Antiquia Lost

Antiquia Lost is a Japanese-style role-playing game (JRPG) set in a vibrant fantasy world, developed by EXE-CREATE Ltd. and published by Kemco. Players embark on a journey with a unique cast of characters, engaging in a classic turn-based battle system with modern twists, such as adjustable difficulty levels and varied quests that enhance replayability. The game’s anime-inspired art style and nostalgic gameplay elements pay homage to traditional RPGs while offering a fresh narrative experience. Available across multiple platforms, including Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and mobile devices, Antiquia Lost delivers a compact yet engaging adventure filled with mystery and strategic combat.

Antiquia Lost: Review

Introduction

In an era where indie developers reinterpret the golden age of JRPGs, Kemco’s Antiquia Lost (2016) stands as a poignant testament to both the enduring appeal of 16-bit nostalgia and the perils of formulaic design. Developed by EXE-CREATE, this mobile-origin RPG weaves a tale of forgotten histories and trust-based bonds, centered around a slime heroine—a premise dripping with charm yet constrained by Kemco’s assembly-line approach. Our thesis: Antiquia Lost is a competent but unambitious homage to classic JRPGs, elevated by inventive character mechanics but ultimately hamstrung by derivative storytelling and monetization missteps.

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Development History & Context

Studio Vision & Technological Constraints

EXE-CREATE, a subsidiary of Kemco, has built a reputation for rapid-fire JRPG releases targeting mobile and niche console audiences. Antiquia Lost debuted on Android in February 2016, later ported to iOS, PS Vita, Switch, and others by 2019. The studio’s vision prioritized accessibility and retro aesthetics, leveraging the Unity engine to create 2D, pixel-art-driven experiences optimized for short play sessions.

Gaming Landscape & Kemco’s Formula

In a mid-2010s market saturated with mobile gacha RPGs, Kemco carved a niche with premium, story-focused titles evoking SNES-era classics like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy. Yet, Antiquia Lost emerged amidst criticism of Kemco’s “paint-by-numbers” approach—evident in reused assets, cookie-cutter quests, and microtransactions (e.g., paywalled EXP boosters). The game’s cross-platform rollout reflected Kemco’s strategy to monetize loyal JRPG fans while appealing to console players seeking budget-friendly nostalgia.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Plot & Characters

The story follows Bine, a village youth, and Lunaria, a gelatinous slime girl, as they investigate disappearances threatening the peace between three races in the world of Edelstein. The narrative hinges on themes of trust and collective memory, with Lunaria’s ability to “mimic” foes symbolizing unity against historical erasure.

Dialogue & Character Tropes

Dialogue adheres to JRPG archetypes: Bine embodies the earnest hero, Lunaria the quirky mascot, and antagonists revel in mustache-twirling villainy. While critics praised their interactions as “fun” (TouchArcade), others lamented a “boring cast” (KRESNIK258GAMING). The slime-heroine gimmick injects novelty—Lunaria gains powers by consuming gems—but fails to transcend predictable story beats.

Thematic Undertones

Beneath its fantasy veneer, Antiquia Lost critiques tribalism and historical denial. The “Great Battle” backstory mirrors real-world cycles of conflict, yet the messaging remains surface-level, overshadowed by formulaic “chosen one” tropes.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Core Loop & Combat

The game employs turn-based battles with four-party coordination. Lunaria’s mimicry skill—allowing her to copy enemy attacks—adds tactical depth, but combat devolves into repetitive grinding. Difficulty spikes necessitate optional arenas and side quests, though microtransactions (e.g., “No Battle Encounters” DLC) undermine balance.

Progression & Exploration

Character-specific traversal abilities (e.g., squeezing through gaps as Lunaria) encourage party-swapping, yet dungeons are criticized as “linear hallways” (Node Gamers). The gem-fed progression system for Lunaria is innovative, but standard leveling for others feels outdated.

UI & Monetization

The interface is functional but cluttered, with mobile-first design clashing on consoles. Microtransactions—decried as “insulting” (Digitally Downloaded)—linger as a stain on an otherwise polished package.

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World-Building, Art & Sound

Visual Direction & Atmosphere

Antiquia Lost blends nostalgic 2D sprites with vibrant anime portraits. Yet art quality fluctuates wildly: protagonist designs charm, while enemies lack detail (“cheaply gestaltet,” per Nintendo-Online.de). Environments evoke classic JRPG locales—forests, castles, deserts—but lack interactivity or visual flair.

Sound Design

Goro Asano and Rie Yamane’s score channels Yasunori Mitsuda-esque melodies, but tracks loop incessantly. Battle effects are serviceable, though lack impact. The result is an auditory backdrop that’s pleasant but forgettable.

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Reception & Legacy

Critical & Commercial Reception

Lauded for its “engaging story” (Cubed3) and “forgiving combat” (TheXboxHub), Antiquia Lost earned a lukewarm 62% aggregate critic score on MobyGames. Praise centered on its novelty (slime protagonist) and accessibility, while scorn targeted “glacial pacing” (KRESNIK258GAMING) and “lack of originality” (TouchArcade). Commercially, it found modest success as a budget title, frequently discounted to $4.99 on Steam.

Influence & Evolution

While never a trendsetter, Antiquia Lost exemplifies Kemco’s bridge between mobile and console JRPGs. Its slime-mechanics foreshadowed later experiments like Dragon Quest Monsters, but Kemco’s reluctance to evolve its formula has left it overshadowed by indies like Chained Echoes.

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Conclusion

Antiquia Lost is a microcosm of Kemco’s strengths and weaknesses—a lovingly crafted, if mechanically safe, ode to JRPG traditions, marred by monetization and minimal innovation. It earns a place in history not as a masterpiece, but as a comforting relic for genre devotees. For $4.99, it’s a charming diversion; for full price, a harder sell. In the pantheon of JRPGs, it is neither lost nor legendary—simply there, waiting for those craving a slime-flavored dose of nostalgia.

Final Verdict:
A 6.5/10 experience—competent, nostalgic, but ultimately eclipsed by bolder contemporaries.