One Week War Re Change (Free Simulation RPG) Introduction, Impressions, and Strategy Notes

"One Week War: Re Change" is a story that follows a single war from the perspectives of four main characters.
This work is a remake of "One Week War," a game created using RPG Maker VX.

I played and completed this game before the remake, and I remember finding it enjoyable back then as well.
When I learned that this game had been remade, I hesitated to play it because I heard that the gameplay hadn't changed much.
However, my memory of playing it before was fading, and I also wanted to write a review article, so I played it again this time.

The story hasn't changed, but I think the graphics and game system have been refined and made easier to play.
If you're interested, why not give it a try?
My playtime was approximately 15 hours.

Game Overview

本The game is described as a "simulation RPG."
However, it's not a game where you move pieces around like in the so-called Fire Emblem series.

I think it can be described as a "role-playing game set in various situations," much like the original meaning of the term "simulation role-playing game."

In other words, the story allows you to experience the "One Week War" from the perspectives of the four main characters, each from their own point of view.

You are free to choose which of the four players will play first.
As long as you play through Regil's story first, I think you won't have any major problems no matter who you choose afterward.
While there are differences in difficulty, the game systems are all different, so you can't simply compare their difficulty levels.

Below is a brief overview of each of the main characters.

- Regil's story (Difficulty: ★ to ★★)

This protagonist is perfect for your first playthrough.
The game primarily involves fighting enemy soldiers on the battlefield.

It offers the enjoyment of an RPG, where you survive the battlefield while improving your stats and preparations, and gradually grow stronger.
The difficulty level is only rated at 2 stars, but there are some challenging parts, such as the boss battles in the later stages.
The combat sequences, where you're constantly on the brink of death, have just the right amount of tension.

- Elmy's story (Difficulty: ★★ to ★★★)

This character is the protagonist at the heart of the story.
Therefore, it is explained that it is better not to play it at first.

The protagonist is a war simulation character who commands an army and strategically utilizes generals with various characteristics.
In addition, mini-games are interspersed throughout the game.
The difficulty level isn't particularly high, but there's a certain enjoyment in having to think about various strategies while fighting.

・Gu-Zaid Arc (Difficulty: ★★～★★★★)

The protagonist is captivating due to the dark storyline.
The game mainly consists of a shooting-like section where you chase and defeat enemies, and a combat section similar to the boss battles in Regil's story.

The boss battles are often tough, and this is a protagonist you'll want to play at least after Regil's storyline.

・Mia's story (Difficulty: ★★★★★)

The game primarily consists of stealth action segments where you advance without being detected by enemies, and action segments where you get behind enemies.

In terms of sheer difficulty, I would say it's quite high.
However, playing as other protagonists first won't give you any practice, so it won't matter which one you choose first; it will still be difficult.
A walkthrough is included in the game files, so if you get stuck, you should be able to read it and complete the game.

Review (no spoilers)

It can be described as an ensemble drama about war, filled with drama, excitement, emotion, and tears.
Each protagonist has a very different atmosphere, and the game systems are also diverse, so you can progress through the game without getting bored.
Aside from the gameplay segments, the story progresses primarily through dialogue and text, giving it an adventure-like feel, but I found the pacing of the story to be excellent.

Almost all of the characters, including the protagonist, are charming and have a great presence.
The story itself isn't particularly unusual,The characters' charm and the skillful direction draw you in.
The game had a wealth of graphics, including illustrations that really enhanced the experience, so I imagine remaking it must have been quite a challenge.

The game's difficulty level is about average, but there are some parts that are not straightforward.
However, the abundance of save points and the user-friendly system make retrying much less stressful.
There are 130 file slots available for saving your game, which is more than enough even if you save every single save opportunity separately.
To prevent getting stuck, it's safer to create new save data files frequently while playing.

In Mia's story, the action-tower defense-style parts where you have to stop enemy incursions were quite difficult.
However, if you play it repeatedly and learn from the experience, you will definitely be able to clear it.
This is one of the most difficult sections in the game, but it's a place where only the player's skills are tested, regardless of their previous gameplay, so I hope you'll do your best to clear it.

Overall, I think many people who enjoy war and fantasy themes will find this enjoyable.
If you're interested, I recommend starting with the Regil arc; I think you'll find yourself completely immersed in this world.

Strategy Notes

Regil Arc

In the preparation phase for the Regil arc, it's crucial to identify the important stats and develop them effectively and efficiently.
It is possible to customize the combat style to some extent to suit the player's preferences.
If you prioritize stability, focus on stamina and accuracy; if you want a combat style with greater variability, prioritize attack and evasion.It's fun to raise it by doing that.

