Discussing the appeal of generational RPG and SRPG games.

One of my favorite game elements is "generational change."
In typical SRPGs, once a unit reaches its maximum level of power, it can no longer become stronger, and the game ends there.

However, in RPGs with generational shifts, strong units don't stay around forever.
The real thrill lies in skillfully rotating units that will inevitably weaken over time, thereby maintaining the overall strength of the group.

I absolutely love managing a group by figuring things out in this way.
Even if it's just an impersonal, generic unit, you can imagine your own drama unfolding, treating it as the main character, or having it ultimately become a decoy to protect the younger generation.
This time, I'd like to introduce a few works that have those elements.

Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War

The first game I'd like to introduce is a truly classic simulation RPG.
While it doesn't perfectly match the themes I mentioned at the beginning, it's an essential work when discussing the theme of generational change.
It was released on the Super Famicom when I was a student, and I completed it dozens of times.

The children of units who become couples in the first half of the story appear in the second half and can be used as allies.
During my first playthrough, I didn't understand the rules for forming couples, so I was surprised when characters would suddenly get together on their own.
Once I understood the rules from strategy guides and other sources, I started pursuing strength and efficiency, repeatedly creating extremely powerful pairings.

Even characters who seemed to have absolutely no connection to each other had a vast number of dialogue events prepared for them, and the fact that they were actually having conversations like lovers was shocking at the time.
While generational change isn't the core of the game itself, it's impossible not to mention it as a title that incorporates "marriage" and "children" into its game system.
It's one of the most polished games in the entire Fire Emblem series, and it's still incredibly fun to play even today.

Go Over My Dead Body 1 & 2

Because of its distinctive name, gamers may have heard of it at least once.
It's based on a role-playing game.
This is a game where the protagonist's family, cursed with short lifespans, receives help from gods who take pity on them, and together they have children with the gods, gradually strengthening their family across generations.
No matter what kind of character they are, they will all eventually reach the end of their lifespan and die.
As everyone leaves, they all leave behind a farewell message, and each one is a memorable and touching line.

These characters have no lines of dialogue except for their final moments, but their facial graphics are diverse and full of personality.
Even just naming a character is a very difficult task, and it creates a unique story for each player.
The second game was released on the Vita, but both the first and second games have stories that are full of twists and surprises.

The game features a classic-looking screen, yet the combat is deep and challenging.
While it has a slightly quirky style, it can be considered a representative work of the generational shift RPG genre.

Venus & Braves ~The Witch, the Goddess, and the Prophecy of Destruction~

I really love this game.
This is the second game in the series, "7: The Cavalry of Mallmorth".
The immortal protagonist battles an entity that seeks to destroy the world, spanning hundreds of years and generations.
Of course, the characters other than the protagonist are just normal humans, so they grow up, age, and eventually die.
Not only was the game system excellent, but the story was also incredibly moving and well-crafted.

This game features a unique battle system called "Rotation Battle."
You will arrange seven allied characters in the front, middle, and back rows, and fight while rotating your formation.
The members in the front row move to the back row, then to the middle row, and then back to the front row, and so on, in a rotation.
During combat, the only thing the player can intervene in is whether to maintain or advance the formation.
The enemy's attack patterns are clearly defined, and your allies' actions are also predetermined.

In other words, it's a combat system where preparation before battle is key, much like solving a chess puzzle.
While there are fixed units that join your party during the story, it's the generic units that are truly worth investing your love into.
Units can marry each other, have children, and those children can join the knight order, so the units become stronger as generations pass.
However, it's not simply a matter of things getting easier the later you do it; timing is extremely important.

If strong characters enter a period of decline at the same time, the entire knight order will inevitably weaken, so forward-looking management is necessary, including how to weather difficult times.
After clearing the extremely long story mode, there's a new mode called Legend Mode where you fight your way through 1000 years.
The early stages, when your forces are not yet fully assembled, are extremely difficult, and it's a real struggle to get things going.
However, the way they somehow manage to make ends meet despite the difficulties is what I think makes this series so appealing.

-7 (minor seventh)

This is free software, but the basic system is the same as "7 (Seven)" and "Venus & Braves".
Anyone can download it for free, and I think you'll understand how fun it is once you play it.

However, it doesn't offer very helpful explanations, so it's probably best suited for people who have already played "7" or "V&B".
I started with this game, and it was very difficult.
Not only is it incredibly difficult to get things going, but the number and strength of the monsters that appear are also merciless.
If you can consistently complete this game and progress through a certain number of years, you should be fine playing other games in the series.

Hanyou 9

This is a game based on RPG Maker, which originated on a certain online forum.

Although it's a free game, it's far more polished than you'd expect from a free game, and the system is almost identical to "V&B".
There are plenty of modes, and the "Tutorial" mode is essentially the main game, where you fight for 100 years.
In addition, it surpasses the original with features such as a "Story Mode" focused on combat, "RTP Continental Chronicles" where you fight for 1000 years, and "Trial Mode" where you challenge with your Hall of Fame characters.
It's packed with unique elements, such as items that give you an advantage in battle and the four elemental types of units whose compatibility you need to consider.
While the graphics are based on RPG Maker, the gameplay is completely different.
This work can be described as having a softer atmosphere than something like Minor Seven, which has a rather bleak feel.
If you enjoy generational RPGs, this is a game I highly recommend you play.