Summary
Just like the name suggests,Idea Factoryhas a lot of ideas that the company uses to entertain fans with various engaging games. Founded in 1994, the Tokyo-based game publisher and developer is popularly known for its otome games, visual novels, and role-playing games that have a large following globally. The Japanese company is also known for collaborating with other publishers and developers like Otomate, Red Entertainment, and Compile Heart.
One popular franchise of the developer is theHyperdimension Neptuniaseries. Idea Factory made its mark in theanime gaming circleswith this series by picking various bits and pieces from other well-known games and combining them with quirky humor and enticing characters.Hyperdimension Neptuniamay be the series that put Idea Factory on the map, but the studio has released countless other remarkable titles, too.
8Dusk Diver 2
Released in 2021 and developed by Idea Factory in collaboration with JFI Games, thisaction-packed RPG titleis an improvement onDusk Diver. The title follows the escapades ofYang Yumo and friendsas they move across the dark alleys of Youshanding and the elegant Ximending streets, where they meet interdimensional creatures trying to destroy the world.
Dusk Diver 2is a great game with better customization, graphics, and combat than its predecessor. Although its story takes a while to pick up, it is well-written with robust characters and gets very engaging towards the end. Also, players need not have played the original title to understand it. With a short recap in the gallery, those experiencing the series for the first time should be good to go.
PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, PC
7Amnesia: Memories
Amnesia: Memoriesis another great title by Idea Factory. The game’s plot emphasizes that, while someone can lose their memories, they should never stop loving. A player takes the role of a girl affected by amnesia who depends on an entity named Orion. The mysterious creature acts as the player’s narrator and inner voice and helps the girl to recover her memories and endure hard times.
Along the way, Orion gives the girl assistance and tells her they can’t go back to the old world until they restore their memory. The game has a heartwarming story with some humor to keep the experience refreshing. While the plot is similar to the otome category, it has a charming feel that makes it enticing.
PlayStation Vita, Nintendo Switch, PC, iOS, Android
6Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord
Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chordis anotherturn-based RPG titledeveloped by Idea Factory in collaboration with Compile Heart. The game’s plot features Fang, a reluctant and lazy hero who, after pulling a sword from a stone, becomes a fencer. Fang collaborates with other fencers to collect weapons and furies.
Unlike its predecessor, the game has new features, enhanced alternate storylines, extra dungeons, better graphics, and additional characters. Nonetheless, it also retains features like low difficulty, a cliched story, and repetitive gameplay. Generally, it is a great game for gamers looking for a turn-based title to immerse themselves in.
5Dragon Star Varnir
Dragon Star Varnirtakes anordinary JRPG formatto a whole new level. Players act as Zephy, a knight who works with other Knights to protect the world from witches and dragons. The main objective is to destroy the dragon enemies to get dragon cores. Every dragon core has a particular skill tree, so as a player fights and gains factor points, they can put the points into their acquired cores.
The game features two primary gameplay aspects. The initial one is the exploration and dungeon aspect, which is similar to other games from the company. A player discovers secrets, opens chests and treasure, and uses the “Special magic” feature to counter obstacles. The other feature is combat, where players battle in the air, and the arena is divided into three different tiers: the low tier, the middle tier, and the top tier. A gamer can only attack enemies in the same tier as them, while magic hits can attack several levels.
PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch
4Hyperdimension Neptunia U: Action Unleashed
TheHyperdimension Neptunia U: Action Unleashedis another noteworthy release from Idea Factory that will grab players’ attention and keep them glued to all the action. It blends all the nice points frompopular RPG titles, makes fun of them, and creates a very intriguing experience with distinct gameplay and random humor.
The title is a spin-off of the main series,Hyperdimension Neptunia, and combines hack-and-slash gameplay with some action to create an amazing experience for gamers. The game has a plot where players explore the escapades of their characters while competing in various missions and facing new enemies.
PC, PlayStation Vita
3Record of Agarest War
Released in 2007,Record of Agarest Waris agreat tactical RPGdeveloped by Idea Factory in collaboration with Red Entertainment. The game’s story follows Leonhardt and his allies battling the dark evil forces in a war spanning five generations. It is a superb title with an epic story, complex plot, challenging battles, strategy, and a distinctive soul-breed system that allows gamers to create their own unique characters. It features a visual novel-style narration and light dating elements.
The game begins by delivering a substantial amount of exposition in a simple introduction cutscene that explains the Era Myth and what led to the formation of Agarest.
PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, PC, Android, iOS
2Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love
Sakura Wars: So Long, My Loveis another strategy title that features a distinctive sim-based narrative. While it has a specific plot like other RPGs, the player’s destiny isn’t predetermined. Character engagement plays a significant role, and how a player responds to different characters can eventually alter the story and the final result. It features a battle system split into two main parts: air combat and ground combat. The latter takes place in two-legged mechanized suits that can transform into jet fighters.
After the mech unit changes during combat, the movement and weapons change, too. For instance, the hero’s mode uses a sword as the main weapon, but when in jet mode, they use long-range missiles. In air combat, a player can fly in different directions using different attack methods depending on their distance from the adversary and the altitude they are at. A player can also use special skills and perform evasive maneuvers to gain advantage or counter enemy fire.
PS2, Nintendo Wii
1Death End Re;Quest 2
To date,Death end re;Quest 2is by far one of the best titles by Idea Factory alongsideOmega Quintet. The consistent dark tone, thrilling female protagonists, and intriguing combat make it stand out from other Idea Factory titles. The turn-based titles allow players to combine efforts with other characters and destroy enemies like pinballs. It features a rock-paper-scissors system where a player can use a skill based on Star, Moon, or Sun to bounce more enemies.
The title follows Mai Toyama, a young girl who moves to a new town, Le Choara, to search for her missing sister. While in the town, she discovers that it is awash with horrifying creatures and mysterious occurrences at night. She also gets to meet other residents with whom she joins hands to try and find out where her sister is.
