Chris Davis, the original creator of 2D prison sandbox The Escpaists, is working on a new JRPG. Guard Break is a short 3D JRPG with no main protagonist, no random encounters, and a bond system for you and your in-game buds. The game looks to have a bit of a PS1 aesthetic with some low-res textures and very simple art. However, the game looks pretty good and I hope Chris plans on a console release. With no release date confirmed, it looks like we just have a Steam page to wishlist the game, which you should do, it helps, and wait for updates.
Chris Davis on Cutting JRPG Bloat in Guard Break
Posting on Reddit, Chris mentions that they have an axe to grind with ‘bloat’ in JRPGs ‘these days.’ Citing that as the reason Guard Break is a roughly 10ish hour-long game. Chris also says that Final Fantasy VII is their favorite game so that might give you an idea of what you’re getting into with Guard Break. Obviously not the only influence with battles taking place on the field and having no random encounters. The point about bloat in JRPGs is well-taken, even just last year we were given a few bloaty JRPGs, especially Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, a game that was almost all bloat. Personally, I could use a good scaling back.
The press release lists a few key features for the game, though it’s clearly still a work in progress and I’m sure has some considerable dev time ahead of it.
- Classic JRPG Atmosphere: A homage to 32-bit JRPGs of the late 1990s, featuring 3D visuals and music inspired by the era.
- 8-10 Hour Campaign: A story-driven adventure without filler, delivering a well-paced plot designed to keep you engaged from start to finish.
- Multiple Protagonists: No single ‘main character’. Experience the story through an ensemble cast, each with unique backgrounds, skills, weapon types, and personal arcs.
- Bond System: All the protagonists have interwoven relationship bonds that shift based on your dialogue choices. Favouring one ally may disappoint another, creating a careful balancing act. Stronger bonds yield extra combat perks.
- Visible Encounters: No random battles- spot enemies on the field and choose when to engage. Battles feature fast, turn-based combat with a clear move queue for strategic planning.
- Guard Break Mechanic: Enemies have points tied to specific weaknesses- focus on those to ‘Guard Break’ them, leaving them vulnerable for the rest of the battle.
Why Guard Break is One to Watch
It looks good, and the pedigree of the developer is nice. Chris is also the sole developer on the project currently.
“Guard Break is my homage to the JRPGs that shaped my teens, and continue to remain among my favorite games to this day,”
Again, there is currently no release date for Guard Break. If you’d like to support the game or the indie community, please make sure to wishlist the game.
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