{{short description|2012 video game}} {{Infobox video game |image=Sol Trigger.PNG |caption= <!--Box art--> |developer=Imageepoch |publisher=Imageepoch |director= |producer= |designer= |artist= Shuji Sogabe |writer= Kazushige Nojima |composer= |platforms=PlayStation Portable |released={{vgrelease|JP|October 4, 2012}} |genre=Role-playing |modes=Single-player }} {{Nihongo|'''''Sol Trigger'''''|ソールトリガー|Sōru Torigā|lead=yes}} is a role-playing video game developed by Imageepoch for the PlayStation Portable. It was released in Japan on October 4, 2012.<ref name=september/>
==Gameplay== The game is a turn based RPG.<ref name=gamespot>{{cite web|url=http://au.gamespot.com/news/sol-trigger-blasting-this-august-in-japan-6375662|title=Sol Trigger blasting this August in Japan|first=Jonathan|last=Toyad|publisher=GameSpot|accessdate=28 September 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121223103546/http://au.gamespot.com/news/sol-trigger-blasting-this-august-in-japan-6375662|archivedate=23 December 2012}}</ref> It features gameplay mechanics such as "Sol System", where the players can activate characters' "Sol Power" to activate special moves that become stronger the more they are used.<ref name="gamespot"/> "Sol Power" can also be traded away in order to revive teammates in battle as well,<ref name=gamespot /> similar to the game ''Soul Sacrifice''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2012/05/14/sol-triggers-battle-system-has-characters-sacrifice-their-sol-to-power-up-an-attacks/|title=Sol Trigger's Battle System Has Characters Sacrifice Their "Sol" To Power Up An (sic) Attacks|author=Spencer|publisher=Siliconera|accessdate=28 September 2016|date=2012-05-15|archive-date=2019-11-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114062639/https://www.siliconera.com/2012/05/14/sol-triggers-battle-system-has-characters-sacrifice-their-sol-to-power-up-an-attacks/|url-status=live}}</ref> Additional skills can be learned by equipping new weapons.<ref name=gamespot />
==Story== The game is set in a distant future, based around the fictional city "Kaiserhald".<ref name=killing>{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2012/07/05/sol-triggers-story-is-about-killing-a-god/|title=Sol Trigger's Story Is About Killing A God|author=Spencer|publisher=Siliconera|accessdate=28 September 2016|date=2012-07-06|archive-date=2016-10-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002060544/http://www.siliconera.com/2012/07/05/sol-triggers-story-is-about-killing-a-god/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the game's world, "Sol" has the power to create miracles, but is hoarded by Kaiserhald and its "Machine Church".<ref name="killing"/> The "Sol Trigger" is a group of people who oppose their corrupt use of the "Sol", and they fight to stop them.<ref name="killing"/>
==Development== A Japanese trademark for the name ''Sol Trigger'' was first registered in November 2011,<ref name=nextrpg>{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2011/11/09/is-sol-trigger-imageepochs-next-self-published-rpg/|title=Is Sol Trigger Imageepoch's Next Self Published RPG?|author=Spencer|publisher=Siliconera|accessdate=28 September 2016|date=2011-11-09|archive-date=2018-10-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026223440/http://www.siliconera.com/2011/11/09/is-sol-trigger-imageepochs-next-self-published-rpg/|url-status=live}}</ref> and the game was first announced in May 2012, in an issue of ''Famitsu''.<ref name=gamespot /> It was revealed to be the company's most expensive, high-budget game ever attempted,<ref name="gamespot"/> and their last game for the PlayStation Portable system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://andriasang.com/con11q/psp_date_changes/|title=Imageepoch's Sol Trigger Delayed, Acquire Akiba's Trip Plus Pushed Up|publisher=Andriasang|first=Anoop|last=Gantayat|accessdate=28 September 2016|archive-date=6 May 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130506164323/http://andriasang.com/con11q/psp_date_changes/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Staff include Shuji Sogabe as character designer, who previously worked on the ''Persona 4'' comic, and Kazushige Nojima as the game scenario writer, who previously wrote parts of ''Final Fantasy VII'' and ''Kingdom Hearts''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/this-new-japanese-rpg-has-soul-30792022|title=This New Japanese RPG Has Soul|first=Brian|last=Ashcraft|publisher=Kotaku|access-date=28 September 2016|archive-date=24 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160824062557/http://kotaku.com/5891187/this-new-japanese-rpg-has-soul|url-status=live}}</ref> Anime video scenes were created by J.C.Staff.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2012-07-05/sol-trigger-psp-game-story-cyril-videos-posted|title=Sol Trigger PSP Game's Story, Cyril Videos Posted|publisher=Anime News Network|accessdate=28 September 2016|archive-date=2016-10-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029013846/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2012-07-05/sol-trigger-psp-game-story-cyril-videos-posted|url-status=live}}</ref>
