Pier Solar: A Brilliant Indie-developed Console RPG

Just when we were beginning to fear that Japanese-style console RPGs (JRPGs) were going to go the way of the dodo, Water Melon studio has opened up pre-orders for the best console RPG I’ve played since Chrono Trigger for the SNES: Pier Solar and the Great Architects.

I first got wind of this game in issue #49 of Retro Gamer mag which had an impressive two-page feature on it. The game began as a fan-based project by a handful of folks from Eidolon’s Inn message board (a Sega forum with a long history). The project has been in active development for around 4 years, with the assistance of a dedicated eleven member team that’s passionate about the Sega Genesis (Mega Drive).

So what’s so impressive about this game? First, the entire game has been developed for the Sega Genesis/CD using a fan-developed SDK – that means that the game is truly a console RPG! It is going to be released for the Genesis on cartridge and in CD-format for those with a Sega CD. (At this point I’m unclear if buyers will receive a ROM image of the game to play on their PC, however.) Second, the team released a working beta demo of the game to give us a taste of the final game. Third, this is one of the few JRPGs with a fantastic script/dialogue – it’s witty and charming, and has a way of pulling you right into the game. Finally, I’ve never seen a fan-developed project of this calibre. Even though the demo is a beta (with some bugs), you can see the love and sweat that went into making the game, and the final product looks like it will rival some of the ‘big indie’ commercial releases like Braid.

Normally I avoid raving about new games, but this one has me pretty excited. Is it just me, or is anyone else into the idea of breaking out their Genesis and popping in an old-school Chrono Trigger-esque RPG? If so, head on over to the official Pier Solar web site and download the ROM (playable in any Genesis/Mega Drive emulator). And let us know what you think of it!

Update (Sept. 30th): One of the Pier Solar developers replied officially that the final version of the game will *not* come with a ROM image:

Don´t worry, the game will be well [copy-] protected; that is absolutely possible on MD.
And about releasing a ROM….no, sorry. Just like Zebbe said it would spread and I doubt people would buy the game for a ROM image they can get for free. Also, there will be no emulator being able to play the game even if someone does manage to dump it. We really think that a Mega Drive/ Genesis is so cheap everywhere that it is no big issue getting one if you really want to play the game.

A Virtual Console release would be nice at some point, but the chances we are allowed to do that are rather slim I´m afraid.

Unfortunately that means that if you don’t have a Sega Genesis/Mega-Drive you won’t be playing the full version, nor is it likely to make an appearance on the Wii VC. Bummer. Guess that means I’ll be hauling my Sega CD/Genesis duo from the basement and hooking it up in a few months for some gaming goodness!