Video Game Review: Adventure Academia – The Fractured Continent

Developer: ACQUIRE

Publisher: PQube

Reviewed For: Nintendo Switch

Also Available On: PC, PlayStation 4

Adventure Academia: The Fractured Continent is a cute strategy JRPG set in the world of Class of Heroes. It is similar to Fire Emblem in that it is a strategy combat game, but it is lacking in many elements when compared to the latter.

The Continent of Pedra has been transformed into a labyrinthine dungeon and monsters have invaded the land. You play as the protagonist, Alex, who attends Obsidian High along with his childhood friend, Citrin, and loyal advisor, Lazuli. The students of Obsidian High are training to become heroes to free the land of Pedra. They are of a mixed race; there are humans, dwarfs, Celestia, gnomes, fairies, Diabolos, and many others. Alex’s father, the principal of Obsidian High, is missing and Alex needs to find him. He goes on an adventure with Citrin and Lazuli to find his father and bring peace to the land.

To defeat the monsters, Alex is in possession of the Ruler Orb, a mysterious orb that allows him to summon the students at will and use their powers. Alex himself has no strength or power so the students need to protect him while battling the monsters. The dungeons are basically brightly coloured chess boards, and the students are the knights while Alex is the king. The gameplay involves moving the students and Alex around the board to get within striking distance of the enemy. You are only allowed two to three party members on the board in the beginning stages of the game, so a good strategy is needed to ensure Alex’s safety while defeating the enemy.

There is nothing innovative about this game. The storyline of a boy saving the World has been done many times. The combat also closely resembles that of other turn-based combat RPGs. I will give props to the visuals and music, however. I like the anime chibi look of the characters in the dungeons, and the fast-paced Japanese style music. The cutscenes that play out are also visually appealing with great Japanese voice acting. But Alex is voiced by a woman which is odd considering he is a sixteen-year-old male. I understand that women sometimes will perform the voice acting for younger boys, but it would have been more fitting if Alex had a male voice. But that is just my personal preference.

Because of how lengthy each fight is, I could only play one or two battles at a time before needing a break from the game. The boss battles are especially difficult and you need to level up your soldiers to ensure victory. It’s a bit of a grind.

While I’m not a fan of combat RPGs, I do find Adventure Academia to be more playable than the other mainstream titles although it lacks charm. Some improvements can be made to make the game more enjoyable, such as allowing the player to explore the school and converse with the students.

Overall, I would not say this is the best strategy JRPG out there. But I do recommend this game to JRPG lovers looking for a cute and accessible adventure that can be enjoyed at a slower pace.