Originally scheduled to be released on August 30, 2012,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2012/05/07/imageepoch-rpg-sol-trigger-set-for-august-with-five-pre-order-items/|title=Imageepoch RPG "Sol Trigger" Set For August With Five Pre-Order Items|publisher=Siliconera|author=Spencer|accessdate=28 September 2016|date=2012-05-08}}</ref> it was later delayed to October 4, upon request of retailers, who claimed that there were already too many games releasing on that date in Japan.<ref name=september>{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2012/05/17/you-can-try-sol-trigger-in-july-but-cant-buy-it-until-september/|title=You Can Try Sol Trigger In July, But Can't Buy It Until September|author=Spencer|publisher=Siliconera|date=May 17, 2012|accessdate=July 14, 2012|archive-date=May 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506212953/http://www.siliconera.com/2012/05/17/you-can-try-sol-trigger-in-july-but-cant-buy-it-until-september/|url-status=live}}</ref> A demo of the game was released for download on the Japanese PlayStation Store in July 2012.<ref name=september/>
To promote the game's release, a mini web browser game, ''Sol Trigger Training School'', was released. The game was a one-on-one fighting game, played by clicking a mouse as fast as possible. Password could be received to unlock bonus features in ''Sol Trigger''.<ref>{{cite web |author=Spencer . October 1, 2012 . 12:30am |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2012/10/01/sol-trigger-one-on-one-fighting-game-unlocks-weapons-for-psp-rpg/ |title=Sol Trigger One-On-One Fighting Game Unlocks Weapons For PSP RPG |publisher=Siliconera |date=2012-10-01 |accessdate=2013-06-01 |archive-date=2016-05-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506205939/http://www.siliconera.com/2012/10/01/sol-trigger-one-on-one-fighting-game-unlocks-weapons-for-psp-rpg/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Localization=== While the game was not announced in any other regions, some journalists speculated an English release could happen due to developer Imageepoch's past efforts to work with American publishers, such as Atlus (''Luminous Arc'' and ''Luminous Arc 2''), Aksys Games (''Fate/Extra''), and NIS America (''Black Rock Shooter: The Game'').<ref name=kotaku>{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/sol-trigger/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308200958/http://kotaku.com/sol-trigger/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 8, 2012|title=Hey Look, It's Another Cool Japanese RPG We Might Not See In The U.S.|first=Jason|last=Schreier|publisher=Kotaku|accessdate=28 September 2016}}</ref><ref name="GIST">{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2012/10/25/2325320.aspx?PostPageIndex=2 |title=Unfortunate Timing: RPGS Released Late in the PSP's Life Cycle |magazine=Game Informer |access-date=2018-05-23 |archive-date=2018-05-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524004255/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2012/10/25/2325320.aspx?PostPageIndex=2 |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, sources such as Kotaku feared it may not be released into other regions due to the PlayStation Portable no longer being an active video game platform in North American or European regions by 2012.<ref name=kotaku/> Siliconera felt there may be hope for localization due to Imageepoch registering the Japanese trademark for the game's title in Japanese and English.<ref name=nextrpg/> As of 2018, the game has not been released in any other region.<ref name="GIST"/>
==Sales and legacy== As of mid-October, the game had sold 52,234 copies in Japan.<ref name="siliconera1">{{cite web |author=Spencer . October 19, 2012 . 2:38am |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2012/10/19/imageepoch-ceo-interested-in-making-sol-trigger-sequel-perhaps-for-vita/ |title=Imageepoch CEO Interested In Making Sol Trigger Sequel, Perhaps For Vita |publisher=Siliconera |date=2012-10-19 |accessdate=2013-06-01 |archive-date=2019-11-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104072638/https://www.siliconera.com/2012/10/19/imageepoch-ceo-interested-in-making-sol-trigger-sequel-perhaps-for-vita/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Ryoei Mikage, founder and CEO of Imageepoch, said he is interested in the possibility of making a sequel to the game.<ref name="siliconera1"/> "Cyril", a character from the game, was made available as a playable character in another Imageepoch game, ''Chevalier Saga Tactics'', when playing a special ''Sol Trigger'' themed mission.<ref>{{cite web |author=Spencer . October 4, 2012 . 5:15pm |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2012/10/04/sol-trigger-character-maces-her-way-into-another-imaggepoch-game/ |title=Sol Trigger Character Maces Her Way Into Another Imaggepoch Game |publisher=Siliconera |date=2012-10-04 |accessdate=2013-06-01 |archive-date=2019-10-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031210404/https://www.siliconera.com/2012/10/04/sol-trigger-character-maces-her-way-into-another-imaggepoch-game/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20130115043801/http://sol.jrpg.jp/ Official site]
Category:2012 video games Category:Image Epoch games Category:J.C.Staff Category:Japan-exclusive video games Category:Role-playing video games Category:PlayStation Portable games Category:PlayStation Portable-only games Category:Video games developed in Japan Category:Single-player video games