Arc of Alchemist

Arc of Alchemist is an Action Role-Playing Game developed by Compile Heart and Galapagos RPG, and published by Idea Factory. It was released in 2019 for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch.

The game follows Quinn Bravesford and her Expedition Team as they search for a legendary "Great Power" that will save their dying world and the faltering human race.

Story
Enter the desert in search of the key to save humanity, the Great Power. A small kingdom, no more than a hundred years old... Quinn Bravesford, for the sake of her country, leads her soldiers into battle against the swath of enemy nations. A young, daring tactictian, and an excellent commander. One year, the king declared that he would send a large-scale investigation team to the Desert of Beginnings. And so, Quinn was selected to captain this mission.

Today is the commencement of the mission. In a few hours, Quinn readies herself to depart with her team. Quinn gazes at the ancient alchemic device, the Lunagear, within her hand. According to the legends of yore, once the Lunagear is equipped with the four Orbs, it will unlock the Great Power that will save humanity. Only one Orb resides in Quinn's Lunagear. ...This, however, is a mere legend. Some believe its tale, and others do not.

With the threat of dangerous creatures and Machine Dolls wandering the desert, one of the enemy nations, the Principality of Neuhaven, has dispatched their military in search of the Great Power.

I must do everything in my power to make sure my friends survive that machine-riddled desert. I must fight for the hope of those who believe in the existence of the Great Power. This is my duty as a soldier. I will fully live, now.

Quinn steeled herself, but even so, she couldn't help but doubt the existence of the Great Power.

Setting
An endlessly sprawling desert, riddled with machines. An endlessly sprawling desert. Small countries dotting the land. They say there was a time when this world was known as the Planet of Water. In order to compensate for depleting resources, humanity developed alchemy. However, supply dwarfed the raging demand. To capture resources, and keep their loved ones alive, numerous wars were waged. And so, nearly all resources were consumed, and the loved ones had perished. Humanity was spent... Much like the sand dunes piled by ceaseless winds, despair grew within the hearts of the survivors. Soon, humanity was on the brink of extinction, its fate all but sealed. Then one day, the people remembered an old legend, passed through generations.

Within the Desert of Beginnings, there slept a Great Power capable of saving humanity. The identity of this Great Power is unknown. What if, however, it truly did exist? It was not beyond the realm of possibility for something to sleep within that endless desert, full of mysterious machines. The small nations each sent a team to investigate the Desert of Beginnings. One by one, each team was wiped out, or forced to withdraw.

Machine Dolls, the gearwork battle weapons. Rumored to be the guardians of the Great Power, they have taken many lives. Even then, humanity still steps into the Desert of Beginnings. The search for salvation continues...

Characters
The game's rich and diverse cast of characters is lead by it's protagonists, the members of the Expedition Team:


 * Quinn Bravesford | Leader of the Expedition Team
 * Sharon Valver | A Tech Researcher of vast knowledge
 * Sandra Waynwright | The young sergeant
 * Axel Delion | The Expedition Team's Second-In-Command
 * Micah Schneider | A knight known for her competence and common sense
 * Rune Fontine | A member of the Military Clergy
 * Jester Silverhawk | The stoic Reconnaissance member

Throughout their journey they will cross paths with new friends, foes, and rivals!


 * Garett Van Dyne
 * Erin Van Dyne
 * Darius Kendrix
 * Ace Nightlok

Battle System
Master the Art of War!

Within the game, if you run into an enemy while exploring, you'll automatically enter battle mode. The player will control Quinn, and utilize previously-set "Actions" to engage with enemies. Use two different "Actions", depending on which weapon is equipped by Quinn. Experiment with your own combat style.

Fight with a party of up to 3 members in-game, who can perform actions automatically with pre-assigned commands given prior to battle. Select your orders, and learn each of your allies' skills to determine the right tactics and catch your enemies off-guard. Assign orders to your allies in the menu screen, as well as actions and formations.

