If my chat about Chrono Trigger on The Last King podcast is of any indication, is that the world is due for an indie spiritual successor of the 90s classic. And not from Tokyo RPG Factory, please.

Sabotage Studio, the folks who made the hit 2D 8/16-bit Ninja Gaiden-esque platformer The Messenger will be creating an ode to past JRPGs of yore called Sea of Stars. A turn-based RPG inspired by the classics, the game’s story is a prequel set in The Messenger’s universe and is focused on two Children of the Solstice to fend off the evil alchemist known as The Fleshmancer.

Why are they special? Because they can combine the powers of the sun and moon to perform Eclipse Magic, the only force that can stop evil. Check the video below to see it in glorious old-school action.

The best part? Sea of Stars promises no random encounters, no jarring transitions for combat, and no grinding. What it can offer? Active player input ala Mario & Luigi titles, multi-character combo attacks, boosting, and defensive tactics against enemies channeling powerful moves. And also a lot of exploration with some dynamic pixelated lighting.

You can backthe Kickstarter right nowsince it just launched. So far, it amassed a total of S$258,869, surpassing its goal of S$133,887.