I cleared Sepas Channel.
I was finally able to play the Sepas Channel I've been longing for!
Sepas Channel is an RPG that was originally released as an app exclusively for feature phones (so-called garakei).
Although it was once available for download as DSiWare, its distribution has since been discontinued, and for a long time it had become a phantom work.
However, it has finally been released on the "G-MODE Archives" service, which re-releases apps for the Switch!!
It's the kind of game often called "MOTHER-like," and as a fan of MOTHER-like games, it was a title I had wanted to play for a long time, so I downloaded it immediately.
■ A Poetic Worldview
The first thing I thought when I started the game was, "It's so poetic!!"
This happens 10 seconds after starting.
To begin with, even the official catchphrase is
If we lose something one by one, the world will fall apart--
...with that kind of flair, it's a work that's like a poem in the shape of a game.
The BGM is also stylish with a slightly naive melody that matches the atmosphere of the text.
The controls feel a bit stiff, which is a concern, but that's likely because it's a unique work originally from a feature phone.
Rather, the ingenuity of "how to make it playable within constraints" due to its feature phone origins can be seen everywhere, and you can enjoy a flavor similar to Famicom games.
The story follows three (or rather, two and a dog) characters: a boy who has lost his memory, Boy, a girl who has lost her shadow, Girl, and a dog whose owner has gone missing, Wan, as they get caught up in the mystery surrounding a mysterious DJ, Sepaschan, who broadcasts on the radio in town.
With a playtime of about 10 hours, the pacing is good, and there are plot twists from the very beginning, making it extremely interesting.
The mysteries are all properly resolved, and it's a very well-put-together, incredibly good scenario!
Right from the start, being able to beat up police officers is the best!
The police in this game are basically pieces of trash, so I highly recommend this title to anyone with a fetish for corrupt state power!
By the way, for some reason, Wan walks on two legs like it's nothing, but not a single person in the game points it out.
Other animals walk on four legs as usual, so why...
■ The Channel System that turns constraints into an advantage
The story of this game takes place entirely within a single city called "Sunlight City."
I assume they couldn't make a large map due to storage limitations, but the city itself isn't particularly large either, and you progress by going back and forth within a sandbox-style map.
Hearing that might make it sound monotonous, but what makes it interesting is the "Channel Change" system, which could be called the game's biggest feature.
The Channel Change system is a mechanic that allows you to switch the protagonist you control.
It's not just that the playable character changes; the reactions of the townspeople when you talk to them change depending on the character.
In other words, three different sets of dialogue are prepared for the same character, so exploring is fun even when you're going back and forth in the same area.
Also, the places you can enter change depending on the protagonist.
Boy, who is being chased by the police for certain reasons, cannot enter areas with tight security, but since Wan is a dog, he gets a pass; it's consistent with the setting.
There are puzzles that utilize the multiple protagonists, and the combinations change according to the story's progress—such as Boy & Wan and Girl, or Boy & Girl and Wan—making it a fun experience that never gets boring.
The fact that you cannot leave the town has a narrative purpose, and the idea that there are as many perspectives as there are protagonists ties into the theme; it is truly well-crafted.
■ Unique combat balance
Basically, it is an orthodox front-view command battle system.
Since there are no field maps, you will encounter enemies just by walking around the town.
The encounter rate is just right, but since the protagonist is weak in the early stages, you can die quite easily.
When you die, you gain Laggy Points and if they exceed a certain amount, you will be unable to see the true ending—a system that adds a sense of tension.
You can reduce Laggy Points, so you can recover even if you die, but I didn't know that in the beginning, so I played while feeling quite nervous.
What is unique is that you can freely allocate your stats.
You can freely allocate the points you receive when leveling up to four stats: "Attack", "Defense", "Agility", and "Spirit".
The special skills you learn also depend on your stats, and you can use a skill once you meet the conditions set for it.
Also, you can reallocate your points as many times as you like, and if you can no longer meet the conditions for a learned skill after reallocating, you will no longer be able to use that skill.
There is no concept of equipment like weapons or armor, so how you allocate these points becomes crucial.
In the first half, I just put everything into Attack and brute-forced my way through with a 'kill them before they kill you' strategy.
In the second half, I allocated points evenly to unlock a variety of skills and proceeded by exploiting the enemies' elemental weaknesses.
Additionally, insect-type enemies like 'Fly Mobs' and 'Bee Mobs' are enemies that die after being hit three times, regardless of your attack power…
In areas where these enemies appear, there is an element of reallocating points according to the enemy, such as ignoring attack power and putting all points into defense or agility.
The combat itself is basically a case where brute force is king, and it can be a bit monotonous due to the simple presentation, but I was impressed by how it was designed to make you fully utilize the point allocation system.
■ Summary
It is a work with a volume that is easy to play, a really great scenario, and a poetic worldview, so I can understand why it has such a good reputation.
The price is also affordable at 500 yen, and above all, I am happy that it was released on the Switch!
I recommend it to those who like games similar to MOTHER or those who want to play a slightly unusual RPG!