. Obviously, this isn’t the first time an RPG has been set in the real world, but it’s still an interesting concept. The game is set in the 19th century, and the hero, a London native named Eddie, travels the globe in an airship exploring an alternate history. With him are three other characters, and the four of them will be your party for most of the game, with the exception of a few temporary guests. The character sprites also look like those in Final Fantasy III, but given the high production values on that game, this isn’t a bad thing. It’s very traditional, but it’s also distinctive and refreshing, something that an RPG veteran like myself wants to see.



Like many role-playing games, a lot of traveling around the world takes place in an airship—but this is also appropriate given the time period. What’s interesting about this is that random battles occur in the air, and the difficulty of the fights depends upon how high up you are. You could choose to travel at the greatest height, getting around much faster, but the battles will be harder; if you don’t feel that you are ready, you can fly at a lower elevation, where the enemies will be easier to defeat. Battles also occur on solid ground, particularly in dungeons (the dungeon I saw was actually an ancient pyramid). The turn-based fighting was a sight for sore eyes; it seems that too many RPG developers have recently tried to abandon this tried-and-true gameplay method, but if done right, the strategy of turn-based battles can be fun and addictive. There seems to be a very good blend of traditional RPG elements and unique features, which should make this an interesting game.

Though some developers have tried to move beyond turn-based fighting and airships, I never get tired of old-school role-playing games, provided that they’re intriguing enough to hold my attention. It seems that Nostalgia might fit the bill; I didn’t actually get to play it, but I definitely want to know more about the story and see how the battle system stacks up. Will the entire game be unique enough to hold my attention for the 40 or so hours it will take to complete it? I won’t know the answer to that question until September, but I can be sure that I will be giving Nostalgia a second look.