​Battle Chasers: Nightwar Review

By Kevin Mitchell  |  Posted: October 8, 2017

Based upon a widely popular comic series from the late '90s, Battle Chasers: Nightwar doesn't follow the established timeline but instead acts as a self-contained side story. This proves important, as the game's introduction masterfully introduces the main protagonists and sets up the narrative without requiring familiarity with comic book legend Joe Madureira's original work. Airship Syndicate, formed by core members of the now-defunct Vigil Games (the minds behind the Darksiders series), turned to Kickstarter to fund development before being picked up by publisher THQ Nordic.

The visual style in Battle Chasers: Nightwar closely resembles a graphic novel, offering an almost painterly quality that highlights detailed environments and brings life to its charismatic and charming characters. The game employs classic turn-based RPG mechanics, featuring one of the most sophisticated battle systems I've seen in years. A dedicated turn order is always displayed on screen, allowing you to plan battles strategically. This becomes crucial once you reach the game's first dungeon and beyond, as the difficulty can be unforgiving. While there aren't difficulty options for the overall game, you can increase the challenge inside dungeons for better rewards.

Every action in Battle Chasers: Nightwar takes a set amount of time to complete. Basic attacks trigger instantly, but special abilities that consume mana can push your character down the turn order. This prevents players from relying solely on powerful attacks, as you may leave yourself vulnerable to enemy strikes while rapidly depleting your mana. Nothing comes as a surprise since you can see each skill's effects. Timing an ability to trigger before a boss unleashes its ultimate attack can mean the difference between victory and defeat.

One key component that instantly won me over is how all protagonists' abilities complement one another. The massive metal robot Calibretto may look tough, but he serves a supporting role with healing skills and status effect abilities. His basic attack, while weak, can open up enemies by sundering their defenses. Under this effect, if Garrison triggers his Rupture ability, it not only deals damage but adds a bleed effect over the next five turns. The combat system is rich with these complementary abilities that transform based on your party members' unique skills. I only wish I could expand my party beyond three characters, as I found strengths in every member that joins your quest.

While mana serves as your primary energy source, you'll gain temporary mana when performing standard attacks, allowing you to draw from this pool without depleting your actual mana during battles. As encounters, especially boss fights, can extend for quite some time, you'll generate plenty of this disposable resource. This ensures you can still trigger powerful abilities, and some skills provide additional damage output based on your current overcharge amount.

The difficulty spikes noticeably as you progress through narrative quests and various dungeons. I frequently hit walls requiring multiple runs through previous dungeons at higher difficulties to level up party members and improve gear. Side missions provide valuable experience boosts. After completing a dungeon, you receive a treasure chest containing a few equipment pieces. Since newly acquired gear isn't guaranteed to surpass your current equipment, you'll find yourself replaying dungeons multiple times. Crafting and upgrade options use materials gained from battles. While initial material requirements may be modest, adding more than required increases your chances of crafting more powerful items or consumables.

Simply Put

Battle Chasers: Nightwar is an exceptional title with classic RPG mechanics. The art design and animation are unmatched, making each newly discovered area a visual treat. The battle system offers more depth than most modern RPGs, though the extensive grinding required to keep pace with the narrative is unfortunate. I also experienced several crashes and bugs that forced game restarts. One particularly frustrating bug failed to load a side mission boss, preventing further progress in that quest chain.