Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch- A western Fire Emblem.
Ocean Drive Studio released Lost Eidolons three years ago. It was a tactical RPG with a modern twist on classic JRPG features. The story, strategic fighting, and interesting character growth made the game very popular, if only among a small group of people. The developers of Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch wanted to build on that by improving the gameplay, adding more to the story, and making the overall experience smoother.
This follow-up doesn’t just carry on the story; it goes into more dangerous ground. The first game was more like a proof of concept, but Veil of the Witch is a strong statement of what Ocean Drive Studio can do. With a mix of Western elements and traditional JRPG design, the art style gives the game a unique look in a market already very crowded.
Ocean Drive Studio’s ambition is evident in every pixel and mechanic.
The history of how the game was made shows that the studio has taken comments to heart. It was cute, but the first game had pacing and mechanics that didn’t always work right. These complaints are addressed in Veil of the Witch, which offers a more logical story, more stable gameplay, and a tactical fighting system that is easy to learn and fun to use.
The story in Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch doesn’t just continue; it changes.
Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch is mostly about a group of hired killers who get caught up in a war that could destroy their whole world. The story is dark, draws you in, and is purposely hard to understand. In contrast to most JRPGs, which focus on lighthearted banter, this one deals with betrayal, survival, and the moral cost of combat. Players are pushed to really get into the story and make decisions that have small effects on how characters interact and how battles turn out.
Every choice you make carries weight, both in battle and in narrative.
Character growth is another great thing about this. Each party member has their own personality, background, and questline, encouraging players to try different combinations of characters. There are some side stories that may feel a bit expected, but they add to the main story without slowing it down.
Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch offers many ways to play, including tactical combat, resource management, and RPG progression. Players spend their time looking around detailed maps, talking to NPCs, finishing quests, and keeping track of the gear and skills that their party has. Every choice, from which skill to improve to which area to stand on during battle, changes how things turn out.
Strategy isn’t optional; it’s woven into every action.
When they’re not fighting, players engage in activities similar to city-building, such as improving their base, equipping weapons, and crafting supplies. Even though these things may not seem important, they have a direct effect on battle readiness and character efficiency. Planning is rewarded in the game, which makes each win feel earned rather than given.
Strategy on the ground is only as important as the planning that precedes it.
Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch‘s combat is turn-based and takes place on grid maps that look like old-school strategy RPGs, but with a few new twists. Each character has a set of skills, a limited range of movement, and special ways they work with other characters. Different enemies have different attack routines and elemental weaknesses, so players have to keep changing how they play.
Puzzle features are slowly added to both exploration and battles. Players have to be creative in some areas of Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch, like when they have to use a fire spell to get rid of obstacles or freeze water to make a new way. You don’t have to solve these problems all the time, but they add to the strategic depth and keep the game from getting boring.
In general, the difficulty mix is good. Even though some enemy groups can feel unfair, Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch pushes players to try new things and improve their strategies. But the AI does strange things from time to time, which can break the atmosphere.
In Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch, growing up and earning experience points are important for progressing. Combat and completing quests are the main ways to get XP, but some optional events offer valuable rewards. As a character levels up, they gain new skills and better stats like health, attack, and movement.
Every battle has more weight because progress is real.
The most interesting thing about this is how XP spread changes strategy. Players have to choose whether to focus on a core group of characters to get the most out of them or to favor weaker characters to keep the party balanced. This adds another level of long-term planning, which makes every fight more important.
Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch looks great with a painting style that mixes Western and JRPG elements. It looks like the settings and characters are very well done, and the cutscenes are animated with great care. Smart use of colors and icons keeps maps clear, even when they have many units.
There is a careful mix of art and purpose in every frame.
The art in Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch is great, but there are some texture pop-ins and small movement problems. These don’t really detract from the experience, but they do serve as a reminder that this is still a mid-level company, not an AAA powerhouse.
The sound concept is great. The music in Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch features orchestral and ambient elements that capture both the sad and exciting parts of the story. There are clear sound effects for each type of attack and spell, which makes the battle feel like you can touch it. Voice acting isn’t very strong, but it does its job of showing feeling without getting in the way of the story.
The follow-up to Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch is a huge improvement over the first game. It cleverly combines story, strategy, and visual storytelling. It has fun and challenging tactical fighting, and the story is interesting and mature. There are some minor AI quirks and graphical glitches, but they don’t detract from what is otherwise a very enjoyable experience. This game is a must-play for strategy RPG fans who enjoy dark, story-driven rides.
Ocean Drive Studio has shown they can make strategy games with heart with Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch. Every fight and choice feels planned, important, and satisfying. This follow-up not only lives up to its predecessor but even beats it. A journey that you’ll never forget is made up of strategy, story, and art.
