Monday, July 1, 2013

Back again to the Sand Fortress

Once again, Radiant Historia's story has Stocke and the gang go back to the Sand Fortress. Where the road branches off to Granorg, Allistel, and apparently Cygnus. This is definitely the most visited place in the game's story, and it shows, somewhat annoyingly, in the limited exploration of the area.

Having already visited the Sand Fortress on several occasions, it has been entirely looted. The way through the sprawling building has also pretty much been memorized at this point. In a way, the familiarity with the Sand Fortress that you build up to this point really makes you, the player, feel like Stocke and/or Rosch. These two characters were stationed at said fortress for a chunk of the game's story, and no doubt the two veterans know the place like the backs of their hands.

For such a late-in-the-game return, though, there should really be more to do. Maybe a hidden room that couldn't be accessed before, or some sort of chest that can only now be opened. Such a delayed secret is something out of Chrono Trigger's book, but still. Good artists borrow and great artists steal.

Most certainly, it's definitely strange that Field Marshall Viola's nowhere to be found, especially since it's made clear that she's been sequestered in such a remote place as a kind of punishment. Instead, the Sand Fortress is being commanded by a generic soldier who, though decked out in the newest Thaumatech suit, goes down like a failed soufflĂ©. Perhaps Stocke and co. meet her again in Granorg.

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