When you’ve been following sport information currently, you have most likely heard about Stay A Stay. You most likely additionally belong to one among two camps: Somebody who is aware of what Stay A Stay is, and somebody who cannot actually inform it other than all the opposite HD-2D Sq. Enix video games, like Triangle Technique and Octopath Traveler.
Effectively, whether or not you are the kind of one that is aware of about Stay A Stay or not, you may hopefully be taught one thing from us, as we stroll you thru every thing we all know, and every thing it’s essential to know. And doubtless additionally some issues you do not.
All Your Stay A Stay Questions, answered
What’s it?
Stay A Stay is a 1994 Tremendous Famicom RPG, beforehand launched solely in Japan, that’s coming to the Nintendo Change on the twenty second July, 2022. The remake will likely be in Sq. Enix’s now-iconic HD-2D fashion, like Triangle Technique and Octopath Traveler.
Who made it?
Sq., which finally grew to become Sq. Enix (the Remaining Fantasy people). In addition they revealed it, and that signifies that Sq. Enix are publishing the 2022 model — however solely in Japan. Nintendo is publishing Stay A Stay in every single place else.
Is it “Stay A Stay” or “Stay A Stay”? Or is it “Stay A Stay”?
This isn’t a superb query for the written kind, however when you learn the unique katakana, it is “Stay A Stay”. As in, stay music.
What’s the plot?
Stay A Stay is a narrative cut up throughout seven chapters, eight protagonists, and 9 eventualities, all of that are in a special time interval. There may be an evil drive known as (some model of) Odio in every time interval, who you’ll have to kill in an effort to full the chapter. Though you may play the chapters in any order, they vary from a prehistorical time interval via to the far future, every with their very own protagonist from the interval in query.
What sort of sport is it?
It is a role-playing sport with turn-based fight, very similar to different JRPGs of the period like Remaining Fantasy and Chrono Set off. Every of the time durations and eventualities has completely different mechanics, too — typically you will be specializing in dungeon-crawling, different instances you will have to make use of stealth to get by.
How does the fight work?
Effectively, it is turn-based, and it is introduced very similar to a typical JRPG: two events, one that you just management, and one that you just struggle, stand going through each other. You may have a bunch of strikes to pick out from, together with assaults and abilities, a few of which may give particular results like therapeutic or protection to a single tile once you stand in it. It’s also possible to transfer across the tile grid, with completely different strikes requiring completely different distances and stances.
Enemies even have an motion meter on prime of their heads, which tells you ways prepared they’re to make a transfer. When you’re not inside vary when their motion meter reaches the top, then the meter will reset. technique for staying out of hazard!
It is price noting that some characters’ tales will prioritise fight, others will discourage it, and a few may have none altogether.
Who’re all of the characters?
Observe: These names may change within the remake.
Pogo (Prehistoric instances)
A caveman who hopes to avoid wasting his crush from being a human sacrifice.
Grasp and Pupil of Kung Fu (Imperial China)
An outdated grasp of Xin Shan Quan Kung Fu, and his greatest scholar, who he hopes to succeed him, who must avenge the deaths of their fellow college students.
Oboro-maru (Feudal Japan)
A ninja on a mission to rescue a prisoner.
The Sunset Child (Wild West)
An outlaw about to have a showdown along with his rival, Mad Canine, in an outdated west city in America.
Masaru Takahara (Current day Japan)
A fighter hoping to grow to be the strongest on the earth.
Akira Tadokoro (Close to future, Japan)
A psychic orphan who learns of a kidnapping ring run by bikers.
Dice (Distant future, house)
A spherical robotic on a spaceship known as the Cogito Ergosum.
Why is it popping out now?
Sq. Enix appears to be reviving a number of their outdated catalogue, with nice success — contemplate the shiny remake of Remaining Fantasy VII, the recently-announced Entrance Mission remakes, the HD-2D remake of Dragon Quest 3, and even simply the nostalgia-adjacent HD-2D fashion of their newer video games. Sq. know that they have some gold of their archives, and so they’re completely satisfied to trot all of it out alongside their newer IPs.
It seems that Takashi Tokita, the unique director of Stay A Stay, was engaged on the staff growing Octopath Traveler, and he was impressed to make use of the HD-2D fashion to resurrect his personal sport.
Is Stay A Stay a giant deal?
Sure, and no. It did not promote significantly nicely in 1994 — solely 270,000 copies, in keeping with Wikipedia, which does not title its sources on that determine — however it’s an vital historic gaming relic.
