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I find it really interesting that the Umihara Kawase prototypes were basically Dig Dug 1 & 2 reskins, using the same enemies and eventually being inspired by the pump hose grapple mechanic
these two need to cross over. she's built her entire adventuring career around going after fish with legs, the mashup practically writes itself lol
@altermentality in 2010 they put out a remake of Lufia 2, now a kingdom hearts style real time action RPG with reimagined younger more anime versions of the characters. While I was excited and of course got it I can't really say I prefer it over the original
@altermentality And that was that. The team didn't work on anything Lufia related for a good half decade, instead focusing on new Harvest Moon spinoff Rune Factory, which they still make games for to this day (they're super fun!)
@altermentality Which is not to say Legend Returns is bad at all. Far from it! It's easily the best JRPG on the pre-Advance gameboy systems, really working the graphics and having many unique systems, good writing, and an eclectic cast of lovable characters!
@altermentality Anyway, a proper Lufia 3 was already planned and in the works. To be on PSX and feature a bit more of that 90s Tenchi aesthetic of techno magic fantasy, and be worked on by a new team, purportedly using Energy Breaker's isometric engine as a base
@altermentality After Lufia 2 came out, Neverland Studio switched gears and put out a TRPG called Energy Breaker. While not a Lufia title in name it's very much part of the series, featuring many similar themes and archetypes and even Lufia herself for a sidequest involving time travel chicanery
@altermentality Eventually, the original grandiose project came out as Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals. It blew my mind as a kid. Was the most in depth JRPG I'd ever played and there's still nothing quite like it. It was so great that Golden Sun and Wild Arms both copied its formula