In Stars and Time (NSP, XCI) ROM

“In Stars and Time” recounts the journey of Shiffrin and their comrades, a chosen family destined to topple the tyrannical rule of an evil king. However, just as victory seems imminent, tragedy strikes, the clock resets, and the group must start anew. Discover hope in the absence of it and break free from a temporal cycle in this turn-based RPG. How would you cope with reliving your failures repeatedly? As the sole observer of this loop, Siffrin’s once-cheerful demeanor erodes with each restart. Despite this, they persist, hoping to bring an end to this temporal tragedy.

This RPG adventure unfolds within a time loop. With each iteration, Shiffrin gains fresh insights, unraveling new puzzle solutions and making wiser conversational choices. Armor yourself with memories, beseech the Change God for enhancements, and engage in Rock, Paper, Scissors battles with formidable foes, all while Shiffrin seeks the truth.

GAMEPLAY

After a long journey, a group of adventurers finally arrive near the King’s castle, the former House of Change, where many people practice the country’s religion. The King has cast a powerful curse, which has started slowly freezing the entire country in time. The player first assumes control of Shiffrin in the small town of Dormont on the day before the party enters the King’s castle.

The next day, the group enters the castle and Shiffrin is killed by a trap, looping them back to the day before. The player controls Siffrin as he attempts to lead the party through the castle to defeat the King. The player can make use of the ability to loop in time to solve varying problems like traps and finding the location of hidden items. The game uses a turn-based combat system similar to that of EarthBound or Omori. The player can use different crafts (magic) to battle a multitude of Sadnesses which are the game’s main enemies. The party can also use special jackpot attacks to unleash big damage and heal the party after using enough attacks of the same type. The graphics are black and white and use a drawn art style.

OUR COMPANIONS

• Shiffrin (he/they): Stressed, depressed, and under duress. (No worries; they’re managing.) The pun-loving protagonist of our unending saga.
• Mirabelle (she/her): A caring, anxious housemaid mysteriously blessed by the god she fervently follows.
• Isabeau (he/him): Defender with a heart of gold, deeply committed to his people and friends.
• Odile (she/her): The mature and nonsensical researcher studying… something. (No, she won’t divulge it.)
• Bonnie (they/them): Hold on, who invited this kid?

FEATURES

• Save the world with Rock, Paper, Scissors in strategic turn-based RPG battles.
• Overcome time and space limitations, rectifying past errors in a repetitive two-day cycle.
• Strengthen your party in combat by equipping memories of your friends.
• Witness the world’s fate unfold while escaping the twists of this seemingly endless loop.
• Share samosas with your friends!
• Banter with a playful ethereal being of boundless starlight.
• Seek luck from a god in your travels. You’ll need it.

In Stars and Time” may touch on sensitive topics like death, mental illness, and violence. For more information on content warnings, visit the official In Stars and Time website. Play with care!