Stella Glow
2015
- role-playing (rpg)
- strategy
- turn-based strategy (tbs)
- fantasy
- single player
The story
Stella Glow is strategy RPG for the Nintendo 3DS system developed by Imageepoch (Luminous Arc franchise). As most reluctant heroes do, Stella Glow protagonist Alto starts as a country boy in a small town. One day, he hears a song coming from the forest (which is odd, since song has been absent on the planet for thousands of years), where he discovers the lone Hilda. But after the chance encounter, Hilda reveals she's the Witch of Destruction, hellbent on destroying the world with her harbingers. As Hilda is about to destroy Alto's hometown, he and Lisette are rescued by the Knights of Regnant Alto will encounter the Regnant Knights and whisked back safely to the kingdom. Alto joins the 9th Regiment for the sole purpose of reuniting the rest of the witches to stop Hilda.
What it’s like
Soft pastel fantasy in bright daylight, with crisp hand-drawn sprites set against painted watercolour backdrops of meadows, towns and castle courtyards, all rendered in the 3DS's gentle depth effect. Sparse, sweeping orchestral themes and a recurring sung motif give the soundtrack a lilting, earnest quality, and the grid-based battlefields are tidy and readable, with bright colours and crisp, quick animation that stays light on gore. Combat is turn-based and tactical, with squads of named characters, elemental positioning and careful resource management, moving at a steady, unhurried pace between lengthy dialogue scenes that are full of anime-style expressions and playful banter. The tone is warm, earnest and hopeful, with a faint undercurrent of melancholy around a reluctant country boy who gradually earns the trust of a band of soldiers and of the witches he is trying to reach. Violence is present but stylised and bloodless, with dramatic sword and magic clashes and little real cruelty, and the story's sadness arrives mostly through talk rather than dread. Suited to fans of strategy RPGs who want a cheerful, character-driven journey on a handheld, best played in long evening sessions or on a quiet commute.
More games like Stella Glow
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved Stella Glowand we’ll explain which ones fit you.