My personal impression is,"Hit > Health > Evasion > Attack"I think they are important in that order.
The reason attack priority is low is that unless you significantly increase your attack power, you can't defeat regular soldiers in one hit.
Since you have to attack twice anyway, I think accuracy to increase the certainty of your attacks and stamina to reliably increase your ability to continue fighting are important.

If you don't have any particular preference, the first thing you should do on the first day is change your weapon.
Changing weapons consumes AP, so it's a waste to change them multiple times a day.
The starting greatsword offers no advantages, so you should switch to a bastard sword or greatsword.
Beyond that, I think you can't go wrong if you prioritize soldiers that increase your maximum AP and training that has a "◎" effect.

There's not much to be careful about during the combat part.
Special moves are probably best saved for strong soldiers.
If you're having trouble with boss battles, save your special move points during the regular battles beforehand and use them all at once against the boss.
In that case, it is necessary to make the most effective use of medics.

- Thiess match
As preparation, make sure you have a greatsword that prioritizes accuracy.
Beyond that, you can raise whatever you like in terms of accuracy, attack power, and stamina, excluding evasion.

The basic strategy for the fight against Ties is to defend against the first and second attacks, and dodge the third attack.
And when your HP gets low, run away and use a healing potion.

If the character's eyes are closed in their standing pose, they will use their ultimate technique, and you will take heavy damage if you do not run away.
Therefore, be sure to save your special move points (2 points) that you will use to escape.

- Vox Brothers match
I found it much more difficult than the fight against Thiez.
Let's make sure we're well-prepared at the Fortress of Almatys on the fifth day.
Receiving training from General Thies will significantly improve your abilities, so be sure to take advantage of it.
It would also be good to increase your stamina and evasion.

Vox's older brother has an attack power of 65, and his younger brother has 80, so I think having 280 HP would be just right for efficiency.
(Vox's attacks can be withstood four times, and his attacks can be withstood three times.)

In the preliminary battles, save all your special move points and don't use any of them.
And once you've unleashed all your special moves on the boss, I think you'll be in contention for victory.
Since special moves always hit, it's best to prioritize using them on the brother with high evasion (the one with faster movement speed).

The parameters that allowed me to defeat Vox are as follows:
If you're focusing on special moves, I think the Zweihander would be fine.

Gu-Zaid Arc

In the part where you chase and defeat enemies, after you've defeated several of them and "MAX" is displayed, use your special move immediately.
The subsequent area transitions seem to be random in terms of the layout of the destination, so it's fine no matter which area you choose.
Maps with obstacles like walls and rivers make it easier to corner enemies and engage them all at once, so aim for those spots proactively.

・??? (Gian battle)

Be careful, because if you close your eyes at the start of the battle, you will take 800 damage from a special attack.
To avoid combat, you need to spend 2 special move points to gain the first move, and then spend 1 point to evade the battle.
If you encounter the enemy again and they have their eyes closed again, evade them in the same way.
If you don't have enough special move points, be prepared to take damage.

The opponent's normal attack deals 300 damage normally, and 150 damage when defending.
It's not much of a threat, so unless you have a particular reason to be defensive, I think it's fine to just defend.

・ Samson match

Regardless of the dialogue, if the enemy's eyes are white before the battle begins, they will unleash a special attack (1000 damage), so be careful.

These are the effective hits.
If you simply defend against your opponent's attacks, you'll naturally accumulate special move points.

- Thiess match
This will be quite a long battle, but if you understand the basics, you should be able to fight steadily.

First, as before, if your eyes are closed before the battle begins, you will use your special move.
In that case, use your special move points to gain the upper hand, avoid combat for a moment, and then reset the situation.

These are effective hits.

When your opponent attacks, you should generally defend, and when your HP gets low, retreat from combat and use regeneration.
While conserving points for avoiding combat, let's also actively use special moves.
If you can defeat Ties, you will have cleared the Gu-Zaid arc for now.

Elmy's story

There's a part where you choose a warlord and engage in army battles.
If you follow the tutorial and avoid making any major mistakes, I think you should be able to clear it.

You can shorten your clear time by actively aiming for one-on-one duels.
However, winning regular battles will increase morale and improve your character's stats.
Therefore, it's best to select a balanced mix of generals for one-on-one duels and generals for regular battles.

Alm, with his high basic abilities, is a reliable general in both duels and regular battles.
Occasionally, there are turns when he cannot make a choice due to illness, but even considering that, he is a powerful general.

