Asdivine Dios is a classic RPG with an epic God Vs Human edge. This plot is the key aspect of the game and something that drives you back repeatedly. The core mechanics and gameplay loop are all too familiar and if you’ve played any other EXE-CREATE game, you will know exactly what to expect. This isn’t a bad thing, it’s more of a forewarning if you want something with a little originality.
This old-school RPG was developed by EXE-CREATE and published by KEMCO. It is part of a large KEMCO bundle or it can be purchased separately. I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing them all and it is a bit of a mixed bag. However, I feel the bundle is good value for money and genre enthusiasts will not be disappointed.
Asdivine Dios tells an epic tale.
Asdivine Dios tells a monstrous tale across its roughly 15-hour playtime. A deity of Asdivine has lost his powers. Izayoi must prevent the murk from destroying his beloved land. If he was endowed with his powers, this would be a challenging time. Yet, no power means he must work with others to save the world he created.
This blend of God-like mentality and the blind faith of followers is a success as the team of heroes works together to take Odium down. This interesting dynamic pushes the story in weird and wonderful directions. You suspect that Izayoi looks down his godly nose at the lowly humans. Whereas his followers, Iris, Friya, and Minerva work together to achieve the end goal. It is an unlikely team that takes a while to warm up. However, once things kick off, the story, characters, and gameplay work nicely together.
Familiar ideas.
Like many of its peers, Asdivine Dios has an overwhelming battle ethos. The surprise encounters are never-ending! This was a little tiresome and I groaned as I made my way from point A to B. Thankfully, many of the battles were quick and this was a small mercy. The turn-based ideas do not break the mould. Moreover, you can automate things if you wish, but this removes the tactical elements. Consequently, I rarely did this as the minuscule time saving wasn’t enough of a reward.
There is a blend of different attacks and magic at your disposal. Additionally, you may choose a leader to apply buffs to the team. This was an important tactical idea that is worth exploring. As you complete each battle, you are awarded XP, gold, and other bits and pieces. Subsequently, it is a familiar affair that won’t blow you away. Though it lacks originality, it works well and I enjoyed it across the relatively short playtime.
Asdivine Dios is gloriously old-school.
The overworld, battles, and safe areas were great to look at. Rich colours and a pixelated style reminded me of every early Mega Drive game. What’s more, the simple UI makes it easy to complete every fight and understand what is happening. The boss battles were great and there was something magical about the insanely big brutes that you have to take down.
The audio is familiar as well. There is a nice blend of upbeat tunes and ridiculously dramatic moments. The sound effects are loud and crass and will make you cringe. Though it is loud and occasionally uncomfortable, it rarely outstays its welcome.
Simple controls.
Asdivine Dios will not blow you away with complex controls. Instead, the developer has kept things simple and easy to understand. A thorough tutorial gets you up to speed. This was great as I hate to waste my time learning tricky and bloated controls.
Once you’ve hit the credits, you will be ready to move on to another game. Though I enjoyed my time with Asdivine Dios, I was happy to put it down. There is a list of achievements if you are a completionist. Yet, if this isn’t your thing, you can avoid a lengthy second playthrough.
Asdivine Dios is a good RPG.
I like dated RPGs. However, playing the KEMCO bundle back-to-back has tested my resolve. This 4 piece collection is a joy to play, but I recommend breaking it up with other genres. Asdivine Dios has a decent story and many of the mechanics are great to experience. However, I didn’t like the never-ending waves of random encounters. This was a minor thing and I recommend buying it here! Can you save Asdivine? Master your skills, kill every monster, and save the day.
