The Diofield Chronicle is a strategy role-playing video game co-developed by Square Enix and Lancarse. It was released in September 2022 for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows platforms.
| The Diofield Chronicle | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Square Enix Lancarse |
| Publisher(s) | Square Enix |
| Director(s) | Takahiro Kumagai |
| Producer(s) | Shigeyuki Hirata |
| Artist(s) | Isamu Kamikokuryo Taiki |
| Writer(s) | Yuu Oshima |
| Composer(s) | Brandon Campbell Ramin Djawadi |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | September 22, 2022 |
| Genre(s) | Strategy role-playing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Gameplay
The Diofield Chronicle plays as a strategy role-playing video game.[1] Unlike Final Fantasy Tactics, it is not tile-based in its movement, but instead allows for more free directional movement like XCOM.[1] The game features real-time strategy elements, with the battle system being named the "Real-Time Tactical Battle System", an allusion to the Active-Time Battle system.[2]
The player controls a party of characters to engage in tactical battles, completing missions such as vanquishing enemies, defending a stronghold, escorting an ally, or capturing points on a map.[3] Similar to Fire Emblem, the viewpoint shifts as the battles themselves play out.[4] The party earns skill points at the end of each mission, which can be used to upgrade different character abilities.[3]
Plot
The Diofield Chronicle takes place on a fictional war-torn continent, where the Kingdom of Alletain sits in the close vicinity of a conflict between the Trovelt-Schoevian Empire and the Rowetale Alliance.[5][4] When the Empire ends up defeating the Alliance, they turn their attention to Alletain.[4] The game follows the mercenary group related to the Alletain called the "Blue Foxes".[6][4] The four heads of the group are Andrias Rhondarson, a royal bodyguard who knows ancient sorcery, Fredret Lester, his childhood friend, Iscarion Colchester, an archer and former noble, and Waltaquin Redditch, a mage noblewoman.[6]
Development
The game was first announced on March 9, 2022, as part of Sony's "State of Play" presentations outlining future games coming to their PlayStation platforms.[7] It was one of two games announced by Square Enix at the presentation, alongside Valkyrie Elysium.[7] While the latter was only announced for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Windows, The Diofield Chronicle was later revealed to additionally be coming to Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S platforms.[7] The game has character design by Taiki (character designer on Lord of Vermilion series) and also features character art from designer Isamu Kamikokuryo, who previously did art for Final Fantasy XII and Final Fantasy XIII, and was noted to have an art style similar to Final Fantasy at times, though the game share no official ties.[5][1][2] Square Enix is co-developing the title with Japanese studio Lancarse, who had previously co-developed Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey with Atlus.[8] Music is composed by Ramin Djawadi and Brandon Campbell, both of which had previously worked on the Game of Thrones television series.[8] The game was released worldwide on September 22, 2022, following the release of a demo on August 10.[9]
Reception
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | NS: 67/100[10] PC: 66/100[11] PS5: 71/100[12] XSXS: 78/100[13] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Destructoid | 7/10[14] |
| Easy Allies | 6.5/10[15] |
| GameSpot | 5/10[16] |
| Hardcore Gamer | 3.5/5[17] |
| IGN | 7/10[18] |
| Nintendo Life |   [19] |
| Push Square | [20] |
| RPGamer | 3.5/5[21] |
| RPGFan | 78/100[22] |
| VG247 |   [23] |
The Diofield Chronicle received "mixed or average" reviews for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and Windows, and "generally favorable" reviews for the Xbox Series X/S, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[10][11][12][13]
The Nintendo Switch version of The Diofield Chronicle sold 6,415 physical copies within its first week of release in Japan, making it the eighth bestselling retail game of the week in the country.[24]
Manga adaptation
A manga adaptation by Minori Tsukahara and Ataru Arata began serialization in Square Enix's Manga UP! website and app on September 8, 2022.[25]
References
- ^ a b c Minotti, Mike (March 9, 2022). "The DioField Chronicle is a new Square Enix strategy game". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on March 18, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
- ^ a b Van Allen, Eric (March 9, 2022). "The DioField Chronicle is a new real-time tactical RPG from Square Enix". Destructoid. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
- ^ a b Castle, Katharine (August 18, 2022). "The DioField Chronicle is shaping up to be real-time Fire Emblem meets Final Fantasy". Rock Paper Shotgun. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
- ^ a b c d LeBlanc, Wesley (March 9, 2022). "Square Enix Reveals The DioField Chronicle, A New Tactical RPG Coming This Year". Game Informer. Archived from the original on March 18, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
- ^ a b Kim, Matt (March 9, 2022). "The DioField Chronicle Is a New Strategy RPG From Square Enix". IGN. Archived from the original on May 31, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
- ^ a b Lada, Jenni (March 11, 2022). "The DioField Chronicle Characters Introduced". Siliconera. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
- ^ a b c Phillips, Tom (March 9, 2022). "Square Enix announces new tactics game The DioField Chronicle". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on March 29, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
- ^ a b O'Connor, Alice (March 10, 2022). "Square Enix announce new strategy RPG The DioField Chronicle". Rock Paper Shotgun. Archived from the original on July 17, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
- ^ Romano, Sal (July 2, 2022). "The DioField Chronicle launches September 22, demo launches August 10". Gematsu. Archived from the original on September 21, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
- ^ a b "The DioField Chronicle for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
- ^ a b "The DioField Chronicle for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on September 30, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
- ^ a b "The DioField Chronicle for PlayStation 5 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
- ^ a b "The DioField Chronicle for Xbox Series X Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
- ^ Van Allen, Eric (September 30, 2022). "Review: The DioField Chronicle". Destructoid. Archived from the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
- ^ Ellis, Bradley (October 14, 2022). "Review: The DioField Chronicle". Easy Allies. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
- ^ Wildgoose, David (September 22, 2022). "The Diofield Chronicle Review - Forever War". GameSpot. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
- ^ Swalley, Kirstin (October 1, 2022). "Review: The DioField Chronicle". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
- ^ Hafer, Leana (September 28, 2022). "The DioField Chronicle Review". IGN. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
- ^ Cannon, Trent (September 21, 2022). "The DioField Chronicle Review (Switch)". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
- ^ Ramsey, Robert (September 26, 2022). "Mini Review: The DioField Chronicle (PS5) - Dull Characters in an Intriguing Strategy RPG". Push Square. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
- ^ Jansen, Jon (October 7, 2022). "The DioField Chronicle Review". RPGamer. Archived from the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
- ^ Kobylanski, Abraham (October 11, 2022). "The DioField Chronicle". RPGFan. Archived from the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
- ^ Donaldson, Alex (September 27, 2022). "The DioField Chronicle review: An understated, under-marketed strategy RPG romp that deserves better". VG247. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
- ^ Romano, Sal (September 29, 2022). "Famitsu Sales: 9/19/22 – 9/25/22". Gematsu. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
- ^ Hazra, Adriana (September 11, 2022). "The DioField Chronicle Game Gets Manga". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
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