Fortune Summoners: Secret of the Elemental Stone - Steam Community
Fortune Summoners: Secret of the Elemental Stone - A Review
Introduction
If you are a fan of old-school action RPGs with cute pixel graphics and challenging gameplay, you might want to check out Fortune Summoners: Secret of the Elemental Stone. This game is developed by Lizsoft and published by Carpe Fulgur LLC, the same company that brought us Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale and Chantelise: A Tale of Two Sisters. Fortune Summoners was originally released in Japan in 2009, but it was localized and updated for Steam in 2012.
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What is Fortune Summoners?
Fortune Summoners is a 2D side-scrolling action RPG that follows the adventures of three young girls who attend a magic school in the country of Scotsholm. The game features a massive gameworld to explore with nearly a dozen dungeons to delve into. The game also has a unique combat system that requires precise timing and skillful use of elemental magic.
What are Elemental Stones?
Elemental Stones are stones imbued with the power of an Elemental Spirit, which grant the wielder of one the ability to control that element via 'magic'. In Scotsholm, three centuries have passed since they were first created. Elemental stones are now mass-produced and widely used, making magic a personal, commonplace part of people's lives. However, not everyone can use elemental stones. Only those who have an affinity with a certain element can activate an elemental stone of that type. For example, Arche, the main protagonist of the game, can use fire stones because she has a fire affinity.
Gameplay
Combat System
The combat system in Fortune Summoners is one of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of the game. You can control one of the three girls at a time, while the other two are controlled by AI. You can switch between them at any time with a press of a button. Each girl has her own strengths and weaknesses, as well as different types of attacks and magic.
Arche is a swordswoman who can use fire magic. She has high attack power and speed, but low defense and HP. She can also perform various sword skills by inputting different button combinations. Sana is a healer who can use water magic. She has low attack power and speed, but high defense and HP. She can heal herself and her allies with her magic, as well as freeze enemies or create ice platforms. Stella is a mage who can use wind magic. She has moderate attack power and speed, but low defense and HP. She can cast powerful spells that can hit multiple enemies or create wind currents.
The combat system is based on neutral attacks, which are basic attacks that can be chained together for combos. Neutral attacks can also be used to block enemy attacks or parry them for counterattacks. However, neutral attacks have limited range and damage, so you will need to use skills and magic to deal more damage or overcome certain obstacles. Skills and magic consume MP, which can be restored by using items or resting at save points.
The combat system is very responsive and fluid, but also very unforgiving. Enemies can block or evade your attacks, as well as counterattack or interrupt your skills or magic. You will need to learn their patterns and behaviors, as well as time your attacks and dodges carefully. The game also has a friendly fire feature, which means you can accidentally hit your allies or get hit by their attacks. This adds another layer of challenge and strategy to the combat.
Exploration and Puzzles
The game world in Fortune Summoners is vast and varied, with many secrets and treasures to discover. You will explore towns, forests, caves, mountains, temples, castles, and more. Each location has its own enemies, traps, puzzles, and bosses to overcome. You will need to use your skills and magic to solve puzzles or access hidden areas. For example, you can use fire magic to burn wooden obstacles or melt ice blocks, water magic to fill gaps or extinguish flames, or wind magic to blow away dust or activate switches.
The game also has a day-night cycle that affects some events and locations in the game. For example, some shops or NPCs may only be available at certain times of the day, some enemies may be stronger or weaker depending on the time of day, or some areas may change depending on the time of day. The game also has a weather system that affects some aspects of the game as well. For example, rain may make some surfaces slippery or reduce visibility.
Characters and Story
The game has a charming cast of characters that you will meet along your journey. The three main girls have distinct personalities and interactions that make them likable and relatable. Arche is a cheerful and energetic girl who loves adventure and sword fighting. Sana is a shy and timid girl who loves animals and healing magic. Stella is a smart and confident girl who loves books and wind magic.
The story of the game is simple but engaging. It revolves around the mystery of the ancient ruins that contain secrets about the origin of elemental stones and the history of Scotsholm. The story also involves a sinister plot by an evil organization that seeks to use the power of elemental stones for their own nefarious purposes.
Graphics and Sound
Pixel Art Style
The game has a beautiful pixel art style that gives it a retro charm and nostalgia. The game has colorful graphics that are detailed and expressive. The character sprites are cute and animated, with different facial expressions and poses depending on their emotions or actions. The backgrounds are rich and varied, with different textures and lighting effects depending on the location or time of day.
Music and Voice Acting
The game has an excellent soundtrack that matches the mood and atmosphere of each location or situation in the game. The music ranges from upbeat and cheerful tunes for towns or fields, to tense and dramatic tracks for dungeons or boss battles. The music also changes depending on the time of day or weather in some locations.
The game also has full voice acting for all dialogue in Japanese. The voice acting is well-done and adds personality and emotion to each character. The voice actors are also famous in Japan for their roles in anime or games. For example, Arche is voiced by Yuka Terasaki (Saji Crossroad from Gundam 00), Sana is voiced by Kana Ueda (Rin Tohsaka from Fate/stay night), Stella is voiced by Ayumi Fujimura (Misaki Ayuzawa from Kaichou wa Maid-sama).
Pros and Cons
Pros
A challenging and rewarding combat system that requires skillful timing and strategy.
A vast gameworld to explore with many secrets and treasures to discover.
A charming cast of characters with likable personalities and interactions.
A simple but engaging story that involves mystery and adventure.
A beautiful pixel art style that gives it a retro charm and nostalgia.
An excellent soundtrack that matches the mood and atmosphere of each location or situation.
Full voice acting for all dialogue in Japanese.
Cons
A high difficulty curve that may frustrate some players or require grinding.
A lack of steam overlay support or achievements.
A lack of English voice acting or subtitles for some players who prefer them.
A lack of updates or bug fixes since 2012.
Conclusion
Summary and Rating
In conclusion, Fortune Summoners: Secret of the Elemental Stone is a great action RPG that offers a lot of challenge and fun for fans of old-school games. It has a unique combat system, a massive gameworld, a charming cast, a simple but engaging story, a beautiful pixel art style, an excellent soundtrack, and full voice acting. However, it also has some drawbacks, such as a high difficulty curve, a lack of steam overlay support or achievements, a lack of English voice acting or subtitles, and a lack of updates or bug fixes since 2012.
If you are looking for a game that will test your skills and patience, as well as immerse you in a cute and colorful world of magic and adventure, you should give Fortune Summoners a try. You can buy it on Steam for $19.99 USD or your regional equivalent. I would rate this game 4 out of 5 stars.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Fortune Summoners:
How long is the game?
The game is about 20-30 hours long, depending on your playstyle and difficulty level. There are also some optional side quests and secrets to find that can extend the playtime.
How many endings are there?
The game has only one ending, but there are some minor differences depending on your choices and actions throughout the game.
How do I save the game?
The game has an auto-save feature that saves your progress every time you enter a new area or use a save point. You can also manually save the game by using the menu or pressing F5. You can have up to 10 save files.
How do I change the language or subtitles?
The game has only Japanese voice acting and English subtitles. You can change the subtitle language by using the menu or pressing F1. You can choose from English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Polish, Turkish, or Chinese.
How do I get the Steam overlay or achievements?
The game does not support the Steam overlay or achievements. You can use third-party software or websites to track your achievements or take screenshots.