Edge of Memories Hands-On Preview – A French RPG Carving Its Own Path

Edge of Memories, the upcoming action RPG from Midgar Studio, is shaping up to be one of the more intriguing surprises on the horizon. While its predecessor, Edge of Eternity, leaned heavily on the open-world JRPG traditions inspired by Final Fantasy and Xenogears, this new entry boldly pivots toward a faster, action-driven style of gameplay.

And based on my hands-on time at Gamescom, it’s a gamble that might pay off.

French developer Midgar Studio is no stranger to experimenting within the JRPG framework. Edge of Eternity demonstrated the team’s ambition, offering a sprawling world and a strategic turn-based battle system. Despite rough edges, the studio gained recognition for delivering a heartfelt RPG experience from outside Japan. Now, with Edge of Memories, they’re reinventing their approach rather than rehashing old formulas. This new chapter introduces players to Eline, a Soul Whisperer navigating a world plagued by the deadly Corrosion, a mysterious force that has twisted landscapes and life alike.

What’s immediately striking is the art style. With bright palettes and a whimsical charm, the visuals drew instant comparisons to Square Enix’s Visions of Mana. Even Midgar’s own founder and CEO, Jérémy Zeler-Maury, admits that many mistook the first Mana reveal trailer for his game. The irony is that Edge of Memories had been in development long before Square Enix announced its project. And while comparisons are inevitable, there’s more depth to Midgar’s effort than meets the eye. The game doesn’t just borrow the vibrant look of Mana; it layers it with a combat system that feels sharper, faster, and more layered.

In my short session, traversal felt refreshing thanks to elemental powers that are more than just flashy effects. These abilities act as keys to the environment itself – opening pathways, solving traversal puzzles, and weaving light platforming into the RPG flow. Unlike static maps, the demo encouraged me to explore, rewarding curiosity with a sense of scale that promised distant landmarks could actually be reached. Whether this level of freedom extends to the final game is yet to be seen, but the design direction is promising.

Combat is where Edge of Memories really begins to assert its identity. Where Visions of Mana sticks to a lighter action framework, Midgar Studio is pulling inspiration from NieR: Automata. Fights demand attention, mixing combo strings, fluid dodge mechanics, and the ability to switch skill sets on the fly. In my demo, a boss encounter tested all of these elements, forcing me to juggle attacks while reading enemy telegraphs marked by glowing red AoEs on the ground. The rhythm felt satisfying, and even though I only scratched the surface of the combo system, the foundations hinted at a more technical, expressive combat design than most action RPGs dare attempt.

Midgar Studio’s newfound ambition is backed by stability. Since being acquired by publisher Nacon in 2022, the studio no longer has to rely on crowdfunding or Early Access. This means Edge of Memories is headed for a polished, full release across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S next year without the uncertainties that often plague indie RPG projects. That alone should give fans more confidence in what’s coming.

The excitement here isn’t about Midgar chasing trends – it’s about a developer carving out its own space within the crowded RPG genre. While it may share superficial similarities with Visions of Mana, the substance feels distinct. It’s brighter and more colorful than its predecessor, but it doesn’t abandon depth or player agency. If anything, this feels like Midgar’s chance to prove they can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with bigger names by embracing what makes their vision unique.

Walking away from the demo, I felt cautiously optimistic. The art style might divide some who think it veers too close to “cartoonish,” but beneath that aesthetic is a game that takes combat seriously and rewards exploration. If the full release delivers on the promise of its mechanics, Edge of Memories could become the kind of cult hit that reminds players not all RPG innovation comes from Japan. Sometimes, it comes from a passionate French studio willing to rewrite its own playbook.