The DioField Chronicle Demo Available: Square Enix’s New SRPG

Depending on who you ask, we’re in a Square Enix golden age or the sun has set on the halcyon yesteryears of Squaresoft and Enix. What can’t be debated, though, is Square Enix’s fairly impressive output of late, particularly when it comes to RPGs and tactical games. The DioField Chronicle demo is SE’s latest toe in the pond. The game boasts a “gritty and immersive story” and an innovative real-time strategy battle system known as “Real Time Tactical Battle” (RTTB).

Long-time fans may recognize character design from Taiki (Lord of Vermillion series) and art from Isamu Kamikokuryo (Final Fantasy XII and Final Fantasy XIII). The game is also being co-developed with Japanese studio Lancarse, which worked with Atlus on Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey and also developed Monark. To further add to the mixture of talents, music was composed by Ramin Djawadi and Brandon Campbell from the Game of Thrones.

Before The DioField Chronicle demo hit, the game was initially announced back in March of this year during Sony’s State of Play event. Alongside Valkyrie Elysium, DioField didn’t seem to have any nostalgia-factor or old IP familiarity to fall back on, which is potentially apprehensive and potentially exciting. This is a new chapter in Square Enix’s canon with the chance to stand on its own two legs without having to evade and assault the highs and lows of a bygone age. Perhaps it can enjoy a refreshing reception from consumers who have no previous entries to compare it to, beyond of course other Square Enix strategy/tactics games like the recent Triangle Strategy. Could this be SE’s Fire Emblem?

SE already has pre-orders up, including a collector’s edition set that comes with an entire board game, as well as the other pins and doodads one typically expects from editions such as these nowadays. If you’re on the fence about pre-ordering, nevermind picking up a regular copy at some point, there is a free demo that just launched today across PS5, PS4, XBSX, XB1, Switch, and PC (Steam).

The demo consists of a section taken from the full game, rather than a unique scenario designed specifically for the demo, and save data does carry over into the full game should you decide to sound the charge. This includes game progress and character levels. The full game launches September 22, 2022.

Personally, I’m excited to see strategy and tactical games make such a splash this year. Whether I have room for yet another game like this on my plate remains to be seen, but I’ve got my eye on The DioField Chronicle demo. I hope more companies start to offer free demos ahead of the launch of their game. It’s not fun getting burnt on day one!

Red formerly ran The Well-Red Mage and now serves The Pixels as founder, director of content, lead writer, and podcaster. He has undertaken a seemingly endless crusade to talk about the games themselves. It can be done, even in the midst of a culture obsessed with the latest controversy, scandal, and news cycle about harassment, toxicity, and negativity. Pick out his feathered cap on Twitter @thewellredmage or Mage Cast.