''Luminous Arc'' is a series of

tactical role-playing Tactical role-playing game (abbreviated TRPG), also known as strategy role-playing game or (both abbreviated SRPG), is a video game genre that combines core elements of role-playing video games with those of tactical (Turn-based tactics, turn-b ...

video games originally developed by

Imageepoch was a video game developer based in Tokyo, Japan. The company was filed for bankruptcy in 2015, due to its declining sales and increasing debt. History The company was founded in June 2005 by Ryoei Mikage. Their first release was the tactica ...

, prior to the company's bankruptcy. The series began with the 2007 release of ''

Luminous Arc ''Luminous Arc'' is a series of Tactical role-playing game, tactical role-playing video games originally developed by Imageepoch, prior to the company's bankruptcy. The series began with the 2007 release of ''Luminous Arc (video game), Luminous Arc ...

'' for the

Nintendo DS The is a foldable handheld game console produced by Nintendo, released globally across 2004 and 2005. The DS, an initialism for "Developers' System" or "Dual Screen", introduced distinctive new features to handheld games: two LCD screens worki ...

, with its most recent game being the 2015 Japan-only release of '' Luminous Arc Infinity''. The series also saw a

spiritual successor A spiritual successor (sometimes called a spiritual sequel) is a product or fictional work that is similar to, or directly inspired by, another previous product or work, but (unlike a traditional prequel or sequel) does not explicitly continue th ...

in the 2015

Nintendo 3DS The is a foldable dual-screen handheld game console produced by Nintendo. Announced in March 2010 as the successor to the Nintendo DS, the console was released originally on February 26, 2011 and went through various revisions in its lifetime, ...

game '' Stella Glow''.

Games

''Luminous Arc''

was developed by

for the

, and released on February 8, 2007 in Japan, August 14, 2007 in North America, and October 18, 2007 in Australia by

Atlus is a Japanese video game developer, video game publisher, publisher, Arcade game, arcade manufacturer and distribution company based in Tokyo. A subsidiary of Sega, the company is known for the ''Megami Tensei'', ''Persona (series), Persona'' ...

, and in Europe the following day by Rising Star Games. The plot follows a group of adventurers, the Garden Children, who initially fight alongside the Luminous Church to rid the world of witches, but later team up with them to fight against a corrupt plot.

''Luminous Arc 2''

''Luminous Arc 2'' was developed by Imageepoch for the Nintendo DS, and published by

Marvelous Entertainment (MMV) was a multinational corporation that produced animation, music, video games and television series. MMV is known for its involvement in the Story of Seasons (series), ''Story of Seasons'' series. They merged with AQ Interactive in 2011 an ...

in Japan on May 15, 2008, and by

Atlus USA is a Japanese video game developer, video game publisher, publisher, Arcade game, arcade manufacturer and distribution company based in Tokyo. A subsidiary of Sega, the company is known for the ''Megami Tensei'', ''Persona (series), Persona'' ...

and Rising Star Games in North America and Europe respectively. The plot follows Roland, a young knight who is accidentally given the power of the Runic Engine, enabling him to use magic, and is sent by the Kingdom of Carnava to fight against the monstrous Beast Fiends and the witches' Magic Association. He later joins up with the witches, including Fatima, the rogue Shadow Frost Witch, to stop the threat of the Fiends from destroying the world.

''Luminous Arc 3''

''Luminous Arc 3'' was developed by Imageepoch and published by Marvelous Entertainment. It saw a Japan-only release on December 10, 2009, but a fan translation into English was released on December 24, 2021.

''Luminous Arc Infinity''

was developed by Felistella for the

PlayStation Vita The PlayStation Vita (PS Vita) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 17, 2011, then in other international territories on February 22, 2012, and was produced ...

. The game was published by Marvelous Entertainment and released only in Japan on August 6, 2015. The game was produced by Yoshifumi Hashimoto, also the producer of the '' Rune Factory'' series.

Related games

''Stella Glow''

A spiritual sequel to the ''Luminous Arc'' series, ''Stella Glow'' was the last game developed by Imageepoch prior to its bankruptcy. It was released for the

in Japan by

Sega is a Japanese video game company and subsidiary of Sega Sammy Holdings headquartered in Tokyo. It produces several List of best-selling video game franchises, multi-million-selling game franchises for arcade game, arcades and video game cons ...

on June 4, 2015, in North America by Atlus USA on November 17, 2015, and in Europe and Australia by NIS America on March 11, 2016. The story revolves around Alto, a young hero who joints the Regnant Knights along with his childhood friend Lisette, now a witch, in order to stop the Witch of Destruction, Hilda, by joining forces with the world's other witches, all of whom wield

song A song is a musical composition performed by the human voice. The voice often carries the melody (a series of distinct and fixed pitches) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs have a structure, such as the common ABA form, and are usu ...

-based magic powers. He later must ally with Hilda as well to prevent an even greater threat from destroying the world.

Common elements

Plot and themes

The ''Luminous Arc'' games (and their spiritual successor, ''Stella Glow''), typically take place in a

medieval fantasy Historical fantasy is a category of fantasy and genre of historical fiction that incorporates fantastic elements (such as magic (fantasy), magic) into a more "realistic" narrative. There is much crossover with other subgenres of fantasy; those c ...

setting and feature a plot based around elemental

witches Witchcraft is the use of magic by a person called a witch. Traditionally, "witchcraft" means the use of magic to inflict supernatural harm or misfortune on others, and this remains the most common and widespread meaning. According to ''Enc ...

, female magic-wielders of great power who are recruited by the main character in order to save the world from peril. The

protagonist A protagonist () is the main character of a story. The protagonist makes key decisions that affect the plot, primarily influencing the story and propelling it forward, and is often the character who faces the most significant obstacles. If a ...

is commonly a male

knight A knight is a person granted an honorary title of a knighthood by a head of state (including the pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church, or the country, especially in a military capacity. The concept of a knighthood ...

, albeit one of little renown yet great potential. While the witches are initially seen as malicious or at least dangerous entities, they are usually largely benevolent and merely protecting the world from malice, the true nature of which is revealed later. Fan service featuring the witches is common, such as ''Luminous Arc 2'''s "Engage" system, although it also serves to further their character development through socialization.

Gameplay

The gameplay of the ''Luminous Arc'' titles falls along the lines of tactical RPGs such as '' Final Fantasy Tactics''. Battlefields are viewed from an isometric perspective and characters may be moved on a grid. Characters possess powerful special moves that may only be used when a gauge has been filled.

Notes

References

{{Luminous Arc series Video game franchises introduced in 2007 Marvelous (company) franchises