After He Was Gone is a tactical RPG without a level-up system

Written by. Marco Farinaccia based on the original Japanese article (original article’s publication date: 2022-05-31 20:41 JST)

Japanese solo game developer Nono has released the demo version of After He Was Gone on Steam. The game is a tactical RPG that has no level-up system and instead focuses on the use of items and skills.

After He Was Gone takes place hundreds of years after the Creator gave life to therianthropes, a human-like race based on animals. The protagonist of the game is a young wolf boy named Fito who becomes trapped in the world of a board game. Human sorcerers pursue Fito in this strange world, and while he is trying to escape, he encounters a strange black cat named Kou, who is able to use magic. Fito and Kou will encounter a number of colorful characters on their journey, and they must all work together in order to find a way to escape from this mysterious world.

Battles feature a turn-based system where individual units move around a grid-based map, and victory is achieved by satisfying certain conditions. Units possess various stats like HP, Attack, Defense, and Movement, but the game does not have a level-up system. This places a much greater importance on the use of items and skills.

For example, the black cat Kou can be used as an item, and any unit who uses her is granted two attack nullifying barriers at the end of the turn. There are also other items that can be equipped, each providing their own powerful effects. Since you cannot force your way through the game by grinding levels, battles are determined by the effective use of items and skills.

The demo that is currently available on Steam allows you to experience a portion of the story and also learn the fundamentals of the battle system by participating in two battle stages. The game also includes optional features such as the ability to rewind time, which can be used without limit, and the ability to speed up or skip the animations on enemy turns.

The full version of the game will feature multiple endings, and the ending that you get is determined by the treasures you can obtain from certain enemies during battle. However, it seems as though getting your hands on these treasures will be rather difficult and involve a lot of trial and error.

Nono, who began working as a solo game developer in 2021, is in charge of all aspects of the game’s development, including the story and illustrations, but also receives a little assistance from friends.

The Steam page for After He Was Gone can be found here.