Yet another role-playing game is joining the already long list of RPG releases this year, titled Another Eden Begins. Coming from the mind of STUDIO PRISMA, Another Eden Begins is a time-traveling RPG with the most unique New Game Plus I have ever set my eyes on. While the story is your typical magical fare with anime-style imagery and a world in dire straits, added content via New Game Plus is said to turn the story on its head, allowing players to embark on new adventures even after the game is finished.
The concept of New Game Plus isn't new. Many games feature unlockable content offered to players after their first playthrough. It is a tool used in almost every modern title, including remakes, from Nintendo and Capcom to FromSoftware. Another Eden Begins does call into question the proper use of New Game Plus, and how, when utilized correctly, it can offer players much more than intended.
Another Eden Begins was originally a mobile game, adapted from Another Eden: The Cat Beyond Time and Space. It is one of many titles launched this year in the RPG category, alongside giants like Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, and GreedFall: The Dying World. Players follow the story of Aldo and his younger sister Feinne as they lead a peaceful life in Baruoki. That is until the Beast King appears and abducts Feinne to use her dormant powers against humanity. While trying to get his sister back, Aldo is thrown into a time rift that launches him 800 years into the future. He must fight his way back through three distinct eras to save Feinne.
With all that in mind, and so many RPGs available today, why does Another Eden Begins standout? Well, for starters, Another Eden Begins' New Game Plus has more than 10 endings and major new story material, a huge leap in the right direction for unlockable content. All of these endings can be unlocked via a second playthrough, and seem to diversify the outcome of the game each time. Players can carry over their levels, gear, and unlocked content from previous playthroughs, while experiencing something new and maybe even more difficult. Changes and additions made to all 10 endings seem to expand upon lore and flesh out characters that might have gotten lost in the shuffle.
These new endings unfold as you play the game, with choices made determining the ending received, similar to something like Silent Hill 2 remake, which features around eight endings. While the main storyline seems fulfilling, I find that there is less replay value in a constant story. Nothing motivates me to pick the controller up again, unless something happens in the narrative that changes my perspective entirely.
While sometimes New Game Plus can unlock a few extras, like harder difficulties and snazzy new weapons, other times, it can be quite impactful.10 endings mean 10 different games to experience, each with its own unique aspect to the main story. If someone truly loves a game, the best way to hook them in deeper is to introduce more content that expands on the story they already love. These endings could mean revealing something about Aldo not previously known, touching on a neglected part of the narrative, and/or deep-diving into lore.
Another Eden Begins' New Game Plus has more than 10 endings and major new story material, a huge leap in the right direction for unlockable content.
If the 10 endings didn't entice you enough, the game also features scenario writing and creative direction led by Masato Kato, a veteran in the RPG world with works like Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy VII, Xenogears, Chrono Cross, and Final Fantasy XI under his belt. Kato's direction is philosophical. He's been known to craft characters and settings with a melancholy touch, focusing on time-spanning narratives. Time, memory, and existentialism are common motifs seen in the creative's work. Another Eden Begins seems to mirror Kato's past works, at least somewhat, with a time-spanning narrative that focuses on loss and family.
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