Retro JRPG Maker Moves From 16 Bit RPGs To PS1 Style Games

Kemco is known for developing JRPGs for Android and iOS that capture the spirit of the Super Nintendo era. Alphadia Genesis is a technical leap forward since the game feels more like a PsOne title. The world map uses sprites, but the battle system has 3D character models and dragons.

I played an early build of Alphadia Genesis and the game uses a standard command battle system. Players can choose to do melee attacks, skills, or spells like using fire magic. The story takes place after the Energi War where mankind has been fighting to control life energy. Instead of sending souls out, countries created clones to fight battles. With the war over, clones were reprogrammed to live alongside humans and without a will to fight. But, one day a clone kills its master and the protagonist Frey has to figure out why clones are suddenly attacking people.

Kemco found a nice little niche as the developer of retro RPGs with simple stories. Alphadia Genesis is being made by Exe-Create, the developer of Infinite Dunamis. Masaomi Kurokawa, Manager of the Mobile Business Department, estimates the development cost for Alphadia Genesis is double the budget of other RPGs, which makes it a risk. The reason why Alphadia Genesis costs more is mostly because of 3D graphics.

Alphadia Genesis is in development for iOS and Android devices. Kemco plans to localize the game in English too and this version will include all of the Japanese voiceovers.

I asked Kurokawa if he thought about bringing it to consoles too since the game is developed with Unity, a popular video game engine designed for multiplatform development. "I hope so," said Kurokawa. "Since Unity supports other consoles we will try to test it first. If that works well maybe we will bring it to Vita, Wii U, and if PlayStation 4 supports it." Another one of Kemco’s RPGs, Mystic Chronicles, will be available on PSP later this year care of Natsume.