505 Games' very first showcase has come and gone, and while it didn’t include famous 505 franchises likeControl,it still included some noteworthy games. Aside from the RPGEiyuden Chronicle: Rising,the Finnish survival titleAmong the Trolls,and a new action RPG calledStray Blade,505 Gamestook the time to discussMiasma Chronicles. While the cinematic trailer forMiasma Chroniclesdidn’t reveal much about the gameplay, developer The Bearded Ladies has shed a fair amount of light on the game outside the reveal trailer.Miasma Chroniclesis a turn-based RPG set in post-apocalyptic America that draws on The Bearded Ladies' experience developingMutant Year Zero: Road to Eden.
The new Bearded Ladies game has plenty of unique ideas in store, from its depiction of a sundered near-future America to the aesthetic of the mysterious, deadly Miasma, but manga and anime fans may find the story ofMiasma Chroniclesa little familiar. It just so happens thatMiasma Chronicles' protagonist Elvis has quite a few similarities to Edward Elric, the protagonist ofFullmetal Alchemist, and his greater circumstances havesome significant similarities toFullmetal Alchemist’s storytoo. While the game will clearly go in different directions from this manga and anime cornerstone, the similarities between the two might be a good selling point forMiasma Chronicles.
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Comparing Miasma Chronicles to Fullmetal Alchemist
There is a clear comparison to be made between Elvis and Edward’s appearances, since they’re both young men with blond hair, but their similarities go well beyond that. InMiasma Chronicles,Elvis wears a glove given to him by his mother that allows him to control the Miasma to some extent. The glove seems not entirely dissimilar fromEdward Elric’s automail arm inFullmetal Alchemist, which Edward often transforms through alchemy to gain an advantage in combat. Both of these characters rely on an empowered right hand and uncanny mastery over a supernatural force to progress on their quests.
Elvis' main companion also creates a connection toFullmetal Alchemist.Edward’s younger brother and fellow protagonist Alphonse Elric inhabits a large suit of armor as a disembodied soul, while Elvis has a robotic older brother who will accompany him throughoutMiasma Chronicles.Elvis' brother and Alphonse may differ in age compared to their respective siblings, but they both create great opportunities for family narratives. One more thing tiesMiasma ChroniclestoFullmetal Alchemist: the loss of the protagonists' mother.The events ofFullmetal Alchemistkick off when Alphonse and Edward attempt to resurrect their mother, whose death still haunts them, whereas Elvis and his brother hope to find their lost mother somewhere in the Miasma.
Miasma Chronicles Combines Old and New
Ultimately,Miasma Chronicleswill likely be very different fromFullmetal Alchemist.It’s rooted in America, rather than a fictional place like Amestris, which will inevitably result in entirely different types of characters and plot threads. The encroaching Miasma also poses a very different type of threat from theenemies faced by the Elrics inFullmetal Alchemist.Still,Miasma Chroniclesseems to borrow some important ideas fromFullmetal Alchemistwith the intention of using them in new ways, which may make the game more interesting on the whole.
Video games never have to be entirely new to stay interesting. On the contrary, lots oflong-lived franchises likePokemonreuse the majority of their core concepts while adding enough new ideas to keep fans engaged. Similarly,Miasma Chroniclesdoesn’t have to tell a story that’s never been told before in order to attract players. Its notable similarities toFullmetal Alchemistactually make the story more interesting, since it simultaneously appeals to fans nostalgic forFullmetal Alchemistwhile promising to do something new with its concepts. A lot remains to be seen aboutMiasma Chronicles,from its core gameplay components to the other characters that Elvis and his brother will meet, but wherever they go, some similarities toFullmetal Alchemistwill remain.
Miasma Chroniclesreleases in 2023 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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