Developer: Ace Entertainment
Publisher: Fireshine Games
Platform: PC
Tested on: PC
Tales of Seikyu – Preview
Tales of Seikyu is a cozy Life Sim RPG that blends classic farming gameplay with Japanese folklore, mystical transformations, and relationship building. While it borrows heavily from genre staples like Stardew Valley and Harvest Moon, it adds a few unique twists, particularly through its use of Yokai mythology and shapeshifting mechanics that help it stand out in an increasingly crowded genre.
Story
You play as a fox spirit (or Yokai) returning to your ancestral homeland on Seikyu Island alongside your sister. With only a mysterious note left by your missing parents, you arrive to find that the once-thriving Fox Clan has vanished. The story follows your efforts to rebuild the community, uncover the secrets of your family, and gradually unlock your powers as a shape-shifter. It’s a quiet, reflective narrative with heart, giving your daily farming and exploring a greater sense of purpose.
The world is populated by quirky Yokai villagers who shift between human and animal forms, each with their own oddball personality and backstory. The characters are fun, though early interactions can feel a little shallow until you build stronger bonds.
Graphics
The art style is colorful and inviting, mixing traditional Japanese settings, like shrines and wooden homes, with a touch of modern, like vending machines and electric lights. The character designs are expressive, especially during conversations, where 2D portrait art adds emotion and flavor.
While some environmental elements and enemy designs feel familiar (and occasionally inspired a bit too closely by games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild), the overall presentation is polished and pleasant. The world feels cohesive and cozy, even if it lacks variety in terrain early on.
Sound
The soundtrack is a highlight. Soft, melodic tracks filled with traditional Japanese instruments give each region its own vibe, reinforcing the folklore-inspired atmosphere. There’s no voice acting, but the ambient sounds and subtle audio cues do a great job of supporting the mood. One unusual touch is the faint humming of NPCs and your character, which adds to the mystical tone that may catch you off guard at first.
Gameplay
At its core, Tales of Seikyu sticks closely to the Life Sim playbook: grow crops by season, mine, fish, cook, craft, and sell your goods via a magical shipping box. You can decorate and expand your home, participate in festivals, and build relationships with the townsfolk, including romance with characters.
One of the game’s most distinctive features is the protagonist’s ability to shapeshift into a variety of Yokai forms. You begin your journey as a fox spirit with the innate power to transform, starting with a boar form that helps you till the land. As you progress, you’ll unlock new forms like a crow, a slime, and a tengu with each transformation each offering unique abilities that open up fresh gameplay opportunities and hidden areas.
New forms are gradually unlocked as you advance through the game. Each has its own role, from combat to exploration to farming. These forms can also be upgraded and leveled up, increasing their utility and effectiveness in both daily tasks and encounters. While the fox spirit is your default form, other transformations are better suited for battle. The boar, for instance, is built for raw power and excels in direct combat scenarios, making it a solid choice when facing tougher enemies.
The transformation forms are not always designed for fighting. Some serve specialized roles in the world. The Slime form is perfect for agricultural work like watering crops, while the Tengu form grants the ability to fly which is crucial for exploring vertical spaces and reaching previously inaccessible areas. These transformations add depth to the world and encourage players to experiment with different strategies.
Combat is kept simple but effective, especially within the Fox Temple which is a central dungeon that plays a key role in progression and lore. The temple offers daily challenges, light puzzles, and valuable resources tied to the legacy of the ancestral Fox Clan. It’s a hub for those seeking both challenge and reward, and a crucial part of your journey as a shapeshifting spirit. The dungeon has many rooms to explore to gather resources, learn new abilities at Fox Shrines that connect you with your ancestors, new transformations, and, like any dungeon, is bound to have enemies and bosses for you to face.
Conclusion
Tales of Seikyu doesn’t reinvent the Life Sim genre, but its folkloric setting, shapeshifting mechanic, and gentle storytelling give it a distinctive charm. While still in Early Access with more content promised as it’s being developed, the game itself has a lot to offer, even in its current state. Tales of Seikyu is a relaxing, heartfelt experience that fans of cozy games will appreciate.
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