Riviera: The Promised Land is Theoretically Amazing | Dept. Heaven Retrospective

[@AngeVNs]

I vaguely remember trying this game a long time ago ... and barely remember anything about it besides art style looks nice

[@Zyraizo]

That's completely fair, I think out of the 4 games in the franchise it's definitely the most whatever.

[@cjchan9967]

I think Riviera is a game worth playing multiple times for. The reason for this is trying different routes and decisions that may affect what key items you find and how it affects the growth of your party members. I personally got myself to playing Riviera again in the GBA version because I personally like how they did the battle animations in the GBA better than in the PSP version. However, if i ever decide to team up with Ledah again I would just load up my PSP save file and start over with the extra chapter. Another point worth noting is how interesting the effects of each item brings into battle. Once you have played Riviera multiple times, you will be intrigued with the REVENGE mechanic and then decide to cheese through opponents using claws as a weapon through Serene (MVP character in Riviera, no doubt. Even stronger than Grim Angels *scoffs*). Every time I play Riviera, it brings me so much nostalgia that I would just wish the series would continue its story cuz' it just feels lacking in my opinion. The story of how Malice was created by Hector was teased in Yggdra Union as well as other games in the series. It's just sad to see the potential of this series' plot going down the drain because the developers decided not to continue the series.

[@Jyukenmaster95]

Personally, I like how most of the BGM sounded on the GBA rather than on the PSP

[@professorpenne9962]

I'm in the camp that the GBA soundtrack is way better than the psp remake. the wonderswan music is pretty great chiptune music too though.

[@ananousous]

​@@professorpenne9962 yep

[@danny18894]

I definitely agree with that

[@mrzharfan2119]

One of the best game that accompany my life for sure~

[@KisaiTSBard1986]

I played this on GBA back in 2007. I remembered it fondly so I'm currently playing the PSP version now.

[@curronebongbong-db1sq]

Riviera:the harem adventure in ancient world.. But the beginning of chaos in the whole of Dept. Heaven games at same time😅

[@NuminousCat]

Riveria is great. It's my favourite entry in Dept. Heaven Series, replayed many times on GBA and PSP emulators (I couldn't afford handhelds and original games back then). It's one of the rare cases where I prefer English dub over Japanese (probably partially because I played the PSP version with English dub for the first time and fell in love with it, when I wasn't into otaku culture yet). In the first playthrough I wasn't aware that the game "knew" which waifu was my favourite and decided to do that dramatic finale with her. I thought it was just a coincidence or the developers knew that Cierra would be everyone's favourite. Anyway, you praise the music and it's fine, but it's too loud and energetic most of the time (and you can't turn the volume down to hear the barely audible Japanese voices better...)

[@lioncandy27]

This is my favorite jrpg of all time, a switch port would be a dream come true.

[@cloudshines812]

A remake was announced in July 2023. Hopefully it shows up at a Switch direct sometime!

[@AngeVNs]

How about a Steam port that came out riecently, then you can play on Steam Deck

[@professorpenne9962]

underrated classic, also love yggdra union

[@Judger037]

I discovered that Ein greatly influenced my personality.

[@GoumesGames]

Zirion what is the best game to start this franchise (Dept. Heaven)? Never played Riviera or a game in this franchise.If you help me with my little doubt i will be glad.

[@Zyraizo]

Any of them that looks remotely interesting to you. Storywise they are only loosely connected, and gameplay wise each one is massively different each other. Wait till ya see my video on the other 3 games in the franchise then decide from there. As a private opinion though, I'd say Yggdra Union is probably my favorite one, while Knights in the Nightmare is the most interesting, but is definitely the most ridiculous in terms of everything about it.

[@GoumesGames]

@@Zyraizo Oh i understand.Thanks for the help :) o/

[@TaismoFanBoy]

GBA soundtrack best soundtrack

[@Marky-Mark1337]

Well there is a remaster coming, sadly Japan only, zero word on a western release.

[@aercads]

I got some theory on this game with some lore since i finished this already and there was this caption mentioned by the author at the last credits something like "To someone who is there beside you" i dont remember but the creator of the game is named after the pet or someone who called rose in the game which is the one who is always by the side of the Main character so i think. It was as story of a one-sided love where rose expressed her love in this game because she was not the one to chose to be loved by Ein the main character,... Nothing to be serious i had this thought since i finished this i think 2016?or 2017?

[@aercads]

Also I choose serene in the game because she looks cool, I prefer cool types

[@Marky-Mark1337]

I recall never completing the item compendium. But managed to get everything thing else except for one of the endings, the one where you don’t get any of the girls. Strangely enough 5 play thoughs, I got each of the girls’ endings plus Rose.

