Renowned developer Sting has taken to Twitter to reveal an exciting announcement: an HD remaster of the first entry in their acclaimed Dept. Heaven series, Riviera: The Promised Land, is currently in development. While specific platforms have not yet been disclosed, fans are eagerly anticipating its release on the popular Nintendo Switch console.
A Special Anniversary Announcement for Riviera: The Promised Land
Coinciding with the 21st anniversary of its original release in Japan on the WonderSwan Color on July 12, 2002, the announcement of Riviera: The Promised Land’s HD remaster is a fitting tribute to this beloved game. It was not until 2005 that players in North America could experience the game on the Game Boy Advance, with PAL regions having to wait until 2008 for the PSP port.
A Unique RPG Experience
Riviera: The Promised Land offers a distinctive gameplay experience, characteristic of Sting’s innovative RPGs. Players assume the role of Ein, a Grim Angel, accompanied by four heroines named Fia, Lina, Seren, and Cierra. Together with his loyal familiar, Rose, Ein embarks on a mission to seal away the Accursed and save the world.
Setting itself apart from traditional turn-based RPGs, Riviera allows players to strategically select their combatants before each battle and choose from a pool of up to 16 items for use. Additionally, players must decide between the Attack or Magic Formation. Exploration of dungeons is also a unique aspect of the game, with each dungeon “screen” providing various options and triggers that enable players to interact with the environment and engage in battles.
Continuing the Tradition of Remasters
Riviera: The Promised Land follows in the footsteps of other games in the Dept. Heaven series, receiving remasters in recent years. Knights in the Nightmare, a cult classic initially released on the DS, received a remaster exclusively in Japan for the Nintendo Switch in 2020. Similarly, the remastered version of Yggdra Union, released in 2020, is currently only available in Japan for the Switch, but a worldwide release on Steam is scheduled for February 2023.
While a worldwide release for Riviera: The Promised Land’s HD remaster has not yet been confirmed, it may take some time based on the release patterns of other Dept. Heaven titles. However, fans of the series remain hopeful and eagerly anticipate the opportunity to revisit this beloved RPG on modern platforms.
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