Rise of the Third Power Reviews
Rise of The Third Power is a charming retro-inspired JRPG, that offers an entertaining plot, a great cast of characters and a unique battle system. However as good as it is, it doesn't offer something new within the genre and borrows a lot from its predecessor. But fans of the genre should still look to pick up this 35-hour rollercoaster as it's a solid JRPG.
Rise of the Third Power is a 40 hour long, Super Nintendo throwback that shouldn’t be missed by genre fans. The only criticism I can really throw at the game is it lacks that special edge Squaresoft SNES RPGs had. Everything in Rise of the Third Power is well-done, it just doesn’t innovate. This keeps Rise of the Third Power from being an immediate classic. I loved my time with it. I actually loved it so much that I bought Stegosoft’s other JRPG, Ara Fell. While Rise of the Third Power won’t convert any non-JRPG fans, it will provide a wonderful journey to those of us already drinking that sweet JRPG Kool-Aid.
Rise of The Third Power brings a lot to the table, streamlining the old charm by adding modern nuances to make something quite special. Invigorating combat meets intriguing writing, which makes for a perfect RPG combination. Some design choices may not sit well with everyone, but Rise of The Third Power still stands as a fantastic RPG more than worth anyone's time.
Rise of the Third Power is a game that has left me with a very good taste in my mouth, although it is true that its equipment system and skills have not ended up liking me, in general it is a game that I have enjoyed a lot during this analysis. It is a title that has managed to hook me from minute one thanks to its story and its gameplay, and if the games I mentioned at the top of this list are among your favorites, without a doubt you should give Rise of the Third Power a try.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
An enjoyable, if flawed, classically-styled JRPG experience.
Ignore the retro RPG trappings of Rise of the Third Power; this is a great game regardless of whether you're approaching it for nostalgic purposes. Its story is just fresh enough, its turn-based combat unique enough, to keep you firmly planted in 2022, not 1992.
Rise of the Third Power squanders its potential and ultimately falls into mediocrity, with inconsistent art and sound direction and uninteresting turn-based mechanics. There's lots of good in this game, but it's not enough to outweigh the more disappointing shortfalls.
Rise of the Third Power is a fun RPG inspired by classics of the genre that only suffers from its excessive linearity. It features an excellent combat system and a story that, despite falling into certain clichés, is supported by the strength of a very entertaining and concise text that delivers exactly what you want without going overboard.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The combat and overarching story are clear highlights, but there's undeniable bloat that hurts the pacing and the character portraits, for the most part, would be better left on the cutting room floor. While a babystep up from Ara Fell, which I awarded a 7 out of 10 in 2020, Rise of the Third Power doesn't quite do enough to earn a full-throated recommendation. That said, it's still a fairly enjoyable classic RPG experience with interesting characters, a simple but fun battle system, and some humorous dialogue.
I wonder if the writing enamoured me so much that it hampered my enjoyment of the rest of the game. The combat and dungeon crawling is fine, above-average even, but it often felt like an impediment to Rise of the Third Power’s excellent story. Nevertheless, I had a great time with Stegosoft Games’ latest offering. The team's love for the JRPG genre is shining through, and their ability to spin a great narrative helps the work lift well beyond what you usually get from "RPG Maker"-like projects.
Rise of the Third Power is an excellent old-school RPG that manages to feel fresh and exciting. Intermittent pacing issues aside, this is one adventure that you'll thoroughly enjoy so grab a bottle of booze, kidnap a princess, and save the land from an encroaching war.
There’s no doubt that for many the 16-bit era was where JRPGs really exploded into the mainstream, so titles that bring back and celebrate that style are pretty welcome to see on the Switch after a slow-ish start for the genre...
Like Ara Fell: Enhanced Edition was in 2020, Rise of the Third Power will undoubtedly be one of the best budget-friendly Switch RPGs of 2022.
I really wish I could rave about Rise of the Third Power. I’m a fan of the developer, and I enjoy retro-styled games. Nevertheless, I don’t feel this one lived up to my hype, nor that it reached the same heights as Ara Fell: Enhanced Edition. That said, if you enjoy the genre and are looking for a game to get lost in for a few hours, it’s hard to say no for the low price point of $19.99. Ultimately, I’d say this one is worth a shot, but that you should most definitely play Ara Fell as well.
Overall, I loved Rise of the Third Power. Looking like a classic JRPG but playing to a tune all of its own, it has everything from well written characters and a well paced experience over to a very well designed battle system and amazing music to support it all.
Very well made, well thought out JRPG. While there are a couple of small flaws and linear character upgrades, the overall experience is well crafted and the story and character dynamics are so much fun.
Rise of the Third Power is best suited to those looking for an RPG that requires a lot of thought and attention and have plenty of free time at their gaming disposal. The plot is very good in this game and the upgrade system is quite refreshing. But the battle for me was a slow grind to get to grips with. Maybe I’m just stuck in my retro RPG ways. But that’s not to say it won’t click with those that have the time to spend on this. I liked what this game was trying to achieve. I think the developers have done a very good job trying to step out of the traditional RPG formula. That in itself deserves extra praise in my book.
It’s actually really hard to find things wrong with Rise of the Third Power. If I had to really nitpick here, I’d say the enemies could use some more lively animations for their attacks, and the dungeons could do without the repeating elements of “find switches and find the bronze/silver/gold keys.” But these are honestly minor in the grand scheme of the game. Rise of the Third Power is a love letter to the games of my youth, and it plucks at those heartstrings with skilled fingers. With a fantastic story, fully-developed, well-written characters, gorgeously pixelated visuals, and a stellar soundtrack, this game is a must-have for fans of old-school RPGs.
Rise of Third Power is a competent homage to the golden age of classic RPGs. Despite the flaws in crucial points of the genre such as the story, it is possible to feel at different times the developers' affection for their work, so that, with controlled expectations, it becomes fully possible to find fun in the adventure of Rowan and his unlikely team.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
With a simple, yet fun, combat system, party mechanics that encourage experimentation, and a highly memorable story, this is a throwback title few RPGamers will want to miss.