Yes, Time and Eternity is an eccentric RPG based around the protagonist, Zack, being assassinated during his wedding ceremony, only to discover his soon-to-be wife is actually two women's souls trapped in the same body. As the ladies...
Yes, Time and Eternity is an eccentric RPG based around the protagonist, Zack, being assassinated during his wedding ceremony, only to discover his soon-to-be wife is actually two women's souls trapped in the same body. As the ladies travel back in time to try and prevent Zack's death, Zack will be faced with the decision of which lovely lady he truly adores -- his fiancé Toki or the brash woman that shares his fiancé's body, Towa. Toki and Towa; Time and Eternity.
Feeling like I just slapped you in the face while screaming Japan is the proper reaction at this moment. There are more red flags waving in the first few hours of playing Time and Eternity than in front of the United Nations. Noted? Noted. Let's talk about the game now.
Starting out in Time and Eternity I expected a standard JRPG with a very confusing premise, despite better than average localization from NIS America, a la Hyperdimension Neptunia. I was surprised to find that Time and Eternity was very straightforward in its premise however, with rather unique combat mechanics. More than that, I was surprised to find that most of my time with the game was taken up by dialogue, to the extent that I initially thought I was playing a visual novel or dating sim. I'm still unpersuaded that it isn't, but figure the world will open and combat will figure more prominently further on. At least I was spot on with regards to NIS America's localization. They continue to do the job right.
A Harem of Not Real Women
Time and Eternity opens with a conversation between Zack and his fiancé Toki discussing how excited they are to finally be married so that they can finally spend the night together. In fact, they haven't even so much as kissed yet. Their talk is filled with sexual innuendo that should go right over the head of younger audiences, make young adults smirk, and fills the eyes of fan-service hunting otakus with glee. If you're not one of the aforementioned, it should be immediately apparent that Time and Eternity may not be for you. Unless you've got a touch of perversion to you.
From there one of the game's more interesting gameplay mechanics begins. Three of Toki's friends appear, initiating a long bit of exposition, followed by the opportunity to talk with each one individually. This becomes the game's home base where quests typically begin and end, where the player can save, or where the player can simply converse with the game's various characters. Each of the characters involved at that point of the story will have their portrait listed at the top of the screen. Selecting each will start a bit of dialogue with that character. If the portrait is marked with an exclamation point, obviously something important is related to their discussion. Something about sitting in this room and talking with a harem of ridiculous ladies cracking ridiculous jokes, each of them fidgeting between a handful of animations endlessly repeated -- this was the Time and Eternity experience. No more, no less.
Eventually the wedding cinematic happens and we're introduced to our second potential love interest, Towa, and now we get to actually play the game. We take on the role of Toki (and eventually Towa) as she explores a semi-open area chock full of random battles. Combat is an active battle system that allows you to switch between melee and ranged at will. Typically each fight is a process of mashing a standard attack until you've built up enough SP to cast combat attacks, mixed in with reactionary presses when enemies attack. Yes, you can defend or even counter attack enemies, but you also have to be aware of their timing so they don't interrupt combinations. Add in flourish finishers and fights can become a sort of rhythmic dance. Even early in the game I found this intriguing, so I'm actually excited to make some progress, gain some levels, and try it out further.
At the heart
