Traditional Japanese RPG I Am Setsuna Is Heading West on PS4

No Vita release, though

by Robert Ramsey Mon 14th Mar 2016

Fans of more traditional Japanese role-playing game design will definitely want to take note of I Am Setsuna - a title that makes use of a Final Fantasy-esque Active Time Battle system. The release was specifically designed by Square Enix's Tokyo RPG Factory team to evoke the feel of Japanese RPGs from the past, and, to be quite honest, we can't wait to get our hands on it.

Often previously referred to Project Setsuna in the West, the game's been confirmed for a localised PlayStation 4 launch at some point this summer. However, handheld enthusiasts will likely be disappointed by the news that the title won't be releasing on Vita, as it did in Japan in February.

"EVERYONE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE RPGS OF YESTERYEAR. LET'S BRING THEM BACK," reads the game's English teaser site. Does this sound like your cup of tea? Hope that it lives up to the hype in the comments section below.

[source iamsetsuna.com, via gematsu.com]

Robert (or Rob if you're lazy) has been a fan of PlayStation since the 90s, when Tekken 2 introduced him to the incredible world of video games. He still takes his fighting games seriously, but RPGs are his true passion. The Witcher, Dragon Quest, Mass Effect, Final Fantasy, he's played 'em all — a little too much, some might say.

1
Artie
Mon 14th Mar 2016

Really?! No Vita? Okay, I WON'T buy this then. What the heck is up with the guys at Square Enix who decide these things?

2
Expa0
Mon 14th Mar 2016

The soundtrack seems a bit too soft for my tastes, but other than I'm all for it.

3
TOUGHDUDE94
Mon 14th Mar 2016

@Artie Well I not getting it due to that also.

4
ShogunRok
Mon 14th Mar 2016

@andrew20 @Artie If it's any consolation, the Vita version apparently didn't run that well. Might partly explain why Square isn't bothering.

5
Nei
Mon 14th Mar 2016

It sounds like my cup of coffee but I am strangely annoyed by its summer release date clashing with the snowy atmosphere. I am serious.

6
WanderingBullet
Mon 14th Mar 2016

Is that image above a concept art or does the game really look like that?

7
Jake3103
Mon 14th Mar 2016

This sounds great to me. Glad to see it coming to PS4 as well; these games are almost always handheld these days, and I just don't get on with handheld games at all.

8
ShogunRok
Mon 14th Mar 2016

@WanderingBullet Concept art, but the actual game looks quite pretty. Here's a link to some Japanese gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Knk8HkX7Anc

9
AyanamiReign
Mon 14th Mar 2016

This sounds exactly like what I've been wanting them to do for years. A bit sick of having to play these types of games on handhelds only. I just hope the story and characters live up to the older RPGs too...

10
NomNom
Mon 14th Mar 2016

I will remote play this to my vita.

11
Artie
Mon 14th Mar 2016

@ShogunRok That's probably true, I heard that as well. What's their excuse for everything else they do? ; )

12
Boerewors
Mon 14th Mar 2016

@andrew20 @Artie
Here's another gamer that won't be getting it! This is seriously ridiculous, there is a vita version and there's a translation: "let's NOT bring this to Vita, the very handheld that's owned almost exclusively by people who love J-RPGs".

I'll just stick to Bravely Second, which is like taking the worst stand ever since it's a Squeenix game....

13
Nei
Mon 14th Mar 2016

@Boerewors apparently they didn't want to bring Bravely Second and DQ either but Nintendo's publishing changed that...I would love to play this, Star Ocean and Legend of Mana on Vita!

14
Boerewors
Mon 14th Mar 2016

@Feena
Indeed! Those titles just feel like Vita titles to me; getting comfortable on the sofa or in my bed and just play the way I want it. Playing on a handheld is just more relaxed and it's ideal for smaller games and RPGs because of the very nature of these games.

15
RoosterCogburn
Mon 14th Mar 2016

Backlog is to big as it is

16
JaxonH
Mon 14th Mar 2016

I'll keep an eye for it

17
Nei
Mon 14th Mar 2016

@Boerewors Amen!

18
jbrewer99
Tue 15th Mar 2016

That terribly disappointing. I just assumed since it was on vita in Japan that we'd get that version when it got localized. I feel better after tweeting to square Enix usa but I'll probably get it on ps4 just to experience it. Don't get me wrong, I love my ps4, I just have very little time to sit and play games on the tv anymore. It's much easier to find time anywhere on my handhelds. I'm afraid I'm never get to finish the story on ps4.

19
oats-81
Tue 15th Mar 2016

Looks like something I've been looking for for a while. Hope its a physical version.

20
sonicmeerkat
Tue 15th Mar 2016

"EVERYONE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE RPGS OF YESTERYEAR. LET'S BRING THEM BACK"

Why are you yelling?

21
WanderingBullet
Tue 15th Mar 2016

@ShogunRok Cool, thanks. I was kinda hoping that the actual gameplay would look similar to that concept art.

Amazon has the imported JPN version for around $40 so I'm guessing it'll be around the same price or thereabouts when the Western version does release.