Rise of the Third Power

An enjoyable, if flawed, classically-styled JRPG experience.

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In "Rise of the Third Power," players navigate a tactical RPG set in a fantasy world on the brink of war. The game features strategic combat with customizable parties and a focus on character development. As the story unfolds, players must make difficult decisions that will impact the fate of their nation and the lives of those around them.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 333 reviews

story138 positive mentions

grinding30 negative mentions

Engaging story with well-developed characters that evoke emotional responses.
Beautiful pixel art and animations, especially in combat, enhancing the overall experience.
Innovative combat system that encourages strategic thinking and character synergy.

Some characters and plot points feel rushed or underdeveloped, leading to unresolved storylines.
Limited character customization and skill variety can make combat feel repetitive over time.
Certain design choices, such as the exhaustion system and lack of fast travel, can hinder exploration and pacing.

story
311 mentions
44 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized by a blend of political intrigue and personal character arcs, often drawing comparisons to classic JRPGs. While many players appreciate the well-crafted narrative and character development, some express disappointment with the open-ended conclusion and occasional predictability. Overall, the storytelling is praised for its depth, humor, and emotional engagement, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The story is great, worldbuilding is great, the writing even more so!”
- “The members themselves come from all walks of life, having lived under different governments, wealth, adversities and responsibilities, they tend to clash a lot, but allow themselves to focus on greater threats and maintain cohesion. Through exploration and progression, you get a greater understanding of their lives, motivations, hopes, and shortcomings. The development of some is even reflected through their skills; they truly carry this politics-heavy story. All main and supporting characters, its world, and overall story are excellently written.”
- “The story is intricate with some twists and turns to keep it interesting.”
- “The problem is that the story is not very compelling.”
- “The plot just fails to deliver any meaningful moments due to the lacking cast.”
- “This game, on the other hand, takes an interesting and unique premise—trying to stop WWII in a fantasy setting—and butchers it with lazy writing, unlikeable incompetent main characters, and so many jokes about how bad its own story is, it makes you wonder why they didn't just revise the script instead.”
gameplay
78 mentions
40 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally well-received, characterized by solid turn-based mechanics and engaging combat that balances nostalgia with modern elements. While some players appreciate the unique features like the exhaustion system and character skill trees, others find certain mechanics cumbersome or unnecessary. Overall, the game offers a polished experience with a captivating story, though it may not significantly innovate beyond established RPG standards.
- “The game manages to strike a perfect balance between nostalgia and modern gameplay, making it a great choice for a wide range of players.”
- “The combat system makes for fun and interesting gameplay, but as other reviewers have pointed out, the story is the real star here.”
- “Intuitive mechanics, snappy combat, engaging exploration, and a charming aesthetic.”
- “My one real complaint would be the exhaustion system; it just feels like an arbitrary timesink just to have a mechanic that makes the game different from other RPG Maker titles.”
- “Gameplay is so much slower and you can only use three party members versus the four you could use in Ara Fell.”
- “50% of the first four hours of gameplay has been 'cut scenes' that can't be skipped or sped up.”
music
74 mentions
65 % positive mentions
31 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers highlighting its beauty, variety, and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere. Tracks range from energetic rock and battle themes to more emotional pieces, contributing significantly to immersion and enjoyment. While some noted occasional mismatches in style, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is a standout feature, elevating the gaming experience.
- “The soundtrack is varied and really well done with multiple styles and instruments.”
- “The music is phenomenal!!”
- “Everything from the writing, art, combat, and music is just sublime, it really feels like a modern classic!”
- “Animation is smooth and mechanics are interesting, but the music is repetitive.”
- “For a main character who is a pirate, there was no 'pirate theme/music'.”
- “Besides that, the only other thing I felt was a bit lacking was the music.”
graphics
58 mentions
45 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are a nostalgic throwback to the 16-bit era, featuring charming pixel art and improved battle animations that evoke classic JRPGs like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI. While some players appreciate the retro aesthetic and find it visually appealing, others note minor graphical glitches and a mix of old and new styles that can occasionally clash. Overall, the visuals are well-received for their artistic quality and engaging design, contributing positively to the game's immersive experience.
- “Excellent characters, writing, and turn-based combat set in a gorgeous pixel graphic world.”
- “The pixel graphics are fantastic and have a lot of nice little touches.”
- “The graphics are pretty great; the skill effects are stylish and gorgeous in combat.”
- “The rise of the third power, however, has only 2D graphics, not much more than what was standard back when the SNES ruled the JRPG world (think Final Fantasy VI, Chrono Trigger, Terranigma).”
- “Sadly, despite massive improvements in the graphics department, Rise of the Third Power falls short of what I'd come to expect from Stegosoft.”
