Remnants of Isolation, developed by KOMODO, is a JRPG-style game centered on two characters attempting to escape a magical prison. While its story is simple and serviceable, the game truly shines due to its inventive twist on RPG Maker’s core combat mechanics. Mechanics that reinforce the characters and the story.
RPG Maker is a tool for creating 16-bit JRPG-style games. It’s a platform I enjoyed using in my younger years to develop simple projects. It’s approachable for hobbyists, but is also capable of producing commercially viable games. Remnants of Isolation is a great example of the latter.
In the game, you play as Celesta, a mute protagonist experiencing her first taste of freedom after a lifetime of captivity in a magical castle. She runs into Melchior, a rogue mage who has also become trapped within the same castle. Together, they unravel their pasts and fight to escape. The narrative reveals each character’s motivations organically and delivers a satisfying conclusion, with three possible endings based on your choices.
Visually, the game makes the most of RPG Maker’s capabilities. Well-drawn cutscenes bring the characters and monsters to life, and each level features a distinct style that keeps navigation clear and intuitive. While some of the monster designs are surprisingly gory for an otherwise light-hearted tone, this doesn’t distract much from the overall experience.
What sets the game apart is its engaging turn-based magical combat system. Each character wields magic through Innate Abilities or equipped Spell Cards. The standout feature is Spell Fusion: combining an Innate Ability from one character with a Spell from the other creates a unique and more powerful effect, depending on who finishes the combo. For instance, if Celesta casts the Heal spell after Melchior’s Arcane Force, she unleashes a stronger healing spell. But if Melchior uses Mana Break, she grants a health regeneration effect instead.
The effect is also different depending on who finishes the combo. Celesta tends to cast more powerful versions of spells, whereas Melchior tends to cast spells that target all enemies or heal both characters. The ability to choose who acts first each turn adds a layer of strategic depth, especially as different combinations yield different results.
Managing Magic Points (MP) is crucial. You start every fight with 3 MP and gain 2 more per turn. Choosing to Guard lets you skip a turn to generate 2 extra MP, further deepening the tactical gameplay. Since Innate Abilities use less MP than Spells, you’ll need to alternate which character starts a combo. Deciding when to save up or unleash powerful combos can turn the tide of any battle.
Defeating enemies rewards both Experience and Souls. Levelling up follows typical RPG conventions, while Souls are used at crystal balls by Celesta to “conjure” items. This reframes the standard shop interface of RPG Maker in a way that reinforces the characters’ isolation. There is no one here to help, they can only rely on themselves and their magic.
The main drawback is the game’s length. I finished it in just over three hours, though I still have a couple of achievements to go for. The innovative combat system suggests even greater potential if future games expanded on its ideas.
Remnants of Isolation provides a short yet satisfying adventure, memorable for its clever combat and compelling story. It earns a solid recommendation, especially for those seeking inventive mechanics or quick, narrative-driven RPGs.