Construct your own battle-style by mastering the various combat elements, such as keeping your formation while firing projectile-based magic, or attack with a relentless offense!

The Lunagear

The Lunagear is a special device assembled with ancient technology. Only Quinn is capable of using it, and by incorporating "Orbs", its wearer can control the elements: Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth. The Lunagear corresponds with whichever Orb is equipped. With the Fire Orb, you can summon fire to damage enemies; with the Earth Orb, a slab of rock to form a barrier against damage. Access the orbs to harness different elemental powers. By equipping different orbs into the Lunagear, you can combine any of the four elements to deal even stronger attacks.

Choose Your Warriors

The battle system is simple to learn, yet difficult to master! Utilize a variety of tactics, combining Actions, weapons, cooperation with allies, and elemental attacks with the Lunagear. The player determines their own combat style. Customize battle how you see fit to conquer the machine-riddled desert.

Exploration
Harness the 4 Elements to navigate the trap-filled desert!

Quinn's Lunagear will prove to be a handy tool for exploring the desert. Whenever machines block exploration paths, players can use one of the four elements (Fire, Water, Wind, Earth) to progress. Some puzzles require combining elements to solve!

Traps Galore

Mechanical Gimmicks can block your path and cause you to lose your way. Some gimmicks not only block your path, but can damage the party as well. These threats are not as obvious as the automatons, so use extra caution.

Rage against the Machines!

Many gimmicks can be used to your advantage in battle. The "Abandoned City" is filled with fearsome, over-powered enemies stalking in the darkness. However, lighting up various lamps within the map weakens these enemies, giving Quinn and her party the advantage. Pay close attention to the map for hints to defeat your foes!

Base
The Base

Many dangers await desert travelers. Therefore, Quinn and her party make use of building bases to prepare for their journey. Within the base, one can set party formations, train, construct buildings, and rest. Customise your base to your liking!

Expand your base with new facilities!

Construct a selection of new facilities to boost your base's rank. Facilities can be freely placed all around the base. Increasing rank yields bonuses for new provisions, higher training stat bonuses, and other benefits. Materials obtained during your expedition can raise the overall rank of any given facility, and you can spend funds to expand the available land to build even more facilities.

Camps can also be strengthened by unlocking the Camp Site to support you on your journey.

Formation

Players can select inventory loadouts, change abilities and equipment, and select party members to explore the desert from the Formation menu.

Procure

Players can buy, sell, and swap out new costumes, weapons, and materials to strengthen your base.

Training

Training allows your party to increase their stats and learn new abilities. Vicious beasts are scattered throughout the desert, making your combat prowess the key to survival.

Staff

 * Scenario Writer: Yukinori Kitajima
 * System Advisor: Kyoji Koizumi
 * World Visuals: Yo Shimizu
 * Producer: Norihisa Kochiwa
 * Director: Kosuke Uchida

Art
The game's character designer is Mota. Yoshitaka Amano also worked on the title, producing concept art.

Music
The soundtrack is by MARI, an in-house composer for Compile Heart. The Opening Theme is "Beyond", performed by Matsushita, composed by Junichi Takizawa, and Produced by EXIT TUNES Inc.

Trivia

 * Arc of Alchemist shares its World Artist Yo Shimizu with Death End Re;Quest.
 * Mota previously worked on Sorcery Saga: Curse of the Great Curry God, also developed by Compile Heart.
 * Yoshitaka Amano, most famous for his work on Square Enix's Final Fantasy series, also provided concept art for Fairy Fencer F.
 * The 3D Modelling of the Characters was done by Cattle Call Inc., developers of The Legend of Legacy and The Alliance Alive.
 * System Advisor Kyoji Koizumi also worked on The Legend of Legacy and The Alliance Alive, as well as Square Enix's SaGa series.
 * Scenario Writer Yukinori Kitajima is known for his work on Marvelous' Senran Kagura Series, as well as Nintendo's Fire Emblem Fates, and Final Fantasy Brave Exvius.