- The debut work of a three-person team from Italy and North America… A world forged by a 100-year conflict between wizards and alchemists
- JRPG vibes rendered in 2D pixel art… Pay attention to the timing-based shared ATB combat system
After1mage 1Interactive, a three-person indie studio based in Italy and North America, released a free prologue demo of their debut work , ‘SoulStream Saga: Chapter 1’, on Steam on March 31.
The game features a worldview where magic and alchemy clash, centered on ‘Shared ATB’ combat that emphasizes timing and strategy; it is garnering attention for its combat system that captures the sensibilities of classic JRPGs and its deep worldview.
The War Between Wizards and Alchemists, and the Rift 100 Years Later
The game is set in Alestria, the capital of the kingdom. 100 years ago, two factions—Mages and Alchemists—went to war under the pretext of a better future. Astarius Valcrest, a former mage, returned after studying alchemy and united the two factions with Alchaeon, a sword imbued with the powers of both magic and alchemy.
Now, a century later, the kingdom he established remains, but cracks begin to appear as the king is consumed by madness. Driven to the brink of crisis, Princess Victoria Lockewell reaches the point of casting a forbidden spell to resurrect Astarius.
Timing Decides the Battle… ‘Shared ATB’ Combat System
The combat system adopts the ‘Shared Active Time Battle’ method, inspired by classic JRPGs from the SNES (Super Famicom) and early PlayStation eras.
Most actions have a casting time, and the core of the strategy lies in the ‘Interrupt System,’ which allows you to turn the tide of battle by interrupting enemies’ casting at the right moment. Additionally, the protagonist’s elemental affinity changes in real-time depending on skills and combat situations, and enemies also choose various actions such as healing, buffing, and disrupting according to the circumstances. Moving away from a simple turn-based system, the structure emphasizes the ability to read the flow of battle.
Prologue Demo Released… Full Version Over 40 Hours of Content
The currently released prologue demo is a preliminary episode set against the backdrop of the war 100 years prior to the main story, and is designed to allow players to fully experience the ATB combat system at the maximum level with all of Astarius’s skills unlocked.
The final version allows players to form a 3-person party for battle and recruit and train a total of 7 party members, and is expected to provide over 40 hours of story content. Along with this, various mini-games such as treasure hunting, fishing, and trading card games are also included.
The first challenge of a three-person team spanning Italy and North America… Positive community reaction
The development team candidly admitted that there may be bugs and performance issues as this is an initial build completed in just a few months, and emphasized that player feedback is crucial for the development of the final version.
The prototype version released on itch.io has been receiving positive feedback, with comments such as “the combat is impressive,” “the world setting is interesting,” and “the ATB system is highly polished.” Numerous gaming media outlets have also praised the game, noting that despite being the debut work of a small team, the combat design and world-building stand out.
The game’s official release date and price are TBD, and additional information can be found on the Steam Wishlist and official Discord.
SoulStream Saga: Chapter 1 Information
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | After1mage 1Interactive (Italy/North America) |
| Genre | 2D Pixel Art JRPG |
| Release platform | PC (Steam) |
| Release date | Undetermined (Prologue demo released on March 31) |
| Combat system | Shared ATB (Timing, Element, Interrupt-based) |
| Final version scale | 7 party members, over 40 hours of story, numerous mini-games |
| Reference work | Classic JRPGs from the SNES and early PS1 era |
| Content Warning | Graphic violence, depiction of death (including children), gore |
| Steam Page | https://store.steampowered.com/app/4373550/ |