- “My only complaint is some of the graphic libraries could have used an update (for some reason I found Ara Fell's graphics nicer in some parts).”
humor
41 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing, well-developed characters, and a blend of lightheartedness with serious moments. Players appreciate the witty dialogue and quirky interactions, often finding themselves laughing at the clever pop culture references and character banter. However, some feel that the humor can occasionally disrupt the narrative flow, particularly during more serious plot points.
- “However, it compensates with exceptionally well-written characters and occasionally hilariously funny dialogue.”
- “You'll definitely encounter some typical JRPG tropes, but there's a lot of tongue-in-cheek and fourth-wall breaking humor where I think the writer really shines.”
- “The characters are charming, the world-building is solid, and the humor is at the right intervals while being witty.”
grinding
31 mentions
3 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
Overall, players appreciate that the game minimizes grinding, making it more enjoyable and accessible, especially for those focused on the story. While some found certain battles and mechanics tedious, the inclusion of a "story" difficulty and team leveling system allows for a smoother experience without excessive grinding. Many reviewers recommend the game for its engaging narrative and combat, noting that grinding is not a significant requirement to progress.
- “Standard difficulty was a pleasant challenge with no grinding or dying repeatedly to a boss.”
- “After two hours, I have two people I have no idea who they are kidnapping a third and then escorting her through a very long and tedious sewer level.”
- “The combat can be a little tedious because it does not feel good to win since the rewards are mediocre, and the chest rewards are consumable. Often, you used consumables you already owned to get to the chest, which means you earned nothing.”
- “One thing I do have to mention is that at some point (closer to the end of the game), the regular battles took up a long time; sometimes it felt tedious.”
emotional
16 mentions
94 % positive mentions
-12 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke strong feelings through well-crafted character arcs and poignant moments, often blending humor with serious themes. Players appreciate the nostalgic and touching encounters, which can lead to genuine emotional responses, including tears. However, some critiques mention that certain elements, like dialogue length and art style, may detract from the overall emotional impact.
- “When your characters have made it through some massive challenges, and then there is a great rewarding situation, it makes all the pain worth it... I can't stop it, it affects me emotionally.”
- “Special mention for how varied the writing is, altogether hilarious, touching, and heart-wrenching.”
- “I love the nostalgia, and this game honestly made me cry a few times.”
- “The dialogue sequences are very long-winded, which doesn't pair well with the boring story.”
- “The emotional moments feel forced and lack genuine impact.”
- “I found it hard to connect with the characters due to their shallow development.”
character development
9 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the depth and variety in character personalities and progression systems, others find the options limited and occasionally inconsistent. The game offers substantial character development over its lengthy playtime, but some feel it is overshadowed by plot development or feels rushed. Overall, it appeals to those prioritizing story and character growth, despite some critiques on the depth of customization.
- “Actual character development happens as well.”
- “Overall, I'd say it's a great game, with good character development, and a comprehensive progression system!”
- “And limited character development and stat options... and limited skills too.”
- “Gameplay is okay but highly recommended if story/character development are your #1 priority.”
- “A bit too much plot development for my tastes, and character development options are more limited.”
stability
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
-40 % neutral mentions
80 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates good stability, with only minor graphical glitches and occasional issues with enemy choices and scenery reuse. These glitches are generally not intrusive and do not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the game. Players report smooth performance, particularly on the Steam Deck.
- “Runs great on my deck as well.”
- “The game maintains a steady frame rate, even during intense moments.”
- “I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs, which is impressive.”
- “There are some glitches, some weird random enemy choices, and some unabashedly reused scenery, but the overall game is well-written and enjoyable.”
- “There were a couple minor graphical glitches with a couple tilesets and a handful of scenes having a few portraits bug out, but nothing really intrusive.”
- “I came across small glitches like this maybe 4-5 times and that was the most notable one.”
atmosphere
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by a strong musical score and diverse environments, each contributing its own unique feel. However, some players note a mismatch in the overall atmosphere, suggesting inconsistencies in how different elements come together.
- “The music is pretty good and contributes a lot to a suitable atmosphere.”
- “Environments are varied and each location usually has its own atmosphere.”
- “The mismatched atmosphere of the game adds a unique charm.”
- “Environments are varied, and each location usually has its own atmosphere.”
- “Well, to be honest, it's mainly the mismatched atmosphere of the game.”
replayability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is viewed negatively, with users expressing a strong reluctance to revisit it.
- “I shudder at the thought of replay value.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying feel pointless.”