Originally released on the PlayStation 2 as one of Nippon Ichi Software’s first games after the cult-classic which was Makai Senki Disgaea (Known in the west as Disgaea: Hour of Darkness), Phantom Brave was an innovative and heartwarming tactical RPG following a young girl named Marona who has the power to speak and summon Phantoms. After more than 20 years, a fully fledged sequel is in the works, with Nippon Ichi Software America confirming that Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero will be releasing in 2025.
In Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero, the story once again follows Marona – a gifted young girl with the power to speak to Phantoms – as she traverses the ocean world of Ivoire, providing aid to those in need. She works alongside her Phantom partner Ash as a Chroma, a type of contractor who travels to various islands and solves people’s problems, upon request. As Marona and Ash are returning home from a Chroma job as usual, disaster strikes. Their ship is attacked by a group of vicious ghost ships known as the “Shipwreck Fleet.” A mysterious masked man steals Marona’s powers, and to save her, Ash jumps into the horde of enemies alone. Thus, Marona and Ash are separated.
After escaping the Shipwreck Fleet and washing ashore on an isolated island, Marona encounters a young Phantom girl named Apricot, who wants to reunite with her lost father —the captain of the Argento Pirate Crew who once defeated the Shipwreck Fleet. However, the crew is now on the verge of disbanding after losing their captain. Apricot wants to revitalize the crew and search for her father, and Marona agrees to help her. To travel this region of the sea, which is filled with pirate territories, they must become pirates themselves and expand their own territory. Marona and Apricot decide to work together to revitalize the Argento Pirate Crew in order to reunite with those who are dear to them.
Based on the trailer, the original English voice actors for both Marona and Ash are returning, alongside original character designer Takehito Harada and composer Tenpei Sato. Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is set for release on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC (via Steam) in 2025, with the console editions releasing first.
