Rise of the Third Power

About

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

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 412 reviews

story172 positive mentions

grinding44 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.

Repetitive combat mechanics that can become stale over time, especially with limited skills.
Some characters feel underutilized or overshadowed by others, leading to a lack of variety in party composition.
The pacing can feel rushed towards the end, leaving some plot threads unresolved.

story
412 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
54%
4%
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its engaging characters, emotional depth, and political intrigue, while others criticize its pacing and occasional lack of resolution. Players appreciate the blend of humor and serious themes, though some feel the narrative can be predictable or overly simplistic at times. Overall, the story is seen as a strong point, particularly for fans of classic JRPGs, but it may not fully satisfy those seeking a more original or complex plot.
- “The story is excellent, albeit a little sad.”
- “The story has a strong cast of characters and a lot of political intrigue.”
- “The story is intricate with some twists and turns to keep it interesting.”
- “I found Corrina, the rogue sidekick, to be underdeveloped; she contributed to the story but often felt like a secondary character.”
- “However, the lack of resolution left me frustrated, as the supposed 'big bad evil' remained alive, and many plot threads were left dangling.”
- “The problem is that the story is not very compelling.”
gameplay
111 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
54%
7%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a blend of classic turn-based mechanics and innovative features like an exhaustion system and team switching, which some players find engaging while others view as cumbersome. The combat is generally praised for its challenge and variety, complemented by a charming art style and a strong soundtrack, though some mechanics may feel repetitive or overly simplified. Overall, while the gameplay offers nostalgic elements and solid mechanics, opinions vary on the effectiveness of certain design choices, particularly the exhaustion mechanic.
- “The combat system is engaging and offers a good level of challenge, while the soundtrack is excellent and complements the gameplay well.”
- “The gameplay is amazing.”
- “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 exhaustion system is anti-fun; it causes stress on the player with no enjoyable mechanic added to it. Why do you think P3 Reload got rid of that mechanic?”
- “Overall, while I appreciate the character development Rise of the Third Power employs, the actual gameplay is cluttered with bad design choices.”
- “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.”
music
105 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
34%
3%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the soundtrack as a standout feature. While most tracks are described as excellent and fitting for various scenes, some players noted occasional looping issues and a few instances of music feeling out of place during specific moments. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant asset, contributing to the game's immersive experience and emotional impact.
- “The soundtrack is varied and really well done with multiple styles and instruments.”
- “The music is stunning.”
- “The music does a lot to immerse you in the world, perhaps more than anything else so far.”
- “Animation is smooth and mechanics are interesting, but the music is repetitive.”
- “Before I move onto the story, I have to call out the soundtrack of this game.”
- “Besides that, the only other thing I felt was a bit lacking was the music.”
graphics
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
55%
4%
The graphics of the game are a blend of nostalgic pixel art reminiscent of classic 16-bit JRPGs, enhanced by modern effects that create a visually appealing experience. While some players appreciate the charming character designs and vibrant battle animations, others find inconsistencies in the art style and layout that can detract from gameplay. Overall, the visuals are praised for their beauty and detail, though a few minor graphical glitches and aesthetic mismatches have been noted.
- “The graphics are pretty great, the skill effects are stylish and gorgeous in combat.”
- “The pixel graphics are fantastic, and have a lot of nice little touches.”
- “From charismatic and well-written characters, a plot that manages to surprise at the right moments to give that charge one needs to proceed with the story, an incredibly detailed and rich pixel art, which mixed with effects in battle in 3D graphics creates a peculiar contrast which is literally a gift for the eyes.”
- “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.”
- “The most frustrating thing to me was the way some of the visuals were arranged -- it can be difficult to see where there is a staircase, where there is a pathway, which lights in a cave are doors vs. lanterns, and even where your character is when they spawn on a new screen covered up by something like a tree or wall.”
humor
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and sharpness, with many reviewers highlighting the engaging banter between characters and NPCs that balances comedic moments with serious plot points. The writing is noted for being both funny and touching, often incorporating tongue-in-cheek references and self-awareness that enhance the overall experience. While some felt the humor occasionally disrupted immersion, the majority found it to be a delightful and integral part of the game's charm, contributing to well-developed characters and an enjoyable narrative.
- “The humor is clever and sharp, not overbearing or obnoxious like how a lot of indie retro RPGs tend to be.”
- “The character interactions were a highlight of the game and made me laugh very often.”
- “The cheeky character interactions and the hilarious pop culture references always made me smile.”
grinding
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
