Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero Review – Nippon Ichi Software Returns to its SRPG Roots on Nintendo Switch

Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero marks the much-anticipated sequel to Nippon Ichi Software’s cult classic, originally released on PlayStation 2.

Known for pioneering quirky and complex strategy RPGs (SRPGs), Nippon Ichi Software (NIS) has built a reputation through flagship series like Disgaea.

Their return to Phantom Brave is a celebrated event among SRPG fans, particularly as the series graces modern platforms like the Nintendo Switch, with publishing handled by NIS America.

Set after the events of the original game, Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero follows Marona and Ash on a new journey to an uncharted archipelago.

Players familiar with the series will recognize Marona’s unique ability to speak to phantoms, a theme deeply woven into both gameplay and narrative.

When separated from Ash and stranded on a mysterious island, Marona must navigate new cultures, help spirits, and search for her lost companion with the help of both old friends and new faces, such as the bashful phantom captain, Apricot. Long-time NIS fans will immediately notice the developer’s signature humor and creative mechanics on display.

The campaign unfolds through a series of island arcs divided into five-mission batches, offering bite-sized tactical challenges and plenty of character-building opportunities.

Marona forms a diverse pirate crew while uplifting and befriending a host of phantoms and NPCs, continuing the game’s legacy of community-centric storytelling. The strategic core of Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero revolves around dynamic 3D maps where terrain, elevation, and physics play a critical role.

Every skirmish is set on isolated voids with the possibility of knocking units—and items—out of bounds, dealing damage, or removing assets from the field entirely.

Players must deploy phantoms by binding them to objects, using their abilities for a fixed number of turns.

Unique gadgets and environmental effects add further layers to combat, resembling some of the most inventive elements of Disgaea 4. Marona’s new abilities introduce fresh tactical depth, including functions to extend a phantom’s presence or enable powerful combos through her signature "Confriend" fusion mechanic.

This feature encourages players to build bonds with phantoms on Skullrock Island, unleashing game-changing forms at critical moments—a thrilling system that rewards calculated risk. Customization is a standout element.

Each recruited phantom can be tailored with different color palettes, names, and stat growth pathways.

Environmental objects on maps often carry buffs or hazards that can influence both teams, and the only way to alter the battlefield is by strategically eliminating or ejecting these items. In between battles, Skullrock Island serves as the player’s base, where phantoms can develop facilities, undertake dungeon runs, and complete secondary quests.

While perhaps less intricate than the Disgaea home base, the focus on gameplay-relevant upgrades and activities ensures a consistently engaging loop of progression and experimentation. However, the Nintendo Switch version is not without issues.

Recent NIS SRPGs on the platform, such as Disgaea 6 and Disgaea 7, have struggled with performance—and Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is no exception.

The game offers both Quality and Performance visual settings, targeting 30 FPS, yet frame rates can drastically dip in busy battle scenarios.

This instability can affect real-time actions tied to physics, leading to unresponsive controls and even occasional crashes.

While such issues may be familiar to Switch veterans, they are worth considering for newcomers. Despite technical setbacks, Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero delivers a generous and immersive SRPG experience, rich with tactical experimentation and the endearing style NIS is known for.

The game’s depth, creative systems, and heartfelt storytelling ensure its place among the most engaging offerings on the Nintendo eShop.

With hope for future optimizations or upgraded hardware, Nippon Ichi Software continues to demonstrate why it stands as a pillar of modern strategy game development.

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