One Fenix Downis a retro turn-based RPG that will take players on an epic journey with protagonist Fenix who is ordered to “protect fate” but given no other context.One Fenix Downstarted as a passion project, but now, eight years into development, is finally getting closer to coming to life. Developer RC Dunn is hoping to launch a Kickstarter fundraiser and Steam demo sometime in the early summer.
Dunn told Game Rant in a recent interview thatOne Fenix Downfollows the classic RPG formula—a protagonist with an epic story trying to save the world—but it’s like “comfort food” loaded with the toppings of an epic story, relatable and strong characters, and a living, breathing world. One of the most comforting things about One Fenix Down,Dunn said, is that it was “basically” designed to feel like the 1990s era of RPGs.
The Meaning Behind “Fenix Down”
Players will first see Torloria Kingdom through a prologue that shows how chaos builds up. It then jumps to seven years later when protagonist Fenix is introduced and the kingdom is being invaded. Fenix chooses to become a miner and not assist in the defense, which is a decision he gets criticized for. However, it’s in the mines where he finds his secret power, which forces him to make another crucial decision: face his unknown fate in pursuit of redemption.
Redemption is a common theme in epic stories, but it’s also especially evident inFinal Fantasygames likeFF4with protagonist Cecil—one of Dunn’s biggest influences—is a dark knight that commits heinous acts, but he then spends the rest of the game trying to redeem himself. The title is an obvious nod to Phoenix Downs in this game, but some fans may not realize that it’s even more potent than that. Dunn explained how the title is a deeper, more playful nod than some fans may think:
One Fenix Downis a nod to the olderFinal Fantasiesin the SNES era, where the Phoenix Down was a misspelled F-E-N-I-X, butOne Fenix Downisn’t about phoenixes, it’s about a character, a guy named Fenix, F-E-N-I-X.
“You Need Love And Friendship!”
WhileOne Fenix Downdoesn’t explicitly take advantage ofFinal Fantasy 8’s “You Need Love and Friendship” quote, it also follows that similarFFtheme of the power of friendship. Part of the title is Fenix, as in the character, being “down” but his friends coming to his aid.One Fenix Downwill feature a large supporting cast, but Dunn detailed a few of these characters in our interview.
Fenix is described as a “goofball” who acts unbothered, but he’s actually “a very thoughtful and reflective individual” who sometimes takes things a little too personally. While Fenix takes time to get along with some characters, one that he immediately clicks with is Rory, his best friend. Rory is optimistic and always tells Fenix to push himself to be better and not think about the negatives. Another character who joins Fenix early on is an Angelic Seraphim, who also represents a major mystery within the plot. Players will see the art design and interactions between the different characters thanks to a comic book artist whom Dunn has been working with for the last few years;
There’ll be certain events where he will really be pushed to that brink, and his friends, his family, are the ones who bring him back. That’s the true meaning of the title, Fenix Down. He gets to a point where he’s literally at rock bottom, dealing with despair, and it’s really his friends that help him climb up and get out of that hole.
Similar toOne Fenix Down,Final Fantasy’s protagonists are almost always joined by other characters in a determined attempt to save the world, whether it be from a ruthless empire or an immortal beast. This simple, common, but beloved storytelling dive is known as the power of friendship trope. This is especially evident in a scene inFinal Fantasy 7where Cloud and Tifa talk: “As long as you’re by my side… I won’t give up even if I’m scared.” Another instance is inFinal Fantasy 8where players are told, “You need love and friendship for this mission! And the courage to believe it.” InOne Fenix Down, the characters' friendship fuels the battles, utilizing this very same trope. Of course, this is one of many ways thatOne Fenix Downpays homages to classicFinal Fantasygames, as well as other RPGs and JRPGs of the ’90s.
Hardcore fans ofFinal Fantasymight be pulled in by the similarities to the classic JRPG franchise, especially with the nod in the titleOne Fenix Down. While the RPG and storyline formula may seem overused, it feels like the opposite in practice and when done well. Dunn’s indie game may give a niche set of players the nostalgia they need asfranchises likeFinal Fantasycreep ever closer to their 40th anniversaries.
One Fenix Downis aiming to launch a Kickstarter and Steam demo in the early summer.
