Ever Oasis is an action-adventure RPG developed by Grezzo and created by legendary game designer Koichi Ishii, released for the Nintendo 3DS on June 23, 2017. Drawing on the pedigree of the *Mana* series and the studio's experience with Nintendo 3DS remakes, this title offers a unique blend of town-building simulation and dungeon-crawling exploration. With a Metacritic score reflecting its reception, players step into the role of a Seedling, a Child of the Great Tree, tasked with restoring life to a desolate world ravaged by a mysterious force known as Chaos.
Ever Oasis: Story and Setting
The game unfolds across a beautifully colorful fantasy interpretation of ancient Egypt. Your journey begins in a thriving oasis that serves as the desert's last safe haven. However, this sanctuary is quickly overrun by Chaos, which turns animals into monsters and ravages travelers. As the chaos encroaches, your brother, the chief, urges you to flee and seek out a water spirit.
You soon encounter Esna, a charming water spirit who aids you in your mission. Using your special powers, you must gather resources to cultivate a new oasis from scratch. This new settlement becomes the beacon of hope for all walks of life in the desert, requiring you to balance diplomacy within the town with perilous adventures in the wild.
Gameplay Mechanics: Town Building and Combat
Ever Oasis distinguishes itself with a dual-layered gameplay loop that requires players to master both settlement management and real-time combat.
- Settlement Management: At the heart of the game is the construction and expansion of your oasis. You recruit residents to set up "Bloom Booths," personalized shops that line your main street. These booths sell potions, juices, robes, and turbans to villagers and Noots (adorable penguin-like creatures). Managing inventory, collecting profits in the form of "dewadems," and fulfilling requests are essential to keeping the population happy and growing your town. You can also engage in gardening and hold festivals to further enhance your oasis.
- Exploration and Action-RPG Combat: To expand, you must venture into the desert to solve puzzling dungeons and battle towering bosses. The game features a party system where you control a hero alongside two recruited allies. Each character possesses unique abilities necessary to solve traps and clear areas that are too perilous for one hero alone. You can equip allies with weapons, level up their stats, and unlock new battle skills to enhance their effectiveness in combat.
Notable Features and Visual Style
One of the defining characteristics of Ever Oasis is its distinct aesthetic. The game presents a striking contrast between the lively, populated oasis with its vibrant colors and the more subdued, barren desert landscapes filled with ruins, cacti, and monsters. The character designs feature a refreshing chibi art style, with the Seedling hero sporting stubby limbs and an oversized head sprouting seeds.
The game's ambition is evident in its mechanics, combining elements of city-building, action-RPG, and dungeon crawling. Koichi Ishii's influence is palpable, offering fans of classic adventure games a fresh experience that emphasizes the cycle of protecting the oasis through both community building and heroic deeds.
Who Should Play Ever Oasis?
Ever Oasis appeals to players who enjoy deep gameplay loops that reward both strategic planning and combat proficiency. It is ideal for fans of the Nintendo 3DS library who appreciate the craftsmanship of studios behind the *Zelda* remakes or those who have a soft spot for the whimsical world-building found in Koichi Ishii's previous works. Gamers looking for a game that challenges them to restore a community while exploring dangerous, trap-filled dungeons will find Ever Oasis to be a rewarding adventure.
