The 2015 mobile JRPG Zodiac: Orcanon Odyssey had a rough launch. Now, it's getting a second chance at life with Astria Ascending, a revival with some of the same serious creative muscle behind it including former Final Fantasy developers.
Astria Ascending tells the tale of the Demigods, a team of eight heroes who are fighting to save the world. The world of Arcanon is in danger and it's up to them to save it! Best of all, this game features a beautiful art style reminiscent of stuff like Dragon's Crown — have a gander at the Astria Ascending announcement trailer to see it in motion!
Astria Ascending Delivers JRPG Action from Final Fantasy Veterans
Neither Astria Ascending nor its progenitor Zodiac: Orcanon Odyssey would be immediately recognizable to Western JRPG fans. Heck, it might not even be that recognizable to Asian JRPG fans considering that it came out without backing from a major publisher back in 2015.
"Astria Ascending is more than an homage to the classics. It’s the perfect next step in our publishing line of ambitious JRPGs," – Guillaume Jamet, Head of Publishing for Astria Ascending's publisher Dear Villagers
That said, it does have some heavyweights behind it. The game's original story was written by Kazuhige Nojima, a man who has written the stories for a few pieces of media you might have heard of: Final Fantasy 7, the Final Fantasy: Advent Children movie, the Kingdom Hearts series, and a heck of a lot more. The music s also being tackled by a Final Fantasy veteran; Hitoshi Sakimoto (Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy 12) is providing the tunes for this game.
Players take command of the eight unique members of the "Demigods," a team of fighters who are fighting to save Orcanon from the forces of darkness. Each of the eight heroes has their own unique story for you to experience; the developers say that it will take around 30 hours to beat the game and about 50 hours to 100% complete it.
You'll be able to visit five different cities and more than 20 dungeons in all, battling hundreds of deadly monsters throughout your adventures in Orcanon. Best of all, you'll be able to play it sometime later this year.
When is the Astria Ascending Release Date?
Sadly, the Astria Ascending release date has not been announced. That said, a press release from the developer states that it should be arriving sometime in 2021.
You'll be able to buy this game for PC and consoles sometime later this year; it will also be arriving as part of Xbox Game Pass. For now, you can add Astria Ascending to your wishlist on Steam. You can learn more about the game on its official website.
What do you think of Astria Ascending? Do you like the overall look of the game? Let us know in the comments below!
