FuRyu released, without any particular fanfare, a previously Japan-exclusive title coming straight from the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita past. The Western release of Exstetra is certainly consistent with the Japanese company’s recent strategies, confirming its interest in securing a prominent place in its current lineup for remasters of past titles originally released as handheld exclusives. As an example, I’d point to the recent re-releases of The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered and, more recently, The Alliance Alive HD Remastered.
However, Exstetra represents a case that breaks the mold, being a genuine recovery of a Japanese exclusive never graced with an official Western localization until now. Developed by Studio Saizensen—creators of Code of Princess, but most notably Glory of Heracles for the Nintendo DS—Exstetra hurls a group of Japanese high school students into the dreamy, wooded lands of Amazea.
The opening setup is full-on Isekai anime style, where the protagonists find themselves reluctantly transported into an alternate world with Fantasy RPG influences. Nevertheless it is enriched by a premise that, on its own, lays the foundation for the game’s identity: Ryoma, the protagonist, is considered the savior of Amazea, the “Prisma” who alone could save its lands thanks to almighty abilities.
The small group of co-protagonists who gather around him soon turn out not to be ordinary people, but members of the legendary Prisma Knights—the knights who protect him and fight by his side. The only way to awaken their powers and empower them during battles is startling, to say the least: a kiss. In Exstetra, only a kiss can seal a magical pact capable of turning the tide during combat against enemies. But will it be true love, or a simple utilitarian gesture?