It was the primary sport that Takashi Tokita would work on as a director, and his subsequent one could be… Chrono Set off. So it is mainly the precursor to Chrono Set off, which is not shocking, given its time travelling plot.
One of many sport’s designers, Nobuyuki Inoue, would go on to be the director of Mom 3.
The composer, Yoko Shimomura, would finally be the composer for Legend of Mana, Tremendous Mario RPG, the Mario & Luigi sequence, and the Kingdom Hearts video games. She’s a giant deal!
And, after all, regardless of its low gross sales, Stay A Stay is a beloved early RPG with sufficient of a cult following {that a} fan translation was made by Aeon Genesis in 2001, who describe it thusly:
Stay A Stay is really distinctive on the subject of RPGs. Somewhat than have one lengthy steady storyline, LAL throws a complete bunch of fairly quick (however good) tales at you. Every chapter is ready in a special time interval, and every has distinctive gameplay features… The story is pretty generic, however it’s informed very nicely, and a few the chapters throw you some actual curve-balls. Suffice to say, the sport is absolutely price your time. Simply do not spoil it for your self with a walkthrough!
Is it truly good?
Yeah! Though it is no Chrono Set off, it has its followers and its place within the JRPG canon. It received a 29/40 in Famitsu when it got here out, which isn’t too shabby, and though a number of evaluations apparently criticised its shortness and its remaining chapters, the general consensus appears to be that the sport was distinctive, fascinating, and well-written.
Is the music good?
With Kingdom Hearts composer Yoko Shimomura on the helm, you BET it is good. It seems like Shimomura has returned to orchestrate and prepare the soundtrack, too!
Count on bombastic struggle themes, epic organ items, and Megalomania, the theme that Toby Fox’s “Megalovania” was named for.
Is there new stuff for the remake?
Sure!
- Voice performing for primary and vital characters
- Re-recorded soundtrack
- A bodily and collector’s version of the sport
- UI updates
- Sound results up to date
- Rebalanced gameplay
- Radars and maps added
- Redrawn character designs (by Naoki Ikushima)
Why did it take so lengthy to come back to the West?
Tokita informed Famitsu that he had tried a number of instances, however it simply did not work out. It wasn’t till he joined the staff behind Octopath Traveler that he realised that the HD-2D fashion would work completely. Specifically, he stated, the Edo and prehistoric chapters had been laborious to complete, as a result of the staff had a a lot greater bar for the remake than the unique!
How lengthy is it?
About 30-40 hours, in keeping with Tokita. How Lengthy To Beat says wherever between 18-30 hours, relying on whether or not you are a completionist or whether or not you play video games leisurely, in addition to the methods you select to play a number of the chapters.
Is it associated to Chrono Set off?
In a way, sure. The director, Takashi Tokita, went on to direct Chrono Set off. You may see from the unique designs that it is fairly similar-looking to Chrono Set off, too!
Will I take pleasure in it?
Do you want JRPGs? Did you want Chrono Set off? Do you need to expertise an older, cult-favourite sport with out having to play it in Japanese on a Tremendous Famicom? Do you need to take heed to some absolute bops? Do you will have about 18-30 hours to spare? Then sure, most likely.
There is a demo obtainable on Change eShop, and you’ll take a look at our hands-on preview for some early impressions forward of our assessment which is able to arrive sooner or later.
Can I swap between outdated and new graphics/music?
We do not know! That may be good, although.
When is it out?
July twenty second, 2022.
Is it on different consoles/PC?
No! Effectively, it is on the Tremendous Famicom, so technically sure. But it surely will not be on PC, Xbox, or PlayStation.
Every other particulars?
- It is 4.6GB
- It prices $64.99 / £34.99
- You may pre-load it proper now, if you would like
- Tomokazu Sugita (AKA Joseph Joestar in JoJo’s Weird Journey and Chrom in Fireplace Emblem) will seem in a number of voice over roles
- “Dice” is outwardly a reference to Stanley Kubrick (who can also be not a dice)
- Influences vary from 2001: A Area Odyssey to the SaGa and Remaining Fantasy video games
- Totally different manga artists designed every of the principle characters:
- Yoshihide Fujiwara
- Yoshinori Kobayashi
- Osamu Ishiwata
- Yumi Tamura
- Ryoji Minagawa
- Gosho Aoyama
- Kazuhiko Shimamoto
That is a number of issues to find out about Stay A Stay! Tell us in case you have any extra questions within the feedback beneath!