[@resean2727]

I loved this game when I was young..... But yeah I wouldn't play this game again cause I forgot how annoying the tp and item management was lol

[@kuraki-kun]

With regards to the secrets, I think it's important to consider the date which the game is released. As someone from a third-world country, the prevalence of internet is limited so hearing the music as you choose is certainly a plus.

[@TheLDpwnz]

Nice overview. I remember seeing reviews for this in Nintendo Power and elsewhere. It looked fine, but never stood out enough to grab me. There are sooooo many other RPGs out there vying for your time that I left this one behind. I appreciate that you highlighted some of the things that it tried to do to stand out without gushing all over it to make it sound like the best game ever. (I've noticed that a lot on channels covering smaller games.) I still don't think it's for me, but it was neat to learn more about it so nice work. One thing though, please give spoiler warnings for future videos. (In regards to what you said happens to your heroine of choice at the end.) I really need to go back and beat Yggdra Union and Knights in the Nightmare for myself so I don't want to be spoiled on the endings watching your videos.

[@Zyraizo]

To be completely frank, I didn't think anyone would be too interested in playing Riviera as a game which is why I included that tidbit. Rest assured that for the other 3 games that even though I will be highlighting some later unique things, I won`t be directly talking about any spoilers.

[@TheLDpwnz]

@@Zyraizo Cool, thanks!

[@sethiss8545]

Dept Heaven has this fixation of being unique for the sake of being unique. I don't know if it was because the producer wanted to innovate the genre or just wanted to make something so different that stood out. Ironically, since it was only in Knights where they tried to connect the game series lore together, this one feels the black sheep of the series. Not because it's bad, but because it doesn't seem to match the characteristics that the other games had besides lore and trying to be unique. Still, a fun game. Not one that I'd replay anytime soon, but one I have fond memories of. Hope you're aware of the switch ports for Knights and Yggdra Union.

[@SnakebitSTI]

I think the other games also have a bold aesthetic sense to the UI design which isn't quite there in Riviera.

[@einlockus3069]

This is my fav game:) I played this and didn't complete but I get back and complete it well I was lazy when I was kid so｡◕‿◕｡

[@kuraux56s59]

I absolutely love this one. Even though it isnt always sunshine and rainbows, this is the one Dept. Heaven game that isnt always so grim and gloom all the goddamn time! I think outside MAYBE Gloria Union, they NEVER made any other game in this series with this tone! Some interesting facts I remember seeing by looking up interviews, back when I tried to research this series as much as I can. The game was originally meant to be far bigger in scope, being far more akin to a 2nd Ragnarok. But it had to be cut down due to technical limitations. There were going to be 12 HEROINES!!! As someone that liked the cast, but is not fond of harems. I am very glad that ridiculous number of heroines was trimmed. There is actually a reason as to why Ledah and Malice kinda looked alike. And that its because they were originally planned to be siblings. And them looking similar seems to be a leftover aspect of that unused idea. I am going to be honest, while I like most of the characters here... I really dont like that the game is a Harem comedy. I kinda wish that Rose in her cat girl form from her secret ending was how she looks like from beginning to end. Being not only a party member, but Ein's set-in-stone Love Interest.

[@Zyraizo]

I think the more serious atmosphere of the later games actually work really well in clashing with the cute SD art style that Dept. Heaven has. Riviera is a chill game, but I think games like Yggdra Union, Knights in the Nightmare and even Gungnir do alot more in making the franchise standout. With all that said, everytime I see Ein use his ex overdrive, I get hit with a little nostalgia.

[@King_10087]

Good video.

[@Zyraizo]

Thanks.

[@omegagamer9465]

What there is a whole franchise I looked up for any games other than Riviera but I didn't find any

[@sunekoo]

It’s called Dept Heaven and consists of 4 games: Riviera, Yggdra Union, Knights in the Nightmare and Gungnir. All are excellent games, with Yggdra being one of my absolute favourite games

[@omegagamer9465]

@@sunekoo I already discovered this and thanks

[@Drakesavage]

Too bad there won't be a part two to this.

[@TheCheeseMovesSideways]

That would be Yggdra Union

[@Kindi001]

i play yaggra union in GBA color.... i swear i will never touch that nightmare again after i clear it back in middle school. like..... holy hell its pain and become part of my scaling or trauma if i ever had meet dificult game with limited resouce and time to grow. After that in high school my friend say there is PSP Ver Reviera. and i refuse to accept its the same company ahahahaha

[@Zyraizo]

The GBA version was a toughie for sure

[@professorpenne9962]

it's a lot easier compared to the golden sun games though and summon night games

[@professorpenne9962]

protip for yggdra union, roswell is the best choice. he still is one of my favorite necromancer characters in video game history

[@Evilriku13]

3:03 wtf this wasn't bad voice acting, what are you on?

[@akaviolaqrif350]

Probably with how disjointed a whole sentence can be at times

[@cloudshines812]

Cierra’s voice acting wasn’t that bad. The fairy’s on the other hand…