In a one-on-one duel, a warrior will become incapacitated if their accumulated damage reaches 5.
Fight while being careful of the enemy's special moves, and if you reach a dangerous level, stop the duel.
If you interrupt the battle, the accumulated damage of your generals will be reset.

Mia's story

Mia's story is difficult, but basically, think of it as a game of memorization.
You should be able to complete the game by referring to the walkthrough included with the game files.
Destroying assassins in the attic is quite challenging, but it's also an action-packed experience, so patience is required.
Since the enemy's behavior patterns are the same, if things aren't working out, it's important to try different routes and timings through trial and error.

Last day

Mia vs. Assassin Group
It's quite difficult.
Enemies come in rapid succession from both the left and right corridors, so you have to learn by feel how often they'll come.

It's difficult to write a strategy guide in text, but in my case, I first immediately take down one or two of the relatively fast assassins who are in the straight line down the right corridor.
After that, you immediately return to the starting point and circle back to the original room by drawing the smallest possible circle from the left corridor.
In the process, you should naturally be able to take down a few people from behind.

After that, we took up our starting positions, eliminated the enemies coming from the left by taking them down head-on, and used the nearby T-junction to deal with the enemies coming from the right.If the timing is rightI'll take him down from behind.
If you spend too much time taking down enemies from behind, you'll allow enemies to sneak in from the left corridor, so be careful.
Since I don't have much time, I'll only try to attack from behind when I have the chance.

- Gu-Aid vs. Ember battle

Just like before, when you assume the cross stance, a special move will follow.
Either take the initiative to avoid combat, or use full evasion to survive.

Even if you choose a successful attack method, it can sometimes be dodged or counterattacked.
Furthermore, the more the battle progresses, the more powerful Ember's special attacks become.
In the later stages of a battle, be sure to keep a way to avoid special attacks.
This will likely be a long battle, but let's steadily keep attacking and conserve our special move points.

- Battle of Vogalb
The left and right placement seems to be random each time you play, so it should be fine even if they're all facing the same direction.
Even if you just pick randomly, it shouldn't be too difficult to clear.

- Gu-Aid vs. Ties

Just like in the Ember fight, if you close your eyes, a special move will come.
Just be careful about that, and let's fight the same way.

・Ties vs. Gu-Aid

When this image appears, the enemy will use a special move, so be careful.
Normal attacks deal 5000 damage (2500 if you defend), and special attacks deal 15000 damage.

In the second half of the match, the power of Ties' special moves increases.
At the same time, I feel like the frequency of Gu-Aid's special moves will also increase.
Let's dodge Gu-Zaid's special attack with all our might and then go on the offensive.
Therefore, it's important to accumulate enough special move points in the first half to the middle of the match, and then unleash a barrage of special moves in the second half.

- Regil vs. Gu-Zaid
This is the final battle.
When attacking or defending, use boosts and focus on actions that accumulate special move points.
Our offensive strategy focuses on striking, while our defensive strategy focuses on counter-attacks.
That way, even if you use a boost every time, your special move points should gradually accumulate.

If you use a straightforward approach, such as regenerating when your HP decreases and focusing on special attacks, you should be able to see victory within reach.

Review (contains spoilers)

I had played and completed the original game before the remake, but some of the details had faded from my memory, so I was able to play it with a fresh perspective.
It's so smooth and easy to play that I really don't feel like I can stop playing.

I completed the game in the following order: Regil ⇒ Guzeid ⇒ Mia ⇒ Elmy.
As explained in the character selection instructions, Elmy's storyline is intertwined with everyone's story, so choosing it last was a good way to review.

After clearing everything, the staff room will be unlocked.
The rooms featuring single illustrations and character anecdotes contain detailed comments from the author, making them a must-see for players who have completed the game.
Various background details will also be revealed.

The Regil arc was really fun; the game system, where a single soldier rises through the ranks on the battlefield, reminded me of the manga "Kingdom."
The fact that you could die instantly if you misjudged when to retreat added to the tension of the battlefield.
I personally loved this game so much that I wish they would combine the legion battles from Elmy's story with the system of this Regil battle into a single war game.
(Added September 2021: In version 2.00 and later, you can now play "One Week of Unrivaled Power," an epilogue mode based on the battles in the Regil chapter!)

In the latter half, he's somewhat overshadowed by Ties, but I think he definitely played the main character role in the end.
The character who wielded the greatsword with such ease reminded me of Guts from "Berserk," and I thought it was really cool.

