The Sword of Etheria is a role-playing game for one player initially released in Japan under OZ (Over Zenith). The game is set in a fantasy world and features anime-like graphics. The only connection between this story and The Wizard of Oz is that some of the characters’ names are taken directly from that book.
Fiel (or “Feel” in the Japanese version), a little boy raised by his older sister Dorothy after the death of both of his parents when he was still a child, serves as the story’s protagonist and its hero. Fiel and Dorothy are human, but despite this, they can draw upon Etheria, the world’s magical force. Toto, their mystical cat, can change into a sword whenever he wants. The brother and sister canir the capacity to communicate with the Katina, which are spiritual beings gods to oppress humanity. Feel manages to free two Katina, names them Almira and Leon, and convinces them to accompany him on his mission to defeat the evil gods, save their world, and reclaim the power that gives Etheria its vitality.
The narrative is broken up into twenty chapters that are referred to as “stages.” The gameplay consists of exploring the world in a free-roaming mode, talking to NPCs and other members of your group, and solving puzzles. It is possible to find valuable objects by destroying things and animals in the environment. Teamwork and the player’s ability to communicate effectively with their AI-controlled companions are essential for success in combat. During combat, the party members will pass the target of their attacks around to one another to combine their attacks. The player will be eligible for increasing bonuses and rankings proportional to their expertise in managing chained combat moves.
Each playable character can access various armor, weaponry, and enchanted trinkets like rings and necklaces, which can be outfitted for combat. You can either find or buy items from vendors within the game itself.
Your decisions in conversation with Almira and Leon throughout gameplay impact their “affection” value. Your combo and pass will be chained together more frequently with a partner with a higher score in this area. There are at least three distinct conclusions, each of which is decided by the mode you are playing and the decisions you make during the game’s dialogue.
The game offers three difficulty levels: Easy, Normal, and Hard. The amount and types of opponents that emerge, the goods that can be discovered in chests and dropped by enemies, and the respawn rate in some boss battles are the primary factors that differentiate these modes from one another.
Only Feel can be manipulated in Story Mode until later in the game, when one of the other two trio members can be chosen. The game’s unlockables, which include bonus stages, special equipment, outfits, characters, and a gallery featuring music, sounds, and photographs, are only accessible when the player has completed the game in this mode.
