NIS America gave players an expansive look at the new characters in Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero, along with detailing some of the new systems.
Along with Marona, and Ash from the first game, plus the previously reveal Apricot, another four characters were revealed. These include a sarcastic wolf-person Rouen; Henna a deceased queen that made poor choices in life; Urumi a young spirit that can control ice; and Mayfair a pirate that believes in family.
Additional Characters
Marona, a girl who can see Phantoms, works alongside her Phantom partner Ash as a Chroma, a type of contractor who travels to various islands and solves people’s problems, upon request. Along her journey, she will join forces with a diverse cast of characters from the various islands of Ivoire.
Rouen – A First Mate Fluent in Sarcasm
A beastman who was the first mate of the Argento Pirate Crew and the right-hand wolfman of the leader of the fleet, Apricot’s father.
While he always acts listless and nihilistic, he is actually kind. He shows an almost overprotective parent sentiment towards Apricot, who he calls “Princess,” while still managing to get some digs in all the while taking care of her.
Five years prior to the events of the game, he tried to protect Apricot and the others when they encountered the Shipwreck Fleet, but failed. As a result, they lost their lives.
Henna – A Queen Notorious Even in Death
The Phantom of a former Queen of the Hasara Kingdom, an island containing 70% sand. From times of old, it has been custom in Hasara for a woman to lead the country.
However, when she was young and inexperienced, she made bad political decisions and lost her life in a coup d’etat. Afterwards, she appeared as a Phantom in the Hasara Kingdom, where she controls others with a bewitching power that turns them into her servants.
She opposes the current queen, who is her biological younger sister.
Urumi – A Ghostly Force of Nature
A phantom boy who lives on Snowfall Island, an extremely cold, frozen place that is covered in snow all year round. Since he passed away as a young boy many years ago, he has gained the ability to manifest himself as well as control the climate around him.
In spite of his young appearance, he is extremely powerful, and has caused many of the island’s inhabitants to perish by making the climate worse. Accordingly, he is called a “devil” by the islanders who fear him.
Mayfair – A Swashbuckling Pirate Par Excellence
The big sister-like leader of a certain pirate group. She appears during Marona’s adventure when Marona and her companions visit Versailles, an island abundant with nature that is closed off to outsiders. There, she protects the island from poachers.
Once she gets her mind set on something, she charges ahead at full speed, and she values the swashbuckler’s spirit and her family over all else. She calls her crew family, and is at times a tough trainer, while at others a gentle protector
A few new systems were also revealed. The first is Protection, a special ability that gives a bonus depending on the item. It allows for deeper tactics, in a diverse world. Out of Bounds, or as it’s referred O.B., returns. This mechanic removes things, such as items, when pushed off the map. Enemies can also be pushed off for additional damage. Finally, a new equip system allows players to get more creative with what they use to defeat hostile threats. They also have skills/abilities associated with them, making it an important concept to take advantage of.
Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero Systems
Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero has many unique systems to allow for the ultimate “play it your way” combat experience. Read on for more details on Protection, a special ability that characters and items have on the map, O.B., which lets you throw enemies and items off the map, and the Equip Items feature, which allows you to equip trees, rocks, and other things on the map, including enemies!
Protection
Decide whether to use the effects of an item or destroy it!
Protection is a special ability that certain characters or items on the map can make use of. It is indicated by a flowing line linking whatever can make use of it. By using Protection, you can enjoy even deeper strategy in battle!
There are various types of Protection that affect a range of things, such as adding a multiplier to the target when attacking (Attack Power +x%), lowering the DEF stat of the target by x%, (DEF – x%), Prevents Moving, which stops a target from being able to move beyond their current position, blocking certain actions, increasing O.B. damage by x% (O.B. Damage +x%), make the enemies in a character’s range of movement target them with Aggro, and much much more.
Destroying the item or character causing the Protection causes its effect to disappear. Also, if you Confine what is causing the Protection, it will gain that Protection. Try out all of the ways to utilize it in battle!
For example, say a rock on the map is causing a Protection that causes enemy characters and grass to have Attack Power +10%. This can be seen by glowing lines linking them, and is a dangerous situation to be in. In this situation, destroying the rock causing this Protection will cause the buff the enemies are receiving to disappear. Alternately, Confining an ally in either the grass receiving the Protection or the rock causing the Protection would cause that Protection’s Attack Power +10% to go to that ally. It’s up to you to decide the best strategy!
O.B.
Throw obstacles off the map!
When a character or item falls off the map, it is called going O.B. Characters who this occurs to will sustain HP damage.
By using the Throw command, things can be thrown outside of the map. They can also be thrown on ice, where they can slide off the map, or be thrown from a high place, where they can go out of bounds. In this way, various actions and the characteristics of the terrain itself can contribute to O.B.
Also, if an item goes O.B., that item will disappear.
For example, if there is an item that you want, if an enemy throws it and it lands O.B., it will disappear.
Sometimes, it might be necessary to Confine in an item you want before engaging with the enemy. If the item has a Phantom confined in it, a message that says “Plundered!” will appear, and you will get that item.
Equip Items
Trees, flowers and even enemies can be weapons!
In this game, all items can be equipped. Not only swords or staffs, but the rocks and flowers on the maps, and even the enemies themselves can be equipped!
Things on the map like characters and items can be equipped by “lifting” them.
Equip items have both Skills and Abilities. Characters who equip these items can use their Skills and will receive the effects of their Abilities. Skills can be thought of as “techniques,” while Abilities are “passive” skills.
In Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero, you can also equip various objects that are on the field. When you don’t have an item equipped, try equipping things like grass, trees, or rocks! Trees, rocks, etc. also have Skills and Abilities and by equipping them, you will gain access to various Skills and status-boosting effects.
Furthermore, if you meet certain conditions, you can permanently learn these Skills and Abilities. Learning powerful Skills and Abilities will surely aid you in the battles ahead!
When a character takes damage, an equipped item or another character will become their shield, taking on a portion of the damage themselves! However, if the equipped item’s HP is reduced to 0, then the item will be lost, and if the assisting character’s HP falls to 0, they will be Downed and become unable to fight. Furthermore, if this item or character sustains another attack, they become Fallen and are removed from the map.
Phantom Brave: The Lost Heroes is set to release on PlayStation 4/5, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
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