The Gu-Aid arc had many boss battles, which made it very tense.
This scenario helped me get used to how to move during boss battles, which made the final boss battle much easier.
I remember the part where you have to defeat hundreds of enemies being quite difficult in the original version, and I recall having to restart it several times.
However, that wasn't the case in this game, so I think it might have been adjusted, or perhaps my memory is mistaken.
The twist at the end, that he was actually a slightly different being from the real Gu-Aid, was interesting.

Defeating the assassins in Mia's story was really tough.
However, I remember clearing the game before the remake, so I kept that pride in mind and did my best.
I think I was able to clear it by changing my perspective from "a game where you take down opponents from behind" to "a game where you take down opponents from behind if you have the opportunity."
I had to memorize the hide-and-seek part, but retries were convenient and it wasn't a very long part, so I didn't feel too stressed.

The relationship between Mia and Gian is a complex one that cannot be described in a single sentence.
However, I couldn't help but shed tears during the scene where Gian dies.

Elmy's storyline largely followed the previous storylines.
There was a lot of overlap with the Regil arc, but the skip function was available, which made it very enjoyable.
Furthermore, the game incorporates various games at key points, showing a clear effort to keep players engaged and prevent boredom.
The ending wasn't a convenient happy one, but I suppose it was inevitable for someone consumed by revenge to meet such a fate.

As the author clearly states in the afterword, the theme of this work is "the futility of war and revenge."
All of the main characters in this story go through a period where they become consumed by revenge.

Regil was killed when Elmy was murdered.
Gu-Aid is from the very beginning of the story.
Mia is present from the beginning of the story, and also after Gian is killed.
Elmy is also there from the very beginning of the story.

Of all the characters in this story, the ones I empathized with the most were Regil when Elmy was killed and Mia when Gian was killed.
(Mia's feelings towards Gian before the story began were not yet fully formed enough to be called revenge, and those feelings gradually change.)
These two feelings are directed towards Gu-Zaid himself, the person who committed the murder, and I sympathized with that (though I'm not condoning revenge).

However, I couldn't really sympathize with the other forms of revenge.
When I ask myself why I can't empathize, I realize that it's because"Because it involves other people."I think that might be the case.

I feel sorry for Gu-Aid, but all he's doing is creating beings just like himself.
Moreover, since they derive pleasure from the act of massacre itself, they are not allowed to pretend to be victims, and there is no room for sympathy.

I can understand Elmy's resentment towards Vogalb, but I can't sympathize with her when I consider whether it was really necessary to involve so many people.
With Joelman dead, perhaps he wouldn't have had the will to live without the fuel of revenge.
I understand the rationale behind revenge, but personally, I cannot condone it.

However, if you ask me what Gu-Aid and Elmy should have done, I don't know the right answer.
Even if you tell them to just accept it and do nothing, they probably won't be satisfied with that.

One thing I can say for sure is that war, which generates such hopeless revenge, is a foolish thing.
While there are many works of fiction depicting revenge, I cannot recall any that fully endorse it.

Well, that was a rather somber topic, so next I'd like to talk about my favorite character.

Besides the main character, my favorite character is Ember.
With his appearance and arrogant attitude, reminiscent of a Gold Saint, I initially didn't think he'd become an ally, so when he did, he was incredibly reliable.
When Regil risked his life to hold off Gu-Aid, she praised him, and I was happy to see her finally show her affectionate side.

And in the end, just like Regil at that time, his willingness to risk his life to hold off Gu-Zaid really touched my heart.
From his striking appearance to his words, actions, and achievements, he was a character who left a lasting impression in every way.

I don't particularly like the old man, but I also liked Wizbeck and Samson because they were strong characters with a strong presence.
One of the things I find great about this work is its portrayal of characters who are described as strong.
There is always some depiction or portrayal that supports the character's strength, making their strength convincing.
Although Wizbeck doesn't directly participate in combat, there are scenes where he survives Gu-Zaid's attacks and is shown to be on par with Samson, so his strength is quite imaginable.

Even so, I think it's amazing that Wisbeck is able to fight Samson and his group without appearing to be using any weapons.
Despite having exposed skin and seemingly low defense, this toughness is astonishing (could it be a Dragoon?).

By the way, who exactly is the "you" that Keilan is referring to?
Considering the sequence of events, it's likely the energetic girl with red hair who appears later.
Perhaps this girl's story will be told in future installments.

If we interpret this meta-textually, "you" might refer to the player themselves.
It's also possible to interpret this game as a way for players to experience the stories of the characters and understand the folly of war.