INDIVISIBLE
The stress of being inseparable
For its latest release, Lab Zero Games did what every anime fan with money making a game would do – it invested in a lavish opening by well-known animation studios, music by Secret Of Mana composer Hiroki Kikuta, and a large cast of colourful characters. Indivisible isn’t a classic JRPG, however, but a platformer with combat designed to make the round-based battles of old more interesting.
You control Ajna, whose story begins with the destruction of her village. Of course she swears revenge and sets off in search of the person responsible, a warlord called Ravannavar. Along the way she becomes aware of having several mysterious powers, chief among them her ability to absorb new party members into her head.
The story fails to make an impact, and dialogue often feels like a set of one-liners rather than people having a conversation. However, what Indivisible lacks in plot, it makes up for in interesting mythology1 and beautiful 2D designs. In locales like south-east Asian jungles and temple ruins, you engage in round-based encounters that range from satisfying to frustrating due to the amount of concentration needed. 2 You control each party member with a button that acts as either attack or defence. Defend from an attack at the right time and you take no damage, which is vital to make it through even the simplest battles. Alternating between buttons for each character, remembering to block and spotting which character is even being attacked takes serious brainpower. Add to that relatively unforgiving platforming and the game lacks overall approachability.
Malindy Hetfeld