#artdink

Carnage Heart

'A.IV.EVOLUTION'

[PS1] [JAPAN] [MAGAZINE] [1995]

"The system established in A Ressha de Ikou III was significantly expanded [for A Ressha de Ikou IV], introducing concepts such as elevated viaducts and multi-level railway interchanges, thereby vastly increasing the freedom available for track laying. Furthermore, the game now allows for the construction of roads and the operation of bus and monorail services. It also addressed issues—such as portions of the map being obscured by the shadows of high-rise buildings—by enabling the camera viewpoint to be rotated in 90-degree increments. The user interface was further sophisticated through the introduction of a concept known as "Height Cut," which allows players to develop the map while viewing the city as if it were sliced ​​horizontally at any desired altitude. The later title A Ressha de Ikou 7 was produced based on the concept of recreating this specific game using modern technology.

Triangle Strategy

Originally released in 2022 for the Nintendo Switch and later expanded to additional platforms, Triangle Strategy represents the culmination of producer Tomoyo Asano’s long career in RPGs, alongside co-developer Artdink under Square Enix. It is also one of the early titles of the HD-2D artstyle: a blend of pixel-art characters, dynamic lighting, and cinematic camera work set within fully realized 3D environments. The aesthetic deliberately evokes the 16-bit era of JRPGs, especially a title like Final Fantasy VI.

Dungeon Chill's video on the PS1 RPG/RTS Vampir.