Ideology In Friction

We all have dreams and aspirations as kids and indeed as we grow from teens to adults. Some of us want to be a sports personality, an actor, a firefighter, a doctor even. However, what if you lived in a world where countries were still governed by monarchies and kingdoms? What if you had a longing to be a knight and fight for the pride of your kingdom? Well, in Ideology In Friction, you follow the story of two aspiring knights as they journey to earn their armour no matter what twists and turns await them.

This game plays out like any classic SNES top-down RPG in both aesthetic and gameplay. The closest examples would be Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy, Secrets of Mana or EarthBound. However, this game does incorporate other more anime-style aspects through its hand-drawn overlays which act as cut scenes.

Retro with added polish

The game will feel very familiar to fans of retro RPG due to its top-down appearance and text box heavy narrative. The art style may use a lot of the same visual tropes as older titles but it is clear that this game has an added level of polish that brings it in line with modern gaming’s visual standards. For example, where older titles will have grainy, unrefined textures, this game has cel-shaded and visually stunning textures without sacrificing that nostalgia-inducing style. On top of this, the character models both in the hand-drawn overlays and in the more condensed pixelated form are both stunning. This allows players to immerse themselves in the story, develop meaningful relationships with the characters and really makes you feel like a genuine part of this world.

Surprisingly Detailed

Due to the fact that this is a budget indie title, it would be easy to assume this game would be pretty straight forward in terms of what it has to offer. However, this game has a couple of surprises hidden up its sleeve. One is that the game features voice acting when cut scenes are playing which is a great touch when trying to add character depth. The only small issue is that it can be off-putting for fans of a more text-heavy retro-style adventure. In addition to this there is a quite extensive upgrade system for all your equipment throughout your run which might come as a shock for players expecting a bare bones experience.

The selling point of this game for some will be the more mature aspects of this title which will be the nudity primarily. This is handled well as it is used sparingly and doesn’t take centre stage over the core storyline or the gameplay, which would have been rather alienating.

Earn Your Armour!

Let’s be clear, this game despite its surprises in quality is still a budget title. It provides decent gameplay but nothing ground-breaking, the art style is great for what it is but again, still not incredible. What really carries the game is its well-written story above all else and for those looking for a retro-style RPG, you’ll get some joy from this title.

Pros

• Voice acted cut scenes
• Progressive upgrade system
• Familiar retro art style
• Well written story

Cons

• The gameplay is predictable and repetitive
• Voice acting won’t impress fans of a purely text-based adventure