Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is an RPG set in Ivoire, a world made up of unique floating islands, that depicts the adventure of a young girl named Marona who can communicate with Phantoms, the spirits of those who have passed on.
The game’s appeal lies in its dynamic and versatile combat, allowing for free movement across a gridless battlefield. You can utilize unique systems like “Confine,” enabling Phantoms you have befriended to combine with and possess items on the map to fight alongside you.
Additional systems will broaden your range of strategies, such as “Confriending” Marona to a befriended Phantom with strong bonds to alter the course of battle, or “Confiring” Phantoms to gadgets on the map, like cannons and tanks.
You can also enjoy a plethora of side activities similar to those in the Disgaea series, including character creation with over 50 units, strengthening your favorite characters to their maximum potential, exploring random dungeons for leveling up and gathering items, and more.
■ Story
Ivoire—a world covered almost entirely with water, and dotted with islands of various sizes. In this world, humans, beast-people, magical beings, and all kinds of life coexist.
Marona , a girl who can see Phantoms, works alongside her Phantom partner Ash as a Chroma, a type of contractor who travels to various islands and solves people’s problems, upon request.
As Marona and Ash are returning home from a Chroma job as usual, disaster strikes. Their ship is attacked by a group of vicious ghost ships known as the “Shipwreck Fleet.” A mysterious masked man steals Marona’s powers, and to save her, Ash jumps into the hoard of enemies alone. Thus, Marona and Ash are separated.
After escaping the Shipwreck Fleet and washing ashore on an isolated island, Marona encounters a young Phantom girl named Apricot, who wants to reunite with her lost father —the captain of the Argento Pirate Crew who once defeated the Shipwreck Fleet. However, the crew is now on the verge of disbanding after losing their captain. Apricot wants to revitalize the crew and search for her father, and Marona agrees to help her.
To travel this region of the sea, which is filled with pirate territories, they must become pirates themselves and expand their own territory. Marona and Apricot decide to work together to revitalize the Argento Pirate Crew in order to reunite with those who are dear to them.
Set on the high seas, where pirates and ghost ships run rampant, this story about the bond between Phantoms and the girl who connects with them begins now!
■ Characters
Marona (voiced by Kaori Mizuhashi)
“Chartreuse Gale!”
A girl who can speak with “Phantoms,” the spirits of the dead.
A girl with the unusual power to interact the souls of the dead. Because of this power, she was once despised and called “The Possessed One” by those around her. However, she’s now treated as a hero after saving the world from Sulphur, the Lord of Terror. She is cheerful, optimistic, and kind, and works hard as a Chroma to help solve people’s problems.
Ash (voiced by Hiro Shimono)
“For her sake, I will not fail!”
A young man who supports Marona, even in death.
A young Phantom man who has acted as Marona’s guardian and partner ever since her parents passed away when she was young. He’s kind, and has a strong sense of justice. Ash becomes separated from Marona while protecting her from the mysterious Shipwreck Fleet.
Apricot (voiced by Megumi Toda)
“Someone, help this girl please…!”
A lonely Phantom girl who longs to reunite with her father.
A lonely Phantom girl Marona encounters when she finds herself at Skullrock Island. Her swordsmanship, which she learned from her heroic pirate father, is unmatched. However, due to not being able to speak with anyone for many years, she is extremely timid. Encouraged by the optimistic Marona, she decides to search for her lost father and revitalize his pirate crew.
Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero features unrestricted movement in combat! Characters can move freely within a radius during battle.
The game is turn-based, with friends and foes alike taking turns based on their Speed stat. You can check the turn order on the upper right corner of the screen. Plan your strategy based on who’s up next!
Confine: Transform Objects Likes Trees, Rocks, and Swords Into Ally Units
Thanks to Marona’s power, allied Phantoms can possess (Confine) objects on the map, like trees and rocks, to participate in battle.
The deployed character’s stats will change based on what they’re Confined to. For example, if Confined to a rock, their defensive power will increase, but their speed will decrease. If Confined to a weapon, their attack power will increase.
A System with Unfathomable Strategic Depths
After a few turns, an ally’s Confinement will end and the character will be Removed—or withdrawn—from battle. Removed characters cannot be Confined again in the same battle, so think carefully about who you Confine, and when!
—If you choose the wrong time to use Confine, it can put you at a severe disadvantage in battle!
You can Confine objects deep behind enemy lines, objects around Marona to keep her safe, and more. The choice of who, what, when, and where to Confine makes this system rich with near-limitless possibilities!
Confriend: The Power of Bonds that Can Drastically Turn the Tide of Battle
Marona can use a special version of Confine called Confriend to allow an allied Phantom to possess her. By Confriending allies she has a close bond with, her stats will greatly increase!
In addition, special skills unique to Confriend will also become available. Unleash powerful attacks to completely turn the tide of battle!
—Marona’s appearance will also change, depending on the ally she Confriends with!
Again: An Additional Attack
When a Confriend skill is used to defeat an enemy, it will activate an Again! This allows a character to take an extra action.
Chain Agains to rapidly increase their stats! With this, it’s even possible to wipe out all enemies at once!
—Feel the thrill of defeating enemies in succession, all by yourself!
Trees and rocks aren’t the only things you can Confine to!
If Apricot is with you, she can airdrop robots, tanks with gigantic cannons, and flying Gadgets onto the map! “Confiring” to these can increase your attack range, let you suck in all kinds of objects, and perform a variety of other actions. Think of the strategic possibilities!
—Gadgets can be developed and enhanced at your base on Skullrock Island.
Different Maps Have Different Gadgets
On some maps, you’ll find Gadgets like cannons, catapults, fans, and even slot machines. When approaching these Gadgets, the player will be able to perform a variety of actions, and if a Phantom is Confined to one, additional special actions will become available. Gadgets could be the key to conquering these maps!
—Slot machines may contain rare items!
Abundant Character Growth and Post-Game Challenges
At the pirates’ hideout on Skullrock Island, your base of operations in the game, you can access a variety of features such as character creation to prepare for battles and challenges.
In addition to the familiar “Reincarnation” character customization feature from the Disgaea series, Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero also offers an “Awakening” option, which allows for easier character enhancement than Reincarnation, as well as the “Juice Bar,” which enables you to transfer EXP to the character of your choice.
Whether you want to dig deep into Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero‘s systems, or are looking to enjoy everything the game has to offer in a more casual way, these features are sure to satisfy!
There are plenty of other activities to enjoy on Dokuro Island as well, such as “Magical Synthesis” for item synthesis, “Marina” for customizing your pirate ship, exploring “Random Dungeons” to find rare items and titles, and much more!
A Plethora of Options to Play it Your Way
Equip items found on the battlefield, throw enemies in your way off the map entirely, stack characters on top of each other to reach high places, and more—these are just some of the cutting-edge features on offer!
For example, by lifting up an ally, you can use that ally’s skills, or even use the ally themselves as a weapon! The wide array of possibilities is sure to stoke the player’s imagination!
