YESTERDAY'S STILL GOT IT
RPGs used to be so charming back in the PlayStation era. This was before voiced dialogue and elaborate facial animations weighed high fantasy down with the burden of realism—of recognizable psychology and real-world problems. The Norwegian RPG Earthlock deliberately reaches back to the spirit of Final Fantasy VII–IX, updating that classic formula with a handful of modern design sensibilities. Its developers, Snowcastle Games, clearly adore those games, and that affection shows in how confidently they handle their inspirations.
They get most of the fundamentals right. The familiar storytelling beats are all present: a disparate cast stumbles upon clues to a looming catastrophe, gradually uniting to confront gods, monsters, and the forces threatening their world. The scope begins modestly, then expands across different climates and regions, evoking a Lord of the Rings–style journey through a gradually unfolding land.
The adventure takes place in Umbra, a fantasy realm where magic flows through a force called Amri (rather than mana). The story centers on Ive, the daughter of a general, and Amon, an orphan raised by a scrap collector. They meet by chance and are quickly swept up in events far larger than themselves. In a more conventional script this might blossom into romance, but Earthlock stays firmly on the chastity track.
I was never particularly hooked by the writing, nor did I mind that it failed to grab me. The characters are serviceable but unremarkable, and their campfire conversations rarely deepen their personalities. Beyond Ive and Amon, the party consists of a hogbunny, a “cool chick,” a feline, and a robot. Their designs are pleasant, but few of them leave a lasting impression, even with the occasional side quest offering a bit of backstory.
That said, the game itself has personality. It radiates a carefree fairytale tone and embraces an uncomplicated moral universe. The music is upbeat and catchy, the visuals clean and readable, and the overall design stitches together systems borrowed from some of the genre’s best. The colorful sense of exploration recalls Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, while the emphasis on party synergy brings to mind the camaraderie of Xenoblade Chronicles.
Companions join gradually as new settlements open up. These hubs let you upgrade equipment, craft items, and restock supplies. The world map is littered with enemies you may engage in traditional turn-based combat or avoid entirely to conserve resources. Taking on multiple foes at once yields bonus experience, rewarding calculated risk-taking.
Originality is not Earthlock’s strong suit—and I don’t mean that as an insult. By treading such familiar ground, it becomes immediately accessible while still offering depth for those willing to engage with its systems. Combat is the clear centerpiece, borrowing heavily from Final Fantasy X’s turn-based structure, complete with a visible turn order.
One notable limitation is the inability to swap characters mid-battle. You’re locked into your chosen quartet until the fight ends, which can doom an encounter before it truly begins. More than once I found myself stuck with melee-only fighters against an airborne boss—a mistake the game does not forgive.
Progression is handled through a flexible talent-board system. Each level unlocks card slots that can be filled with character-specific skills, passive bonuses, or raw stat increases. Choices can be reversed at any time, turning character growth into an enjoyable puzzle of optimization. Combined with generous experience bonuses for tackling large enemy groups, this system makes even light grinding engaging.
Each character also has two combat stances, switchable at the cost of a turn. These might represent offense versus defense, melee versus ranged, or damage versus healing. This effectively doubles the available roles and gives longer battles a satisfying rhythm—bursts of aggression followed by moments of regrouping.
Character pairings further deepen combat through a bond system. As allies fight together, they unlock shared abilities that significantly enhance performance. Pairing a defensive character with almost anyone, for instance, eventually grants powerful protective bonuses.
Perhaps Earthlock’s greatest strength is its pacing. Even a completionist run is far shorter than most JRPGs. Transitions are swift, combat animations are snappy, fast travel is plentiful, and the story never overstays its welcome. The game moves forward with confidence.
That efficiency, however, comes at a cost. The glimpses of lore and worldbuilding pass too quickly to leave a strong impression. Ancient ruins, forgotten gods, and extinct civilizations are hinted at but rarely explored in depth. The world gestures toward significance without ever becoming truly evocative.
Ultimately, Earthlock succeeds not as a story to ponder, but as a system to enjoy. By borrowing liberally from classic JRPGs and blending their strongest elements, Snowcastle Games delivers a compact, welcoming role-playing experience. It is deeply enjoyable to play—but offers little to linger on once the final battle strategies are mastered.
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