Threads of Fate

Two heroes, two completely different stories, one enchanting game. Threads of Fate (Dewprism in Japan) from Squaresoft in 2000 is one of those titles that never stirred up as much fuss as the studio's big series - and yet those who discovered it cherish it to this day like a little treasure.

The magic lies in the fact that at the start you choose between two playable characters, and each offers a different path, a different tone and a different style of play. Rue is a quiet young man searching for a lost girl, and his central ability is transformation - if he defeats an enemy, he can take on its form and use its strengths. Mint, by contrast, is an energetic, witty ex-princess longing to reclaim her throne, a fast fighter with a lighter and more playful tuning.

The gameplay is a brisk action RPG with an emphasis on real-time combat, platforming elements and exploration. It is not any sprawling colossus - rather a pleasantly shaped, charming journey that does not drag and bets on the distinctiveness of its characters and a colorful, fairy-tale world.

It is precisely that lighter, kinder tone that sets Threads of Fate apart from the darker and more serious titles for which Square was renowned at the time. After Xenogears or Vagrant Story, this game feels like a refreshing breath - sweet, witty and unburdened by cosmic tragedies.

Thanks to the pair of protagonists the game also has natural replayability: you finish Rue's story and immediately feel the urge to see the same events through Mint's eyes. It is an underrated piece from Squaresoft's rich catalog that deserves more attention than it ever received.

Why play it: For two distinct, mutually complementary campaigns, brisk action and a kind, playful tone - the ideal respite between more serious JRPGs.