In many ways, Rainbow Skies, the new game from SideQuest Studios and published by EastAsiaSoft, is another throwback to JRPGs of the past. Everything about it feels worn, and not just because it’s the spiritual successor to 2013’s Rainbow Moon. That game brought out the nostalgia in force, and gamers everywhere went on a journey that felt like JRPGs of old. But Rainbow Skies tends to become tedious after such a small amount of time, as that nostalgia has worn off and what’s left is a title that feels so much mobile game ported to a much more powerful system.
Rainbow Skies follows the story of three adventurers on a quest to save the world. While there are some narrative wrinkles in the story, it follows the template of a great many JRPGs before it, and it suffers for it. Two of the main characters, Damion and Layne, are monster trainers and fighter types who live on an airship city called Arca. Due to some shenanigans, the duo crash the ship and fall to their presumed deaths. The third member, Ashly, seeks to control the land’s many monsters and when she discovers the two Arcans, she accidentally bonds herself to them, creating the adventuring trio.
The three non-friends explore the land of Lunah to find a way to break the spell and end up in a scenario that could doom everyone, of course. The gameplay is uninspired, as the three run around on a three-quarters map, battling monsters and growing levels and skills. The combat in Rainbow Skies is one of the highpoints, as it utilizes a grid-based, tactical system were movement and placement are the keys for victory. Players take turns setting up attacks and moving around the board, and this adds a fair amount of strategy to the many battles throughout the course of the adventure. This is, by far, the strongest part of the game, and since combat is the bread and butter of most RPGs, this is one thing that Rainbow Skies has going for it.
Players explore the land and can capture monsters, but everything about the game world feels outwardly generic. There’s nothing unique about Lunah or the monsters, and the tried and true tropes of gaming past rears its ugly head early and often. In Rainbow Moon, it was charming and a nice throwback, but here, after so many years and so many more nostalgic trips by copycat developers, Rainbow Skies flounders.
Another thing going for Rainbow Skies is that the purchase of the game comes with three versions; one for the PS4, one for the PS3, and one for the PS Vita, and they each offer cross-save/cross-play. This game works best on the Vita, as it feels it was always meant to be a handheld game. The graphics look better on the smaller screen and the controls are better suited for the smaller, less powerful system. I can’t fault a title for being so-so on the more powerful systems when I’ve actually enjoyed playing it on my Vita. Why this makes sense, I will never know.
Rainbow Skies doesn’t do much to break new ground for JRPGs. Unlike it’s predecessor, which tapped the vein of nostalgia, Rainbow Skies is just kind of — there. The combat mechanics make for some fun battles and helps break up the monotony of the grind, but the rest is very blasé. Long time fans of the first game will find some enjoyment in it, and maybe gamers who’ve never picked up a Rainbow game will have some fun, but overall, there are better throwback JRPGs out there. If you do pick up this game and own a Vita, that is definitely the way to go to play it.
Rainbow Skies is available now for the PS4, PS3, and PS Vita, all sold in one convenient package. This review was based off a PS4 and PS Vita play through, from a code provided by the publisher.