Overall, reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game varies significantly among players. While some appreciate the minimal grinding and streamlined mechanics that allow for a more enjoyable experience, others find certain elements tedious, particularly in combat and level progression. Many players suggest that the game offers options to reduce grinding, such as difficulty settings and story modes, making it accessible for those who prefer to focus on the narrative rather than repetitive tasks.
- “Standard difficulty was a pleasant challenge with no grinding or dying repeatedly to a boss.”
- “This could be okay and even interesting if it offered unique ways to customize the team or forced players to make hard choices about skills and talents, but instead it just functions to make leveling up feel underwhelming and tedious.”
- “The combat can be a little tedious because it does not feel rewarding to win, as the rewards are lackluster and often consist of consumables you already owned, meaning 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 a long time, and sometimes it felt tedious.”
emotional
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
15%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its well-crafted storyline that balances humor with poignant moments, often evoking strong feelings from players. Many reviewers noted the impactful character interactions and emotional climaxes, which can lead to tears of joy or sadness, while some felt that certain scenes lacked depth. Overall, the game successfully creates a nostalgic and heartfelt experience, resonating deeply with players through its engaging narrative and character development.
- “When your characters have made it through some massive challenges, and then there is some kind of a great rewarding situation, that makes all the pain worth it... I can't stop it, it affects me emotionally.”
- “I will say when Arielle returned to Evenheart Castle and met her nanny in her room, that was an emotional encounter for me... well done story creation, writer, well done.”
- “The bright and quirky party gave me such a good punch in the stomach when they revealed their tragic backstory, and the lump in my throat after completing the story where the ending was… let's just say an emotional cliffhanger (a hole in my heart, painful in a good way, I guess?).”
- “The very long-winded dialogue sequences detract from the emotional impact, especially since the story itself is quite boring.”
- “I found the emotional moments to be overshadowed by tedious and drawn-out conversations that failed to engage me.”
- “The dialogue is excessively lengthy, making it hard to connect with the emotional aspects of the story.”
character development
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
53%
20%
"Rise of the Third Power" features engaging character development that is appreciated by players, particularly for its depth over a lengthy gameplay experience. However, some reviews note that significant character growth occurs off-screen and that options for character progression and skills can feel limited or inconsistent. Overall, while the character design and personality shine through, the execution of character development may not meet everyone's expectations.
- “Rise of the Third Power offered me an engaging adventure, allowing for plenty of exploration and character development.”
- “Overall, I'd say it's a great game, with good character development and a comprehensive progression system!”
- “Fun JRPG with plenty of wit, an appropriate amount of character development, a solid degree of challenge, and an interesting and engaging story.”
- “There are a few particular story elements in which massive character development takes place off screen.”
- “Overall, while I appreciate the character development Rise of the Third Power employs, the actual gameplay is cluttered with bad design choices.”
- “A bit too much plot development for my tastes, and character development options are more limited.”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
22%
33%
The atmosphere of the game is largely praised for its engaging music and beautiful pixel art, which enhance the varied environments and create a captivating experience. While some players noted issues with music looping during battles, the overall ambiance, characterized by stunning visuals and strong character presence, contributes significantly to the game's appeal. However, there are mentions of a mismatched atmosphere that may detract from the experience for some players.
- “The music is pretty good and contributes a lot to a suitable atmosphere.”
- “Environments are varied and each location usually has its own atmosphere.”
- “I enjoy the atmospheric graphics; they have little motes of dust floating in the air and beams of light coming through windows.”
- “The music enhanced the atmosphere, though I did encounter some looping issues with the battle theme during prolonged fights.”
- “Well, to be honest, it's mainly the mismatched atmosphere of the game.”
- “The characters can be insanely funny, but it's never at the expense of the story or atmosphere.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
83%
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with only minor graphical glitches and occasional issues with enemy choices and scenery reuse. Players report that these glitches are not intrusive and can be addressed by the responsive developers. The game runs well on various platforms, including the Steam Deck.
- “Runs great on my deck as well.”
- “The game maintains a smooth performance without any crashes.”
- “I've experienced consistent stability throughout my gameplay sessions.”
- “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.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game is viewed positively, with users noting that it is not a lazy cash grab like many other titles on Steam, suggesting a more thoughtful and fair approach to in-game purchases.
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users noted that Roland's performance is highly dependent on optimization; without proper enhancement of his abilities, he struggles significantly.
- “Roland's performance varied greatly; if his abilities weren't optimized, he fell flat.”
- “The game's optimization allows for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I love how the developers focused on optimization, making the experience seamless and enjoyable.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
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.”