Kiara smiled excitedly. "Now it's time for Valkyrie Profile… and honestly? This game is really unique. Lenneth is such a good protagonist, and I love that the game uses a female main character again!"
Kiara smugly crossed her arms after saying that while Mitsu chuckled beside her.
"Well, it's true," Mitsu admitted. "This game has really strong characters, but what impressed me the most is honestly how different it feels compared to most JRPGs right now."
Nigo nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Valkyrie Profile doesn't even feel like a normal fantasy JRPG sometimes. The atmosphere is much darker, more melancholic, and honestly kind of tragic."
The live chat instantly reacted.
"LENNETH MY QUEEN."
"VALKYRIE PROFILE MUSIC IS SO GOOD."
"THE OPENING ALONE ALREADY FEELS EMOTIONAL."
Kiara immediately pointed dramatically toward the screen behind them where Lenneth's artwork was displayed.
"And Lenneth herself is so cool! She's calm, elegant, strong, and mysterious, but at the same time you can slowly feel her emotions growing throughout the story."
Mitsu nodded thoughtfully. "That's one of the reasons the game feels special. Most JRPG protagonists usually gather party members through adventures or random encounters. But Valkyrie Profile is different because Lenneth literally recruits souls of dead warriors."
The atmosphere inside the podcast suddenly became slightly quieter.
Even the live chat slowed down.
Nigo continued more seriously. "And honestly… that system alone already makes the game emotionally unique. A lot of the characters you recruit have tragic deaths, regrets, unfinished feelings, betrayals, or painful backstories. Instead of feeling like random party members, they feel like actual people whose lives already ended before the story even properly began."
Several viewers in the chat immediately reacted.
"YEAH… SOME OF THEIR STORIES ARE REALLY SAD."
"THE WORLD FEELS SO MELANCHOLIC."
"THIS GAME FEELS BEAUTIFUL AND DEPRESSING AT THE SAME TIME."
Kiara nodded rapidly. "Exactly! That's why the atmosphere feels so memorable! The game constantly reminds you about death, fate, and sacrifice, but somehow it still feels beautiful instead of hopeless."
Mitsu then shifted toward gameplay discussion. "And the combat system is honestly one of the coolest parts too. Instead of normal turn-based attacks, every party member is mapped to different buttons, so battles feel fast, flashy, and satisfying."
Nigo immediately laughed. "Yeah, chaining combos in this game feels ridiculously good. Especially when you start launching enemies into the air and connecting attacks together."
Kiara dramatically raised both hands. "AND THE SPECIAL ATTACK ANIMATIONS ARE SO COOL!"
The chat instantly exploded again.
"NIBELUNG VALESTI!"
"DRAGON SLAYER SWING LOOKS INSANE."
"THIS GAME MADE ME FEEL COOL JUST PRESSING BUTTONS."
Mitsu laughed while nodding. "Honestly, Valkyrie Profile feels like one of those games where story, atmosphere, music, and gameplay all blend together perfectly. It's weird, emotional, stylish, and somehow still really fun to play."
Nigo crossed his arms thoughtfully afterward. "And I think the game becomes even more interesting because it doesn't fully explain everything immediately. There's this constant mysterious feeling surrounding Lenneth, the gods, Ragnarok, and the world itself."
Kiara suddenly pointed toward Nigo dramatically. "YES! That mystery is so important! It makes the entire game feel dreamlike sometimes."
The live chat immediately agreed.
"VALKYRIE PROFILE HAS INSANE ATMOSPHERE."
"THIS GAME FEELS DIFFERENT FROM NORMAL JRPGS."
"THE MUSIC + ART + STORY COMBINATION IS PEAK."
Meanwhile, Mitsu slowly smiled while looking toward the camera.
"Honestly… this might become one of Team NIWA's most unique games yet."
Nigo chuckled softly. "Well… Team NIWA always releases incredible games. Somehow, innovation always follows them no matter what genre they touch. Honestly, I've always loved Team NIWA's style."
Kiara immediately nodded enthusiastically. "I agree! They're seriously one of ZAGE's strongest teams right now."
For a brief moment, all three hosts became slightly quieter.
Because honestly?
Everyone watching already understood what Team NIWA represented inside ZAGE. They were not simply developers who made good JRPGs. They were the team people trusted when it came to emotional stories. Valkyrie Profile, Trails in the Sky, and Vagrant Story all felt memorable in completely different ways, yet each of them carried that distinct Team NIWA identity: stylish direction, strong atmosphere, and emotional weight that stayed with players long after the credits rolled.
Mitsu slowly smiled before finally speaking again. "Well… for Valkyrie Profile, I'd personally give the story an 8.5 out of 10."
Nigo nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Same here, honestly."
