GamesAction RpgThis Steam Next Fest action-RPG is a delightful throwback to ’90s anime and SNES classics, even if it is also marketing for a much bigger and hornier deckbuilder JRPGWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesAction RpgThis Steam Next Fest action-RPG is a delightful throwback to ’90s anime and SNES classics, even if it is also marketing for a much bigger and hornier deckbuilder JRPGWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Inti Creates)
I was interested in Divine Dynamo Flamefrit when I saw that Japanese indie studio Inti Creates was behind it. I was on board the instant I saw the pixel-perfect ’90s anime aesthetic and heard the era-appropriate title screen music. And I was in love the moment the giant mech boss battle kicked off. I’m not sure how I feel now that I know that the game is at least partly a marketing bonus for a much bigger and hornier deckbuilder JRPG, but I’m still all on board for Flamefrit.
At its most basic level, Divine Dynamo Flamefrit is an action-RPG steeped in SNES vibes. TheSteam Next Fest demoputs you in control of a little dude with a sword, and it superficially resembles games like Zelda: A Link to the Past and Secret of Mana. But, dare I say it, there’s a little bit of Dark Souls here. Your attack is big, weighty, and can’t be canceled, so the game is largely about learning the rhythm of enemy strikes and positioning yourself to take advantage of them.
My favorite gimmick in combat is that you can set grass ablaze with a mana-powered sword charge, instantly killing any enemies that get caught in the flames. Deciding exactly when to use your mana is a nice little resource management consideration, and timing the flames just right so that they take out as many foes as possible is very satisfying.
Divine Dynamo Flamefrit - Debut Trailer - YouTubeWatch On
Divine Dynamo Flamefrit - Debut Trailer - YouTube
Divine Dynamo Flamefrit - Debut Trailer - YouTube
Much as I enjoyed the demo for Divine Dynamo Flamefrit, I have to admit that the game seems a little slight - and there seems to be a reason for that. Developer Inti Creates is also promoting a roguelike deckbuilder called Card-en-Ciel, which is due to launch on October 24, and the idea of that game is that you’re doing battle with and against a roster of video game characters that have invaded a particular corner of cyberspace.
The game characters referenced in Card-en-Ciel consist of both figures from Inti Creates' own cult hits and a roster of people from completely fictional games. Card-en-Ciel was initially revealed on March 20 earlier this year, and Divine Dynamo Flamefrit was announced just a short time later - on April Fools' Day. It seemed likely Flamefrit was just going to be a goofy trailer for a fake game that’d factor into the card battler, but Inti Creates was apparently serious about the whole thing, turning the action-RPG into a full standalone game. Now Flamefrit is being offered as a pre-order bonus for Card-en-Ciel, and while it’s also eventually launching separately, that should probably give you an idea of the scope of the project.
Card-en-Ciel - Gameplay Reveal - YouTubeWatch On
Card-en-Ciel - Gameplay Reveal - YouTube
Card-en-Ciel - Gameplay Reveal - YouTube
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Your enjoyment of Card-en-Ciel is going to depend on how deeply you pine for waifus, however. Your character is a nerdy dude known as the “Gaming Chair Detective,” and in a move that panders deeply to otaku fantasies, most of your support characters are cute girls that broadly play into cloying anime tropes. I occasionally enjoy trashy anime and I even found it all a Bit Much.
Still, the knowledge that Divine Dynamo Flamefrit is tied to a game that’s probably not for me hasn’t really taken down my enthusiasm for it - and honestly, the fact that it might be smaller in scope than a fully standalone game might be a point in its favor. Init Creates' Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon, itself a promotional bonus for a much larger game that took on a life of its own, is one of the best 8-bit tributes out there today, and I’m hopeful Divine Dynamo Flamefrit can be a similarly excellent look back at the 16-bit era.
Just a short time with Divine Dynamo Flamefrit has me longing for some of thebest SNES games.
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3
Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
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Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
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Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
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2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
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4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
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Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”