ThereвЂ™s enough to differentiate it from its progenitors, naturally, but the game is unabashedly the result of its developers looking back at past successes in the genre, for better or worse.Д¬hrono TriggerвЂ™s influence is apparent most of all in the gameвЂ™s battle system. I could continue pointing out references, but suffice it to say that I am Setsuna wears its inspiration on its sleeve.

ThereвЂ™s even a scythe-wielding analogue to Magus, the villain of CTвЂ™s first act. Another character learns a spell called вЂњLuminaire.вЂќ The party discovers and subsequently names an anachronistic, high-tech airship. At one point, a character holds a shining weapon aloft, unlocking the entrance to long-sealed ruins.

(It also transparently borrows the main narrative thrust of Final Fantasy X, but I digress.) Callbacks are abundant: the katana-wielding protagonist can perform an X-Strike with a girl whose attire bears the likeness of a frog. Tired as the comparison may be, failing to mention I am SetsunaвЂ™s parallels with Chrono Trigger would indicate stubbornness at best, if not outright negligence. Instead, it is a serviceable tale, with characters who rarely break the mold tackling themes beyond their depth. A greater attention to language could have elevated I am Setsuna to a modern masterpiece. To this end, it would have benefited from an even tighter focus. Occasional glimmers of prosaic finesse shine through, but by and large, the game lacks a certain sense of poetry. Too often do characters speak in plain language that detracts from the gravity of its circumstances. But the game has a critical failing, and it lies in the straightforwardness of its writing. I am Setsuna genuinely tries to impart a message to the player, and I believe in its authenticity. Ostensibly a tale of sadness, I am Setsuna addresses heavy themes: how far will determination take one who faces certain death? Is there value in living without purpose, without direction? Is all life equal? The titular heroineвЂ™s brief journey through a land of unending snow is surprisingly optimistic in the face of so much bitterness.

By narrowing its scope, I am Setsuna succeeds in not overstaying its welcome, but its brisk pace also mitigates the emotional resonance of its story. Silent character emotes stand in for voiced cutscenes, brisk conversations take the place of droning monologues, and conflict ends as quickly as it begins. Its world is intimate and audiovisually consistent, while its gameplay systems toe the line of simplicity just enough to remain interesting. It opts for a less protracted approach, following a linear path to narrative climax that lasts no longer than 15-20 hours. Constructed as a retro-style JRPG with modern trappings, it tells the story of a maiden on a sacrificial pilgrimage to save the world. ThereвЂ™s a certain artfulness behind the premise of I am Setsuna, an unabashed throwback to the RPGs of the 16-bit era. The tears of the people, like so many raindrops, fall hot on the snow-blanketed earth below. In a rime-kissed land of perpetual melancholy, a grim fate awaits a girl of steadfast selflessness.

I am setsuna soundtrack