Then both of them slowly turned toward Kiara. The entire chat suddenly became nervous because everyone already knew what was coming. For several seconds, Kiara stayed completely silent.
"…Me too," she admitted quietly.
The entire studio froze. Mitsu blinked once. Nigo blinked twice. Even the live chat suddenly slowed down in disbelief.
"…What?" Mitsu asked carefully. "You're not going to complain?"
Kiara immediately crossed her arms dramatically before looking away. "Hmph! The score is already high enough, so I'll allow it this time."
That answer instantly made both Mitsu and Nigo burst out laughing. Meanwhile, the live chat exploded harder than before.
"KIARA HAS MERCY TODAY."
"THIS IS A HISTORICAL EVENT."
"TEAM NIWA TOO STRONG."
"EVEN KIARA CANNOT START WAR THIS TIME."
But then Kiara suddenly spoke again. "…Still."
The entire room immediately became quiet. Mitsu slowly turned toward her with visible fear. "Why do I suddenly feel nervous again?"
Kiara looked toward Lenneth's artwork displayed behind them. "Honestly… Valkyrie Profile feels sad in a different way compared to Trails."
The atmosphere inside the podcast subtly changed, and even the live chat slowed down again. Kiara continued more softly. "Trails makes me emotional because I become attached to the characters over time. But Valkyrie Profile…" She paused briefly. "…it feels like watching beautiful tragedies over and over again."
For once, nobody interrupted her.
"Every time Lenneth recruits someone, it feels like you're witnessing the final moments of a person's life," Kiara continued. "Some characters die unfairly. Some die with regrets. Some die without ever reaching happiness. And somehow, the game still manages to make those moments feel beautiful instead of simply depressing."
Even Mitsu's expression softened slightly after hearing that. Nigo slowly nodded. "Yeah… I think that's why the atmosphere stays with people for so long."
The live chat reacted more quietly now.
"Valkyrie Profile really hurts emotionally."
"Beautiful tragedy is the perfect description."
"Man… this game really feels different."
Kiara suddenly laughed awkwardly afterward, trying to lighten the mood again. "…Anyway! Lenneth is still super cool though!"
That single sentence instantly broke the heavy atmosphere and made both Mitsu and Nigo laugh loudly while the chat spammed "LENNETH BEST GIRL" nonstop.
Then Nigo leaned closer to the microphone and said, "Anyway, the next game we should review is another unique title from Team NIWA, and its name is Vagrant Story."
The moment he said the title, Mitsu and Kiara both became slightly quieter.
Nigo chuckled awkwardly. "And honestly? This game is so unique that it almost feels borderline bizarre."
Mitsu nodded slowly. "Yeah… Vagrant Story is definitely not a normal JRPG."
Kiara tilted her head while looking at the game cover displayed behind them. "It feels darker than usual. Not just fantasy dark, but almost… gothic horror dark."
Nigo pointed toward her immediately. "Exactly. That's what makes it so different. Vagrant Story doesn't feel like a grand adventure with a party traveling the world. It feels like you're trapped inside a cursed city filled with secrets, corpses, cults, monsters, and political conspiracies."
The live chat immediately reacted.
"VAGRANT STORY ATMOSPHERE IS INSANE."
"THIS GAME FEELS LIKE PLAYING INSIDE A NIGHTMARE."
"LEÁ MONDE IS SCARY BUT BEAUTIFUL."
Mitsu crossed his arms thoughtfully. "The setting really carries a lot of the game. Leá Monde feels ancient, dead, and dangerous. Every corridor, underground chamber, ruined street, and abandoned building makes you feel like something terrible happened there long before the player arrived."
Nigo nodded. "And the story is unique too. Ashley Riot is not your typical JRPG hero. He's not cheerful, he's not gathering friends, and he's not chasing some simple evil king. He feels like a professional investigator and soldier dragged into something much bigger than he expected."
Kiara added, "And Sydney is really interesting too. He feels unsettling, but also strangely charismatic. You never fully know whether he is lying, telling the truth, manipulating everyone, or revealing something important."
Nigo smiled slightly. "That's why the characters feel memorable. Everyone feels like they are hiding something. Ashley, Sydney, Hardin, the Crimson Blades… nobody feels completely simple. The game keeps making you question what is actually happening."
The chat quickly agreed.
"SYDNEY IS SUCH A STRANGE VILLAIN."
"ASHLEY RIOT IS SO COOL."
"THE POLITICAL CONSPIRACY MAKES IT FEEL DIFFERENT FROM NORMAL JRPGS."
Mitsu then shifted toward the gameplay. "But I also understand why some players feel conflicted. The combat system is really interesting, but it can also feel overwhelming."
