You can’t really bypass combat entirely, but it’s rare to be surprised by a foe you’re not expecting. Enemy groups in dungeons are represented by a character model that moves around and can be avoided if desired. Random battles are thankfully absent, with enemy encounters taking place at clearly-marked nodes on the overworld map. You have to know when to be conservative and build up overcharge before cutting loose, and when to pull out the stops and burn through your mana to get the job done. It adds an interesting tactical layer to action choices and resource management, cleverly integrating a concept from action RPGs like Diablo into a turn-based system. It can be used in place of mana, and certain abilities reward you for spending a lot of overcharge at once. Combat revolves around the concept of overcharge, a resource that is generated by weaker attacks and sits on top of your mana bar. Overcharge adds an interesting tactical layer to action choices.Mechanically, the influence from late ‘90s Final Fantasy and its ilk is clear, though with enough surprises and new ideas to let it sidestep a lot of retro JRPG problems. Each of the eight major dungeons and dozens of smaller exploration areas has a distinct aesthetic, prettied up by great environmental lighting, thematic music, and lots of little moving parts that help them come alive. From the troubled, metallic golem Calibretto to the eager and upbeat brawler Gully, nearly everyone with a speaking part is overflowing with personality and ably voiced - though some, like Red Monika and the witch Destra have distractingly eye-roll worthy wardrobes that look like they came from a 16-year-old boy’s anime fan art page. Each party member, enemy, and shopkeeper presents a strong silhouette, vibrant colors, and lots of attention to small details. The environments and characters of Battle Chasers would fit in right alongside classic fantasy anime like Record of Lodoss War and Slayers. There are a lot of familiar ideas in its turn-based combat and diverse, beautifully drawn overworld, but enough fresh and modern ideas are sprinkled in to keep things feeling up to date and interesting. Battle Chasers: Nightwar pays homage to and builds on old school, anime-inspired JRPGs in the same way Pillars of Eternity did for the top-down isometric Infinity engine games of the ‘90s.