Japanese indie developers METASLA have announced “Sea Fantasy” an open-world fantasy RPG that revolves around Japan’s cultural heritage of fishing.
The game will be released on PC via Valve’s Steam store, with console releases also planned, although specific platforms have not been announced yet. It is scheduled for release in February 2025.
“Sea Fantasy” is an action RPG set in a fantasy world where fishing takes center stage. With 70% of the continents submerged due to human conflicts, the looming threat of the Black Dragon’s resurgence, a bio-weapon from past wars, adds to the world’s turmoil.
Rod, a young villager from a secluded island, and Axel embark on a quest to save the world by fishing after encountering a wounded, luminous dragon, aiming to prevent the Black Dragon’s return.
Within the world that encapsulates the dazzling pixel artwork, vast seas are dotted with countless islands. As players advance through the narrative and obtain a ship, they gain the ability to explore the sea and journey to these islands.
Upon reaching land, players can indulge in the art of fishing. Spotting the shadows of marine creatures known as “SeaAZ” on the water’s surface prompts players to cast their rods and haul them in.
With more than 100 types of SeaAZ available, players can utilize them as crafting materials for more powerful fishing rods and hooks upon catching them. Crafting stronger items provides players with an edge in fishing activities.
Moreover, successful fishing sessions accumulate experience points, allowing players to level up and earn skill points. These skill points can then be invested to improve the player character’s stats.
Beyond fishing, the game also incorporates dungeon exploration and puzzle-solving elements. Certain islands players visit may harbor dungeons, fraught with danger and traps. However, delving into these dungeons enables players to obtain formidable items and equipment.
METASLA, the studio responsible for this game, is an indie studio based in Nagoya, Japan. They have a track record of delivering acclaimed titles for mobile platforms like “Swords and Heroes and Level Up,” “Brave Farm Survival,” and “Rogue Dungeon Walkers.”
Moreover, they released “Monster Fishing RPG” in 2022 and given the similarities and aspects of the game, it appears that “Sea Fantasy” is an evolved iteration of their previous title except being much more refined with a larger developmental budget.
To be frank, there’s a considerable stigma surrounding “fishing” minigames among uncultured gaijin. Some argue that they’re either simplistic or straightforward to develop and incorporate.
While it’s true that fishing minigames are relatively inexpensive to implement, I argue that more games should include such features. This is because, despite fishing being easy to design for, it offers straightforward enjoyment.
Moreover, considering its frequent appearance in games made by Japanese developers, Japan being a nation known for its rich fishing culture and heritage, fishing games aren’t just entertaining, they also reflect an important aspect of Japan’s cultural identity which aught to be preserved rather than catering to Western audiences who simply don’t want people to have fun.
Unless it’s mandatory, why whine like a little bitch about it?
Sea Fantasy is precisely my cup of tea, a meticulously designed pixelated JRPG centered around fishing, with a dash of dungeon exploration to periodically deviate away from the stench and scales.
Personally, I have a soft spot for fishing minigames, largely due to my own love for fishing in real life. Whether or not Sea Fantasy aligns with your tastes is entirely up to you to determine, but I can’t help but feel a tinge of excitement as I look forward to its release February next year.
