Summary
- Games like Cassette Beasts offer human-to-creature fusion abilities in turn-based combat.
- Lunar Knights allows players to fuse with creature partners to gain temporary power boosts.
- Tales of Zestiria introduces Armatization, a fusion system between human hosts and elemental creatures.
When it comes to fusion, most anime fans probably think of Dragon Ball Z, and most gaming fans may think about the Megami Tensei series. Both do offer great fusion techniques, but unlike Dragon Ball Z, the Megami Tensei games typically offer demon fusion. It’s a great system, but players may be more intrigued by the Dragon Ball Z methods of fusing two humanoid characters.
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What would Cloud and Red 13 from Final Fantasy 7 look like if they were fused? The internet probably has a piece of fan art to answer that question. Fan art aside, let’s look at some game with humid fusing abilities and explain how they work. These fusion systems either involve human-to-human or human-to-creature transformations. They will be ranked based on the effectiveness of the fusion systems.
Cassette Beasts
Not Your Average Monster Catcher
Cassette Beasts
- Released
- April 26, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everybody 10+ due to Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Cassette Beasts may look like just another indie monster-catching game paying homage to Pokemon, but it’s closer to an homage to Digimon Frontier. Digimon Frontier was a season of the anime wherein the human characters could fuse with their Digimon to become humanoid warriors.
That’s sort of the concept behind Cassette Beasts, but with Pokemon flavoring too. Players can capture monsters for their deck and then use those monsters to transform and become powerful humanoid creatures in turn-based combat.
Lunar Knights
Fighting Vampires Portably
Lunar Knights
- Released
- November 22, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Action-Adventure
Lunar Knights is a top-down action RPG on the DS about hunting vampires and other monstrous creatures. It’s the fourth and final game in the Boktai series, with players being able to swap between the two heroes: Aaron and Lucian.
Both characters can fuse with their creature partners to go into temporary states of power. Aaron’s partner is a sunflower named Toasty, and in their combined form, Aaron looks like the Human Torch from the Marvel comics. Conversely, Lucian and his cat Nero will turn into a sleek vampire.
Tales Of Zestiria
The Power Of Armatization
Tales of Zestiria
- Released
- October 19, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco, Violence
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, Action
Tales of Zestiria is yet another action RPG in the long-running Tales of series. Unique to this game is the power of Armatization, a type of fusion between elemental Seraph creatures and either Sorey or Rose as the human host.
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Different Seraphs will give these two alternate elemental weapons, from swords to bows, and can perform powerful moves temporarily. In their powered-up state, their hair will turn blonde like when characters go Super Saiyan in Dragon Ball Z.
Fire Emblem Engage
Put A Ring On It
Fire Emblem Engage
- Released
- January 20, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen due to Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, JRPG
Fire Emblem Engage is the latest entry in the series, which was like a celebration. The main character, Alear, is the first character to get an Emblem Ring. These powerful rings can summon past heroes to fuse with the ring bearer and enter them into a powered-up state.
Characters will often glow or sprout wings in this form, retaining most of their features. Some past characters of note who have Emblem Ring forms include Marth from the first game, Byleth from Fire Emblem: Three Houses, and Micaiah from Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn, among many others.
Kingdom Hearts 2
Sora’s Forms
Kingdom Hearts 2
- Released
- March 28, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Mild Blood, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Hack and Slash
Kingdom Hearts 2 starts a bit slow, but once players get control of Sora again, they will start to learn a new host of abilities. For example, Sora can fuse with party members to enter four powered-up Forms.
His clothes, Keyblades, and abilities will change, but he won’t retain any physical characteristics of either Donald or Goofy. For example, with Goofy, Sora can go into Valor Form, or with Donald, he can go into Wisdom Form. Later, Donald and Goofy together can transform Sora into his Master Form or Final Form.
Breath Of Fire
An Early Example On SNES
Breath of Fire
- Released
- April 3, 1993
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Breath of Fire is a bit of a forgotten turn-based RPG series from Capcom, which began on the SNES. It had forward-thinking abilities for the genre, including fusion techniques. Karn is a party member and the thief of the group, but later he can quest to gain powerful transformation magic.
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Bo is a fox, Gobi is a fish person, and Ox is more self-explanatory, and these three party members can fuse with Karn in different combinations. Either way, these fusions are powerful to use in battle, but also creepy.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Mecha Break
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
- Released
- July 29, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Language, Mild Blood, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 featured humanoid characters with the power to turn into weapons, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 one-upped that idea to feature party members who could combine into mech-like gods.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3’s transformation powers were called Ouroboros, and the form taken was dictated by who initiated it, which was good for boss battles. Noah and Mio’s Ouroboros looked like a mech unit from Neon Genesis Evangelion, while Sena and Lanz’s Ouroboros had more human features among its monstrous hand-like wings.
Dragon Ball Fusions
It’s In The Name
Dragon Ball Fusions
- Released
- November 22, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
Yes, there is indeed a Dragon Ball game about fusion, and while it’s not the best overall RPG, it is the best example of character fusion in a game. Dragon Ball Fusions was a 3DS-exclusive tactical RPG that featured an original story with a player-created character.
There were a lot of fusions in the game that characters could perform, and half the fun was playing out forum discussed ideas. Tien paired with Yamcha or Broly paired with Goku are two fun examples, and folks, the body horror is real!
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