Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord Gets Gameplay, Music Info

Idea Factory International released more details for Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord ahead of the game’s western release this spring. The new update covers its combat system, character build customisation, and some of its musical elements.

Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord is said to take place after the events of Fairy Fencer F and its enhanced Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force release. It sees Fang and his allies encountering Muses who are able to use the power of song to boost and alter other people’s abilities, among other things. The game includes the return of Fairizing, where characters can transform into a powerful Fury form once a relevant gauge is filled. The game features a new grid-based tactical combat system that makes use to character orientation and height differences. It uses a wait-turn system with the turn order based on what equipment and skills are used during the previous turn. Players can deploy up to six units at once and can check enemy locations and types prior to combat.

The Fairy Aria is a new skill that grants Muses access to multiple songs with different effects that affect characters in range. If both ally and enemy Muses begin singing then a Dramatic Resonance is activated, causing the areas where they song effect overlap to become the Resonance Area. These makes the effects dramatically increase for both enemies and allies. The game features a Soul Gift mechanic, where a character will receive a bonus from any other allies placed directly in a straight line from them. Players can also build up special Avalanche Rush attacks where multiple allies within range will deal damage to the targetted enemy.

Players have multiple methods to power-up their characters. Fairy Points are gained from battles and can be spent on character’s unique partner fairies as well as equippable sub-fairies to increase the stats as well as learn new abilities and skills. There are over 40 sub-fairies available to find, including new sub-fairies exclusive to Muses. Players can also equip armor, accessories, and fragments. Armor and accessories can be found from battle drops, shops, and item synthesis. Meanwhile, fragments are special items that contain Soul Gift effects, which can be found using a Location Shaping treasure hunting system.

Like its predecessor, Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord contains a branching story that greatly diverges in the middle of the game. Collecting special weapons called Furies — which are used in Location Shaping — may have an impact upon the story, and playing will also be able to see an individual story epilogue for the characters players get closest to during the game.

The Muses’ songs in the game are composed by Zizz Studio and feature multiple Japanese singers. Performing on the Fleur’s songs are Yui Ishikawa, Yoko Ishida, nicamoq, Miyuki Hasimoto, Luna Haruna, and Saki Mitsuki, while performing on Glace’s songs are Yoko Hikasa, Kaori Oda, Nami Tamaki, Aoi Fuji, Aira Yuuki, and Chihiro Yonekuro. Samples of those songs can be found on the game’s official website. Meanwhile, the game’s opening theme song is “Notes of Faith”, performed by Fleur’s voice actress Yui Ishikawa, and there are two ending songs: “Kioku no Hazama”, performed by marble, and “Hikari no Kodou”, performed by Reika Kisumi.

Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord is developed by Compile Heart and Sting. The game launched in Japan in September 2022, and will release in North America and Europe for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch in spring 2023. A Limited Edition will be available from Idea Factory International’s online stores in North America and Europe.