Riviera: The Promised Land

Riviera: The Promised Land (GBA, 2004 JP/2005 NA): Tactical RPG with dating sim elements developed by Sting Entertainment, first entry in Dept. Heaven series. Originally released for WonderSwan Color in Japan (2002), remade for GBA with completely new art style by Sunaho Tobe, additional CG scenes, and limited voice acting. Published by Sting in Japan (November 25, 2004) and Atlus USA in North America (June 28, 2005). Later received fully-voiced PSP remake (2006) and HD remaster (2024).

Story draws from Norse mythology incorporating Ragnarök and Yggdrasil. Follows Ein, a Grim Angel who sacrificed his black wings for divine weapon Einherjar, on mission to seal four demonic entities called the Accursed threatening floating continent Riviera. Accompanied by four heroines—Fia (caring nature), Lina, Serene, Cierra—plus cat-like familiar Rose. Antagonists include fellow Grim Angel Ledah (emotionless warrior wielding Lorelei Diviner) and villain Hector. Seven-chapter structure with missions launched from hub town Elendia.

Unique blend of turn-based RPG, strategy, and dating sim mechanics. Players select three of five party members per battle, earning performance ratings. Dating sim elements central to gameplay—Ein's conversation choices favor different heroines, affecting trust levels, mood, and unlocking multiple character-specific endings. Decisions made throughout determine final outcome and relationships. Features "trigger system" where player choices unlock hidden events and story branches, encouraging multiple playthroughs.

GBA version featured extensive voice work for handheld—nearly 200 voice clips, exceptional for GBA titles. Soundtrack composed primarily by Minako Adachi with contributions from Shigeki Hayashi, spanning under 40 tracks. Music rearranged and rerecorded for each platform release. Riviera Full Arrange Soundtrack and Riviera Intro Disc released following GBA launch.

Generally favorable reviews (Metacritic positive aggregate). Famitsu scored GBA version 32/40 (9/8/7/8). Praised for innovative mechanics, charming character interactions, delightful dialogue giving distinct personalities, and decent replay value through multiple endings and missed trigger points. Criticized for predictable story lacking originality, limited exploration/combat compared to traditional RPGs, and short length (15-20 hours first playthrough). Reviews noted game "crammed too many unusual features" creating interesting but ultimately average RPG experience. Character development and writing compensated for straightforward narrative.

Atlus USA limited North American print run, making physical copies relatively scarce. Legacy: Launched Dept. Heaven series and established Sting's reputation for unique hybrid RPG mechanics. HD remaster released internationally 2024 across Switch, PC, iOS, and Android platforms.