When Victory Comes At An Unthinkable Cost
If a game puts you in charge of a massive tank, there’s a good chance you’re going to have a smashing time blowing things to smithereens. Fuga: Melodies of Steel had even more to offer than that though, as a bunch of brave kids traversed a war-torn world in an exciting adventure full of twists and turns. And the real ace up its sleeve really tested your morals, potentially leaving you with emotional scarring years later – The Soul Cannon.
Fuga: Melodies of Steel released on 29th July, 2021 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and a host of other platforms. It came from CyberConnect2, a developer I’d always associated with stylish action and high-profile anime adaptations. I’m talking about games like Asura’s Wrath, a host of Naruto Shippuden titles, and Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, to name just a few.
So, when Fuga arrived as a turn-based strategic RPG set within the lesser-known Little Tail Bronx universe, it felt like it was going to be something a little different. Not overly hyped, but quietly intriguing.
It sets a pretty bleak stage right from the off. The peaceful country of Gasco comes under attack from the mighty Berman Empire, with the village of Petit Mona left devastated and the adult population abducted. A small group of, now orphaned, children escape by hiding in a cave, where they stumble across a massive tank known as Taranis. Naturally, the kids decide to pilot the thing and take the fight to the enemy in order to rescue their families.
Tactical Battles With Plenty Of Strategic Depth
Don’t be mistaken, Fuga isn’t a miserable affair. The youngsters bond quickly, showing off their different personalities, charming you with their lovely watercolour style character designs. They’d soon become a group that you’ll genuinely want to protect. It helps that the Berman Empire is very easy to despise, especially when its forces are more than willing to eliminate anyone in their path – children included. There’s also a bit of mystery surrounding the Taranis itself, which keeps the story ticking along nicely beyond the simple idea of just saving the day
The story itself spans 12 chapters full of turn-based combat, where tactical choices are tantamount to exploiting enemy weaknesses. It boils down to which child is thrown onto the battlefield as each has a specific weapon proficiency, as well as a selection of unique skills. Going all out with machine guns is great for the flying machines, but the cannons might need to come to the forefront when the armoured threats turn up on the ground. You can switch characters around during battles, albeit with a cooldown, meaning you’re constantly reacting to the situation at hand. Add in abilities like healing, status effects, Hero mode and link attacks between kids that have built strong relationships, and there’s a surprising amount of variety in play.
The Soul Cannon Is One Of Gaming’s Cruellest Mechanics
Sometimes, whatever you try, the opposing army is too tough and the hard-hitting bosses might have you on the brink of collapse. That’s where the infamous Soul Cannon, with its one powerful shot capable of annihilating enemies, is offered to you on a silver platter. Why wouldn’t you use it? The cost isn’t mana or anything so frivolities like any other RPG, it’s a child. One of those poor children is sacrificed to fire it. It’s utterly grim, but equally quite brilliant.
The genius of the Soul Cannon is that it’s not just there for shock value. Knowing there is a guaranteed way out of any disaster makes every battle feel even more tense, because the option to pay the ultimate price is always lurking in the background. I used it once and regretted it almost immediately. The fight was won, sure, but watching the remaining children become sad and confused afterwards made victory feel bloody awful.
Quiet Moments Help Build An Emotional Connection
One of the more relaxing aspects are the intermission sections, allowing you to reflect on your morality and to spend Action Points on activities. You can improve relationships between the kids, upgrade the Taranis, cook meals, farm, fish, and generally prepare for whatever threat awaits next. Building bonds is definitely the most rewarding part, as it leads to small character moments and practical bonuses in combat.
There are some repetitive activities and the environments are rather bland, but those issues don’t take too much away from the overall experience. It also wasn’t left as a one-off, with Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 arriving in 2023 and Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3 following in 2025 to conclude the trilogy. Both of those managed to build upon the already excellent foundations and introduce fresh ideas to lure you in for the adventures ahead.
One Of The Most Memorable RPGs Of 2021
Looking back now, the original Fuga remains special because it was a bold approach. It mixed cute character designs with the horrors of war, tactical battles with emotional decision-making, and then dared to offer players the cruelest panic button imaginable. The Soul Cannon is one of those mechanics that’s once you see it in action, it’s truly unforgettable.
Fuga: Melodies of Steel was the RPG many people probably didn’t realise they needed back in 2021. But what about you? Did Fuga: Melodies of Steel catch you by surprise, or was the Soul Cannon a step too far for your conscience? Feel free to share your thoughts and memories via the comments section below!
And if you haven’t played it yet, you’ll find Fuga: Melodies of Steel on the Xbox Store, playable across Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Handheld and Play Anywhere. It’s also available on PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and mobile devices.
