Square Enix’s DioField Chronicle takes tactical RPG play off the grid

In the past, tactical role-playing was an obscure and marginalized genre. They were only popular in 16-bit times. Square Enix is making a big difference. They now place small- and medium-budget wagers on all niches that are popular with their fanbase and included in the back catalog. In a press release, Square Enix released earlier in the year. Triangle StrategyWith Nintendo. It will release a remaster version of the classic in November. Tactics Ogre. They are sandwiched together on September 22, 2012. The DioField ChronicleThis is a curious, unheard of, humble and unexpected diversion from genre orthodoxy.

These games are not like the others, nor other genre staples such as Fire Emblem. The DioField Chronicle This game does not include a grid or turns. The game is free-flowing and slightly chaotic, with no rules. It plays in real time. The game allows you to command four squads of units, much in the same way as the heroes from a MOBA. You point and click to move them around the battlefield and flick restlessly from one unit to the next, commanding to use their abilities, heal, or get out of trouble, always with one wary eye on what’s happening on the rest of the field.

Although the mathematics and mechanics may be very similar to turn-based tactical RPGs, the feeling is quite different. It isn’t chess where you plan and optimize every move. This is an interactive game that requires multitasking, quick prioritization and instant decision-making. One thing hasn’t changed, though: Placement is everything. Many of your units’ skills do damage over an area, in a cone, or in a broad swath, so you’ll want to line these up carefully to pick off as many enemy units as possible. An ambush bonus of double damage is available if one your soldiers attacks an enemy enemy from behind. Therefore, flanking, tanking, and pulling the enemy are crucial.

Image: Lancarse/Square Enix

All told, it’s a fun and absorbing, if slightly stress-inducing, tactical battle system. There are four character classes — archer, cavalry, warrior, and magic user — and you’ll typically pick one of each for your squad. You can also add auxiliary characters to any of the four slots in your squad (provided they are from the same class), to expand your skill set. Magilumic Orbs are also available to be used for massive Final Fantasy-style attacks.

There’s a pleasing mesh of stuff to consider here. It’s a little hard to tell how deep the game will run from the demo that’s currently available, but the early indications are that Square Enix and co-developer Lancarse have wisely kept things small-scale but impactful. The numbers of enemy units are low, but they hit quite hard, and can take chunks out of your combatants’ health. The battles are streamlined but fairly high-risk, which keeps them both tense and manageable (certainly if you’re using a controller, as I was on PlayStation 5; the PC version supports mouse and keyboard, which will likely be a more swift and natural way to play the game).

What is most frustrating about this situation? The DioField Chronicle spends away from its pleasingly economical mesh of systems and its fun, fast-paced battlefield tactics, and how little life it has when you’re following the story and the characters’ stiff interactions. Notwithstanding some elegant character art from Taiki and Isamu Kamikokuryo, the game takes place in a drab, airless world of medieval politicking and mercenary maneuvers that’s hard to invest in.

Image: Lancarse/Square Enix

This plot involves a peaceful island that once had magical powers. But now there is a warring faction, great evil and proud aristocratic families. Names like Fredret and Iscarion are a collection of cliches that annoy one another with jargony exaggerations. It doesn’t help that the budget for things like environment art and vocal performance was clearly very limited, or that the game’s color palette is so coolly muted. Andrias has the option to wander through a very plain, claustrophobic barracks in between missions to speak to characters, craft, shop and tinker. But this part of the game feels at most two hardware generations old. Perhaps three.

All of it comes down to what happens on the battlefield. However, only the most dedicated and passionate tactical RPG fans will be able to find the real deal. This is an interesting game, even though it is limited in scope.

The DioField ChronicleThis is heading to Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Windows PC.