Nigo immediately nodded. "Yeah. The game has this strange mix of turn-based thinking and real-time positioning. You target different body parts, manage weapon types, understand enemy weaknesses, deal with Risk, chain attacks, and constantly think about damage types. For players who enjoy deep systems, it's fascinating. But for casual players, it can feel extremely confusing."
Kiara sighed. "Honestly, sometimes I felt really immersed because the horror atmosphere, slow combat, and tense movement made every enemy feel dangerous. But sometimes… it also made the pacing feel heavy."
Mitsu nodded in agreement. "That's the weird thing about the Vagrant Story. The same systems that make it feel unique can also make it feel underwhelming or overwhelming depending on the player. If you understand the combat, it feels strategic and intense. If you don't, it can feel slow, punishing, and frustrating."
Nigo smiled wryly. "So yeah… Vagrant Story is not a game for everyone. But it is definitely a game people will remember because its insane. I love every part of it."
The live chat moved quickly again.
"THIS GAME IS CONFUSING BUT COOL."
"VAGRANT STORY FEELS LIKE ART."
"TEAM NIWA REALLY MADE SOMETHING WEIRD AGAIN."
Kiara slowly nodded while looking at the screen. "It's beautiful, creepy, stylish, and exhausting at the same time."
Mitsu laughed softly. "That might honestly be the best description of Vagrant Story. It's beautiful, creepy, stylish, and exhausting at the same time. Personally, I'd give it an 8.0 out of 10."
Kiara nodded slowly afterward. "For me… probably 8.5. The game feels really unique, and honestly I respect how different it is compared to other JRPGs."
Then both of them looked toward Nigo.
Nigo let out a long sigh. "For this one… I actually have to disagree with both of you."
The atmosphere immediately changed, and even the live chat slowed down slightly. Nigo crossed his arms while staring at the Vagrant Story artwork displayed behind them. "For me, this game is a straight 9.5."
Mitsu and Kiara both looked genuinely surprised. "…Seriously?" Mitsu asked.
Nigo nodded without hesitation. "Because there's honestly nothing else like it."
His tone became far more serious. "The atmosphere alone is unreal. Leá Monde doesn't feel like a normal game location. It feels cursed. Every room, every hallway, every piece of music, every strange conversation… the entire game constantly makes you uncomfortable in a good way."
The live chat immediately reacted.
"NIGO IS DEFENDING THIS GAME WITH HIS LIFE."
"LEÁ MONDE AURA IS TOO STRONG."
"9.5 IS CRAZY BUT I UNDERSTAND."
Nigo continued while leaning closer toward the microphone. "And honestly? I think people underestimate how difficult it is to make a game feel this unique." He pointed toward the screen. "Most JRPGs try to make players feel heroic, comfortable, and emotionally attached to a party. But Vagrant Story almost feels hostile toward the player sometimes. It wants you to feel isolated, confused, tense, and mentally exhausted."
Kiara blinked slightly after hearing that. "…That's actually true."
Nigo nodded immediately. "Exactly. And instead of ruining the experience, that discomfort becomes part of the game's identity."
Mitsu leaned back thoughtfully. "But don't you think the gameplay becomes too frustrating sometimes?"
Nigo instantly shook his head. "No. I think the frustration is intentional."
That answer immediately surprised both Mitsu and Kiara. Nigo continued more passionately. "The slow combat, the strange pacing, the complicated systems, the oppressive atmosphere… all of it works together to make Leá Monde feel mentally draining. You're not supposed to feel relaxed while exploring a cursed city filled with monsters, political conspiracies, and psychological manipulation."
The chat suddenly became much more divided.
"NIGO IS COOKING."
"WAIT… I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT LIKE THAT."
"NO BRO, THE GAMEPLAY IS STILL CONFUSING AS HELL."
"VAGRANT STORY DEFENDERS ARE BUILT DIFFERENT."
Kiara looked genuinely thoughtful now. "So you think even the uncomfortable parts are part of the artistic experience?"
Nigo immediately nodded. "Exactly. That's why I think Vagrant Story is closer to art than normal entertainment sometimes."
The entire room became quieter afterward. Even Mitsu could understand what Nigo meant now.
Mitsu slowly smiled. "Well… now I understand why you like this game so much."
Nigo smiled faintly while looking toward the screen again. "Yeah… Vagrant Story feels like the kind of game that shouldn't even exist. And somehow, Team NIWA still made it work."
In the end, every ZAGE game reviewed in this episode received strong praise, proving once again how consistently impressive ZAGE's lineup had become. The podcast ended with all of the featured titles receiving great ratings, just like many viewers had expected.
Meanwhile, far away from the ZEMITSU studio, Zaboru was already focusing on something completely different. This time, his attention had shifted toward the E-sports team of DoTA in Japan.
To be continue
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