Edge of Memories: Did a French Indie Team Just Accidentally Cast the Perfect JRPG Spell?
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
A small French team, Midgar Studio, is cooking up *Edge of Memories*, a fascinating action-RPG sequel to *Edge of Eternity*, unexpectedly blending *Devil May Cry* and *Xenoblade Chronicles* combat with the legendary talent of *Chrono Trigger* and *Final Fantasy XV* veterans.
Right, so we're all still buzzing from *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33* fever, aren't we? It felt like someone blew a hole through reality and out popped this incredible, stylish JRPG experience. And, naturally, my first thought was: 'More, please! How do we make this happen again?'
Well, as luck – or perhaps a bit of digital wizardry on my part – would have it, I've been tinkering around the gaming news streams, specifically poking through Eurogamer (a massive shout-out to Dom Peppiatt for the initial scoop, by the way!), and stumbled across something that just might scratch that particular itch. Prepare yourselves, mates, for *Edge of Memories*.
Now, if you're like me, you might recall 2021's *Edge of Eternity*, that quirky turn-based RPG. And if you're *really* like me, you might've thought, 'Oh, cool, more of that catnip then!' But here's where things get interesting, like a spell that works, but in a completely unexpected, glorious way. Dom's Gamescom demo revealed that *Edge of Memories* isn't leaning into the turn-based system at all. Nope. This follow-up has pivoted hard into action-RPG territory, feeling more like a wild mash-up between *Devil May Cry* and *Xenoblade Chronicles*, with a dash of *Final Fantasy XV* combat flair thrown in for good measure. Bloody hell, talk about a genre shift!
But before any of you start muttering about developers losing their way, let's talk pedigree. Because this is where *Edge of Memories* goes from 'interesting curio' to 'hold my digital wizard hat, this is getting serious.' While the core dev team is a modest thirty souls, mostly French, they've somehow, almost magically, attracted some of the most legendary talent in JRPG history to their ranks. We're talking Yasunori Mitsuda, the maestro behind *Chrono Trigger*'s iconic music (with *NieR* lyricist Emi Evans!), *Xenoblade Chronicles* character designer Raita Kazama, and even *Final Fantasy XV*'s combat designer, Mitsuru Yokoyama. Fair dinkum, how do thirty people get these titans on board? It's like they used a charm spell for ultimate dev recruitment!
And the astonishing thing? This melting pot of talent actually *melds*. It doesn't feel like a Frankenstein's monster; it feels like a genuinely gorgeous, watercolour-painted 'double-A' title that's both refreshing and wonderfully off-beat. It's set in the world of Heyron, same as its predecessor, where a nasty phenomenon called 'the Corrosion' is turning everything into 'misshapen abominations.' The demo's cutscenes apparently dipped into some seriously dark, *Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood*-esque vibes – family trauma, death, despair. It sets a rather stark contrast to the bright, airy visuals, which is a clever bit of storytelling, I reckon.
Gameplay-wise, you're mostly controlling Eline, with your companions Ysoris and Kanta ready to take quick commands to modify attacks and generate combos – that *FFXV* influence certainly makes itself known here. Elemental stacking, berserker rage, piling on the DPS – it all sounds like a chaotic good time. And get this: as Eline dishes out the hurt, she can charge up a 'Devil Trigger' equivalent, tapping into the power of 'the Corrosion' itself to lay waste to foes. The demo apparently capped off with a boss fight against some truly grotesque, body-horror mass. Timing those support commands while dodging and attacking? Sounds like a bloody good challenge.
Now, I'm not going to lie; Dom observed that you can definitely tell it's a game from a small team – the world can be a bit sparse, the zones a bit simple. But honestly, when the combat system is firing on all cylinders, as it seems to be here, I can see myself absolutely slurping this one up. In fact, he even mentioned it has a distinct 'PS3/360-era feel' – and before you scoff, hear me out! That's not a bad thing! Some of my most cherished, non-mainstream RPG experiences came from that exact era. Think *The Last Remnant*, *Eternal Sonata*, *Infinite Undiscovery*... bizarre, often flawed, but utterly memorable and bursting with character. *Edge of Memories* seems to be juicing those very nostalgia glands, reminding us of a time when RPGs dared to be a bit weirder, a bit less polished, but incredibly endearing.
Coming to PS5, Xbox Series, and PC in 2026, with a price tag of £31.99, I reckon that's the absolute sweet spot. You're not expecting a full, ultra-polished premium experience from a team of thirty, but at that price, with that pedigree and that unique blend of action and JRPG sensibility? It's shaping up to be far more than a forgettable romp. I'll certainly be keeping my wizard's eye on this one. Who knew a French team could accidentally conjure up such a captivating, genre-bending experience?
**Source:** Eurogamer.net
Tags: JRPG, Action RPG, Indie Game, Gamescom 2025, Edge of Memories
Original article: Eurogamer